Intelligence functions disorders in patients with complex partial epilepsy

Objective: To compare the performance of patients with complex partial epilepsy with the normal controls in the subtests of an instrument used to assess intelligence function. Method: Fifty epileptic patients, whose ages ranged from 19 to 49 years and 20 normal controls without any neuropsychiatric disorders. The Wechsler-Bellevue adult intelligence test was applied in groups, epileptic patients and control subjects. This test is composed of several subtests that assess specific cognitive functions. A statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests. Results: All the Wechsler-Bellevue subtests revealed that the intelligence functions of the patients were significantly inferior to that of the controls (p<0.05). This performance was supported by the patient's complaints in relation to their cognitive performance. Conclusion: Patients with complex partial epilepsy presented poorer results in the intelligence test when compared with individuals without neuropsychiatric disorders.

DCOOD optically pumped by a13CO2 laser: New terahertz laser lines

In this work, we report new optically pumped terahertz laser lines from DCOOD. An isotopic 13CO2 laser was used for first time as pump source, and a Fabry-Perot open cavity was used as a terahertz laser resonator. Optoacoustic absorption spectra were used as a guide to search for new terahertz laser lines. We could observe six new laser lines in the range from 303.8μm (0.987 THz) to 725.1μm (0.413 THz). The lines were characterized according to wavelength, relative polarization, relative intensity, and optimum working pressure. The transferred Lamb-dip technique was used to measure the frequency absorption transition both for this laser lines. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Combined use of modeling techniques for the development of the conceptual model in simulation projects

The objective of this paper is to utilize the SIPOC, flowchart and IDEF0 modeling techniques combined to elaborate the conceptual model of a simulation project. It is intended to identify the contribution of these techniques in the elaboration of the computational model. To illustrate such application, a practical case of a high-end technology enterprise is presented. The paper concludes that the proposed approach eases the elaboration of the computational model. © 2008 IEEE.

Long-term creatine supplementation improves muscular performance during resistance training in older women

This study examined the effects of long-term creatine supplementation combined with resistance training (RT) on the one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength, motor functional performance (e.g., 30-s chair stand, arm curl, and getting up from lying on the floor tests) and body composition (e.g., fat-free mass, muscle mass, and % body fat using DEXA scans) in older women. Eighteen healthy women (64.9 ± 5.0 years) were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either a creatine (CR, N = 9) or placebo (PL, N = 9) group. Both groups underwent a 12-week RT program (3 days week-1), consuming an equivalent amount of either creatine (5.0 g day-1) or placebo (maltodextrin). After 12 week, the CR group experienced a greater (P < 0.05) increase (Δ%) in training volume (+164.2), and 1RM bench press (+5.1), knee extension (+3.9) and biceps curl (+8.8) performance than the PL group. Furthermore, CR group gained significantly more fat-free mass (+3.2) and muscle mass (+2.8) and were more efficient in performing submaximal-strength functional tests than the PL group. No changes (P > 0.05) in body mass or % body fat were observed from pre- to post-test in either group. These results indicate that long-term creatine supplementation combined with RT improves the ability to perform submaximal-strength functional tasks and promotes a greater increase in maximal strength, fat-free mass and muscle mass in older women. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Estimativa da radiação solar direta na incidência nas partições instantânea, horária e diária a partir da radiação solar global

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Efeito da ausência de passividade no sistema coroa-implante-parafuso de retenção por meio do MEF-2D

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Diagnóstico da trombose venosa profunda dos membros inferiores, utilizando o modelo clínico de Wells et al. (2003), Dímero-D, Mapeamento Dúplex e avaliação da Proteina C Reativa

Pós-graduação em Bases Gerais da Cirurgia - FMB

Características de carcaça de bovinos da raça Canchim: estimativas de parâmetros genéticos e associação com marcadores moleculares

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Community ecology of metazoan parasites of the sairú Cyphocharax nagelii from the Peixe River

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desgaste das facas do corte basal na qualidade da colheita mecanizada de cana-de-açúcar

During the sugarcane mechanized harvester process, the wear of base cutting knives is directly correlated to the quality of the cut made by the machines, and the use of quality control tools important in monitoring this process. Thus, the present study in Ribeirão Preto region aimed to assess the knives cut baseline and damage caused to wear brass knuckles in mechanized harvesting of cane raw sugar, from the viewpoint of statistical quality control (SQC). The wear of the knives was quantified by mass loss and its dimensions, while cutting quality was assessed by cutting height and damage to stumps visually classified according to the level of damage caused. The results showed that the wear of the knives was more pronounced in certain periods of use, but still within control standards. The cutting height was not affected by the wear of the knives, keeping within the limits of desirable quality for operation. Eventually damage the stumps ranged among themselves depending on each face of the cutting knives evaluated, and the predominance of certain classes of damage in each cutting face, but always remained in statistical control.

