bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex, Flippancy, Autobiography: Existential Palliatives in Valle-Inclán's Sonatas
Authors: Anderson Andrew A.
Published: August 2010

Valle-Inclán's four Sonatas (1902-1905) have much in common with the turn-of-the-century novels of philosophical pessimism by Unamuno, Baroja, and Martínez Ruiz. The protagonist, the Marqués de Bradomín, is keenly aware of the transience of life, the effects of aging, and human mortality. At the same time, while he lacks any religious faith, he does not fall into depression or anguish. Rather, he mitigates or manages to forget these unpleasant truths by engaging in certain kinds of behaviors, and principal among these are sex, flippancy, and autobiography. His experience of sex runs the gamut from romantic infatuation to raw carnality, and it also changes significantly over the course of his life. Flippancy covers a range of attitudes and actions such as mendacity, faking, posturing, joking, levity, and wryness. Finally, as the efficacy of these two kinds of behavior wanes, the Marqués takes refuge in autobiography in a manner very reminiscent of one of his heroes, Casanova.
Decomposing the Relationship Between Human Capital and GDP: An Empirical Analysis of Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmad Nazneen , French Joseph J.
Published: August 2010

This paper dissects the relationship between human capital stock and real GDP per capita in Bangladesh using VEC and VAR techniques. Results show that GDP granger causes aggregate human capital stock. This paper constructs a measure of Bangladesh's human capital stock for the period of 1973-2004 using the perpetual inventory method. Innovations in secondary and higher secondary education are found to have the greatest short to medium-term impact on the country's real GDP. Consistently this research also finds evidence that the variance of the human capital sequence is strongly influenced by shocks to the GDP sequence, whereas the evolution of GDP over the medium term is relatively unaffected by shocks to aggregate human capital stock. These results show that increases in human capital tend to follow income. The findings of this research suggest that secondary and higher secondary education should be emphasized by Bangladesh.
Collective Water Management and Technical Efficiency in Rice Production: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Hongmei , Li Mingxian
Published: August 2010

The factors influencing collective water management and their impact on technical efficiency in rice production were investigated. The analysis was based on a group- and household-level data set collected in 2006-2007 in Hubei, China. We found that water user groups with high social capital and with high homogeneity of crop varieties cultivated can successfully operate a collective water management. Our stochastic frontier analyses showed that successful collective water management had a significant positive effect on improving technical efficiency in rice production because it provides sufficient irrigation water at critical stages of rice cultivation. According to the results of this study, the government should play active roles in associations' accumulation of social capital, to improve the ability of collective water management and the technical efficiency of rice production.
Income, Gender, and Consumption: A Study of Malawian Households
Authors: Davies Simon
Published: August 2010

This paper uses 1998 household level data from urban Malawi to look at the impact on consumption patterns of the share of total household income accruing to different individuals within the household. Specifically, male and female income shares and other factors which may influence intra-household bargaining such as education are analyzed. The study finds that for some categories of good such as personal and household hygiene and clothing, unitary household models are unsuitable as intra-household relationships and differing preferences of individuals play a key role in consumption choices. Overall the results indicate that females favor household hygiene, vehicle repair and girls. clothing while males favor male clothing. Consumption choices are influenced by both the income and education of the main male and female members, and crucially, the impact of income shares on household consumption is non-linear.
Corruption and Growth in Ethnically Fragmented World
Authors: Hwang Jinyoung , Jung Kun-Oh , Lim Eung-Soon
Published: August 2010

There is increasing recognition that corruption has an adverse influence on growth as it distorts both market economy and democracy. However, the existing literature has failed to address countries' characteristics as far as the process of sample selection is concerned. This paper empirically reexamines the relationship between corruption and growth after dividing the data into two subsamples based on the Index of Ethnic Fractionalization (IEF). Using cross-national evidence, corruption is shown to be an obstacle to growth generally, a conclusion that is in line with the existing literature. Furthermore, a negative association between corruption and growth is found to exist in the subsample of countries with a lower IEF, in ethnically more homogeneous countries. However, there is little evidence that corruption impacts upon growth in the subsample of countries with a relatively higher IEF, in more heterogeneous or diverse countries. This implies that the adverse impact of corruption on growth increases in a country with a relatively low IEF and a strong homogeneity among its constituents, and remains in force so long as attempts to improve transparency are ineffective.
Environmental Latecomer's Effects in Developing Countries: The Case of SO2 and CO2 Emissions
Authors: Taguchi Hiroyuki , Murofushi Harutaka
Published: August 2010

