bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-delivery of Doxorubicin and D-α-Tocopherol Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate by Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Metin Esra , Mutlu Pelin , Gündüz Ufuk
Published: March 2018

Background:

Although conventional chemotherapy is the most common method for cancer treatment,
it has several side effects such as neuropathy, alopecia and cardiotoxicity. Since the drugs are given to
body systemically, normal cells are also affected, just like cancer cells. However, in recent years, targeted drug
delivery has been developed to overcome these drawbacks.

Objective:

The aim of this study was targeted co-delivery of doxorubicin (Dox) which is an anticancer agent and
D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (vitamin E TPGS or simply TPGS) to breast cancer cells.
For this purpose, Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized and coated with Oleic Acid (OA). Coated
nanoparticles were encapsulated in Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) and TPGS polymers and loaded with
Dox. The Nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, zetapotential
analysis, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis.

Results:

The results showed that NPs were spherical, superparamagnetic and in the desired range for use in drug
targeting. The targetability of NPs was confirmed. Moreover, TPGS and Dox loading was shown by TGA and
FTIR analyses. NPs were internalized by cells and the cytotoxic effect of drug loaded NPs on sensitive (MCF-7)
and drug-resistant (MCF-7/Dox) cells were examined. It was seen that the presence of TPGS increased cytotoxicity
significantly. TPGS also enhanced drug loading efficiency, release rate, cellular internalization. In MCF-
7/Dox cells, the drug resistance seems to be decreased when Dox is loaded onto TPGS containing NPs.

Conclusion:

This magnetic PLGA nanoparticle system is important for new generation targeted chemotherapy
and could be used for breast cancer treatment after in vivo tests.
Cognitive and Language Deficits in Multiple Sclerosis: Comparison of Relapsing Remitting and Secondary Progressive Subtypes
Authors: Ntoskou Katerina , Messinis Lambros , Nasios Grigorios , Martzoukou Maria , Makris Giorgos , Panagiotopoulos Elias , Papathanasopoulos Panagiotis
Published: March 2018

Objective:

The objective of this study was to investigate the pattern and severity of cognitive and language impairment in Greek patients with Relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS), relative to control participants.

Method:

A prospective study was conducted in 27 patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), (N= 15) with RRMS, (N= 12) with SPMS, and (N= 12) healthy controls. All participants were assessed with a flexible comprehensive neuropsychological – language battery of tests that have been standardized in Greece and validated in Greek MS patients. They were also assessed on measures of disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale; FSS) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory - fast screen; BDI-FS).

Results:

Our results revealed that groups were well matched on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. The two clinical groups (RRMS; SPMS) did not differ on overall global cognitive impairment but differed in the initial encoding of verbal material, mental processing speed, response inhibition and set-shifting. RRMS patients differed from controls in the initial encoding of verbal material, learning curve, delayed recall of verbal information, processing speed, and response inhibition. SPMS patients differed in all utilized measures compared to controls. Moreover, we noted increased impairment frequency on individualized measures in the progressive SPMS group.

Conclusion:

We conclude that MS patients, irrespective of clinical subtype, have cognitive deficits compared to healthy participants, which become increasingly worse when they convert from RRMS to SPMS.On the contrary,the pattern of impairment remains relatively stable.
The Trolley Problem Version of Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Wiseman Yair , Grinberg Ilan
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

The Trolley problem is a very well-known ethics dilemma about actively killing one or sometimes even more persons in order to save a number of persons. The problem can occur in autonomous vehicles when the vehicle realizes that there is no way to prevent a collision, the computer of the vehicle should analyze which collision is considered to be the least harmful collision.

Method and Result:

In this paper, we suggest a method to evaluate the likely harmfulness of each sort of collision using Spatial Data Structures and Bounding Volumes and accordingly to decide which course of actions would be the less harmful and therefore should be chosen by the autonomous vehicle.

Conclusion:

The aim of this paper is to emphasize that the “Trolley Problem” occurs when the human driver is replaced by a robot and if a moral answer is given by an authoritative and legitimate board of experts, it can be coded in autonomous vehicle software.
Optimal Power Control Strategy of a Hybrid Energy System Considering Demand Response Strategy and Customer Interruption Cost
Authors: Dzobo O. , Sun Y.
Published: March 2018

Background:

The integration of distributed renewable energy sources into the conventional
power system network has created opportunities for electricity customers to reduce their electricity cost.
This paper investigates the optimal power scheduling of a hybrid energy system connected to the grid in
the presence of demand response strategy and inconvenience cost.

Methods:

A new proposed method of calculating the inconvenience cost which is dependent on total
home appliance load, Customer Interruption Cost (CIC) and delay time operation of home appliances is
proposed. The hybrid energy system consists of solar photovoltaic (PV) module and battery bank
storage system. The home appliance scheduling is formulated as a non-convex mixed integer
programming with a binary decision variable to switch ON/OFF the home appliances. The optimization
objective is to minimize both the total daily electricity cost and inconvenience cost of a residential
customer with different time-shiftable, power shiftable home appliances and customer time preference
constraints.