Systematic Variation in the Pattern of Gene Paralog Retention between the Teleost Superorders Ostariophysi and Acanthopterygii

Teleost fish underwent whole-genome duplication around 450 Ma followed by diploidization and loss of 80-85% of the duplicated genes. To identify a deep signature of this teleost-specific whole-genome duplication (TSGD), we searched for duplicated genes that were systematically and uniquely retained in one or other of the superorders Ostariophysi and Acanthopterygii. TSGD paralogs comprised 17-21% of total gene content. Some 2.6% (510) of TSGD paralogs were present as pairs in the Ostariophysi genomes of Danio rerio (Cypriniformes) and Astyanax mexicanus (Characiformes) but not in species from four orders of Acanthopterygii (Gasterosteiformes, Gasterosteus aculeatus; Tetraodontiformes, Tetraodon nigroviridis; Perciformes, Oreochromis niloticus; and Beloniformes, Oryzias latipes) where a single copy was identified. Similarly, 1.3% (418) of total gene number represented cases where TSGD paralogs pairs were systematically retained in the Acanthopterygian but conserved as a single copy in Ostariophysi genomes. We confirmed the generality of these results by phylogenetic and synteny analysis of 40 randomly selected linage-specific paralogs (LSPs) from each superorder and completed with the transcriptomes of three additional Ostariophysi species (Ictalurus punctatus [Siluriformes], Sinocyclocheilus species [Cypriniformes], and Piaractus mesopotamicus [Characiformes]). No chromosome bias was detected in TSGD paralog retention. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed significant enrichment of GO terms relative to the human GO SLIM database for growth, Cell differentiation, and Embryo development in Ostariophysi and for Transport, Signal Transduction, and Vesicle mediated transport in Acanthopterygii. The observed patterns of paralog retention are consistent with different diploidization outcomes having contributed to the evolution/diversification of each superorder.

Higher education in evening courses in Brazil: history, growth and public policies at the beginning of the XXI Century

There are three distinct and complementary objectives in this article in order to clarify the higher education outline in Brazil, specifically evening courses (classes are held on weekdays, generally from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm) and thesecurrent sector policies. The first objective is to present a short historical overview on the establishment of evening courses in Brazil, including those in the higher education level, occurred on the middle of last century. The second objective is to demonstrate the growth of evening higher education in Brazil, considering that in 1998, of the 2.1 million college enrollments, 55.3% were enrolled in evening courses; in 2010, twelve years later, of the 5.4 million students enrolled, there were 63.5% enrolled in evening courses. This expansion is due to the growing need of many students who must work while attending college, to defray costs of the study as well as personal and family costs. The reality of the working student is hostile considering external factors, such as transport problems, public security and lack of legislation for flexible working hours. The third objective is to discuss current public policies to expand eveningopenings in public institutions which represent nowadays only 16.1% of the 3.4 million enrollments for evening classes, including federal (6.8%), state (7.0%) and municipal (2.3%) institutions. In the third objective it is included the discussion of programs for scholarships and tuition loans. The methodology applied was to rescue historical information on the establishment and the expansion of evening courses in Brazil, analyzing the current general Brazilian policies and the specific ones from the State of São Paulo. The research results pointed to the importance of federal programs for scholarships and tuition loans for students from private institutions such as the 1,382,484 scholarships since 2004 (PROUNI Program) and the 847,000 tuition loans since 1999 (FIES Program). Important steps have been made by the Brazilian government. Considering that there are 3,987,424 enrollments in private institutions, the effectiveness of the programs for scholarships and tuition loans is still insufficient to meet the universal benefits for the student’s needs. Evening courses became the real instrument of social inclusion for many Brazilian youths and must be expanded quantitatively and qualitatively, with aggressive public policies, including also, scholarships and tuition loans.

O ensino superior noturno no Brasil: história, crescimento e políticas públicas no início do século XXI

There are three distinct and complementary objectives The first objective is to present a short historical overview on the establishment of evening courses in Brazil (classes are held on weekdays, generally from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm), including those in the higher education level, occurred on the middle of last century. The second objective is to demonstrate the growth of evening higher education, considering that in 1998, of the 2.1 million college enrollments, 55.3% were enrolled in evening courses; in 2010, twelve years later, of the 5.4 million students enrolled, there were 63.5% enrolled in evening courses. The third objective is to discuss current public policies to expand evening openings in public institutions which represent nowadays only 16.1% of the 3.4 million enrollments for evening classes. In the third objective it is included the discussion of programs for scholarships and tuition loans. The research results pointed to the importance of federal programs for scholarships and tuition loans for students from private institutions such as the 1,382,484 scholarships since 2004 (PROUNI Program) and the 847,000 tuition loans since 1999 (FIES Program). Important steps have been made by the Brazilian government. Considering that there are 3,987,424 enrollments in private institutions, the effectiveness of the programs for scholarships and tuition loans is still insufficient to meet the universal benefits for the student’s needs. Evening courses became the real instrument of social inclusion for many Brazilian youths and must be expanded quantitatively and qualitatively, with aggressive public policies, including also, scholarships and tuition loans.

Potential of the chemical dinotefuran in the control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) semi-engorged female ticks

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effects of environmental enrichment on biochemical and metric parameters of aged rats

The enriched environment (EE) is a promoter of physical activity, by its characteristics such as ample room for movement and exploration, presence of wheels, tunnels and toys. The maintenance of animals in enriched environment can bring a range of benefits, but the majority of the researches investigate cognitive parameters and changes related to the nervous system. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the maintenance of aged rats in enriched cages on biochemical and metric parameters. