ABSTRACT The objective of this article was to evaluate the relationship between investor attention, both professional and non-professional, and the efficiency of the Brazilian stock market, as measured by the predictability of daily returns. The role of investor attention in the capital market is a controversial issue, since some studies show that it is capable of inducing efficiency, while others point out that it essentially contributes to greater volatility due to behavioral biases. This study contributes to the behavioral finance literature by pioneering the analysis of the effect of investor attention on Brazilian stock prices. Moreover, we found no previous studies that compare the effect of investor attention on market efficiency across investor classes, as measured by access to different financial information providers. The analysis of investor attention, as measured by the volume of searches on the internet, is relevant given the growing abundance of data and digital inclusion. The evidence of an effect of attention on market efficiency contributes to the critique of this classical hypothesis. The methodology consisted of estimating autoregressive models using daily data from 2018 to 2021 on search volume, returns, and transaction volume for Brazilian stocks, including the interaction between returns and search volume, to assess the influence of attention on price dynamics. In this work, we find that in the Brazilian stock market, investor attention contributes to greater market efficiency, as measured by lower predictability of returns, but the most pronounced effect comes from the attention of non-professional investors. Understanding how attention affects the incorporation of information into prices contributes to a critique of the market efficiency hypothesis, as well as allowing for profits to be made by exploiting opportunities based on the level of attention of a particular class of investors.

RESUMO O objetivo deste artigo foi avaliar a relação entre atenção do investidor, tanto o profissional quanto o não profissional, e a eficiência de mercado brasileiro de ações medida pela previsibilidade dos retornos diários. O papel da atenção do investidor no mercado de capitais é tema controverso, dado que, enquanto alguns estudos evidenciam que ela é capaz de induzir eficiência, outros apontam que contribui essencialmente para maior volatilidade devido a vieses comportamentais. Este trabalho contribui para a literatura de finanças comportamentais, sendo pioneiro na análise do efeito que a atenção do investidor induz aos preços das ações brasileiras. Além disso, não encontramos trabalhos anteriores que comparassem o efeito na eficiência de mercado advindo da atenção de diferentes classes de investidores, medida por meio do acesso a diferentes provedores de informações financeiras. A análise da atenção do investidor medida pelo volume de buscas feitas na internet é pertinente ante a crescente abundância de dados e a inclusão digital. Evidenciar um efeito da atenção na eficiência de mercado contribui para a crítica a essa hipótese clássica. O método consistiu em estimar modelos autorregressivos usando dados diários de 2018 a 2021 de volume de buscas, retornos e volume de transações de ações brasileiras, incluindo interação entre retorno e volume de buscas, para avaliar a influência da atenção na dinâmica dos preços. Neste trabalho, evidenciamos que, no mercado de ações brasileiro, a atenção do investidor contribui para maior eficiência de mercado, medida pela menor previsibilidade dos retornos, mas o efeito mais proeminente advém da atenção do investidor não profissional. Entender como a atenção influencia a incorporação da informação nos preços contribui para uma crítica à hipótese de eficiência de mercado, além de possibilitar a obtenção de ganhos explorando oportunidades a partir do nível de atenção de determinada classe de investidores.

Resumen Antecedentes: El diseño de medidas repetidas es uno de los más usados en ciencias sociales y de la salud. Aunque hay otras alternativas más avanzadas, el análisis de varianza de medidas repetidas (ANOVA-MR) sigue siendo el procedimiento más empleado para analizar las diferencias de medias. El impacto de la violación de la normalidad ha sido muy estudiado en el ANOVA intersujeto, pero los estudios son muy escasos en el ANOVA-MR. Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo es realizar dos estudios de simulación Monte Carlo para analizar el error de Tipo I y la potencia cuando se incumple este supuesto bajo el cumplimiento de la esfericidad. Método: El estudio 1 incluye 20 distribuciones, tanto conocidas como desconocidas, manipulando el número de medidas repetidas (3, 4, 6 y 8) y el tamaño muestral (de 10 a 300). El estudio 2 incluye diferentes distribuciones en cada medida repetida. Las distribuciones analizadas representan desviación leve, moderada y severa de la normalidad. Resultados: En general, los resultados muestran que tanto el error Tipo I como la potencia del estadístico F no se alteran con la violación de la normalidad. Conclusiones: El ANOVA-MR es generalmente robusto a la no normalidad cuando la esfericidad se satisface.