Using the analytical framework of the environmental Kuznets curve, this study examines whether developing countries in the world enjoy the latecomer's advantage or suffer the latecomer's disadvantage in the area of environmental management and technology, with a focus on representative environmental indices of sulfur emissions and carbon emissions. The study's two main findings represent clear contrasts in panel estimation results between sulfur emissions and carbon emissions First, sulfur emissions follow the expected inverted U-shape pattern of the environmental Kuznets curve, while carbon emissions show monotonous increasing trends with per capita income in the observed range. Second, sulfur emissions represent the dominance of the latecomer's advantage while carbon emissions reveal that of the latecomer's disadvantage. The contrast in the emission-income patterns appears to come from the difference in the origin of emissions: sulfur emissions mainly from production (emissions from production are easily regulated on the local level), and carbon emissions from both production and consumption (emissions from consumption are easily externalized). In addition, the contrast in the latecomer's effects seems to be related to the degree of maturity in the know-how and technology to abate emissions: prevailing desulfurization and unrestricted "carbon leakage."
The Millennium Development Goals: Does Aid Help?
Authors: Garces-Ozanne Arlene L.
Published: August 2010

Although poverty-eradication has always been a priority in many governments' agenda, one in four people in the developing world still live in poverty. This study examines how foreign aid, human capital and economic policies, among others, affect real GDP growth and other dimensions of poverty, measured in terms of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Our empirical results suggest that while aid appears to be a significant, albeit negative indicator of real GDP per capita growth, it is a positive determinant of other MDG outcomes. Human capital and good economic policies do not appear to have unique and significant effects on the MDG outcomes, but allowing for interactions with aid, these become more robust indicators of the effectiveness of aid in achieving the MDG.
Modelling the Effects of Financial Sector Functions on Economic Growth in a Developing Country: A Cointegration and Error Correction approach
Authors: Tennant David , Kirton Claremont , Abdulkadri Abdullahi
Published: August 2010

This study develops proxies for each of Levine's (1997) five functions of the financial sector, and models the relationship between these functions and economic growth using methods that more accurately conform to theory, and which broaden our understanding of the mechanisms through which the financial sector impacts on growth. Our analytical models provide for inferences about the relative importance of each of the functions of the financial sector and cointegration and error correction methods are used to distinguish between the long and short-run impacts of financial sector intermediation on economic growth. Our results suggest that if financial sector reforms are to be more effective, greater focus has to be placed on mechanisms through which savings mobilization can be maximized, and the allocation of resources to productive uses can be facilitated. Policymakers should also not expect immediate results from such reforms, as although the functions of the financial sector were shown to have statistically significant long-run impacts on GDP, none of the functions had significant short-term effects on growth.
Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment Flows to Pakistan
Authors: Hakro Ahmed Nawaz , Ghumro Ikhtiar Ali
Published: August 2010

This paper investigates the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in dynamic econometric model on Pakistan economy data set (1970-2007). VAR, VEC, generalized impulse response functions, Granger causality, forecasting, three stage least square econometric techniques are used in empirical analysis. Results suggest cost related, macroeconomic factors and cumulative risk index variables are the major determinants emerged in short-run analysis. The results also suggest long run relationships among FDI, openness and macro economic factors consistently. Openness emerges as dominant factor in long run dynamics. Evidence suggests that determinant variables that exhibit short run dynamics may also exhibit long run dynamics and vice versa. The country requires to maintain macroeconomic stability and continuity in openness policies of reform processes of the last 20 years, along with maintaining cost advantage by controlling the level of prices, wage rate, cost of doing business and investment friendly environment. This implies continuity of sustained stable macro economic policies, improvement in country's risk profile followed by cost related and investment environment improving factors.
Ethnic and Gender Wage Discrimination in Guatemala
Authors: Vásquez William F.
Published: August 2010

This paper compares the influence of gender and ethnicity on wage discrimination in Guatemala using the 2000 Living Standards Measurement Survey. The sample of employees is divided into six ethnic-gender groups: males and females in three ethnic groups (i.e., non-indigenous, major and minor ethnic groups). Normalized regressions are used to estimate wage structures for each ethnic gender group including the inverse of Mill's ratio as a regressor to correct for potential selectivity. Then, the contribution of gender and ethnic discrimination on wage differentials is examined. Findings indicate that, compared to ethnic discrimination, gender discrimination explains a more significant percentage of wage differentials between relevant groups. Additionally, results indicate that forms of wage discrimination differ across ethnic-gender groups.
Maintenance of Effort: An Evolving Federal-State Policy Approach to Ensuring College Affordability
Authors: Alexander F. King , Harnisch Thomas , Hurley Daniel , Moran Robert
Published: August 2010

Congress has recently focused on the complex relationship between federal student aid, states' funding appropriations for higher education, and institutional tuition and fee levels. Fueling this focus is the ongoing cost shift in public higher education, from states to students and families, as well as to the federal government via student aid programs. This shift in who pays for education is primarily a consequence of gradual state disinvestment in public higher education. As a result, college officials have compensated for the loss of state dollars with a combination of cost-cutting measures, reductions in student enrollment, and an increased reliance on student tuition and fee revenues. The shift in higher education funding, from states to students—driven by insufficient, and in many cases, sharply reduced state appropriations for higher education—has placed more pressure on federal lawmakers to expand existing student aid programs. Increased federal investment in student aid has helped negate the impact of rising tuition and fees. The trend in states' disinvestment in public higher education is especially problematic considering the burgeoning student enrollments occurring in many states. As a result, recent federal legislation has included financial incentives for state lawmakers to maintain specified minimum funding levels for public higher education in order to dissuade states from substantially reducing their appropriation commitments. In establishing these "Maintenance of Effort" (MOE) provisions that determine minimum funding thresholds states must meet in order to receive specified federal funds, Congress intended for these federal monies to supplement state resources aimed at supporting institutions and students, not supplant states' fiscal commitments to higher education.
The Relationship between School Funding and Student Achievement in Kansas Public Schools
Authors: Neymotin Florence
Published: August 2010

Recent changes in public school educational finance in the state of Kansas are shown to have had little positive effect on student educational achievement. A differences structure is used to determine the effect of changes in revenue per student at the district level on changes in measures of student achievement. Measures of achievement employed in the analysis are student test scores in math and reading, as well as various measures of student persistence in schooling.
The Cost Effectiveness of 22 Approaches for Raising Student Achievement
Authors: Yeh Stuart S.
Published: August 2010

Review of cost-effectiveness studies suggests that rapid assessment is more cost effective with regard to student achievement than comprehensive school reform (CSR), cross-age tutoring, computer-assisted instruction, a longer school day, increases in teacher education, teacher experience or teacher salaries, summer school, more rigorous math classes, value-added teacher assessment, class size reduction, a 10% increase in per pupil expenditure, full-day kindergarten, Head Start (preschool), high-standards exit exams, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification, higher teacher licensure test scores, high-quality preschool, an additional school year, voucher programs, or charter schools. Limitations of the study are discussed and the findings are interpreted with regard to studies of the effect of performance feedback on student motivation and perceptions of control over academic outcomes.
Siena on the Silk Roads: Ambrogio Lorenzetti and the Mongol Global Century, 1250–1350
Authors: Prazniak Roxann
Published: August 2010

The Mongol Empire opened intellectual exchange across the Eurasian expanse, generating a century of translocal creativity and cultural innovation. Major artistic centers under the Mongol Ilkhanate, including the workshops of Tabriz, evolved eclectic styles fusing elements from Iranian, Chinese, and Tibetan traditions among others. Sienese merchants and artists developed reciprocal contact with these centers and a growing awareness of Mongol cultural politics. Viewed in their Eurasian context, two frescoes by Sienese artist Ambrogio Lorenzetti, The Effects of Good Government and Martyrdom of the Franciscans , reframe and expand our understanding of the dynamic cultural pluralism that shaped our early modern history.
"The Sea Common to All": Maritime Frontiers, Port Cities, and Chinese Traders in the Southeast Asian Age of Commerce, ca. 1400–1750
Authors: Lockard Craig A.
Published: August 2010

The maritime frontier has played a key role in shaping the coastal peoples of Southeast Asia and South China, whose settlements were often more easily reached by water than over land, while serving to link these regions to the wider world. This article explores the maritime frontier from central China through the Malay Peninsula as a single field of interaction, sometimes compared to the Mediterranean, in the early modern era (1400–1700) through a study of three key ports: Melaka in Malaya, Hoi An in Vietnam, and Ayutthaya in Siam. It also examines the Chinese from Fujian who settled in these ports, formed hybrid merchant communities, and operated the junks that helped connect these ports to China, Japan, the rest of Southeast Asia, and beyond during a long period of flourishing Southeast Asian commerce.
Psychological Treatment for Adolescent Depression: Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Hayes Louise , Bach Patricia A. , Boyd Candice P.
Published: August 2010

The objective of this review is to summarise the evidence for mindfulness and acceptance approaches in the treatment of adolescent depression. The article begins by summarising the outcomes of three broad approaches to the treatment of adolescent depression — primary prevention, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy — in order to advocate for advances in treatment. With regard to psychotherapy, we restrict this to comparisons of meta-analytic studies, in order to cover the breadth of the outcome literature. In the second half of this article, we introduce the reader to mindfulness and acceptance-based psychotherapy, with a particular focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the applicability with adolescents. We provide an overview of the philosophical arguments that underlie this approach to psychotherapy and consider how each of these might contribute to treatment approaches for adolescents with depression.
Modifiability of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness by Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Glinski Krystyna , Page Andrew C.
Published: August 2010

The study investigated if the degree of personality pathology among people with clinical levels of social anxiety disorder was similar to those with personality disorders more generally, if the degree of avoidant personality pathology was correlated positively with Neuroticism and negatively with Extraversion and facets of Agreeableness (particularly Trust), and finally if scores on the relevant personality dimensions improve from pre- to post-treatment. Changes in Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness were examined following group treatment for social anxiety disorder. The current study employed a within-subjects repeated-measures design (N= 25) to investigate whether these traits can be changed by group treatment for social anxiety disorder. A measure of personality disorder pathology was found to correlate positively with Neuroticism and negatively with Agreeableness in the absence of significant relationships with other Five-Factor Model traits. Treatment was associated with significant reductions in Neuroticism and there was significant improvement of the Trust facet of Agreeableness. These results are discussed in terms of the way that group treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder may be enhanced.
Accelerating Evidence Into Practice for the Benefit of Children With Early Hearing Loss
Authors: Russ Shirley A. , Dougherty Denise , Jagadish Padmini
Published: August 2010

Over the years, multiple groups have issued recommendations for newborn hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention. In January 2008, the US Department of Health and Human Services held an invitational workshop at which more than 50 national experts met for 2 days to consider ways to accelerate the movement of evidence-based recommendations into practice. Participants set priorities among existing recommendations, identified areas with the most promise and created a national blueprint to accelerate evidence into practice. Workshop participants adopted the “3T's Roadmap to Transform US Health Care” as the conceptual model for this work and used a modified Delphi process to identify high-priority recommendations in 5 areas (diagnosis, treatment, parental and public awareness, continuous quality improvement, and stewardship). A matrix of responsibility was developed to specify entities that could take action to implement these recommendations. Participants placed a high priority on measurement and recommended improved data-tracking of newborns after screening and creation of a limited set of national indicators to monitor progress toward evidence-based system goals. They also identified a greater role for parents and families in contributing to system transformation and a need for more culturally and linguistically appropriate resources. Targeting infants in the NICU for early testing and creating guidelines and resources for early intervention were additional priorities. Finally, the workgroup noted the need to create a stewardship function to monitor the progress of the entire system of care, disseminate reports, consider future research directions, and continue to develop critical cross-agency and public-private coordination of activities.
Evaluation of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Program
Authors: Shulman Shanna , Besculides Melanie , Saltzman Anna , Ireys Henry , White Karl R. , Forsman Irene
Published: August 2010

During the last 20 years, the number of infants evaluated for permanent hearing loss at birth has increased dramatically with universal newborn hearing screening and intervention (UNHSI) programs operating in all US states and many territories. One of the most urgent challenges of UNHSI programs involves loss to follow-up among families whose infants screen positive for hearing loss. We surveyed 55 state and territorial UNHSI programs and conducted site visits with 8 state programs to evaluate progress in reaching program goals and to identify barriers to successful follow-up. We conclude that programs have made great strides in screening infants for hearing loss, but barriers to linking families of infants who do not pass the screening to further follow-up remain. We identified 4 areas in which there were barriers to follow-up (lack of service-system capacity, lack of provider knowledge, challenges to families in obtaining services, and information gaps), as well as successful strategies used by some states to address barriers within each of these areas. We also identified 5 key areas for future program improvements: (1) improving data systems to support surveillance and follow-up activities; (2) ensuring that all infants have a medical home; (3) building capacity beyond identified providers; (4) developing family support services; and (5) promoting the importance of early detection.
Improving Follow-up to Newborn Hearing Screening: A Learning-Collaborative Experience
Authors: Russ Shirley A. , Hanna Doris , DesGeorges Janet , Forsman Irene
Published: August 2010

Although ∼95% of US newborns are now screened for hearing loss at birth, more than half of those who do not pass the screen lack a documented diagnosis. In an effort to improve the quality of the follow-up process, teams from 8 states participated in a breakthrough-series learning collaborative. Teams were trained in the Model for Improvement, a quality-improvement approach that entails setting clear aims, tracking results, identifying proven or promising change strategies, and the use of small-scale, rapid-cycle plan-do-study-act tests of these changes. Parents acted as equal partners with professionals in guiding system improvement. Teams identified promising change strategies including ensuring the correct identification of the primary care provider before discharge from the birthing hospital; obtaining a second contact number for each family before discharge; “scripting” the message given to families when an infant does not pass the initial screening test; and using a “roadmap for families” as a joint communication tool between parents and professionals to demonstrate each family's location on the “diagnostic journey.” A learning-collaborative approach to quality improvement can be applied at a state-system level. Participants reported that the collaborative experience allowed them to move beyond a focus on improving their own service to improving connections between services and viewing themselves as part of a larger system of care. Ongoing quality-improvement efforts will require refinement of measures used to assess improvement, development of valid indicators of system performance, and an active role for families at all levels of system improvement.
Suicide time trends in Brazil from 1980 to 2005
Authors: Brzozowski Fabíola Stolf , Soares Giovana Bacilieri , Benedet Jucemar , Boing Antonio Fernando , Peres Marco Aurélio
Published: August 2010

The aim of this study was to describe suicide time trends in Brazil from 1980 to 2005. The data were obtained from the National Mortality Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Suicides rates were calculated for the entire period for the country as a whole and the 26 States and Federal District. Annual increases or decreases in mortality rates were also estimated using Prais-Winsten generalized linear regression. The mean suicide rate was 4.12 per 100,000 inhabitants (6.45/100,000 in men and 1.80/100,000 in women). The study showed an increasing suicide trend in men (+1.41% per year, 95%CI: 1.00;1.23) and a decreasing trend in women (-0.53% per year, 95%CI: -0.04;-1.02). Suicide rates increased with age. In general, for all age groups and for both genders, the highest rates were in São Paulo and in the States of the South and Central-West regions.
Perfil das tentativas de suicídio por sobredose intencional de medicamentos atendidas por um Centro de Controle de Intoxicações do Paraná, Brasil
Authors: Bernardes Sara Santos , Turini Conceição Aparecida , Matsuo Tiemi
Published: August 2010

Este trabalho apresenta o perfil das tentativas de suicídio atendidas pelo Centro de Controle de Intoxicações da cidade de Londrina, Paraná, Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo dos casos atendidos entre 1997-2007. As tentativas de suicídio foram significativas entre homens desempregados e mulheres donas-de-casa/aposentadas, e houve associação com outras substâncias em 51,5% dos casos, sendo a freqüência maior entre os homens. 51,1% dos homens associaram o medicamento com bebida alcoólica, e entre as mulheres, 84,8% das associações se referiram a medicamentos. Os grupos farmacológicos de maior freqüência foram os tranqüilizantes (25,5%), antidepressivos (17%), anticonvulsivos (15%) e AINES (11,9%), respectivamente. Os prescritores devem avaliar corretamente o paciente antes de receitar psicofármacos, uma vez que esse é o grupo farmacológico mais freqüente nas tentativas de suicídio. Campanhas de conscientização para o uso racional de medicamentos, juntamente com programas sociais de atendimento ao paciente suicida, também poderiam contribuir na diminuição da freqüência desses casos.
Voluntariado e negociação de protocolos de vacinas anti-HIV no Brasil
Authors: Cardoso Gisela Cordeiro Pereira , Corrêa Marilena Cordeiro Dias Villela
Published: August 2010

O estudo acompanhou a rotina de um ensaio clínico de vacinas experimentais anti-HIV no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, focalizando os processos de recrutamento, seleção e seguimento dos voluntários. Utilizaram-se técnicas de observação da rotina do centro de pesquisas e entrevistas a profissionais e voluntários. Os resultados evidenciaram que o ensaio é uma atividade coletiva, em que constantes negociações são necessárias entre o que é exigido pelo protocolo e o que precisa, pode ou deve ser adaptado para que ele funcione, em função de situações como: tempo prolongado de aprovação do estudo pelas instâncias regulatórias, dificuldades no recrutamento de voluntários, até problemas maiores como a descontinuidade das vacinações (ocorrida no protocolo estudado). Discute-se como a aplicação do protocolo transborda o script técnico-científico, transformando-se em um objeto fronteiriço entre mundos sociais diferentes. O protocolo é adaptado segundo uma ordem local, de acordo com a dinâmica das relações sociais, não podendo desconsiderar-se a constante inter-relação entre ciência, sociedade, técnica e política.
Factorial validity and reliability of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in the Brazilian physician population
Authors: Gouveia Valdiney V. , Barbosa Genário Alves , Andrade Edson de Oliveira , Carneiro Mauro Brandão
Published: August 2010

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a widely used screening instrument. One- and two-factor structures have been identified in some countries. In Brazil, the best factor structure is still unclear. This study aimed at knowing its factorial validity and reliability, and testing the one-factor and two-factor models. The participants were 7,512 Brazilian physicians. They answered the GHQ-12 and demographic questions. Unrotated (one-factor) and rotated (two-factor) structures of the GHQ-12 were extracted by principal component analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses (ML) were used to compare the one- and two-factor solutions. The two-factor model fitted the data better than the one-factor one. Those two factors were depression and social dysfunction, and they showed themselves to be directly correlated to one another. They also showed adequate reliability coefficients. The two-factor model is remarkably adequate, showing better fit indices, although it is acceptable to admit a common factor, which could be defined as psychological distress.
Temas e abordagens das ciências sociais e humanas em saúde na produção acadêmica de 1997 a 2007
Authors: Canesqui Ana Maria
Published: August 2010

Analisa-se a produção intelectual das ciências sociais e humanas em Saúde a partir de 498 artigos e resenhas de livros selecionados em oito periódicos de Saúde Pública/Saúde Coletiva, registrados na base eletrônica de dados SciELO no período 1997 a 2007, através de palavras-chave. Os textos foram selecionados através de critérios de uma listagem de 1.926 artigos identificados. Os temas pesquisados e suas proporções no conjunto da literatura foram: política e instituições de saúde, 32,5%; saúde e doença, 18,5%; gênero e saúde, 16,5%; violência e saúde, 9%; velhice e envelhecimento, 4,0%%; recursos humanos, profissões e formação, 7,5%; produção social das ciências e das técnicas, 7,0% e educação e comunicação em saúde, 4,0%. Os resultados apontam a expansão da produção acadêmica; concentração de 50% dos textos nos dois primeiros assuntos; uso de teorias de médio alcance; das mediações e de teorias e metodologias combinadas; incipiente interdisciplinaridade entre ciências sociais e ciências da vida; abordagens disciplinares. Recomenda-se a discussão de uma agenda de investigação multicêntrica, capaz de diversificar e aprofundar temas sobre condições de saúde e mudanças sociais; a política e serviços de saúde; a formação profissional e conhecimento e tecnologias.
A participação e a criatividade como ferramentas de análise das políticas públicas
Authors: Cordeiro Joselma Cavalcanti , Villasante Tomás Rodriguez Pietro , Araújo Júnior José Luiz do Amaral Correa de
Published: August 2010

No contexto da globalização atual, importantes modificações das relações internacionais e dos componentes ideológicos, técnicos e culturais na administração dos Estados se expressam na falta de legitimidade de princípios da ação pública com consequente emergência do problema da iniquidade social e o debilitamento do papel do Estado. Os planos e programas de desenvolvimento, independente de sua origem política ou orientação ideológica, apresentam uma uniformidade imperante e o desafio atual implica a mobilização de competências locais, tendo como objetivo a mudança na qualidade da ação pública, mediante novas estratégias de desenvolvimento que integrem as novas dimensões sociais e outros dispositivos de ação. Um destes, a ação intersetorial, demanda uma revisão estrutural da fronteira administrativa e cultural dos agentes sociais, públicos e privados, como ensaio de um novo conserto sociopolítico. Toma como marco metodológico a complexidade das políticas, projetos e programas e os referenciais teóricos e metodológicos: integralidade, redes sociais e a sociopráxis, construindo um processo participativo de conhecimento para uma análise de políticas na busca de uma mudança na abordagem dos processos sociopolíticos a partir das redes locais, através de uma investigação de segunda ordem.
Estratégia Saúde da Família: avaliando o acesso ao SUS a partir da percepção dos usuários da Unidade de Saúde de Resistência, na região de São Pedro, no município de Vitória (ES)
Authors: Schwartz Talita Dourado , Ferreira Josilda Terezinha Bertulozo , Maciel Ethel Leonor Noia , Lima Rita de Cássia Duarte
Published: August 2010

A Saúde da Família é uma estratégia de reorientação do modelo assistencial. Uma de suas diretrizes é o estabelecimento de vínculo das equipes de saúde com os usuários do SUS. Este estudo visa avaliar o acesso dos usuários à Unidade Saúde da Família (USF) e os problemas locais enfrentados. É um estudo exploratório qualitativo, desenvolvido na USF Resistência em São Pedro, localizada no município de Vitória (ES), com dados coletados individualmente, por meio de um questionário semiestruturado. Constata que as principais necessidades da população estão inseridas nas atribuições da USF e que os usuários enfrentam diversas dificuldades de acesso-utilização dos serviços. As principais críticas estão relacionadas às dificuldades de acesso às especialidades. A maioria dos entrevistados mostrou-se satisfeita com o acesso ao atendimento e não se intimidou em apontar as dificuldades enfrentadas. O trabalho desenvolvido na US Resistência vem contribuindo para a melhoria da qualidade de atendimento aos usuários assistidos pela Estratégia Saúde da Família. O estudo revelou também problemas e dificuldades no acesso, o que mostra, por si só, o grande desafio que é reconstruir um modelo assistencial conforme proposto para a construção dessa política pública.
O impacto das condições bucais na qualidade de vida de pessoas com cinquenta ou mais anos de vida
Authors: Bianco Vinicius Cappo , Lopes Eymar Sampaio , Borgato Maria Helena , Silva Poliana Moura e , Marta Sara Nader
Published: August 2010

Avaliou-se a influência de variáveis sociodemográficas e as condições bucais na qualidade de vida de 224 indivíduos, com 50 anos ou mais de Bauru (SP). Os dados foram coletados de acordo com o Oral Health Surveys-Basic Methods: índices de cárie, periodontal comunitário, perda de inserção periodontal e uso/necessidade de próteses odontológicas. A percepção do indivíduo sobre suas condições bucais, foi medida pelo Oral Health Impact Profile, com sete domínios: limitação funcional, dor, desconforto psicológico, incapacidades física, psicológica e social e desvantagem. 60% dos indivíduos eram aposentados; 42% sem atividade social; 65,5% com renda mensal de um a três salários mínimos; 53% usavam prótese total superior e, destes, 33% ambas; 1,94 dentes cariados e 5,4 restaurados; OHIP-os impactos sociais foram menos intensos que os físicos/ psicológicos; a idade foi significante em todos os domínios; apenas a condição periodontal foi importante para a qualidade de vida. As variáveis sociodemográficas e as condições bucais tiveram pequena variação no OHIP; os impactos sociais foram menos intensos que os físicos/psicológicos na qualidade de vida; a maioria dos entrevistados acusou pelo menos um impacto da saúde bucal na qualidade de vida; os escores do OHIP diminuíram nos grupos de maior idade.
Desigualdades na distribuição da cárie dentária em adolescentes de Indaiatuba (SP), 2004
Authors: Rihs Lilian Berta , Sousa Maria da Luz Rosário de , Cypriano Silvia , Abdalla Nádja Moscoso
Published: August 2010

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram conhecer a prevalência da cárie dentária e a necessidade de tratamento odontológico, além da distribuição da cárie dentária na população que apresenta índices de cárie mais elevados em escolares de doze anos. Foram examinados 309 adolescentes, de escolas públicas de Indaiatuba (SP), em 2004, selecionados mediante processo amostral aleatório sistemático e os exames seguiram os critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde. O percentual de escolares livres de cárie foi de 38,8%. Dentre os escolares examinados, 36,6% (n=113) apresentaram atividade de cárie. O CPOD foi de 2,50 (IC95%=2,07-2,93). O componente cariado foi o mais prevalente (61,0%). O coeficiente de Gini foi 0,602 e o valor do índice SiC foi de 5,97 (IC95%=5,32-6,62); neste grupo em especial, 74,7% (n=74) apresentaram atividade de cárie no momento do exame. Desta forma, pode-se concluir que os escolares deste município apresentaram baixa experiência de cárie; entretanto, não apresentaram suas necessidades atendidas, uma vez que a maior parte do CPOD era formada do componente cariado, aos doze anos de idade. No grupo SiC, verificou-se que este apresentou-se bastante elevado, sendo recomendadas ações direcionadas a este grupo específico de adolescentes.
Os protocolos e a decisão médica: medicina baseada em vivências e ou evidências?
Authors: Uchôa Severina Alice da Costa , Camargo Jr Kenneth Rochel de
Published: August 2010

O objetivo geral do trabalho é compreender as concepções e interesses sobre transmutar a fundamentação da prática cotidiana do conhecimento produzido pela experiência para modelos probabilísticos da epidemiologia. O objeto é a argumentação e as práticas em torno de consenso sobre critérios de conhecimento válidos às decisões diagnósticas e terapêuticas. O ponto de partida é o estudo de Fleck, no qual os fatos não são objetivamente dados, mas coletiva e contingencialmente criados em adequação a um estilo de pensamento. Nossa estratégia de pesquisa foi a observação etnográfica do round e das reuniões clínicas numa unidade de terapia cardiointensiva cirúrgica, no Rio de Janeiro. A análise baseou-se nos trabalhos de Knorr-Cetina, (arena transepistêmica) e teoria da argumentação de Perelman. A pesquisa revelou a consolidação da tendência de incorporação de critérios explícitos de relação custo-benefício e interesses relativos a distintos agentes, como categoria médica, governos, complexo médico-industrial, na introdução dos protocolos. Demonstrou utilização ambivalente: protocolos/estudos científicos e experiência clínica. Chamou a atenção um certo ceticismo e inabilidade dos médicos na utilização das ferramentas de análise do estilo de pensamento epidemiológico.
Above the din but in the fray: environmental scientists as effective advocates
Authors: Meyer Judy L , Frumhoff Peter C , Hamburg Steven P , de la Rosa Carlos
Published: August 2010

Environmental policies and actions can be improved when environmental scientists engage in science‐based advocacy, by calling attention to relevant scientific information and ensuring that policies and their implementation are consistent with the best available science. There are many models for scientist‐advocates within and outside of advocacy organizations, and the roles they play may vary, depending on career stage. Here, we discuss the challenges and rewards for scientific staff in science‐based advocacy organizations, as well as for an academic working with an advocacy organization, as a consultant, collaborator, or member of an advisory board. We identify some best practices for science‐based advocacy and encourage the environmental science community to recognize the importance of the scientist‐advocate's role in strengthening environmental policy.
The influence of robot anthropomorphism on the feelings of embarrassment when interacting with robots
Authors: Bartneck Christoph , Bleeker Timo , Bun Jeroen , Fens Pepijn , Riet Lynyrd
Published: August 2010

Medical robots are expected to help with providing care in an aging society. The degree to which patients experience embarrassment in a medical examination might be influenced by the robots’ level of anthropomorphism. The results of our preliminary study show that young, healthy, Dutch university students were less embarrassed when interacting with a technical box than with a robot. Highly human-like robots might therefore not be the best choice for a medical robot. This result also shows that the robot was perceived as a person more so than the technical box. The next step is to compare the robot to a real nurse or doctor. If patients are less embarrassed when interacting with a robot, then, potentially, patients will be less likely to defer important medical examinations when carried out by medical robots.
A Streamlined Search Algorithm for Path Modifications of a Safe Robot Manipulator*
Authors: Najmaei Nima , Kermani Mehrdad R.
Published: August 2010

In recent years, the interest in human-robot interactions has added a new dimension to the on-line path planning problem by requiring a method that guarantees a risk-free path. This paper presents a streamlined search algorithm for fast path modification. The algorithm is formulated as an optimization problem that evaluates alternative paths nearby each obstacle. Each path is evaluated based on the value of the danger assigned to that path. To reduce the size of the search space, the minimum number of via points necessary to alter the path is initially obtained using a geometrical method. Given the number of via points, the algorithm proceeds to locate the via points around the obstacle such that the resulting path through these via points satisfies all problem constraints. Obtaining a solution in this way renders a fast algorithm for path modification, while it better avoids problems often encountered in other gradient-based search algorithms. Case studies for two planar robots are provided to highlight some of the advantages of the proposed algorithm. Experimental results using a CRS-F3 robot manipulator validate the effectiveness of the algorithm for applications involving human-robot interactions.
Gene Polymorphisms as Markers of Disease Susceptibility
Authors: Novaković Ivana , Maksimović Nela , Cvetković Slobodan , Cvetković Dragana
Published: August 2010

Gene Polymorphisms as Markers of Disease Susceptibility

The most widespread diseases of modern man have a polygenic basis, including genetic predisposition and factors in the external environment. Such is the case with cardiovascular disease, malignancy, diabetes and so on. It should be borne in mind that risk factors usually include disorders that are themselves multifactorial, which further indicates the complexity of pathophysiological mechanisms. In the investigation of genetic factors in polygenic diseases studies are underway to determine the association with specific gene polymorphisms. Genetic or DNA polymorphisms are differences in the hereditary basis which are normally found in human populations. The human genome consists of 3×109nucleotide (base) pairs, and it is considered that, on average, every 1000th nucleotide is polymorphic, i.e. varies between two loci or two individuals. The most common type of gene polymorphisms is the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Although gene polymorphisms are an expression of normal variations in the hereditary basis, their effect on the phenotype is interesting, especially the association with proneness to certain diseases. Association studies examine the incidence of certain genetic variants, i.e. genetic polymorphisms in a group of patients, and compare it with the data of a healthy population. The results are often contradictory, so the number of polymorphisms whose role as markers of genetic predisposition has been clearly confirmed is still small. In this paper we review literature data and present experiences from our laboratory in studying genetic polymorphisms as susceptibility factors for the occurrence of thrombophilia and atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations.
DNA and histone deacetylases as targets for neuroblastoma treatment
Authors: Stiborová Marie , Poljaková Jitka , Eckschlager Tomáš , Kizek Rene , Frei Eva
Published: August 2010

DNA and histone deacetylases as targets for neuroblastoma treatment

Neuroblastoma, a tumor of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, is the most frequent solid extra cranial tumor in children and is a major cause of death from neoplasia in infancy. Still little improvement in therapeutic options has been made, requiring a need for the development of new therapies. In our laboratory, we address still unsettled questions, which of mechanisms of action of DNA-damaging drugs both currently use for treatment of human neuroblastomas (doxorubicin, cis-platin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide) and another anticancer agent decreasing growth of neuroblastomasin vitro, ellipticine, are predominant mechanism(s) responsible for their antitumor action in neuroblastoma cell linesin vitro.Because hypoxia frequently occurs in tumors and strongly correlates with advanced disease and poor outcome caused by chemoresistance, the effects of hypoxia on efficiencies and mechanisms of actions of these drugs in neuroblastomas are also investigated. Since the epigenetic structure of DNA and its lesions play a role in the origin of human neuroblastomas, pharmaceutical manipulation of the epigenome may offer other treatment options also for neuroblastomas. Therefore, the effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors on growth of neuroblastoma and combination of these compounds with doxorubicin, cis-platin, etoposide and ellipticine as well as mechanisms of such effects in human neuroblastona cell linesin vitroare also investigated. Such a study will increase our knowledge to explain the proper function of these drugs on the molecular level, which should be utilized for the development of new therapies for neuroblastomas.
Wavelet-based Entropy Measure for Rate-Distortion Optimization in Image Coding
Authors: Garcia-Alvarez J. , Führ H. , Castellanos-Domínguez G.
Published: August 2010

Wavelet-based Entropy Measure for Rate-Distortion Optimization in Image Coding

A novel method for calculation of the entropy measure in wavelet space is proposed. This perceived-based entropy measure uses a Second Order Model entropy estimator, in which the occurrence of neighbors is considered in formulation. It has the intention to allow the implementation of a more suitable measure in coding processes and a relationship between the metric and the description of perceptual features. This method is used for the Rate-Distortion optimization in order to improve the bit-allocation coding algorithm, demonstrating that the wavelet-based entropy estimates a truncation step close to the target rate. The hypothesis is founded in the effect of distortion on the coefficient allocation. Because entropy measure is a close approximation of the conditional probability of image in multi-resolution space, it provides an adequate representation for the information of aDetailfeature. A definition of Detail-based homogeneity variance criteria is used for the information quantity - wavelet representation space, in order to find the image that fits a given Quality Level criteria. Experimental results are obtained for artificial and natural databases.
Autofocusing with the help of orthogonal series transforms
Authors: Śliwiński Przemysław
Published: August 2010

Autofocusing with the help of orthogonal series transforms

An autofocus algorithm employing orthogonal series expansions is proposed. Several instances of the generic algorithm, based on discrete trigonometric, polynomial and wavelet series, are reviewed. The algorithms are easy to implement in the transform coders used in digital cameras. Formal analysis of the algorithm properties is illustrated in experiments. Some practical issues are also discussed.