Results:

The results show that it is important to schedule home appliances and include their
inconvenience cost so that home appliances are not only shifted to the lower electricity tariff periods but
can also start at their customer preferred operation times.

Conclusion:

The results also show that the hybrid energy system is able to cater for all the energy
requirements of home appliances during the day, reducing power demand from the grid by a significant
percentage and thus, relieve the power system network and afford electricity consumers significant
monetary savings.
Usefulness of Wearable Cameras as a Tool to Enhance Chronic Disease Self-Management: Scoping Review (Preprint)
Authors: Maddison Ralph , Cartledge Susie , Rogerson Michelle , Goedhart Nicole Sylvia , Ragbir Singh Tarveen , Neil Christopher , Phung Dinh , Ball Kylie
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

Self-management is a critical component of chronic disease management and can include a host of activities, such as adhering to prescribed medications, undertaking daily care activities, managing dietary intake and body weight, and proactively contacting medical practitioners. The rise of technologies (mobile phones, wearable cameras) for health care use offers potential support for people to better manage their disease in collaboration with their treating health professionals. Wearable cameras can be used to provide rich contextual data and insight into everyday activities and aid in recall. This information can then be used to prompt memory recall or guide the development of interventions to support self-management. Application of wearable cameras to better understand and augment self-management by people with chronic disease has yet to be investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our review was to ascertain the scope of the literature on the use of wearable cameras for self-management by people with chronic disease and to determine the potential of wearable cameras to assist people to better manage their disease.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review, which involved a comprehensive electronic literature search of 9 databases in July 2017. The search strategy focused on studies that used wearable cameras to capture one or more modifiable lifestyle risk factors associated with chronic disease or to capture typical self-management behaviors, or studies that involved a chronic disease population. We then categorized and described included studies according to their characteristics (eg, behaviors measured, study design or type, characteristics of the sample).

RESULTS

We identified 31 studies: 25 studies involved primary or secondary data analysis, and 6 were review, discussion, or descriptive articles. Wearable cameras were predominantly used to capture dietary intake, physical activity, activities of daily living, and sedentary behavior. Populations studied were predominantly healthy volunteers, school students, and sports people, with only 1 study examining an intervention using wearable cameras for people with an acquired brain injury. Most studies highlighted technical or ethical issues associated with using wearable cameras, many of which were overcome.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review highlighted the potential of wearable cameras to capture health-related behaviors and risk factors of chronic disease, such as diet, exercise, and sedentary behaviors. Data collected from wearable cameras can be used as an adjunct to traditional data collection methods such as self-reported diaries in addition to providing valuable contextual information. While most studies to date have focused on healthy populations, wearable cameras offer promise to better understand self-management of chronic disease and its context.
Web-Based Health Information Technology: Access Among Latinos Varies by Subgroup Affiliation (Preprint)
Authors: Gonzalez Mariaelena , Sanders-Jackson Ashley , Wright Tashelle
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

There are significant health technology gaps between Latinos and non-Hispanic whites and between first- and second-generation Latinos.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine disparities in Web-based health information–seeking behavior (HISB) and patient portal use among Latinos, taking into account nativity and subethnic affiliation.

METHODS

We analyzed US-born, non-Hispanic whites and Latinos adults (N=49,259) and adult internet users (N=36,214) in the 2015 to 2016 National Health Interview Survey using a binary logistic regression controlling for individual difference level variables. Outcomes were internet use, HISB (health information-seeking online and using a chat group for health information), and patient portal use (using a computer to schedule an appointment, filling a prescription, and communicating with a provider).

RESULTS

We found that US-born Mexicans (odds ratio [OR] 0.81, 95% CI 0.66-0.99), foreign-born Mexicans (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.29-0.42), foreign-born Puerto Ricans (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-0.87), foreign-born Central and South Americans (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.33-0.53), and foreign-born other Latinos (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.24-0.49) had lower odds of using the internet than US-born non-Hispanic whites. The relationship between subgroup affiliation and Web-based HISB varied by type of technology. US-born Mexicans (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.66-0.9), foreign-born Mexicans (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.43-0.61), foreign-born Central and South Americans (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.43-0.64), and foreign-born other Latinos (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.4-0.79) had lower odds of looking up health information online than US-born non-Hispanic whites. Controlling for age, sex, education, income to federal poverty level, and region, foreign-born Central and South Americans (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41-0.92) and foreign-born other Latinos (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.1-0.68) had lower odds of filling a prescription using a computer than US-born non-Hispanic whites. Foreign-born Mexicans (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.36-0.72) and foreign-born Central and South Americans (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.99) have lower odds of emailing a health care provider than US-born non-Hispanic whites. Posthoc analyses were conducted among Mexican-Americans to see if age was significant in predicting Web-based HISB or other patient portal use. We found individuals aged 18 to 30 years had higher odds of using the internet (OR 3.46, 95% CI 2.61-4.59) and lower odds of looking up health information online (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.96). A posthoc analysis was conducted among Mexican-Americans to see if nativity predicted Web-based HISB and patient portal use. We found that US-born individuals had higher odds (OR 52.9, 95% CI 1.2-1.93) of looking up health information online compared with foreign-born individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