Abstract Background: Repeated measures designs are commonly used in health and social sciences research. Although there are other, more advanced, statistical analyses, theF-statistic of repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) remains the most widely used procedure for analyzing differences in means. The impact of the violation of normality has been extensively studied for between-subjects ANOVA, but this is not the case for RM-ANOVA. Therefore, studies that extensively and systematically analyze the robustness of RM-ANOVA under the violation of normality are needed. This paper reports the results of two simulation studies aimed at analyzing the Type I error and power of RM-ANOVA when the normality assumption is violated but sphericity is fulfilled. Method: Study 1 considered 20 distributions, both known and unknown, and we manipulated the number of repeated measures (3, 4, 6, and 8) and sample size (from 10 to 300). Study 2 involved unequal distributions in each repeated measure. The distributions analyzed represent slight, moderate, and severe deviation from normality. Results: Overall, the results show that the Type I error and power of theF-statistic are not altered by the violation of normality. Conclusions: RM-ANOVA is generally robust to non-normality when the sphericity assumption is met.

Abstract Phubbing is defined as ignoring other individuals by using a mobile phone during a face-to-face conversation. The Phubbing Scale (PS) was developed to assess this practice. In this study, we analyze the psychometric properties of the 8-item version of the PS (PS-8) in the Portuguese population, providing validity evidence based on internal structure and on relationships with other variables, and examining item properties, reliability, and measurement invariance across gender. Participants were 391 Portuguese adults (132 men, 259 women) who completed a battery of questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices for the two-factor structure (communication disturbance and phone obsession), which was invariant across gender. Item homogeneity and reliability of factor scores (McDonald's omega) were satisfactory. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables was provided by positive associations with time spent on the Internet on weekdays and at the weekend, time spent on social networking sites, number of social networks used, Internet addiction, problematic mobile phone use, Facebook intrusion, fear of missing out, and depression. These associations show the addictive component of phubbing and its relationship with mental health. The PS-8 is a short and easy-to-administer scale with adequate psychometric properties for measuring phubbing in the Portuguese population.

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between character strengths and mental health in informal dementia caregivers. Variables included depression, anxiety, stress, caregiver burden, and mental health problems. We conducted a series of canonical-correlation analyses. The first set of variables comprised character strengths, classified into virtues, and the second set comprised the mental health variables. Results show significant intercorrelations between character strengths and informal caregivers' mental health. Informal caregivers who tended to have higher scores in character strengths from the virtues of courage, humanity, and transcendence, also tended to have lower scores in depression, stress, caregiver burden, and mental health problems. Specifically, significant relationships were found between bravery, zest, love, social intelligence, appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, and humor. The findings from this study suggest that intervention programs based on the promotion and development of these character strengths might improve the psychological health of caregivers.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la relación, en cuidadores informales de personas con demencia, entre las fortalezas psicológicas y la salud mental, incluyendo depresión, ansiedad, estrés, sobrecarga del cuidador y problemas de salud mental. Para analizar esta relación se llevó a cabo diversos análisis de correlación canónica, incluyendo en el primer conjunto las variables las fortalezas psicológicas, agrupadas por virtudes, y en el segundo las variables de salud psicológica. Los resultados sugieren la existencia de intercorrelaciones significativas entre estas variables. Aquellos cuidadores informales que tienden a mostrar puntuaciones más elevadas en las fortalezas psicológicas correspondientes a las virtudes de Coraje, Humanidad, y Trascendencia tienden a mostrar menores puntuaciones en depresión, estrés, sobrecarga del cuidador, y problemas de salud mental. En concreto, fueron significativas las relaciones con las fortalezas de valor, vitalidad, amor, inteligencia social, belleza, gratitud, esperanza y humor. Los hallazgos de este estudio sugieren que programas de intervención basados en la promoción y desarrollo de estas fortalezas psicológicas podría mejorar la salud mental de los cuidadores.

