Damage in InGaN/GaN bilayers upon Xe and Pb swift heavy ion irradiation.

350 nm and 550 nm thick InGaN/GaN bilayers were irradiated with different energies (from ∼82 to ∼38 MeV) of xenon (129Xe) ions and different fluences of 1.2 GeV lead (208Pb) ions, respectively. The radiation effects of the swift heavy ions' (SHIs) bombardment were investigated using Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry in Channeling mode (RBS/C), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. To assess damage profiles, the RBS/C analysis was followed by Monte Carlo simulations using the McChasy code, revealing that InGaN is more susceptible to irradiation damage than GaN. Moreover, the simulations suggest that both randomly displaced atoms (possibly due to partial amorphization) and dislocation loops are formed. The elastic response to radiation was estimated by measuring the expansion of the c-lattice parameter. XRD revealed the presence of strain even in low fluence samples where only a small fraction of the sample volume suffered direct SHI impacts. Micro-Raman suggests that for low defect concentrations, it is dominantly biaxial, while for high defect concentrations, the simultaneous increase of hydrostatic and biaxial occurs. As a driving force of the lattice expansion, we point out the Poisson effect resulting from the pressure exerted by the SHI tracks on the surrounding undamaged crystal structure.

Implementation of an Animal Sporotrichosis Surveillance and Control Program, Southeastern Brazil.

We report the implementation of an animal sporotrichosis surveillance and control program that evaluates strategies to identify suspected and infected cats in a municipality in southeastern Brazil. All adopted measures reinforced the program, although strategies had different abilities to detect the presence of infection.

Effects of cold water immersion on the recovery of physical performance and muscle damage following a one-off soccer match.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a single session of cold or thermoneutral water immersion after a one-off match on muscular dysfunction and damage in soccer players. Twenty-male soccer players completed one match and were randomly divided into cryotherapy (10 min cold water immersion, 10°C, n = 10) and thermoneutral (10 min thermoneutral water immersion, 35°C, n = 10) groups. Muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin), inflammation (C-reactive protein), neuromuscular function (jump and sprint abilities and maximal isometric quadriceps strength), and delayed-onset muscle soreness were evaluated before, within 30 min of the end, and 24 and 48 h after the match. After the match, the players in both groups showed increased plasma creatine kinase activity (30 min, 24 h, 48 h), myoglobin (30 min) and C-reactive protein (30 min, 24 h) concentrations. Peak jump ability and maximal strength were decreased and delayed-onset muscle soreness increased in both groups. However, differential alterations were observed between thermoneutral water and cold water immersion groups in creatine kinase (30 min, 24 h, 48 h), myoglobin (30 min), C-reactive protein (30 min, 24 h, 48 h), quadriceps strength (24 h), and quadriceps (24 h), calf (24 h) and adductor (30 min) delayed-onset muscle soreness. The results suggest that cold water immersion immediately after a one-off soccer match reduces muscle damage and discomfort, possibly contributing to a faster recovery of neuromuscular function.

Molybdenum Oxide Thin Films Grown on Flexible ITO-Coated PET Substrates.

Molybdenum oxide thin films were deposited on stiff and flexible substrates by reactive DC magnetron sputtering. Two sets of samples were prepared. The first with different O2/Ar flow rate ratios and the second, fixing the oxygen content, with different time of deposition. As the O2/Ar flow rate ratio varies from 0 up to 0.56, a threshold was found, ranging from crystalline to amorphous nature, and from a nontransparent appearance with metallic-like electrical conductivity to transparent and dielectric behaviour. From the second set, all transparent, the MoOx films present a compact/dense and featureless morphology with thickness from 190 up to 910 nm, depending on the time of deposition. Their structure was corroborated by XPS and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) and density measurements were performed by RBS and X-ray reflectivity (XRR), revealing a value of 2.4 g/cm3. The surface roughness is in the order of a few nanometers and the maxima optical transmission, in the visible range, is around 89%. Electrochemical cyclic voltammograms showed noticeable color reversibility and reproducibility on the flexible substrates opening new framework possibilities for new electrochomic devices.

Characterization of animal sporotrichosis in a highly urbanized area.