We found Latino subgroups do not use health information channels equally, and attempts to target Latinos should take ethnicity and nativity into account.
Identification of New Electronic Cigarette Users: A Recurrent Neural Network Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Zhan Yongcheng , Zeng Daniel Dajun , Ma Jian James
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become increasingly popular in recent years. Although the effectiveness of e-cigarette use is not clear yet, the fast adoption rate raises severe public health concerns. Most of the research considered a person’s e-cigarette use as a binary variable. However, the behavior adoption is dynamic. E-cigarette user’s vaping stage should be considered as an important factor in evaluating e-cigarette use.

OBJECTIVE

This paper proposes to divide e-cigarette users into two groups based on their vaping stages: new users and established users, aims to accurately identify user’s vaping stage in social media, and intends to applying the classifier to study new users’ and established users’ characteristics.

METHODS

468,989 posts were collected from 45 e-cigarette-related subreddits from time scope January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2017. 3,324 of them were labelled and preprocessed. Word embedding and Long Short-Term Memory network was used to construct a classifier to identify user’s vaping stage. The classifier was applied to the whole dataset to analyze users’ characteristics.

RESULTS

The proposed classification approach achieved 0.79 F1-score and made great improvement (F1-score from 0.23 to 0.67) in new user identification comparing to the benchmarks. By applying the classifier to the whole dataset, we found that: 1) New users were more likely to share smoking status information comparing to established users. More traditional smokers were observed to start using e-cigarettes comparing to non-smokers starting using e-cigarettes. 2) New users and established users had different subreddit distributions. New users were more likely to participate in the online discussion in subreddit “Vaping101”, which could serve as a platform for promotions and campaigns. 3) Users in e-cigarette online communities were more likely to participate in discussions with beginners rather than established users, reflected by the number of comments. They also tended to give the post a higher rating score. 4) From post states, a transition from new user to established user was identified. The average transition time is 123 days.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper utilized deep learning LSTM network techniques to study e-cigarette vaping stages. We achieved better F1-score comparing to benchmarks and applied the classifier to the whole dataset to analyze user characteristics. Our results indicate that this automatic method could be used to analyze emerging problems in the e-cigarette field. We hope the model and corresponding findings in this paper could be further leveraged by other researchers and policymakers.
The Influence of Technology Delivery Mode on Intervention Outcomes: Analysis of a Theory-Based Sexual Health Program (Preprint)
Authors: Levitz Nicole , Wood Erica , Kantor Leslie
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

There are few studies on the role of technology delivery mode on health intervention outcomes. Furthermore, the opportunity to examine potential mode effects on a program that is theory-based and integrates principles of communication and decision-making science to influence sexual and reproductive health outcomes is a new contribution to the literature.

OBJECTIVE

Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s national Chat/Text program can be accessed via short message service (SMS; more commonly referred to as text messaging), Web-based desktop chatting, and mobile phone chatting. The program has been in existence since 2010 and has conducted over 1,000,000 conversations. In this study, we examined whether the mode used to access the program (SMS text, desktop chat, or mobile phone chat) affected program users’ intention to act on the action plan established in their conversation.

METHODS

Data were examined for a 6-month period from January 2016 to June 2016. The data were collected as a part of the monitoring and evaluation of an ongoing program. We limited our sample to the program’s priority audience of 15-24 years residing within the United States, which resulted in a sample of 64,939 conversations. Available data items for analysis included user demographics, delivery mode, topic discussed, helpfulness rating (on a 4-point scale), user confidence in following through on the intentions made during the conversation (on a 4-point scale), and educator confidence in whether the user would follow through on the stated intention. Linear and multinomial robust regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between conversation delivery mode and confidence.

RESULTS

No significant relationships between users’ confidence to carry out their intentions and gender or race were found. None of the 3 modalities (SMS text, desktop chat, or mobile phone chat) were significantly associated with user confidence. All the 3 modalities had significant associations with educator confidence and showed similar effect sizes to those of user confidence. Educator confidence was significantly associated with all the topics discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

The Planned Parenthood Chat/Text program was designed as a tool to improve access to sexual and reproductive health care among young people. The mode of intervention delivery was not associated with users’ confidence in their ability to carry out their stated intention, suggesting that all modes are legitimate for delivering this intervention. Furthermore, each mode worked across gender and race or ethnicity, indicating that this is a modality that can work across groups.
Do Super Homem ao Superoutro: um filme menor de Edgard Navarro
Authors: Maciel Junior Auterives
Published: March 2018

