Influence of Particle Size, Applied Compression, and Substratum Material on Particle-Surface Adhesion Force Using the Centrifuge Technique

The centrifuge technique was used to investigate the influence of particle size, applied compression, and substrate material (stainless steel, glass, Teflon, and poly(vinyl chloride)) on particle-surface adhesion force. For this purpose, phosphatic rock (rho(p) = 3090 kg/m(3)) and manioc starch particles (rho(p) = 1480 kg/m(3)) were used as test particles. A microcentrifuge that reached a maximum rotation speed of 14 000 rpm and which contained specially designed centrifuge tubes was used in the adhesion force measurements. The curves showed that the adhesion force profile followed a normal log distribution. The adhesion force increased linearly with particle size and with the increase of each increment of compression force. The manioc starch particles presented greater adhesion forces than the phosphatic rock particles for all particle sizes studied. The glass substrate showed a higher adherence than the other materials, probably due to its smoother topographic surface roughness in relation to the other substrata.

Positive effects of zinc supplementation on growth, GH, IGF1, and IGFBP3 in eutrophic children

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for growth and development. Its deficiency causes growth retardation in children and adolescents. The present study analyzes the effect of zinc on growth hormone (GH) secretion, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) in normal children before puberty. Thirty normal children were studied, 15 boys and 15 girls, aged 6-9 years. They were orally supplemented with 5 mg Zn/day for 3 months and 0.06537 mg Zn/kg body weight was injected before and after oral supplementation. Dietary intake and anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and end of study. Plasma GH levels increased during intravenous zinc administration and IGF1 and IGFBP3 increased after oral zinc supplementation. There was a positive correlation between the areas under the curves of GH and zinc after oral supplementation. Zinc supplementation was possibly effective in improving the body zinc status of the children, secretory levels of IGF1 and IGFBP3, GH potentialization, and height.

alpha-6 Integrin Expression in Bovine Spermatogonial Cells Purified by Discontinuous Percoll Density Gradient

The study of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) provides a model to better understand adult stem cell biology. Besides the biomedical potential to perform studies of infertility in many species, SSCs hold a promising application at animal transgenesis. Because stem cells are thought to be associated with basement membranes, expression of alpha-6 integrin has been investigated as a marker of type A spermatogonial cells, which are considered SSCs because of their undifferentiated status and self-renewal ability. In this manner, the aim of this study was to isolate type A SSCs from adult bulls by a two-step enzymatic procedure followed by a discontinuous Percoll density gradient purification and verify the expression of alpha-6 integrin by flow cytometry and real-time RT-PCR before and after Percoll purification. Spermatogonial cells were successfully obtained using the two-step enzymatic digestion. An average of 1 x 10(5) viable cells per gram of testis was isolated. However, the discontinuous Percoll did not purify isolated cells regarding alpha-6 integrin expression. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated no differences in the alpha-6 integrin expression between cell samples before and after Percoll purification (p = 0.5636). The same was observed in the real-time PCR analysis (p > 0.05). In addition to alpha-6 integrin, the expression of GFR alpha-1 and PGP9.5, known bovine SSCs markers, was detected in all samples studied. Considering that Percoll can reduce cell viability, it is possible to conclude that Percoll density gradient is not suitable to purify bovine SSC, according to alpha-6 integrin expression.

Short Report: Identification of Oropouche Orthobunyavirus in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Three Patients in the Amazonas, Brazil

Oropouche fever is the second most frequent arboviral infection in Brazil, surpassed only by dengue. Oropouche virus (OROV) causes large and explosive outbreaks of acute febrile illness in cities and villages in the Amazon and Central-Plateau regions. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 110 meningoencephalitis patients were analyzed. The RNA extracted from fluid was submitted to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing to identify OROV. Three CSF samples showed the presence of OROV causing infection in the central nervous system (CNS). These patients are adults. Two of the patients had other diseases affecting CNS and immune systems: neurocysticercosis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the OROV from the CSF of these patients belonged to genotype I. We show here that severe Oropouche disease is occurring during outbreaks of this virus in Brazil

Positive fluid balance is associated with reduced survival in critically ill patients with cancer

