Universidade Positivo

About: Universidade Positivo is a education organization based out in Curitiba, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Biodiversity. The organization has 1290 authors who have published 1237 publications receiving 9335 citations. The organization is also known as: Positive University.

Microbiological Quality and Antibiotic Resistance Analysis of a Brazilian Water Supply Source

Abstract: Water samples of the Passauna River, Curitiba/Parana (Brazil), were analyzed to determine total and thermotolerant coliform counts and Escherichia coli in order to provide information on human impacts on the water supply. Samples were collected and analyzed monthly, from March 2006 to February 2007, at five different locations along the river, and the multiple tube method was used to obtain total and thermotolerant coliform counts. The results varied from 130 MPN/100 mL to 1.6 × 106 MPN/100 mL for total coliforms, while for thermotolerant coliforms the variation was between 40 MPN/100 mL and 5 × 105 MPN/100 mL. The E. coli strains isolated from the samples were tested with 13 different antibiotics to determine their antibiotic resistance. The isolated strains were constantly sensitive to seven of the 13 antibiotics tested, and resistant to at least one of the other antibiotics. The results indicated that two factors could influence the increased contamination on this river, viz., seasonality parameters and domestic wastewater discharges. The determination of antibiotic resistance indices aimed to provide information on the anthropogenic influence. Only one of the locations investigated was considered critical due to the anthropogenic influence, with significant impacts from irregular domestic wastewater discharges.

Uma aproximação entre liderança transformacional e Teoria da Ação Comunicativa

Abstract: Desde o trabalho seminal de Burns (1978) sobre lideranca transformacional, muitos autores defendem que lideres sao bem-sucedidos se nao se comportam como gerentes. Longe de representar um argumento sem base teorica, defende-se que o modelo de lideranca transformacional pode ser considerado a partir do ponto de vista de teorias sociais mais complexas como a Teoria da Acao Comunicativa, de Habermas. Essa e a proposta deste trabalho, que, considerando a dicotomia entre a acao estrategica e a acao comunicativa, observou os fundamentos ontologicos para a diferenciacao entre gerentes e lideres transformacionais. Nesse sentido, reconhecemos que a Teoria da Acao Comunicativa prove analise critica da lideranca transformacional, pois permite uma melhor compreensao de alguns de seus elementos, ao mesmo tempo que questiona outros, provendo um entendimento menos ingenuo sobre o fenomeno da lideranca, tal qual aquele apresentado pela visao gerencialista nos estudos da lideranca. Uma dessas contribuicoes e a concepcao da lideranca transformacional como um fenomeno contextualizado pela liberdade do discurso, propiciando a acao comunicativa a partir de mecanismos organizacionais que sao livres de constrangimentos a interacao comunicativa, permitindo reciprocidade entre os agentes da lideranca.

Real-life experience with fampridine (Fampyra®) for patients with multiple sclerosis and gait disorders.

Abstract: Background Fampridine is a broad-spectrum voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker that enhances synaptic transmission. The drug has been shown to be able to ameliorate conduction in demyelinated axons, thereby leading to improved gait in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To assess the "real-life" efficacy and safety of fampridine prescribed for gait disorders in MS. This was an observational and prospective study carried out at MS Units participating in the Brazilian Multiple Sclerosis Study Group. Methods Patients with MS and gait disorders were prescribed fampridine (10 mg twice a day), irrespectively of the degree of disability determined by MS. Neurological disability determined by MS was assessed with the expanded disability scale score (EDSS). Outcomes for efficacy and safety of the drug were evaluated by the 25 foot-walk test and by the adverse events of fampridine. Results The time taken to walk 25 feet decreased by 20% or more in 62 patients (70%). Twenty-five patients were considered to be non-responders to this treatment. Improvement in walking speed was independent of improvement of disability. Mild or moderate adverse events were reported in 8% of patients. Conclusion Fampridine is an efficient and safe therapeutic option for patients with MS and gait disorders.

Depressão pós-parto: incidência e fatores de risco associados

Abstract: As doencas psiquiatricas do pos-parto foram reconhecidas como transtorno especifico ha pouco tempo. Sao, por isso, pouco pesquisadas e de escasso conhecimento. Contudo, mostram-se de identificacao importante pela morbidade e frequencia com que acometem as puerperas. A prevalencia de depressao pos-parto (DPP) e de 10-15%, com estudos apontando para 22%. Sua etiologia e multifatorial e inclui fatores biologicos, psicologicos e sociais, podendo durar ate um ano apos o parto. Buscou-se avaliar a incidencia de DPP em puerperas no primeiro ano de pos-parto na cidade de Curitiba – PR, tentando ainda identificar as mudancas de humor ocorridas no pos-parto e os principais fatores de risco associados ao desenvolvimento da DPP. Aplicaram-se dois questionarios, com o perfil socioeconomico e a Escala de Depressao Pos-Parto de Edimburgo, visando rastrear maes com sintomas compativeis com DPP. Pontuacoes maiores ou iguais a 10 foram consideradas positivas e encaminhadas para avaliacao com profissional especializado. Os dados foram avaliados estatisticamente pelo programa SPSS 10.0. Analisaram-se 146 maes, com media etaria de 28,97 anos e periodo de pos-parto majoritario de 3-6 meses. Houve predominio de maes casadas, com ensino superior e renda de 4-6 salarios minimos. Um total de 31,5% das maes apresentou escore compativel com DPP, sem pico de incidencia em relacao ao periodo de pos-parto. Relacionamento insatisfatorio mostrou-se como fator de risco para DPP e ajuda insatisfatoria como possivel fator. Idade e escolaridade maternas, estado civil e renda, nao mostraram relevância estatistica. Encontrou-se media de casos compativeis com DPP acima da descrita na literatura, entretanto, tal media apresenta-se com grande variacao, evidenciado o carater cultural e ambiental do transtorno

Microbial Communities of the Gut and Nest of the Humus- and Litter-Feeding Termite Procornitermes araujoi (Syntermitinae)

Abstract: The evolution of the symbiotic association with microbes allowed termites to decompose ingested lignocellulose from plant-derived substrates, including herbivore dung and soil humus Representatives of the Syntermitinae (Termitidae) range in their feeding habits from wood and litter-feeding to humus-feeding species However, only limited information is available about their feeding ecology and associated microbial communities Here we conducted a study of the microbial communities associated to the termite Procornitermes araujoi using Illumina sequencing of the 16S and ITS rRNA genes This species has been previously included in different feeding guilds However, most aspects of its feeding ecology are unknown, especially those associated to its symbiotic microbiota Our results showed that the microbial communities of termite guts and nest substrates of P araujoi differed significantly for bacteria and fungi Firmicutes dominated the bacterial gut community of both workers and soldiers, whereas Actinobacteria was found in higher prevalence in the nest walls Sordariomycetes was the most abundant fungal class in both gut and nest samples and distinguish P araujoi from the grass/litter feeding Cornitermes cumulans Our results also showed that diversity of gut bacteria were higher in P araujoi and Silvestritermes euamignathus than in the grass/litter feeders (C cumulans and Syntermes dirus), that could indicate an adaptation of the microbial community of polyphagous termites to the higher complexity of their diets