Accurate spectra for high energy ions by advanced time-of-flight diamond-detector schemes in experiments with high energy and intensity lasers.

Time-Of-Flight (TOF) methods are very effective to detect particles accelerated in laser-plasma interactions, but they show significant limitations when used in experiments with high energy and intensity lasers, where both high-energy ions and remarkable levels of ElectroMagnetic Pulses (EMPs) in the radiofrequency-microwave range are generated. Here we describe a novel advanced diagnostic method for the characterization of protons accelerated by intense matter interactions with high-energy and high-intensity ultra-short laser pulses up to the femtosecond and even future attosecond range. The method employs a stacked diamond detector structure and the TOF technique, featuring high sensitivity, high resolution, high radiation hardness and high signal-to-noise ratio in environments heavily affected by remarkable EMP fields.

Sources and space-time distribution of the electromagnetic pulses in experiments on inertial confinement fusion and laser-plasma acceleration.

When high-energy and high-power lasers interact with matter, a significant part of the incoming laser energy is transformed into transient electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) in the range of radiofrequencies and microwaves. These fields can reach high intensities and can potentially represent a significative danger for the electronic devices placed near the interaction point. Thus, the comprehension of the origin of these electromagnetic fields and of their distribution is of primary importance for the safe operation of high-power and high-energy laser facilities, but also for the possible use of these high fields in several promising applications.

Reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the HSOPSC: a reassessment study.

This study aimed to reassess the psychometric properties of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) adapted to Portuguese for use in the Brazilian context. An observational, cross-sectional study was performed in a large, private, non-profit, acute care hospital, reference in patient safety, in a major Brazilian metropolis. Participants were selected from a non-probability sample of all eligible personnel in the various hospital departments invited to participate in the study.

Time-resolved absolute measurements by electro-optic effect of giant electromagnetic pulses due to laser-plasma interaction in nanosecond regime.

We describe the first electro-optical absolute measurements of electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) generated by laser-plasma interaction in nanosecond regime. Laser intensities are inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) relevant and wavelength is 1054 nm. These are the first direct EMP amplitude measurements with the detector rather close and in direct view of the plasma.

Design of an instrument to measure the quality of care in Physical Therapy.

Objective: To design an instrument composed of domains that would demonstrate physical therapy activities and generate a consistent index to represent the quality of care in physical therapy.

Methods: The methodology Lean Six Sigma was used to design the tool. The discussion involved seven different management groups staff.

Experimental study of fusion neutron and proton yields produced by petawatt-laser-irradiated D₂-³He or CD₄-³He clustering gases.

We report on experiments in which the Texas Petawatt laser irradiated a mixture of deuterium or deuterated methane clusters and helium-3 gas, generating three types of nuclear fusion reactions: D(d,^{3}He)n, D(d,t)p, and ^{3}He(d,p)^{4}He. We measured the yields of fusion neutrons and protons from these reactions and found them to agree with yields based on a simple cylindrical plasma model using known cross sections and measured plasma parameters. Within our measurement errors, the fusion products were isotropically distributed.

Measurement of the plasma astrophysical S factor for the 3He(d,p)4He reaction in exploding molecular clusters.

The plasma astrophysical S factor for the 3He(d,p)4He fusion reaction was measured for the first time at temperatures of few keV, using the interaction of intense ultrafast laser pulses with molecular deuterium clusters mixed with 3He atoms. Different proportions of D2 and 3He or CD4 and 3He were mixed in the gas target in order to allow the measurement of the cross section for the 3He(d,p)4He reaction. The yield of 14.

Temperature measurements of fusion plasmas produced by Petawatt-Laser-Irradiated D2 - (3)He or CD4 - (3)He clustering gases.

Two different methods have been employed to determine the plasma temperature in a laser-cluster fusion experiment on the Texas Petawatt laser. In the first, the temperature was derived from time-of-flight data of deuterium ions ejected from exploding D(2) or CD(4) clusters. In the second, the temperature was measured from the ratio of the rates of two different nuclear fusion reactions occurring in the plasma at the same time: D(d,(3)He)n and (3)He(d,p)(4)He.

A survey of medication error prevalence in a Brazilian health center.

Medication error is a frequent adverse event in health care. In this study, we checked each medication dose in 744 medical orders and identified a prevalence rate of 0.53 medication errors per medical order.

Adjustment of oxygen use by means of pulse oximetry: an important tool for patient safety.

Objective: To assess patient's level of oxygenation by means of pulse oximetry, avoiding hypoxia (that causes rapid and severe damage), hyperoxia, and waste.

Methods: Calculations were made with a 7% margin of error and a 95% confidence interval. Physical therapists were instructed to check pulse oximetry of all patients with prescriptions for physical therapy, observing the scheduled number of procedures.

Communication and access to information in assessing the quality of multiprofessional care of patients.

Objective: To assess the quality of a multiprofessional healthcare model for in-hospital patients by means of two performance indicators (communication and knowledge about the case).

Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge that professionals had about the clinical information of patients and the use of communication strategies by the team. Healthcare professionals were interviewed during their work period.

Post-traumatic stress disorder in intensive care unit patients.