ABSTRACT Pain is one of the disorders that most affects and worries people and is the accompanying symptom that most often motivates medical consultation. The frequency of chronic pain in the spanish adult population is very high and constitutes a general publich health problem. The school of patients has demonstrated its effectiveness in the therapeutic approach of certain processes (arterial hypertension, mellitus diabetes and others). We present the first school of patients with non-onologic chronic pain and opioid treatment implemented in the Public Health System of Andalusia, which has allowed training patients with opioids treatment for their pain processes with a very high satisfaction degree.

RESUMEN El dolor es uno de los trastornos que más afecta y preocupa a las personas y es el síntoma acompañante que con mayor frecuencia motiva una consulta médica. La frecuencia de dolor crónico en la población adulta española es muy elevada y constituye un problema generalizado de salud pública. La Escuela de Pacientes ha demostrado su eficacia en el abordaje terapéutico de determinados procesos (hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus y otros). Presentamos la primera Escuela de Paciente con Dolor Crónico No Oncológico y Tratamiento Opioide implementada en el Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía, que ha permitido formar a pacientes en el tratamiento opioide para su proceso de dolor crónico no oncológico con muy elevado grado de satisfacción.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever de forma sucinta e prática o uso de defasagens (e/ou diferenças temporais) dos regressores como variáveis instrumentais, mostrando, por meio da discussão teórica ilustrada por um exercício original de simulação, como sua combinação com a adequada modelagem dos efeitos fixos da empresa e do tempo pode endereçar não apenas o problema da endogeneidade dinâmica mas também aqueles decorrentes da presença de variáveis omitidas, erros de mensuração e simultaneidade entre variáveis dependentes e independentes. Metodologia: Simulação de Monte Carlo. Resultados: Os tradicionais métodos de MQO, EA e EF podem ser inconsistentes na presença de problemas de endogeneidade bastante plausíveis no contexto de finanças corporativas. Por outro lado, os métodos de estimação para dados em painel baseados no GMM que se utilizam de suposições de exogeneidade sequencial dos regressores apresentam-se como alternativas capazes de contornar eficazmente todos os problemas elencados (desde que as premissas adotadas sejam válidas), mesmo que o pesquisador não disponha de bons instrumentos externos ao modelo. Contribuições: Discutir e ilustrar via simulações de Monte Carlo um número maior de problemas de endogeneidade, mostrando como eles são endereçados por diferentes estimadores para dados em painel, utilizando uma linguagem menos técnica e mais acessível para pesquisadores ainda não iniciados nos meandros da estimação de modelos dinâmicos para dados em painel.

Abstract Purpose: To describe the use of specific lags (and/or temporal differences) of the original regressors as instrumental variables in a succinct and practical way, showing, by means of a theoretical discussion illustrated by an original simulation exercise, how combining these with adequate modeling of firm and time fixed effects can address not only the dynamic endogeneity problem, but also those derived from the presence of omitted variables, measurement errors, and simultaneity between dependent and independent variables. Design/methodology/approach: Monte Carlo simulation Findings: The traditional OLS, RE, and FE estimators may be inconsistent in the presence of endogeneity problems that are quite plausible in the context of corporate finance. On the other hand, the estimation methods for panel data based on GMM that use assumptions of sequential exogeneity of the regressors present alternatives that are capable of effectively overcoming all the problems listed (provided these assumptions are valid) even if the researcher does not have good instrumental variables that are external to the model Originality/value: The paper discusses and illustrates a greater number of endogeneity problems, showing how they are addressed by different estimators for panel data, using less technical and more accessible language for researchers not yet initiated in the intricacies of estimating dynamic models for panel data.

