Universidade de Pernambuco

About: Universidade de Pernambuco is a education organization based out in Recife, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 6147 authors who have published 6948 publications receiving 73648 citations.

A performance comparison of multi-objective optimization evolutionary algorithms for all-optical networks design

Abstract: In this paper we investigate the performance of well known multi-objective optimization evolutionary algorithms (MOEA) applied to the design of all-optical networks. We focused on the simultaneous optimization of the network topology and the device specifications in order to both minimize the total cost to build the network, i.e. the capital expenditure, and to maximize the overall network performance. We used the network blocking probability to assess the quality of the network service. We have considered the following five different MOEA: NSGAII, SPEA2, PESAII, PAES and MODE. In order to suggest a suitable algorithm to solve the problem, we performed a set of simulations aiming to analyze the convergence ability and the diversity of the generated solutions. We used four well known metrics to compare the achieved Pareto Fronts: hypervolume, spacing, maximum spread and coverage. From our results, we believe that the NSGAII and the SPEA2 algorithms are more suitable to solve this specific problem.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase the Phenolic Compounds Concentration in the Bark of the Stem of Libidibia Ferrea in Field Conditions.

Abstract: Background Libidibia ferrea is a species particular to the caatinga presenting medicinal properties for containing bioactive compounds. The use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can increase the production of biomolecules in the legume leaves; however, no light has been shed on the role of symbiosis in maximizing metabolites production in the bark of L. ferrea stem. Objective The aim was to select AMF that are efficient at increasing the production of phenolic compounds with medicinal properties in the bark of the L. ferrea stem. Methods The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four inoculation treatments (plants pre-inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, with Gigaspora albida, with Acaulospora longula, and non-inoculated plants - control) with six repetitions. Thirteen months after the transplanting, the plants were pruned and the bark of the stem was collected; subsequently, this plant material was dried in a chamber. After the drying process, fractions of the bark of the stem were macerated in methanol. The extracts were further used for analyses of the biomolecules. Results The flavonoids concentration had an increase of, respectively, 236% and 186% in relation to the control for the treatments with A. longula and C. etunicatum; plants inoculated with A. longula had an increase of 47% in total tannins concentration compared with the non-inoculated control - a benefit that the proanthocyanidins did not present. Conclusion Applying inoculation with A. longula may be an alternative to increase the production of biomolecules of the secondary metabolism in the bark of the L. ferrea stem in field conditions.

Espiritualidade no cuidar de pacientes em cuidados paliativos: Um estudo com enfermeiros

Abstract: Objetivo: Compreender a espiritualidade sob o ponto de vista de enfermeiros que cuidam de pacientes em regime de cuidados paliativos. Metodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa de campo, de natureza qualitativa, realizada com dez enfermeiros vinculados a um hospital de Joao Pessoa (PB). O material empirico foi coletado mediante entrevista semiestruturada e analisado por meio da tecnica de analise de conteudo. Resultados: Os enfermeiros consideram a espiritualidade como fonte de forca, conforto e fe e que, quando cultivada pelos pacientes em cuidados paliativos, contribui para melhorar a sua condicao e aceitar o processo de finitude. Identificaram o apoio familiar, perdao, amor, crenca, fe e esperanca como necessidades espirituais desses pacientes, as quais podem ser atendidas por eles utilizando variadas estrategias. Conclusao: Evidencia-se que os enfermeiros reconhecem a importância da dimensao espiritual no atendimento de pacientes sob cuidados paliativos, no entanto, ainda existe despreparo para lidar com as questoes espirituais.

Indicadores antropométricos de obesidade abdominal: revisão dos artigos indexados na biblioteca SciELO

Abstract: A systematic review of original articles published between 1993 and 2007 and indexed in SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) was carried out to identify the anthropometric indicators used to assess abdominal obesity in different target subgroups, and to provide an overview of available evidence regarding the relationship between these anthropometric indicators and obesity-associated comorbidities. The articles were analyzed and the following data were collected:year of publication, sample size and age, anthropometric measure used to detect abdominal obesity, and main results of the study. The review comprised 47 articles which met all inclusion criteria, most of them published over the last 5 years. Waist-hip ratio and waist circumference were used as indicators of abdominal obesity in 34 and 11 of the articles reviewed, respectively. With respect to age range, the samples were heterogeneous in most of the studies (n=27) and ten included adolescents. Four studies were conducted on elderly subjects and three included children, but none exclusively involved adolescents as the target population. The sample size was larger than 500 in 26 studies. Despite disagreement in terms of the degree of correlation, the studies generally showed that the anthropometric indicators of abdominal obesity were correlated with hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemias, and coronary heart risk. The results of this review suggest that abdominal obesity is associated with metabolic diseases. However, there is a lack of studies involving the adolescent population, suggesting the need for further research in this area.