Background There are no studies that describe the impact of the cumulative fluid balance on the outcomes of cancer patients admitted to intensive care units ICUs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between fluid balance and clinical outcomes in these patients. Method One hundred twenty-two cancer patients were prospectively evaluated for survival during a 30-day period. Univariate (Chi-square, t-test, MannWhitney) and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify the admission parameters associated with mortality. Results The mean cumulative fluid balance was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors [1675?ml/24?h (4712921) vs. 887?ml/24?h (104557), P?=?0.017]. We used the area under the curve and the intersection of the sensibility and specificity curves to define a cumulative fluid balance value of 1100?ml/24?h. This value was used in the univariate model. In the multivariate model, the following variables were significantly associated with mortality in cancer patients: the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score at admission [Odds ratio (OR) 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.051.26), P?=?0.003], the Lung Injury Score at admission [OR 2.23; 95% CI (1.293.87), P?=?0.004] and a positive fluid balance higher than 1100?ml/24?h at ICU [OR 5.14; 95% CI (1.4518.24), P?=?0.011]. Conclusion A cumulative positive fluid balance higher than 1100?ml/24?h was independently associated with mortality in patients with cancer. These findings highlight the importance of improving the evaluation of these patients' volemic state and indicate that defined goals should be used to guide fluid therapy.

Glandular trichomes on aerial and underground organs in Chrysolaena species (Vernonieae - Asteraceae): Structure, ultrastructure and chemical composition

Although the occurrence of glandular trichomes is frequently reported for aerial vegetative organs, many questions still remain opened about the presence of such trichomes in underground systems. Here, we present, for the first time, a comparative study concerning the structure, ultrastructure and chemical aspects of both, the aerial and underground glandular trichomes of two different Chrysolaena species, C obovata and C platensis. Glandular trichomes (GTs) were examined using LM, SEM, and TEM and also analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC coupled to UV/DAD and HR-ESI-MS (HPLC-UV-MS). In both aerial (leaf and bud) and underground (rhizophore) organs, the GTs are multicellular, biseriate and formed by five pairs of cells: a pair of support cells, a pair of basal cells, and three pairs of secreting cells. These secreting cells have, at the beginning of secretory process, abundance of smooth ER. The same classes of secondary metabolites are biosynthesized and stored in both aerial and underground GTs of C platensis and C obovata. These GTs from aerial and underground organs have similar cellular and sub-cellular anatomy, however the belowground trichomes show a higher diversity of compounds when compared to those from the leaves. We also demonstrate by means of HPLC-UV-DAD that the sesquiterpene lactones are located inside the trichomes and that hirsutinolides are not artifacts. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Costs of most frequent nursing activities in highly dependent hospitalized patients

This quantitative study aimed to identify the costs of the most frequent nursing activities in highly dependent hospitalized patients at a medical clinic. The non-probabilistic convenience sample corresponded to 607 observations regarding oral feeding activities (OF), blood pressure verification (BP)/heart rate (HR), body temperature checking (BTC), performance of intimate hygiene and management of feeding probe. The costs identified corresponded to R$2.40 (SD+/-2.64) for OF feeding; R$1.26 (SD+/-0.48) to verify the BP/HR; R$1.17 (SD+/-0.46) for BTC; R$15.59 (SD+/-8.62) to perform intimate hygiene and R$5.95 (SD+/-2.13) for management of feeding probe. This study will facilitate cost management, with a view to avoiding waste related to unnecessary resource consumption and establish a correlation between costs and care delivery results. Supported by Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Hospital costs related to streptococcal meningitis among children in Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Knowledge of hospital costs is highly important for public health decision-making. This study aimed to estimate direct hospital costs related to pneumococcal meningitis in children 13 years or younger in the city of Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, from January 1999 to December 2008. Data were obtained from medical records. Hospital costs were calculated according to the mixed method for measurement of quantities of items with identified costs and value attribution to items consumed (micro-costing and gross-costing). All costs were calculated according to monetary values for November 2009 and in Brazilian currency (Real). Epi Info 3.5.1 was used for frequencies and means analysis. Forty-one cases were reported. Direct hospital costs varied from R$ 1,277.90 to R$ 19,887.56 (mean = R$ 5,666.43), or 10 to 20 times the mean cost of hospitalization for other diseases. Hospital staff labor was the highest cost, followed by medication, procedures, supplies, and lab tests.