RESUMO Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o desempenho de longo prazo de uma estratégia de investimento subsequente aos anúncios de programas de recompra de ações ocorridos no mercado brasileiro entre 2003 e 2014. Recomprar ações de emissão da própria empresa é um dos mecanismos utilizados para distribuir caixa aos acionistas. Dentre os motivos que podem explicar o interesse de uma empresa em readquirir suas próprias ações estão ajustar sua estrutura de capital, reduzir o excesso de caixa, como forma alternativa ao pagamento de dividendo ou como sinalização ao mercado, a fim de reduzir a assimetria de informação entre empresa e investidores. Sendo a hipótese de sinalização de desvalorização verdadeira, investir nas ações de empresas que fazem anúncios de recompra gera retornos anormais de longo prazo. A pesquisa fornece evidências de que os anúncios de programas de recompra de ações no mercado aberto sinalizam que o preço da ação da empresa anunciante está subavaliado, sendo possível obter retornos anormais com essa estratégia de investimento. Ao mesmo tempo, os resultados são inconsistentes com a hipótese de eficiência de mercado na forma semiforte, que diz que não é possível obter retornos anormais a partir de informação publicamente disponível. Os retornos anormais foram estimados por capital asset pricing model (CAPM) e pelo modelo de três fatores de Fama e French. Adicionalmente, estimamos os resultados subdividindo a amostra entre empresas de valor e de crescimento. Carteiras formadas por empresas que anunciaram programas de recompra apresentaram retornos anormais anuais de 5,4 a 7,9% para um horizonte de investimento de até três anos após o anúncio. Os retornos anormais das empresas de valor (mais suscetíveis a recomprar ações devido à subavaliação) são de até 11,5% ao ano.

ABSTRACT This article aims to investigate the long-term performance of a portfolio of firms that announced the repurchase of their own stocks in the Brazilian market from 2003 to 2014. Open market stock repurchase is a means to distribute cashflow to shareholders. Some of the reasons for a firm to buy back its own stocks are: to adjust its capital structure; to reduce excessive cash levels; as an alternative to dividends; and signaling to the market in order to reduce information asymmetry between the firm and its investors. If the signaling hypothesis is true, then forming a portfolio with shares that announce repurchases generates abnormal returns in the long run. Our results show that repurchase announcements in the open market signal stock underpricing, and abnormal returns can be earned using this strategy. Results are inconsistent with the semi-strong form of the efficient markets hypothesis, which states that one cannot earn abnormal returns with publicly available information. We obtained abnormal returns using the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and Fama and French three-factor model. Additionally, we divided the sample in growth and value firms. We found that the average abnormal return for firms that announce repurchase programs ranges from 5.4% to 7.9% for up to a 3-year period after the announcement. For value companies (more likely to repurchase stocks due to undervaluation), abnormal returns can reach up to 11.5% per year.

This work is a methodological description of the processes and concludes with the results obtained from the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations for harnessing ocean energy. There are countless applications for CFD in renewable resources and as complement of experimental case studies. We will focus on the simulations performed using the method known as oscillating water column (OWC), which converts the energy of waves into pneumatic power so that it can be then converted into mechanical energy through a reversible turbine. In addition, we will describe the operation of a particular system for the behavior of turbine group for describing the wave cycle so the results obtained were recognized by the international scientific community. This was accomplished by developing physical and numerical models, which has been modeled by stationary boundary conditions and subsequently validated by results of publications for experimental testing in order to better study them.

Este trabajo es una descripción de la secuencia metodológica de procesos que concluye en resultados obtenidos a través de simulación computacional CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) para el aprovechamiento de energía oceánica. El campo de aplicación de las herramientas CFD posee innumerables opciones para su utilización en recursos renovables, aquí nos centraremos en el método denominado de columna de agua oscilante, OWC (Oscillating Water Column), el cual convierte la energía de las olas en energía neumática para ser convertida en mecánica a través de una turbina reversible. Para que los resultados obtenidos fuesen reconocidos por la comunidad científica internacional se optó por el análisis de un sistema en particular correspondiente al comportamiento del grupo turbinado para el ciclo sinusoidal que describen las olas, desarrollando el modelo físico y numérico de la turbina; el cual ha sido modelizado mediante condiciones de contorno estacionarias y posteriormente validado a través de resultados de publicaciones correspondientes a instalaciones experimentales.

