BACKGROUND. Optimal theatre utilisation is essential to reduce long waiting lists for elective surgeries and to increase cost-effective theatre operation. Utilisation rates well below the global benchmark of 80% have been reported for government hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). OBJECTIVE. To investigate utilisation of three paediatric theatres at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in Johannesburg. METHODS. Surgery lists of the three theatres were reviewed for three one-week periods over a four-month study period. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were collected to create a timeline for each theatre and each surgical case, including reasons for cancellations, delays or expedited times. RESULTS. A total of 152 surgeries were scheduled during the reviewed study period, of which 44 cases were cancelled. The utilisation rate was 59.8% across the three theatres combined, with individual rates calculated as 62.7%, 58.2% and 57.0% in the burns, general and neonatal theatres, respectively. The primary factor contributing to under-utilisation was early completion of the scheduled list. Surgery delays were mainly due to delays in transferring the patient to the theatre and between anaesthetic induction and the start of surgery. CONCLUSION. Utilisation of the paediatric theatres at CHBAH is below the ideal benchmark of 80%; however, utilisation was better than expected when compared with findings from other public-sector hospitals in SA. However, theatre efficiency was found to be very low and perhaps better explains the reasons for backlogs in paediatric surgeries at CHBAH.

Abstract The influence of glass powder incorporation to ordinary concrete regarding mechanical and durability properties has been studied. This work aims to evaluate the durability of ultra-high performance cementitious composites (UHPCC) with partial substitution of Portland cement by glass powder, through chloride migration test according to the NT Build 492 methodology. With this aim, specimens with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 50% content of glass powder by weight of Portland cement were cast, cured in lime saturated water until the age of 28 days. The results indicate that minor contents of glass powder do not harm the concrete properties and higher contents maintain good mechanical and durability characteristics.

Resumen Se ha estudiado la incorporación de polvo de vidrio en el hormigón convencional por su influencia en la resistencia mecánica y la durabilidad. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo validar la durabilidad de los compuestos cementosos de ultra alto desempeño (CCUAD) con reemplazo parcial de cemento por vidrio finamente molido, a través del ensayo de migración de cloruros, utilizando el método NT Build 492. Para ello, fueron moldeadas probetas conteniendo valores de 0%, 10%, 20%, 30 % y 50% de polvo de vidrio en relación al volumen de cemento, y la evaluación se realizó a los 28 días de edad. Los resultados indican que, con valores bajos, el polvo de vidrio no perjudica las propiedades de los compuestos y, a niveles superiores, los compuestos mantienen características mecánicas y durabilidad adecuadas.

Resumo O pó de vidro incorporado ao concreto convencional vem sendo estudado em relação à sua influência na resistência mecânica e durabilidade. Este trabalho visa avaliar a durabilidade de compósitos cimentícios de ultra alto desempenho (CCUAD) com substituição parcial do cimento por vidro finamente moído, por meio do ensaio de migração de cloretos utilizando o método da NT Build 492. Para tanto foram moldados corpos de prova com teores de pó de vidro de 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% e 50% em relação ao volume de cimento e a avaliação foi feita na idade de 28 dias. Os resultados indicam que, em teores baixos, o pó de vidro não prejudica as propriedades dos compósitos e em teores mais altos os compósitos mantêm boas características mecânicas e de durabilidade.

Resumo Este artigo apresenta a adaptação e validação da escala Older Workers’ Intentions to Continue Working (OWICW) em uma amostra de trabalhadores mais velhos de uma instituição de ensino superior do nordeste brasileiro. Participaram 283 servidores com idades entre 48 e 69 anos (M = 56,8; DP = 5,1) com média de tempo de trabalho de 34 anos (DP = 4,4). Os dados foram submetidos à análise fatorial exploratória resultando em seis fatores com estrutura similar a cinco fatores do estudo original. As propriedades psicométricas sugerem a adequação da escala, que pode ser um instrumento útil à gestão de trabalhadores com mais idade que desejam continuar trabalhando. Sugere-se a continuidade dos estudos com outras populações.

