Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

About: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais is a education organization based out in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 41631 authors who have published 75688 publications receiving 1249905 citations.

Use of Conducting Electroactive Polymers for Drug Delivery and Sensing of Bioactive Molecules. A Redox Chemistry Approach

Abstract: We have examined the properties of polypyrrole (PPy) as a model electroactive membrane which can simultaneously serve as a medium sensing, and bioactive molecule releasing, material using optical spectroscopic, potentiometric, and conductometric methods. In particular, PPy membranes can sense hydrazine in aqueous solution with linear logarithmic potentiometric and conductometric responses between 10-4 and 10-1 M. The sensing properties of the PPy membranes are discussed in terms of both its redox properties and specific acid−base behavior. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been used as a model drug which is easily loaded into PPy during electrochemical synthesis. ATP release processes from PPy/ATP membranes have been studied spectroscopically using electrochemical and chemical triggering. Electrochemical triggering allowed ATP to be delivered with a variety of release profiles and adjustable rates (up to 20 μg cm-2 min-1 for a 10 μm thick membrane). The mass transfer through the membranes has been successf...

The impact of remittances on poverty and human capital: evidence from Latin American household surveys.

Abstract: This paper explores the impact of remittances on poverty, education, and health in 11 Latin American countries using nationally representative household surveys and making an explicit attempt to account for one of the inherent costs associated with migration-the potential income that the migrant may have made at home. The main findings of the study are the following: (1) regardless of the counterfactual used remittances appear to lower poverty levels in most recipient countries; (2) yet despite this general tendency, the estimated impacts tend to be modest; and (3) there is significant country heterogeneity in the poverty reduction impact of remittances' flows. Among the aspects that have been identified in the paper that may lead to varying outcomes across countries are the percentage of households reporting remittances income, the share of remittances of recipient households belonging to the lowest quintiles of the income distribution, and the relative importance of remittances flows with respect to GDP. While remittances tend to have positive effects on education and health, this impact is often restricted to specific groups of the population.

O professor, as condições de trabalho e os efeitos sobre sua saúde

Abstract: O estudo das relacoes entre o processo de trabalho docente, as reais condicoes sob as quais ele se desenvolve e o possivel adoecimento fisico e mental dos professores constituem um desafio e uma necessidade para se entender o processo saude-doenca do trabalhador docente e se buscar as possiveis associacoes com o afastamento do trabalho por motivo de saude. Este artigo apresenta o perfil dos afastamentos do trabalho por motivos de saude de uma populacao de profissionais da educacao. Buscando elementos na literatura disponivel, aventa a hipotese de que as condicoes de trabalho nas escolas podem gerar sobreesforco dos docentes na realizacao de suas tarefas. Foram analisados os dados apresentados no Relatorio preparado pela Gerencia de Saude do Servidor e Pericia Medica (GSPM) da Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, relativos aos afastamentos do trabalho de funcionarios da Secretaria Municipal de Educacao, de abril de 2001 a maio de 2003. Os afastamentos foram indicados pelos atestados medicos fornecidos pela propria instituicao. Os dados obtidos, embora nao permitissem discriminar o numero de professores envolvidos, possibilitaram o conhecimento do numero de afastamentos entre os professores, sendo que os transtornos psiquicos ficaram em primeiro lugar entre os diagnosticos que provocaram os afastamentos.

Trypanosoma cruzi: genetic structure of populations and relevance of genetic variability to the pathogenesis of chagas disease

Abstract: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, has a variable clinical course, ranging from symptomless infection to severe chronic disease with cardiovascular or gastrointestinal involvement or, occasionally, overwhelming acute episodes. The factors influencing this clinical variability have not been elucidated, but it is likely that the genetic variability of both the host and the parasite are of importance. In this work we review the the genetic structure of T. cruzi populations and analyze the importance of genetic variation of the parasite in the pathogenesis of the disease under the light of the histotropic-clonal model.