Eagle's syndrome is an infrequent pathology characterized by the presence of cervicofacial pain, headache and cramps that are projected in the throat, neck and ear. We reported a case of a 36 year-old woman with a history of cervical swelling, sore throat and syncope, which on imaging studies was found ossification both stylohyoid ligaments, causing carotid compression and syncope.

El síndrome de Eagle es una patología infrecuente, caracterizada por la presencia de dolor cervicofacial, cefalea y calambres que se proyectan en la garganta, en el cuello y en el oído. Describimos el caso de una mujer de 36 años, con historia de tumefacción cervical, sensación de irritación faríngea y síncope, en la que en los estudios radiológicos se encontró una osificación total de ambos ligamentos estilohioideo, causante de su cuadro sincopal por compresión carotídea.

We conducted a comparative study from 2008 to 2011 to study the adaptability and stability of grain yield of upland rice in two regions of Campeche, Mexico. The individual and combined statistical analysis, showed highly significant differences in grain yield of different genotypes in both regions. The experimental error variance was uniform, both effects of repetition/location and variety/location were highly significant. The results of analysis for grain yield stability parameters showed highly significant effects for 12 treatments, and significant for one. Eighteen genotypes showed a significant variation in the effects of deviation from the regression parameters of stability. The highest grain yield was observed in genotypes 25, 18, 21 and 2; there were no significant differences between them. However, due to the existence of significant differences in the deviation of the regression, the genotypes cannot be recommended for a particular region. The tendency of the smaller slope of the regression corresponded to genotypes 1, 2 and 5, which are the best suited to unfavorable growth conditions. In general, genotype 25 showed maximum adaptation and yield stability for the two regions evaluated in the state of Campeche.

De 2008 a 2011 se realizó un estudio comparativo con el objetivo de estudiar la adaptabilidad y estabilidad del rendimiento de grano de arroz bajo condiciones naturales en dos regiones productoras de Campeche, México. Los análisis estadísticos individuales y combinados indicaron diferencias altamente significativas en el rendimiento de grano de los diferentes genotipos en ambas regiones. La varianza del error experimental fue uniforme, los efectos repetición/localidad y variedad/localidad fueron altamente significativos. Los resultados del análisis de rendimiento de grano para los parámetros de estabilidad indicaron efectos altamente significativos para 12 tratamientos y significativos en uno. En 18 genotipos hubo una variación significativa en los efectos de desviación de la regresión en los parámetros de estabilidad. El mayor rendimiento de grano fue observado en los genotipos 25, 18, 21 y 2; no hubo diferencias significativas entre ellos. Sin embargo, por la existencia de diferencias significativas en la desviación de la regresión, los genotipos no pueden ser recomendados para una región en particular. La tendencia de la menor pendiente de la regresión correspondió a los genotipos 1, 2 y 5, que son más adecuados para las condiciones de crecimiento desfavorables. En general, el genotipo 25 mostró la máxima adaptación y estabilidad en rendimiento para las dos regiones evaluadas en el estado de Campeche.

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of breed group (BG) and age group at first calving (AFC) on the number of calvings during the lifetime of the cows in a production system localised in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. Data included information gathered from 65 cows of the Brahman (Br, n = 313) and Nellore (Ne, n = 184) breeds, and commercial Zebu (CZ, undefined crosses of Brown Swiss and Zebu (n = 268) born from 1981 to 2002. Out of the total number of cows, 391 had been culled and 374 remained in the ranch (censured data). The stayability (number of calvings) of the cows in the herd was evaluated by BG and AFC using Kaplan Meier methodology. The survival curve for CZ had the fastest decline, which suggests a greater culling rate for this group in comparison with the Ne and Br cows. The survival curves for the cows that had their first calving before 2.5 years and between 2.5 and 3 years of age show that they had a lover lower chance of culling. In conclusion, BG and EFC had an effect (P < 0.05) on the survival curves; Nellore cows had a higher probability of more calvings. Cows that were younger than 3 years old at first calving had a higher probability of having more calvings during their lifetime when compared to those being older at first calving.