Abstract This article presents the adaptation and validation of the scale Older Workers’ Intentions to Continue Working (OWICW) in a sample of older workers from a northeastern Brazilian higher education institution. The study was conducted with 283 federal employees with ages between 48 and 69 years (M = 56.8; SD = 5.1) with an average working time of 34 years (SD = 4.4). The data were submitted to exploratory factor analysis resulting in six factors with a structure similar to five factors of the original study. The psychometrics properties suggest the adequacy of the scale, which can be a useful instrument to the management of older workers who wish to continue working. We suggest further studies with other populations.

Resumen Este artículo presenta la adaptación y validación de la escala Older Worker’s Intentions to Continue, Working )OWICW) en una muestra de trabajadores mayores, de una institución de Enseñanza Superior, del nordeste brasileño. Participaron 283 funcionarios públicos con edades entre 48 y 69 años (M = 56,8; DP = 5,1) con promedio de trabajo de 34 años (DP = 4,4). Los datos fueron sometidos a análisis factorial exploratorio, resultando seis factores con estructura similar a cinco factores del estudio original. Las propiedades psicométricas indicaron la adecuación de la escala, que puede ser un instrumento útil para la gestión de trabajadores con más edad, que desean seguir trabajando. Se sugiere la continuidad de los estudios con otras poblaciones.

RESUMO O estudo do sistema nervoso e suas funções é fascinante e complexo. Um dos mais intrigantes assuntos deste campo é como a neurobiologia produz estados conscientes, o notório problema da consciência (cérebro e mente). Para esse estudo, são necessários conhecimentos tanto de neuroanatomia e fisiologia como de questões linguísticas e filosóficas, o que torna o assunto temido ou ignorado pelos estudantes de Medicina. Assim, aquele que vai iniciar o estudo desse capítulo da neurociência se depara com um questionamento: por onde começar? A quantidade de informação é muito grande, e o ponto de partida, em geral, pode ser a biologia, a psicologia ou a filosofia. Portanto, este ensaio tem como objetivo sugerir um caminho, entre vários possíveis, para nortear aqueles que desejam informações preliminares sobre o tema. Isto porque alguns estudantes têm dificuldade com o assunto por não dominarem alguns conceitos fundamentais ou desconhecerem as teorias defendidas, fixando-se apenas na vertente biológica do assunto. Desta maneira, na introdução deste manuscrito são apresentadas três possibilidades conceituais para a palavra consciência e alguns problemas de limitação do idioma. Na sequência, a neurobiologia é abordada de forma sucinta, com ênfase na atividade eletroquímica neuronal. Em seguida, são relatadas as teorias sobre a consciência e os pontos de vista de dois autores: David Chalmers e Daniel Dennett. A escolha desses autores para este trabalho visa demonstrar que tais teorias possuem movimento pendular: iniciando com Descartes e sua teoria dualista em um extremo, passando por outras teorias intermediárias e chegando até os materialistas reducionistas no extremo oposto. A metodologia se resume à pesquisa de artigos científicos sobre o tema. Por fim, embora a corrente majoritária defenda que a consciência é um fenômeno bioquímico, pois, para haver consciência é necessário cérebro, também há aqueles que defendem que a consciência não seja um atributo da matéria. Discussões como esta devem ser encorajadas e embasadas em fundamentação teórica.

ABSTRACT The study of the nervous system and its functions is fascinating and complex. One of the most intriguing in this field is how neurobiology produces conscious states; the notorious problem of consciousness (the brain and mind). For this study, a knowledge of both neuroanatomy and physiology is required, as well as of linguistic and philosophical issues. For this reason, this is a topic that is feared or avoided by medical students. The student wishing to begin this chapter of neuroscience faces a question: where to start? There is a vast amount of information on the subject, and the starting point, in general, can be biology, psychology or philosophy. This essay suggests one of several possible means of guiding those seeking preliminary information on the subject. Some students have difficulty with the subject because they lack the fundamental concepts needed, or they do not know the theories defended, but are focused on subject from a purely biological perspective. This work begins by presenting three conceptual possibilities for the word ‘conscience’, and some language limitations related to it. Next, it gives a succinct overview of neurobiology, with emphasis on neuronal electrochemical activity. The theories of consciousness are outlined, giving the points of view of two authors: David Chalmers and Daniel Dennett. This choice of authors demonstrates that such theories have pendular movement: starting with Descartes and his dualist theory at one extreme, passing through other intermediate theories, and reaching the reductionist materialists at the opposite extreme. The methodology consists of a literature search of scientific articles on the subject. Finally, although the majority argue that consciousness is a biochemical phenomenon, because in order to have consciousness there must be a brain, there are also those who argue that consciousness is not an attribute of matter. Discussions like these should be encouraged, and based on theoretical studies.