O texto analisa o filme O Superoutro de Edgard Navarro, visando uma avaliação filosófica do seu procedimento minoritário. Assim, busca em Deleuze e Guattari a noção de menor – freqüentemente tratada pelos autores como um adjetivo das artes que trabalham os devires de uma minoria-, para aplicá-la livremente ao cinema de Navarro. Aqui, o filme menor de Edgard aparece como a prova revolucionária que ganha o seu devido valor na contra-efetuação conceitual empreendida pela filosofia. Com o decorrer da análise, demonstraremos os detalhes desse filme menor, buscando em Nietzsche a inspiração final do nosso procedimento. Afinal, Superoutro e Übermensch trazem a afinidade das minorias ativas, que fazem do processo minoritário das artes a mais alta potência do falso.
“Vida nua” e estado de exceção: as penitenciárias de Mato Grosso
Authors: Branco Cíntia Lopes , Queiroz Imar Domingos
Published: March 2018

O artigo teve como objetivo analisar as condições de vida nas penitenciárias de Mato Grosso, confrontando-as com os direitos previstos na Constituição Federal de 1988 e na Lei de Execução Penal de 1984, e as medidas de exceção presentes nas unidades investigadas. De natureza quanti-qualitativa, o estudo recorreu a dois instrumentos: questionário respondido pelas direções das penitenciárias sobre o funcionamento dos estabelecimentos, questões estruturais e serviços e levantamento de fontes documentais e informações extraídas da mídia eletrônica, como matérias jornalísticas publicadas na imprensa estadual ao longo dos anos. A análise dos dados revelou que no sistema penitenciário de Mato Grosso prevalecem medidas de exceção que alimentam o caos e transformam o espaço prisional em território onde impera a lei do mais forte. Tal realidade, magistralmente trabalhada pela mídia, contribui para o entendimento de que determinadas pessoas deixam de ser portadoras de direitos, pois perderam seu valor jurídico e social, tornando-se figuras descartáveis. Essa condição de vida nua a que são relegados os presos e demais indesejáveis – pretos, pardos, jovens, pobres, mulheres, indígenas – os tornam homo sacer, vida indigna de ser vivida, logo, passíveis de serem exterminados.
Serviço social, assistência estudantil e “contrarreforma” do Estado
Authors: Cavaignac Mônica Duarte , Costa Renata Maria Paiva da
Published: March 2018

Este artigo apresenta uma análise da atuação profissional do Serviço Social na área da educação, especificamente no âmbito da assistência estudantil, a partir de um estudo com assistentes sociais do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE). Tem por objetivo apontar os principais desafios e perspectivas desses profissionais num cenário marcado pela contrarreforma do Estado, pelo desmonte das políticas sociais públicas e pela negação dos direitos sociais. Este cenário impõe limites ao exercício profissional da categoria e dificulta a efetivação da política de assistência estudantil na referida instituição, comprometendo, assim, o acesso à educação como um direito. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, cuja perspectiva teórica está fundamentada no método dialético marxista. Foram realizados estudos bibliográfico, documental e empírico, utilizando-se as técnicas de observação participante, entrevista e questionário. Os dados revelam que o enfrentamento de tais desafios se dá pela ação coletiva dos assistentes sociais, pautada no compromisso ético-político com a defesa dos direitos sociais e com a qualidade dos serviços prestados aos usuários.Palavras-chave: Serviço Social. Educação superior. Assistência estudantil. Este artigo apresenta uma análise da atuação profissional do Serviço Social na área da educação, especificamente no âmbito da assistência estudantil, a partir de um estudo com assistentes sociais do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE). Tem por objetivo apontar os principais desafios e perspectivas desses profissionais num cenário marcado pela contrarreforma do Estado, pelo desmonte das políticas sociais públicas e pela negação dos direitos sociais. Este cenário impõe limites ao exercício profissional da categoria e dificulta a efetivação da política de assistência estudantil na referida instituição, comprometendo, assim, o acesso à educação como um direito. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, cuja perspectiva teórica está fundamentada no método dialético marxista. Foram realizados estudos bibliográfico, documental e empírico, utilizando-se as técnicas de observação participante, entrevista e questionário. Os dados revelam que o enfrentamento de tais desafios se dá pela ação coletiva dos assistentes sociais, pautada no compromisso ético-político com a defesa dos direitos sociais e com a qualidade dos serviços prestados aos usuários.
Cooperação antagônica e dupla articulação dependente: a dinâmica da luta de classes no Brasil
Authors: Souza Cristiane Luiza Sabino
Published: March 2018