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar el efecto de grupo racial (GG) y grupo de edad al primer parto (EPP) sobre el número de partos de por vida de las vacas de un sistema de producción localizado en el estado de Yucatán, México. Los datos incluyeron los registros de 765 vacas de los grupos raciales Brahman (Br, n=313), Nelore (Ne, n = 184) y Cebú comercial (CC, cruzas indefinidas de Suizo pardo y Cebú (n = 268), nacidas de 1981 a 2002. Del total de vacas, 391 habían sido desechadas y 374 aún permanecían en el predio (datos censurados). La permanencia (número de partos) de las vacas en el hato se evaluó por GG y EPP utilizando la metodología de Kaplan Meier. La curva de sobrevivencia del CC tuvo una declinación más rápida, lo que indica una mayor tasa de desecho para este grupo en comparación con las razas Ne y Br. Las curvas de sobrevivencia de las vacas que tuvieron su primer parto antes de los 2,5 años, y entre 2,5 y 3 años de edad, muestran que ellas tuvieron menores posibilidades de desecho. En conclusión, el GG y la EPP afectaron (P < 0,05) las curvas de sobrevivencia, teniendo las vacas Ne mayor probabilidad de más partos. Las vacas que tuvieron su primer parto antes de los tres años de edad tuvieron más probabilidad de mayor número de partos durante su vida útil en comparación con aquellas que parieron por primera vez a edades más avanzadas.

Introduction: Autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) represents a high metabolic stress. Glutamine has proven to be effective in severe catabolic states, although there are controversial studies. Objectives: To assess the effect of parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy supplemented with glutamine on the occurrence of mucositis and mean hospital stay in patients submitted to ABMT. Methods: Retrospective study of patients submitted to ABMT between 2006 and 2009. In 2008, one vial of L-alanyl-L-glutamine (20 g) was added by protocol to the PN formulations of these patients. Thirteen clinical charts since that date (glutamine group) and 13 previous charts (control group) were randomly selected (n = 26). We compared the degree of mucositis and hospital stay in both groups. In the subgroup of glutamine-treated patients, we compare the glutamine dose in the patients developing some degree of mucositis with that of those not having this complication. Results: Mean hospital stay: 27.8 ± 7.4 days (control group) vs. 20.3 ± 5.3 days (glutamine group) (p = 0.01). The severity of mucositis was lower in the glutaminetreated group (p = 0.02). The weight-adjusted dose of L-alanyl-L-glutamine in the patients not developing mucositis was higher than in the other ones (0.32 vs. 0.24 g/kg/day; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Glutamine supplementation reduces the degree of mucositis and hospital stay in patients submitted to autologous bone marrow transplantation. The degree of mucositis is lower in the subgroup of patients receiving higher doses of glutamine.

Introducción: El Trasplante Autólogo de Médula Ósea (TASPE) conlleva un alto estrés metabólico. La glutamina es considerada se ha mostrado eficaz en estados catabólicos severos, aunque hay estudios contradictorios. Objetivos: Valorar el efecto del tratamiento con nutrición parenteral (NP) suplementada con glutamina en el desarrollo de mucositis y en la estancia media hospitalaria en pacientes sometidos a TASPE. Metodología: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con TASPE efectuados entre 2006 y 2009. En 2008 se introdujo de forma protocolizada la adición de 1 vial de L-alanil-L-glutamina (20 g) en las fórmulas de NP de dichos pacientes. Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 13 historias a partir de dicha fecha (grupo glutamina) y 13 historias anteriores (grupo control) (n = 26). Se comparó el grado de mucositis y la estancia hospitalaria en los dos grupos. En el subgrupo de pacientes tratados con glutamina, se comparó la dosis de glutamina que recibieron los pacientes que desarrollaron algún grado mucositis con aquellos que no presentaron dicha complicación. Resultados: Estancia media: 27,8 ± 7,4 días (grupo control) vs 20,3 ± 5,3 días (grupo glutamina) (p = 0,01). La gravedad de la mucositis fue menor en el grupo glutamina (p = 0,02). La dosis de L-alanail-L-glutamina ajustada por peso en los pacientes que no desarrollaron mucositis fue mayor que en los que la desarrollaron (0,32 vs 0,24 g/kg/día; p = 0,02). Conclusiones: La suplementación con glutamina reduce el grado de mucositis y la estancia hospitalaria en pacientes sometidos a transplante autólogo de médula ósea. El grado de mucositis es menor en el subgrupo de pacientes que reciben dosis más elevadas de glutamina.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of seminal plasma (SP), vitamin E (VE), and incubation time on sperm viability of post-thawed boar semen. Thirty six ejaculates were used and allocated to four treatments: Tl, semen + BTS (Belstville Thawing Solution) + 10% SP; T2, semen + BTS + 200μg/ml VE; T3, semen + BTS + 10% SP + 200ug/ml VE; T4, semen + BTS (control). Motility (MOT), intact acrosomes (IA), membrane integrity (MI) and mitochondrial activity (MA) were evaluated, at 0 and 30 min after thawing. A split plot design was used and the data analyzed using a mixed model analysis of variance. There was a significant effect of SP and VE on IA and MI (PO.05) but not on MOT and MA (P>0.05). There was significant effect of incubation time on MOT (21.3 and 27.9%) and IA (46.0 and 36.0%), at 0 and 30 min post-thawing (P <0.05). It is concluded that the vitamin E, seminal plasma or the combination of both, affected the thawed sperm traits here studied. Incubation time increased motility and intact acrosome percentage but did not affect the membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto del plasma seminal (PS), Vitamina E (VE) y tiempo de incubación sobre la viabilidad espermática de semen de verracos después de su congelamiento. Treinta y seis eyaculados fueron usados y asignados a cuatro tratamientos: Tl, semen + BTS (Solución de postcongelamiento Belstville) + 10% PS; T2, semen + BTS + 200μg/ml VE; T3, semen + BTS + 10% PS + 200ug/ml VE; T4, semen + BTS (control). La motilidad (MOT), integridad de acrosomas (IA), integridad de membrana (IM) y la actividad mitocondrial (AM) se evaluaron a los 0 y 30 min después del congelamiento. Se utilizó un diseño en parcelas divididas y los datos se analizaron mediante un análisis de varianza para modelos mixtos. Se encontró efecto significativo de PS y VE sobre IA y IM (PO.05) pero no sobre MOT y AM (P>0.05). Hubo efecto significativo de tiempo de incubación sobre MOT (21.3 y 27.9%) y IA (46.0 y 36.0%), a los 0 y 30 min postcongelación (P<0.05). Se concluye que la vitamina E, plasma seminal o la combinación de ambos afectaron las características seminales aquí estudiadas. El tiempo de incubación incremento la motilidad y el porcentaje de acrosomas intactos, pero no afecto la integridad de la membrana y la actividad mitocondrial.

The development of new MRI technologies has favoured the use of sequences that significantly improve the spatial resolution of this imaging method, thus yielding thin-section images that allow volumetric analysis. We present our experience at Clínica Vespucio related to a routine knee MRI protocol, performed on 45 patients who underwent conventional proton density-weighted spin-echo sequence (PDFS) 3-mm section thickness along with proton density-weighted sequence of 1.2- mm thin-section, both with fat suppression technique. In most cases, the thin-section PDFS allows a better anatomical characterization of lesions, particularly meniscal and condral injuries, with a minimum increase in image acquisition time.

El desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías en resonancia magnética ha favorecido el uso de secuencias que mejoran significativamente la resolución espacial del método, obteniendo imágenes de cortes finos que permiten análisis volumétrico. Se presenta la experiencia en Clínica Vespucio en un protocolo rutinario de estudio de rodilla, con evaluación de 45 pacientes consecutivos a los que se les realizó secuencia tradicional de densidad protónica con saturación grasa (DPFS) de corte grueso (3 mm) y secuencia DPFS volumétrica de corte fino (1,2 mm). En la mayoría de los casos es posible realizar mejor caracterización anatómica de las lesiones, principalmente meniscales y condrales, con un mínimo aumento en el tiempo de estudio.