An epidemiological characterization of animal sporotrichosis was carried out between 2017 and 2018, in a highly urbanized area in Brazil, including outcomes and the spatial distribution of the cases according to the health vulnerability index (HVI) of the study territory. One hundred and sixty-five cats and four dogs suspected of sporotrichosis were identified by a surveillance and control program previously implemented in the study area. One hundred and five of these animals (62.1 %) were considered positive for Sporothrix spp., of which 103 were cats and two were dogs. Cases predominated among male cats (53.4 %), although gender did not present a statistically significant association (p > 0.05) with sporotrichosis cases. Considering the positive cats, 55.4 % were not neutered and free access to the street was reported as a habit for 86.4 % of them. Roaming free in the streets increased the chance of infection by 2.54 times. We observed a high frequency of euthanasia or death (48.8 %) among 86 infected cats available to be included in the follow-up stage of the study, even when they were treated (46.5 %) and a low cure rate (31 %). The disease spread, unrelated to the HVI in the territory. Data produced suggested that avoiding access to the street seems to have greater importance to sporotrichosis control in cats than neutering and reinforces the importance of health education, especially in relation to responsible feline ownership. The free offer of diagnosis and treatment also should be taken into consideration as important measures to control the disease.

Long-term hyperglycaemia decreases gastrocnemius susceptibility to permeability transition.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycaemia-resulting in mitochondrial bioenergetics' complications is associated with skeletal muscle dysfunction. The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of long-term severe hyperglycaemia on gastrocnemius mitochondrial bioenergetics, with special relevance on the susceptibility to mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening. METHODS: Sixteen adult (6- to 8-week-old) male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 8/group): control and diabetic. A single dose (50 mg kg(-1)) of streptozotocin (STZ) was administrated i.p. to induce hyperglycaemia. In vitro mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates, membrane potential (Delta psi) fluctuations, MPTP induction as followed by osmotic swelling and extramitochondrial calcium movements and caspase 9-like activity were evaluated 18 weeks after STZ treatment. RESULTS: STZ treatment induced an increase in state 4 and a decrease in the respiratory control ratio with complex I substrates (P < 0.05), whereas no differences were observed using complex II substrates. In both conditions, no significant differences were observed when measuring maximal Delta psi, although STZ treatment increased Delta psi during ADP-induced depolarization when succinate was used. The most critical result was that muscle mitochondria isolated from STZ-treated rats showed a decrease susceptibility to MPTP induction by calcium, as followed by two different experimental protocols. Interestingly, the protection was accompanied by a decrease in muscle caspase 9-like activity. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that 18 weeks of STZ treatment lead to a decrease in gastrocnemius mitochondrial respiratory control ratio and to decreased calcium-dependent mitochondrial MPTP. Results from this and other works suggest that mitochondrial effects of hyperglycaemia are time and organ specific.

Effect of Eu-implantation and annealing on the GaN quantum dots excitonic recombination.

Undoped self-assembled GaN quantum dots (QD) stacked in superlattices (SL) with AlN spacer layers were submitted to thermal annealing treatments. Changes in the balance between the quantum confinement, strain state of the stacked heterostructures and quantum confined Stark effect lead to the observation of GaN QD excitonic recombination above and below the bulk GaN bandgap. In Eu-implanted SL structures, the GaN QD recombination was found to be dependent on the implantation fluence. For samples implanted with high fluence, a broad emission band at 2.7 eV was tentatively assigned to the emission of large blurred GaN QD present in the damage region of the implanted SL. This emission band is absent in the SL structures implanted with lower fluence and hence lower defect level. In both cases, high energy emission bands at approx. 3.9 eV suggest the presence of smaller dots for which the photoluminescence intensity was seen to be constant with increasing temperatures. Despite the fact that different deexcitation processes occur in undoped and Eu-implanted SL structures, the excitation population mechanisms were seen to be sample-independent. Two main absorption bands with maxima at approx. 4.1 and 4.7 to 4.9 eV are responsible for the population of the optically active centres in the SL samples.

Quem cuida do cuida[dor]: principais fatores que interferem na saúde dos profissionais de enfermagem, uma visão biopsicossocial / ¿Quién cuida al cuidador: los factores clave que afectan la salud de los profesionales de enfermería, una visión biopsicosocial / Who cares for the caregiver: key factors that affect the health of nursing professionals, a biopsychosocial view

Objetivo: Levantamento biográfico a fim de traçar um paralelo entre os principais fatores que interferem na saúde dos profissionais de enfermagem e as normas regulamentadoras (NR) existentes que contemplam os referidos fatores. Método: Revisão bibliográfica, análise crítica e meticulosa. Resultados: É preciso um suporte institucional que possibilite uma política de recursos humanos que contemple a saúde do trabalhador em sua totalidade, enfocando a qualidade de vida e o cuidado dos trabalhadores no contexto biopsicossocial. Conclusão: Dentre os principais fatores que interferem na saúde do trabalhador de enfermagem encontram-se a exposição a sangue, excretas/secreções e ou fluidos corpóreos, horas extras excessivas, posturas inadequadas no desenvolvimento das atividades laborais e o continuo convívio com a dor. Quanto as NR é importante ressaltar que apesar de haver uma especifica para os profissionais da área de saúde, a NR 32 complementa e é complementada pelas demais NR