In this study, the phase behaviour of emulsified systems (oil + biosurfactant + water) was analyzed. The biosurfactant was produced in a 4-L batch bioreactor by Bacillus subtilis LAMI005, using residual glycerine from biodiesel production as a carbon source. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyses demonstrated that the biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis (LAMI005) consists of a lipopeptide similar to surfactin. The influences of temperature and the composition of oil + biosurfactant + water were determined by using phase diagrams. Three types of oil were used, namely: motor oil, hydrogenated naphthenic oil (NH140) and castor bean oil. The emulsified systems were analyzed using optical micrography. The results presented here indicated that the biosurfactant produced in this work presents a potential use as stabilizing agent for oil-in-water emulsions.

O interesse no monitoramento de equipamentos em tempo real é crescente nos dias de hoje, visando a maior segurança de operação dos mesmos. O ensaio de Emissão Acústica vem sendo objeto de desenvolvimentos com o intuito de aplicação em diversos tipos de equipamentos, com destaque na inspeção de dutos rígidos e flexíveis. O presente trabalho apresenta a metodologia e os resultados obtidos de um estudo de aplicação do método de Emissão Acústica para detectar defeitos em propagação em dutos rígidos pressurizados, sendo um trabalho pioneiro nessa área de pesquisa. Para tal, foram confeccionados corpos de prova com defeitos inseridos artificialmente, empregando-se a técnica de ultrassom por Time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) para acompanhar o crescimento dos defeitos no duto submetido a ensaio hidrostático. Os sinais resultantes foram divididos em classes de Propagação, Propagação Estável e Propagação Instável, e usados como dados de entrada na implementação de classificadores não lineares via Redes Supervisionadas do tipo Retropropagação do Erro. Os resultados atingiram acertos de classificação próximos a 86%, comprovando a eficiência do método para as condições testadas até o presente momento.

The interest in monitoring equipment in real time is increasing in nowadays, mainly aiming the greater security of its operations. The Acoustic Emission (AE) testing has been the subject of developments with the aim of application in various types of equipment, especially in the inspection of rigid and flexible pipes. This paper presents the methodologies and results of a study of applying the method of Acoustic Emission to detect propagation in defects in pressurized rigid pipes, being a pioneering work in this area of research. In this way, specimens were manufactured with defects artificially inserted. These specimens were submitted to hydrostatic testing and the defect propagation was monitor by AE. The ultrasound by Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) was the technique chosen to monitor the defect growth. The AE resulting signals were divided into the classes No Propagation (SP), Stable Propagation (PE) and Unstable Propagation (PI) and used as inputs set in the implementation of nonlinear classifiers by error back propagation. The correct classification results reached close to 86%, proving the efficiency of the method for the conditions tested in this job.

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de um estudo sobre as perdas de protensão, medidas "in loco", de cordoalhas engraxadas em lajes planas. Essas lajes planas, com 17 centímetros de espessura e 350 m2 de área, fazem parte de um edifício para fins hoteleiros de 16 pavimentos. As forças de protensão foram medidas por células de carga colocadas nas proximidades da ancoragem ativa e da ancoragem passiva. As medidas de forças foram feitas desde a protensão até idades de 170 dias após esse instante. Os resultados revelam um coeficiente de atrito μ igual a 0,0528 bastante próximo ao valor apresentado pela norma brasileira NBR 6118: 0,05. Nas perdas pela acomodação da ancoragem os valores apurados foram bastante similares e em termos médios, essa perda correspondeu a 5,17% da força inicial de protensão. Os valores de força medidos mostram também que a perda de tensão na cordoalha, próximo à ancoragem passiva, é menor em relação à perda na ancoragem ativa. Até a idade de 170 dias, verificou-se uma perda média de 14% da força inicial de protensão.