Post-traumatic stress disorder has been detected in patients after treatment in intensive care unit. The main goal of this study is to review the psychological aspects and therapeutic interventions on those patients after their treatment on intensive care unit. Thirty eight articles have been included.

Psychosocial profile of patients on the liver transplant list.

Introduction: Researchers have shown that psychosocial factors influence adherence to treatment and, consequently, prognosis. Psychosocial assessment during the preoperative outpatient phase has allowed physicians to make better treatment decisions.

Objectives: We sought to describe the psychosocial profile of patients on the liver transplant list referred for psychological assessment.

Neuropsychological assessment in kidney and liver transplantation candidates.

Introduction: Chronic renal and liver diseases are associated with cognitive and intellectual impairment, which can be irreversible even after kidney or liver transplantation.

Objective: We sought to investigate the presence of cognitive deficits in organ transplantation candidates.

Methods: From May 2005 to March 2006, 35 organ transplantation candidates, of mean age 46.

Evaluation of the Premi Test Salmonella, a commercial low-density DNA microarray system intended for routine identification and typing of Salmonella enterica.

A new commercial system based on genetic profiling and aimed at identifying Salmonella enterica serovars was evaluated by comparing its performance with classical serotyping on 443 strains. Within 62 serovars represented, 60 gave unique genetic profiles while 2 were undistinguishable. Results were obtained within 8 h, were reproducible and clear-cut.

Clinical significance of common cold treatment: professionals' opinions.

Background: Little is known about professionals' knowledge and attitudes regarding the clinical significance of treatments for common cold (upper respiratory infection, presumed viral).

Methods: We surveyed university-associated family physicians and published common cold researchers ("experts") regarding evidence-of-benefit and magnitude-of-benefit for 8 treatments: antihistamine, oral decongestant, nasal decongestant, nasal steroid, zinc lozenge, zinc nasal spray, vitamin C, and the herbal echinacea.

Results: Responding family physicians (N = 89) and experts (N = 45) agreed that cold remedies do not reduce illness duration.

Evaluation of efficacy in a pancreas and pancreas-kidney pretransplantation orientation group.

Background: There is evidence of benefits from psycho-educational groups in the compliance of patients undergoing complex procedures. Psycho-educational groups provide information, elucidate doubts and realities, fade out fantasies, and help lessen patients' anxieties, thus minimizing the chances of complications or irregular behavior. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an interdisciplinary orientation group for pretransplantation preparation for pancreas/pancreas-kidney grafting.

Evaluation of efficacy in a liver pretransplantation orientation group.

Background: The medical context recognizes the efficiency of working with groups of patients. Group interventions can intensify the understanding, ability, and notion of recognizing the patient's own condition, increasing the responsibility for him- or herself. This survey sought to evaluate the efficacy of an interdisciplinary orientation group for hepatic transplantation preoperatively.

A systematic review of studies of the cost-effectiveness of mental health consultation-liaison interventions in general hospitals.

A systematic review of cost-effectiveness analyses of mental health consultation-liaison interventions in general hospitals was conducted. Few studies have evaluated the cost-effectiveness of consultation-liaison interventions, and only two articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. The comparable variable was length of the hospital stay.

Assessment of a consultation-liaison psychiatry and psychology health care program.

Objective: To investigate the relevance of subjective criteria adopted by a psychiatry and psychology consultation-liaison service, and their suitability in the evaluation of case registries and objective results.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted and all supervisors of the university hospital service were interviewed. Routinely collected case registries were also reviewed.

Allergic rhinitis, olfactory disorders and secretory IgA.

The authors point out the possible relationship between the biochemical and immunological components of nasal mucus in subjects affected by allergic rhinitis and/or olfactory disorders. Fifty seven subjects (33 F, 24 M) aged between 19 and 73 years, (median age 65 SD 14.60) were studied.

[Thoracic pain, dyspnea].

A 54-year old patient was admitted to the hospital with chest pain, dyspnea and left-sided pleural effusion, which was confirmed by a radiograph of the chest. In view of an exposure to asbestosis a CT scan of the chest was performed, which showed pleural thickening. The suspected diagnosis of a malignant mesothelioma was confirmed by needle biopsy of a paraaortic lymph node.

Versatile Escherichia coli-Bacillus shuttle vectors derived from runaway replication plasmids related to CloDF13.

Versatile cloning vectors were constructed employing a runaway replication mutant of the bacteriocinogenic plasmid CloDF13. These vectors can, under conditions where protein synthesis is not inhibited, be amplified in Escherichia coli to high levels by elevating the temperature and are therefore useful for the production of large quantities of DNA and protein. Since the constructed shuttle vectors, which harbour at least six unique restriction endonucleases sites, replicate in E.

Strict co-linearity of genetic and protein folding domains in an intragenically duplicated rat lens gamma-crystallin gene.

Two complementary DNA clones pRL gamma-2 and pRL gamma-3 of different rat lens gamma-crystallin messenger RNAs have been used to identify gamma-crystallin gene sequences in rat genomic DNA. Subsequently, the DNA present in the 18,000 to 20,000 bases region of the EcoRI digest, giving rise to a strong doublet hybridization signal, was cloned in lambda phage Charon-4A. One of the clones, lambda RCH gamma-3, carrying an insert of 17,500 bases has been characterized in detail.