A nonlinear elliptic problem with terms concentrating in the boundary

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of a family of steady-state solutions of a nonlinear reaction diffusion equation when some reaction and potential terms are concentrated in a e-neighborhood of a portion G of the boundary. We assume that this e-neighborhood shrinks to G as the small parameter e goes to zero. Also, we suppose the upper boundary of this e-strip presents a highly oscillatory behavior. Our main goal here was to show that this family of solutions converges to the solutions of a limit problem, a nonlinear elliptic equation that captures the oscillatory behavior. Indeed, the reaction term and concentrating potential are transformed into a flux condition and a potential on G, which depends on the oscillating neighborhood. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Exponential stability for a plate equation with p-Laplacian and memory terms

This paper is concerned with the energy decay for a class of plate equations with memory and lower order perturbation of p-Laplacian type, utt+?2u-?pu+?0tg(t-s)?u(s)ds-?ut+f(u)=0inOXR+, with simply supported boundary condition, where O is a bounded domain of RN, g?>?0 is a memory kernel that decays exponentially and f(u) is a nonlinear perturbation. This kind of problem without the memory term models elastoplastic flows.

Risk Assessment of the Introduction of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza as a Tool to be Applied in Prevention Strategy Plan

Risks of the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 through migratory birds to the main wintering site for wild birds in southern Brazil and its consequences were assessed. Likelihoods were estimated by a qualitative scale ranging from negligible to high. Northern migrants that breed in Alaska and regularly migrate to South America (primary Charadriiformes) can have contact with birds from affected areas in Asia. The likelihood of the introduction of HPAI H5N1 through migratory birds was found to be very low as it is a probability conditioned to successful transmission in breeding areas and the probabilities of an infected bird migrating and shedding the virus as far as southern Brazil. The probability of wild species becoming exposed to H5N1-infected birds is high as they nest with northern migrants from Alaska, whereas for backyard poultry it is moderate to high depending on proximity to wetlands and the presence of species that could increase the likelihood of contact with wild birds such as domestic duck. The magnitude of the biological and economic consequences of successful transmission to poultry or wild birds would be low to severe depending on the probability of the occurrence of outbreak scenarios described. As a result, the risk estimate is greater than negligible, and HPAI H5N1 prevention strategy in the region should always be carefully considered by the veterinary services in Brazil.

Use of Leptospira spp. strains isolated in Brazil in the microscopic agglutination test applied to diagnosis of leptospirosis in cattle herds in eight brazilian states

Sarmento A.M.C., Azevedo S.S., Morais Z.M., Souza G.O., Oliveira F.C.S., Goncales A.P., Miraglia F. & Vasconcellos S.A. 2012. [Use of Leptospira spp. strains isolated in Brazil in the microscopic agglutination test applied to diagnosis of leptospirosis in cattle herds in eight brazilian states.] Emprego de estirpes Leptospira spp. isoladas no Brasil na microtecnica de soroaglutinacao microscopica aplicada ao diagnostico da leptospirose em rebanhos bovinos de oito estados brasileiros. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 32(7);601-606. Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva e Saude Animal, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil. E-mail: savasco@usp.br The aim of this study was to investigate the adequacy of the use of autochthonous strains of leptospires isolated in Brazil, added to antigen collection of the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) applied to the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis. By means of non-probability sampling, 109 farms and 9,820 cattle, females at reproductive age were chosen from 85 municipalities in the states of Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo. Among the 9,820 examined animals, 5,806 (59.12%) were reactants at MAT for at least one serovar using the 23 reference serovars. Employing the collection of reference serovars and the ten autochthonous strains, 6,400 (65.24%) reactants and significant difference (p=0.001) was found. The most probable serovars identified by the collection of reference antigens were Hardjo (43.03%), Shermani (20%), Wolfi (9.96%), Grippothyphosa (5.42%) and Pomona (4.28%). With the collection amplified with the ten strains isolated in Brazil, the most probable serovars were Hardjo (31%), Guaricura-M4/84 (22.50%), Shermani (15.43%), Wolffi (4.76%), Grippothyphosa (3.71%) and Autumnalis (3.24%). The serovar Guaricura, strain M4/84, isolated from bovines and buffaloes in the State of Sao Paulo, was ranked as one of the three most probable serovars in the states of Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo. The addition of autochthonous strains to the MAT antigen collection provided the confirmation of the diagnosis of leptospirosis in 594 cattle (6%) which have been classified as non-reactants by the reference collection (p=0.001).

Ground-level ozone prediction using a neural network model based on meteorological variables and applied to the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo

A neural network model to predict ozone concentration in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area was developed, based on average values of meteorological variables in the morning (8:00-12:00 hr) and afternoon (13:00-17: 00 hr) periods. Outputs are the maximum and average ozone concentrations in the afternoon (12:00-17:00 hr). The correlation coefficient between computed and measured values was 0.82 and 0.88 for the maximum and average ozone concentration, respectively. The model presented good performance as a prediction tool for the maximum ozone concentration. For prediction periods from 1 to 5 days 0 to 23% failures (95% confidence) were obtained.

Polymeric micelles and molecular modeling applied to the development of radiopharmaceuticals

Micelles composed of amphiphilic copolymers linked to a radioactive element are used in nuclear medicine predominantly as a diagnostic application. A relevant advantage of polymeric micelles in aqueous solution is their resulting particle size, which can vary from 10 to 100 nm in diameter. In this review, polymeric micelles labeled with radioisotopes including technetium (99mTc) and indium (111In), and their clinical applications for several diagnostic techniques, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), gamma-scintigraphy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), were discussed. Also, micelle use primarily for the diagnosis of lymphatic ducts and sentinel lymph nodes received special attention. Notably, the employment of these diagnostic techniques can be considered a significant tool for functionally exploring body systems as well as investigating molecular pathways involved in the disease process. The use of molecular modeling methodologies and computer-aided drug design strategies can also yield valuable information for the rational design and development of novel radiopharmaceuticals.