Este artigo traz para o debate de um referencial teórico peculiar sobre o movimento do capital na América Latina.  Dialogicamente, nos apropriamos de parte das contribuições de dois intelectuais brasileiros que,  partindo da tradição marxiana, do rigor do método e da práxis, partiram da realidade concreta vivida em seus territórios e  contra  as  interpretações da hegemonia intelectual da década de 1960, para renovarem as interpretações sobre tal realidade, num território submerso nas paisagens históricas do subdesenvolvimento, ou capitalismo dependente. Buscamos explicitar a atualidade das contribuições de Florestan Fernandes e Ruy Mauro Marini para a compreensão da realidade no capitalismo dependente. As categorias dupla articulação dependente (Fernandes) e cooperação antagônica (Marini) são apresentadas em diálogo, de modo a evidenciar sua proximidade para a compreensão das contradições de classe sob a dependência estrutural. Por fim, traremos elementos de análise da conjuntura atual, com vistas a corroborar a centralidade das teses destes autores sobre a dependência latinoamericana.
Capitalismo dependente, neoliberalismo e financeirização das políticas sociais no Brasil
Authors: Brettas Tatiana
Published: March 2018

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar os mecanismos que contribuíram para a financeirização das políticas sociais no Brasil no contexto do neoliberalismo. Para tanto, foi feito um resgate de alguns aspectos da formação sócio-histórica brasileira que contribuem para a análise dos marcos da dependência e seus elementos estruturais. Após um breve resgate da trajetória das políticas sociais, buscou-se discutir suas particularidades no neoliberalismo dando destaque para o processo de financeirização e sua capacidade de abarcar o conjunto da vida social.
Estágio supervisionado em serviço social: reflexões a partir da realidade da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
Authors: Castro Marina Monteiro de Castro e , Ferreira Ana Maria
Published: March 2018

O artigo apresenta análise dos relatórios de pesquisas realizadas na Faculdade de Serviço Social da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora nos anos de 2015/2016 que teve como objetivo avaliar o processo de supervisão de estágio e seus desafios contemporâneos. Foram levantadas questões acerca das condições de trabalho dos profissionais, características da política de estágio e sua contribuição para a formação e o trabalho profissional, bem como sobre a organização do processo de supervisão.
O Fundo Público e a superexploração do trabalho no Brasil
Authors: Costa Renata Gomes da
Published: March 2018

O presente artigo analisa a relação entre fundo público e a superexploração do trabalho no Brasil. O fundo público é uma mediação decisiva no capitalismo, por possuir uma função central no processo de valorização ao participar de forma direta e indireta da produção de mais-valia. O objetivo do trabalho é particularizar esses elementos na realidade brasileira a luz da Teoria Marxista da Dependência (TMD), a fim de realizar as mediações necessárias que expliquem as contradições, limites e possibilidades do financiamento das políticas sociais no capitalismo dependente.
Ensino à distância e suas implicações para a formação dos assistentes sociais: uma reflexão dos cursos EAD no Estado de Pernambuco
Authors: Silva Tatianne Amanda Bezerra da , Rabelo Josinês Barbosa
Published: March 2018

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar os elementos acerca da realidade da modalidade de ensino à distância no estado de Pernambuco, utilizando-se para tanto de documentos e dados disponibilizados pelo Conselho Regional de Serviço Social – 4ª Região recolhidos em seu processo de fiscalização do exercício profissional de Assistentes Sociais. A fim de enriquecer e aprofundar a pesquisa, utilizamos também a técnica de entrevista com 2 (duas) assistentes sociais que atuam no CRESS – PE, tendo em vista que são compostas de narrativas das situações vividas pelas profissionais nos processos de fiscalização realizados pelo referido conselho, complementando os dados coletados acerca do EaD e apresentando a incompatibilidade da educação a distância com a formação profissional em Serviço Social.
Violência contra a mulher no espaço midiático brasileiro
Authors: Marques Maria de Fátima Jeronimo , Guerra Eliana Costa
Published: March 2018

O presente artigo discute a abordagem midiática sobre a violência contra a mulher. Objetiva analisar o papel da mídia, em particular, da televisão, no processo de reprodução do sistema patriarcal, no âmbito da sociedade brasileira. A partir da perspectiva de análise crítica, abordamos as categorias gênero e patriarcado, buscando desvelar elementos que nos possibilitem apreender, de forma coerente, as determinações sócio-históricas que fundamentam as relações desiguais entre as categorias de sexos. O patriarcado, engendrado no tecido social pelos meios de produção e reprodução da vida, repercute e encontra, nos veículos de comunicação tradicionais, espaços propícios à sua perpetuação e manutenção, dando sustentação à manutenção das formas societárias dominantes, com sociabilidades que lhe são inerentes. O artigo foi produzido a partir de investigação realizada para elaboração de uma dissertação de mestrado, compreendo pesquisa bibliográfica, documental, análise de matérias publicadas em sites e exibidas em canais televisivos, além de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Romper com as concepções que responsabilizam as mulheres pela situação de violência a qual são submetidas constitui, assim, desafio maior, na perspectiva de contribuir as lutas pela liberdade e igualdade substantivas e pela emancipação humana.Palavras-chave: Mídia. Patriarcado. Violência contra a mulher
Significados da velhice para quem envelhece (u)
Authors: Leite Angela Roberta Lucas , Araújo Maria do Socorro Souza de
Published: March 2018

A proposta deste artigo é desvendar as concepções acionadas sobre a categoria velhice a partir dos discursos (re)produzidos por velhas (os) integrantes do Programa de Ação Integrada para o Aposentado (PAI), em São Luís/MA. Utilizamos as contribuições de Bourdieu a respeito de região e habitus. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com quatorze velhas (os) aposentadas (os) do serviço público estadual do Maranhão. Os resultados apontaram que as concepções de velhice são legitimadas conforme as (in)definições de velhice, uma vez que a velhice é uma categoria socialmente manipulada e manipulável, em constante transformação.
Contribuição da ABEPSS para o fortalecimento dos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Serviço Social no Brasil
Authors: ABEPSS Associação Brasileira de Ensino, Pesquisa e Serviço Social
Published: March 2018

A ABEPSS (gestões 2013-2014 e 2015-2016), por meio deste documento, apresenta subsídios/referências à Pós-Graduação em Serviço Social no Brasil, visando contribuir com o fortalecimento dos Programas dos cursos stricto sensu na área, e também da própria ABEPSS, como associação acadêmico-científica, tornando a Pós-Graduação mais orgânica nesta relação. Neste sentido, cumpre com as atribuições estatutárias que competem à Coordenação Nacional de Pós-Graduação, especialmente no que diz respeito à consolidação e qualificação do Serviço Social como área de conhecimento.
Do Auditors and Audit Committees Lower Fraud Risk by Constraining Inconsistencies between Financial and Nonfinancial Measures?
Authors: Brazel Joseph F. , Schmidt Jaime J.
Published: March 2018

Prior research finds that companies committing fraud exhibit large inconsistencies between reported revenue growth and growth in revenue-related nonfinancial measures (e.g., number of stores, employees, patents). However, prior research also suggests that auditors, on average, are not adept at identifying and constraining these differences. This study investigates whether certain auditors and audit committees are able to lower fraud risk by constraining inconsistencies between financial and related nonfinancial measures (NFMs). For a sample of companies across a variety of industries, we find that auditors with greater industry expertise and tenure and audit committee chairs with greater tenure are less likely to be associated with companies that exhibit large inconsistencies between their reported revenue growth and related NFMs. Surprisingly, we observe that audit committees with industry expert chairs are more likely to be associated with large inconsistencies (higher fraud risk) than audit committees without industry expert chairs.

JEL Classifications: M4.
Using Evidential Reasoning Technology to Enhance the Audit Quality Assurance Inspection Process
Authors: Mock Theodore J. , Ragothaman Srinivasan C. , Srivastava Rajendra P.
Published: March 2018

This paper considers the use of an emerging technology based on formal evidential reasoning to help audit quality assurers conduct higher-quality inspections of audit engagements. Although the ideas should be relevant to the inspection process in general, we focus on PCAOB stated objectives and procedures and, as an illustration, the inspection of Satyam Computer Services Limited. To enhance audit quality assurance (AQA), we propose and illustrate a portion of a prototype technology that uses formal evidential reasoning to help assess audit quality. The use of a formal evidential reasoning model and a structured process should provide better documented and more precise, consistent, and rigorous AQA assessments of risk, of the sufficiency and competency of audit evidence collected, and of various auditor judgments. The potential of this technology is illustrated by evaluating the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's (PCAOB) inspection of Satyam Computer Services Limited, in particular the assessment of the risk of financial statement misstatement due to either unintentional or intentional misstatements. The illustration suggests that the proposed technology is likely to facilitate an enhanced inspection of audit quality. By implication, we assert that use of such technology will result in other enhancements to AQA.
Textual Analysis of Corporate Annual Disclosures: A Comparison between Bankrupt and Non-Bankrupt Companies
Authors: Yang Fang , Dolar Burak , Mo Lun
Published: March 2018

In this study we focus on extracting qualitative information from the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) section of an annual report and compare whether there are textually evident differences in textual expressions used between bankrupt and non-bankrupt companies. We extract high-frequency words, related concept links, and topics from MD&As and find that some high-frequency words appear to suggest differences between bankrupt and non-bankrupt companies regarding their financial position and ongoing status. However, the usefulness of concept links is mixed. Some concept links for high-frequency words do not seem to center around a theme or a key word, yet others provide some contextual information supporting our conjectures about the ongoing business status of non-bankrupt companies. Finally, we perform topic extraction based on a latent semantic analysis algorithm in order to investigate whether issues and themes discussed differ between non-bankrupt and bankrupt companies. We find that most of the top topics extracted merely recapture the characteristics of industries in which companies operate and do not provide information in differentiating between bankrupt and non-bankrupt companies. The reasons are discussed in the paper.
Predicting Public Procurement Irregularity: An Application of Neural Networks
Authors: Sun Ting , Sales Leonardo J.
Published: March 2018

Using the data describing the characteristics of contractors provided by the Comptroller General of the Union, Brazil (CGU), this paper mainly implements two artificial neural networks, traditional neural network (TNN) and deep neural network (DNN), to develop prediction models of public procurement irregularities designed for the initial screening of contractors. This is the first application of DNN in the context of government auditing. To examine the effectiveness of DNN, the authors compare its predictive performance to TNN and two other algorithms (logistic regression and discriminant function analysis) and find that DNN significantly outperforms TNN and other algorithms in terms of accuracy, precision, F-scores, AUC, and other metrics, as suggested by the high Z-scores of the Z-tests. Although TNN has a higher recall than DNN, the difference of recall between TNN and DNN is insignificant. Logistic regression and discriminant function analysis achieve the highest recall scores, but their Z-scores are much lower than those of other metrics. Therefore, DNN generally performs more accurately than other approaches and meets the requirement of the CGU for an early alarm system.
Altered Brain Dynamics in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes During Working Memory Processing
Authors: Embury Christine M. , Wiesman Alex I. , Proskovec Amy L. , Heinrichs-Graham Elizabeth , McDermott Timothy J. , Lord Grace H. , Brau Kaitlin L. , Drincic Andjela T. , Desouza Cyrus V. , Wilson Tony W.
Published: March 2018

It is now generally accepted that diabetes increases the risk for cognitive impairment, but the precise mechanisms are poorly understood. A critical problem in linking diabetes to cognitive impairment is that patients often have multiple comorbidities (e.g., obesity, hypertension) that have been independently linked to cognitive deficits. In the study reported here we focused on young adults with and without type 1 diabetes who were virtually free of such comorbidities. The two groups were matched on major health and demographic factors, and all participants completed a verbal working memory task during magnetoencephalographic brain imaging. We hypothesized that patients would have altered neural dynamics in verbal working memory processing and that these differences would directly relate to clinical disease measures. Accordingly, we found that patients had significantly stronger neural responses in the superior parietal cortices during memory encoding and significantly weaker activity in parietal-occipital regions during maintenance compared with control subjects. Moreover, disease duration and glycemic control were both significantly correlated with neural responses in various brain regions. In conclusion, young healthy adults with type 1 diabetes already have aberrant neural processing relative to their peers without diabetes, using compensatory responses to perform the task, and glucose management and duration may play a central role.
Meat Cooking Methods and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Results From Three Prospective Cohort Studies
Authors: Liu Gang , Zong Geng , Wu Kana , Hu Yang , Li Yanping , Willett Walter C. , Eisenberg David M. , Hu Frank B. , Sun Qi
Published: March 2018

OBJECTIVE

To examine open-flame and/or high-temperature cooking (grilling/barbecuing, broiling, or roasting) and doneness preferences (rare, medium, or well done) for red meat, chicken, and fish in relation to type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk among U.S. adults who consumed animal flesh regularly (≥2 servings/week).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The prospective studies included 52,752 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) (followed during 1996–2012), 60,809 women from NHS II (followed during 2001–2013), and 24,679 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS) (followed during 1996–2012) who were free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer at baseline. Incident cases of T2D were confirmed by validated supplementary questionnaires.

RESULTS

We documented 7,895 incident cases of T2D during 1.74 million person-years of follow-up. After multivariate adjustments including baseline BMI and total consumption of red meat, chicken, and fish, higher frequency of open-flame and/or high-temperature cooking was independently associated with an elevated T2D risk. When comparing open-flame and/or high-temperature cooking >15 times/month with <4 times/month, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) of T2D was 1.28 (1.18, 1.39; Ptrend <0.001). When comparing the extreme quartiles of doneness-weighted frequency of high-temperature cooking, the pooled HR (95% CI) of T2D was 1.20 (1.12, 1.28; Ptrend <0.001). These associations remained significant when red meat and chicken were examined separately. In addition, estimated intake of heterocyclic aromatic amines was also associated with an increased T2D risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Independent of consumption amount, open-flame and/or high-temperature cooking for both red meat and chicken is associated with an increased T2D risk among adults who consume animal flesh regularly.
Monolithic Ceramics: Effect of Finishing Techniques on Surface Properties, Bacterial Adhesion and Cell Viability
Authors: Dal Piva AMO , Contreras LPC , Ribeiro FC , Anami LC , Camargo SEA , Jorge AOC , Bottino MA
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

This study evaluated the morphology, biofilm formation, and viability of human gingival fibroblasts in contact with two monolithic ceramics after two different finishing techniques: polishing or glazing. For this, 92 blocks (4.5 × 4.5 × 1.5 mm) of each ceramic were made using high translucency zirconia partially stabilized by yttrium (YZHT) and lithium silicate reinforced by zirconium (ZLS).

Methods and Materials:

Blocks were sintered and then divided into glazing (g) or polishing (p) surface finish. Surface roughness (Ra and RSm) was evaluated through a contact rugosimeter and profilometry. Specimens were contaminated for heterotypic biofilm formation with Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis and Candida albicans for 16 hours. Biofilm was quantified by counting the colony forming units (CFU/mL) and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fibroblast viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Surface free energy (SFE) was also determined. Roughness data were evaluated using nonparametric tests, while SFE, MTT and CFU results were evaluated by analysis of variance and Tukey test, and MTT data were also submitted to t-test (all, α=0.05).

Results:

Results showed that polished samples presented a lower high profile mean (p<0.001); however, YZHTg presented less space between defects (p=0.0002). SFE showed that YZHT presented higher SFE than ZLS. Profilometry evidenced more homogeneity on polished surfaces. The interaction of finishing technique and microorganisms influenced the CFU (p=0.00). MTT assay demonstrated initial severe cytotoxic behavior for polished surfaces. SEM images showed homogeneous surfaces, except for glazed YZHT.

Conclusion:

Glazed surfaces have a greater roughness and tend to accumulate more biofilm. Polished surfaces have higher SFE; however, they are temporarily cytotoxic.
Estilos de aprendizaje para el desarrollo de competencias en estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Enfermería / Learning styles for the development of competences in students of the Degree in Nursing
Authors: González Garza Beatriz , Hernández Castañón Ma. Alejandra , Castrejón Reyes Victorina
Published: March 2018

La teoría del aprendizaje basada en la experiencia ha demostrado que en los procesos cognoscitivos influyen los estilos de aprendizaje, es decir, la forma preferida de un individuo de responder a las tareas de aprendizaje. Objetivo: Identificar los estilos de aprendizaje en estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Enfermería de una universidad pública. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo transversal, participaron 271 estudiantes del primero al octavo semestre. Se aplicó el cuestionario Estilos de aprendizaje de Honey-Alonso, que consta de 20 reactivos para cada uno de los cuatro estilos de aprendizaje (Activo, Reflexivo, Teórico y Pragmático), estableciéndose tres puntos de corte que orientan la direccionalidad: potencial, en desarrollo y déficit. En el análisis de la información se utilizó estadística descriptiva. Se obtuvo la autorización de las autoridades de la Facultad para realizar el estudio y se solicitó el consentimiento verbal de los estudiantes al momento de aplicar el instrumento. Resultados: La edad promedio es de 22.2 años, siendo el 84.2% del sexo femenino. Los mayores porcentajes de preferencia de estilo de aprendizaje se presentan en el activo, con una preferencia en desarrollo (51.7%) y potencial (26.9%), al igual que en el estilo teórico (56.8% y 22.5% respectivamente), siendo el estilo reflexivo el que menor porcentaje obtuvo como preferencia potencial (3.0%) seguido del pragmático (4.8%). El estilo activo en los alumnos de primero a cuarto semestre tiene una preferencia potencial media y alta del 26.9% en tanto que para el teórico su porcentaje es del 23.5%, pero muy bajo para los estilos reflexivo (2.5%) y pragmático (1.7%). Sin embargo, es este último estilo el que tiene mayor porcentaje de preferencia en desarrollo. En relación con los estilos de aprendizaje preferentes reportados por los alumnos de quinto a octavo semestre, los resultados muestran un comportamiento prácticamente similar para los estilos activo (27%) y teórico (21.7%); hay un mínimo incremento porcentual para los estilos reflexivo (3.3%) y pragmático (7.2%). Conclusión. En general, los estilos preferenciales de los estudiantes son el teórico y el activo, siendo el reflexivo y el pragmático los menos desarrollados, por lo que es indispensable generar estrategias docentes que coadyuven a su potenciación, como parte fundamental en el desarrollo de competencias.
VALORACIÓN Y EFECTOS PUZOLÁNICOS DEL MATERIAL VOLCÁNICO DEL PURACÉ
Authors: Galindo Diana Marcela Burgos , Ramirez Luisa Maria Cardona , Suarez Marisol Gordillo , Arjona Silvio Delvasto
Published: March 2018

En este artículo se presentan los resultados experimentales de caracterización y evaluación puzolánica del material volcánico de Puracé (MVP). El MVP fue analizado mediante microscopia electrónica de barrido, fluorescencia de rayos X, difracción de rayos X, petrografía de secciones delgadas, análisis termo-gravimétricos, entre otros. La evaluación de la reactividad puzolánica fue evaluada por medio del Índice de Actividad Puzolánica y el ensayo de Frattini. Además, se evaluó el efecto de la incorporación del MVP en la resistencia a compresión de morteros donde el cemento Portland fue remplazado por MVP en un rango del 0 a 40%. Los resultados demostraron que el MVP presenta todas las características para ser considerada una puzolana natural y su porcentaje óptimo de incorporación se encuentra alrededor del 20%.