Objective: Biographical Survey in order to draw a parallel between the main factors that affect the health of nurses and the existing standards regulating (NR) include those factors. Method: Literature review, critical analysis and meticulous. Results: We need an institutional support that enables a human resources policy covering the worker's health in its totality, focusing on quality of life and care of workers in the biopsychosocial context. Conclusion: Amongthe main factors that affect worker health nursing are exposure to blood, excretions / secretions or body fluids, excessive overtime, postures in the development of work activities and still living with the pain. As the NR is important to note that although there is specific for health professionals, NR 32 complements and is complemented by the other NR

Objetivo: Estudio biográfico con el fin de trazar un paralelo entre los principales factores que afectan la salud de las enfermeras y del las normas regulatorias (NR) existentes incluyen aquellos factores. Método: Revisión de la literatura, el análisis crítico y minucioso. Resultados: Se necesita un apoyo institucional que permita una política de recursos humanos en materia de salud del trabajador en su totalidad, centrándose en la calidad de vida y cuidado de los trabajadores en el contexto biopsicosocial. Conclusión: Entre los principales factores que afectan a la enfermería profesional de la salud son la exposición a la sangre, excreciones / secreciones o fluidos corporales, exceso de horas extraordinarias, las posturas en el desarrollo de actividades de trabajo y todavía vive con el dolor. A medida que la NR es importante tener en cuenta que, aunque no es específica para los profesionales de la salud, la NR 32 complementa y se complementa con las otras NR

Evoluçäo pós-operatória na atriosseptoplastia / Postoperative evolution in atriosseptoplasty

No presente estudo, objetivou-se avaliar a evolucao pos-operatoria da atriosseptoplastia, tomando como parametros a frequencia de complicacoes e o tempo de permanencia no Centro de Tratamento Intensivo (CTI-Cardiaco). Foram estudados 26 pacientes (10 homens e 16 mulheres). Deste total, 5 apresentaram complicacoes nos pos-operatorio imediato e 2 no tardio, nao havendo evolucao para obito. O tempo de permanencia no CTI-Cardiaco aumentou com a elevacao da idade dos pacientes. Os resultados sugerem que a Atriosseptoplastia e uma cirurgia de baixo risco, devendo ser realizada em idade precoce.

O idoso no Programa de Saúde da Família: o processo de construção do conhecimento através da análise integrativa / The aged in the Program of the Family Health: the process of the knowledge construction through the integrative review

O presente estudo insere-se na temática Saúde do Idoso, tendo como objeto o idoso no Programa de Saúde da Família. Nortearam este estudo as seguintes questões: Os profissionais de saúde vêm realizando pesquisas sobre o idoso no Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF)? Como se configuram estas pesquisas em âmbito nacional, quanto aos aspectos do processo de envelhecimento da população? Quais as contribuições que estas pesquisas podem trazer para a formação de uma base de conhecimento na área gerontogeriátrica em formação? Os objetivos deste estudo foram: mapear a produção do conhecimento sobre envelhecimento no Campo da Saúde Pública, através da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (PSF), no período de 2001 a 2005; realizar o levantamento bibliográfico das produções científicas desenvolvidas sobre o tema, junto às bases de dados nacionais (LlLACS, BDENF, BVS Envelhecimento, CDRE, e Portal CAPES); caracterizar as publicações, segundo o objetivo, tipo, população, amostra, ano e fonte do estudo, e a titulação, formação e atuação dos autores; analisar as produções científicas, em relação a sua contribuição como base de conhecimento as questões do processo de envelhecimento e da pessoa idosa na comunidade em que vive. Utilizou-se o método da revisão integrativa, com a finalidade de sintetizar resultados obtidos de pesquisas sobre o tema em questão. O levantamento bibliográfico abrangeu 21 publicações nacionais que compuseram a amostra do estudo. A análise dos estudos permitiu identificar que os mesmos constituíram-se em: artigos científicos (52,38%), dissertações (28,57%), e teses (19,04%). O período de 2003/2004 apresentou o maior número de pesquisas (28,57% e 38,09%, respectivamente). A região sudeste do Brasil foi a região que mais desenvolveu estudos sobre o assunto com 44.11 %, seguido da região sul e nordeste com 22,21 %, respectivamente, a região centro-oeste apresentou 5,55% da amostra, e a região nordeste não contou com nenhum estudo...