This paper presents the results of "in situ" measurements of stress losses in unbonded tendons of post tensioned flat slabs. These flats slabs have approximately 350 m2 in area and are 17 centimeter thick. They are part of a 16 story high hotel building. Load cells were employed to measure the forces in the tendons; they were placed in the vicinity of the active and the passive anchorages. The forces in the tendons were monitored from the time of their straining up to 170 days afterwards. The measurements reveal a frictional coeficiente μ equal to 0.0528, a very close value to the one prescribed by NBR 6118 of 0.05. The stress loss due to the anchorage of the tendons was of 5.17% of the initial stress. The results indicate also that the remaining force near the passive Anchorage is larger in relation to the value measured in the vicinity of the active one. The total stress loss measured so far (170 days) corresponds to 14 % of the initial post-tensioning stress.

Este trabalho apresenta um modelo de rede neural nebulosa para previsão de vazões sazonais. O modelo é baseado em um método de aprendizado construtivo onde grupos de neurônios competem quando a rede recebe uma nova entrada. A rede aprende os parâmetros fundamentais para definir as regras nebulosas e funções de pertinência para cada variável de entrada. O modelo foi aplicado para o problema de previsão de vazões médias mensais de três usinas hidroelétricas situadas em diferentes regiões do Brasil. O desempenho do modelo foi comparado com métodos convencionais usados para previsão de vazões. Os resultados mostraram que a rede neural nebulosa forneceu um melhor desempenho para previsão um passo à frente, com erros significativamente menores que as outras abordagens.

This paper presents a neural fuzzy network model for seasonal streamflow forecasting. The model is based on a constructive learning method where neurons groups compete when the network receives a new input, so that it learns the fuzzy rules and membership functions essential for modelling a fuzzy system. The model was applied to the problem of seasonal streamflow forecasting using a database of average monthly inflows of three Brazilian hydroelectric plants located at different river basins. The performance of the model developed was compared with conventional approaches used to forecast streamflows. The results show that the neural fuzzy network model provides a better one-step-ahead streamflow forecasting, with forecasting errors significantly lower than the other approaches.

This work evaluates proposed methods to correct engine power output as a function of atmospheric conditions. The analysis was made through experiments carried out in a vehicle on the road, under different temperature, pressure and air humidity conditions. The vehicle had a four-cylinder gasoline-fuelled engine, with multi-point fuel injection system, variable intake pipe length and variable intake valve camshaft position. The vehicle was tested at sea level and at 827 m above sea level, corresponding to atmospheric pressures between 1027 and 926 mbar. Air temperature varied from 22,8 to 33,8 °C at the test locations. The measured performance parameter in the tests was the vehicle acceleration time. The acceleration times from 0 to 400 m, 0 to 1000 m, 40 to 100 km/h and 80 to 120 km/h were all recorded, leaving from an initial vehicle speed of 40 km/h. The engine power curve obtained in laboratory under a standard ambient condition was corrected to the conditions of the road tests by the correction factors proposed by the methods under evaluation, and the corresponding acceleration times were calculated and compared with the measurements from the road tests. The evaluated methods for power correction were the following: DIN 70020, SAE J 1349, JIS D 1001 and ISO 1585. The SAE J 1349 method provided the best approach between the experimental and calculated acceleration times.

Different formulations of trivalent oral poliomyelitis vaccine were tested, in order to obtain better thermostability, reduce corrosion of machinery and improve production costs. Magnesium chloride, sucrose, arginine and 199-Hank's medium were used in the formulations. The most appropriate formulation was a mixture of MgCl2 and arginine, which was highly thermostable, and had low production costs. The low corrosive formulation was rejected, due to low thermostability on storage.