On the radial expansion of tubular structures in a quark-gluon plasma

We study the radial expansion of cylindrical tubes in a hot QGP. These tubes are treated as perturbations in the energy density of the system which is formed in heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC. We start from the equations of relativistic hydrodynamics in two spatial dimensions and cylindrical symmetry and perform an expansion of these equations in a small parameter, conserving the nonlinearity of the hydrodynamical formalism. We consider both ideal and viscous fluids and the latter are studied with a relativistic Navier-Stokes equation. We use the equation of state of the MIT bag model. In the case of ideal fluids we obtain a breaking wave equation for the energy density fluctuation, which is then solved numerically. We also show that, under certain assumptions, perturbations in a relativistic viscous fluid are governed by the Burgers equation. We estimate the typical expansion time of the tubes. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous circulation of all four dengue serotypes in Manaus, State of Amazonas, Brazil in 2011

Introduction: Manaus, the capital city of the state of Amazon with nearly 2 million inhabitants, is located in the middle of the Amazon rain forest and has suffered dengue outbreaks since 1998. Methods: In this study, blood samples were investigated using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), aimed at identifying dengue virus serotypes. Results: Acute phase sera from 432 patients were tested for the presence of dengue virus. Out of the 432 patients, 137 (31.3%) were found to be positive. All the four dengue virus serotypes were observed. Conclusions: The simultaneous circulation of the four dengue serotypes is described for the first time in Manaus and in Brazil.

Robust statistical modeling using the Birnbaum-Saunders-t distribution applied to insurance

In this paper, we carry out robust modeling and influence diagnostics in Birnbaum-Saunders (BS) regression models. Specifically, we present some aspects related to BS and log-BS distributions and their generalizations from the Student-t distribution, and develop BS-t regression models, including maximum likelihood estimation based on the EM algorithm and diagnostic tools. In addition, we apply the obtained results to real data from insurance, which shows the uses of the proposed model. Copyright (c) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Custos hospitalares da meningite causada por Streptococcus pneumoniae na cidade de São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brasil

O conhecimento dos custos hospitalares é de grande importância para os processos de tomada de decisão em saúde pública. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar os custos hospitalares diretos relacionados à meningite pneumocócica em crianças com até 13 anos (inclusive), na cidade de São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brasil, de janeiro de 1999 a dezembro de 2008. Foram obtidos dados de prontuários médicos. O cálculo foi realizado pelo método misto de mensuração das quantidades dos itens de custos e atribuição de valor aos itens consumidos (micro-costing e gross-costing). Os valores monetários referem-se a novembro de 2009, sendo expressos em reais. A análise das frequências e médias foi realizada pelo programa Epi Info versão 3.5.1. Foram notificados 41 casos. Os custos hospitalares diretos variaram de R$ 1.277,90 a R$ 19.887,56 (média = R$ 5.666,43), ou seja, 10 a 20 vezes maiores que o custo médio de internações pago pelo SUS. Os custos dos honorários profissionais foram os mais relevantes, seguidos pelos custos dos medicamentos, procedimentos, materiais e exames laboratoriais.

Aquém e além-mar: imigrantes e cidades

O objetivo central deste artigo é problematizar a questão da imigração para as cidades refletindo sobre a temática dos deslocamentos, que articula lugar de origem e acolhimento. A pesquisa se fez a partir da migração de italianos que ocuparam e construíram o bairro do Bexiga em São Paulo. Para tanto, procuramos refletir sobre as motivações da imigração, as condições de vida na Itália e no Brasil e as construções de redes de sociabilidade e pertencimento que viabilizaram o ato migratório.

Frequency of human platelet antigens in oncohematological patients with thrombocytopenia and the probability of incompatibility to platelet transfusions

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequencies of human platelet antigens in oncohematological patients with thrombocytopenia and to analyze the probability of their incompatibility with platelet transfusions. METHODS: Platelet antigen genotyping was performed by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) for the HPA-1a, HPA-1b, HPA-2a, HPA-2b, HPA-3a, HPA-3b, HPA-4a, HPA-4b, HPA-5a, HPA-5b; HPA-15a, HPA-15b alleles in 150 patients of the Hematology Service of the Hospital das Clínicas (FMUSP). RESULTS: The allele frequencies found were: HPA-1a: 0.837; HPA-1b: 0.163; HPA-2a: 0.830; HPA-2b: 0.170; HPA-3a: 0.700; HPA-3b: 0.300; HPA-4a: 1; HPA-4b: 0; HPA-5a: 0.887; HPA-5b: 0.113; HPA-15a: 0.457 and HPA-15b: 0.543. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the present study showed that the A allele is more common in the population than the B allele, except for HPA-15. This suggests that patients homozygous for the B allele are more predisposed to present alloimmunization and refractoriness to platelet transfusions by immune causes. Platelet genotyping could be of great value in the diagnosis of alloimmune thrombocytopenia and to provide compatible platelet concentrates for these patients.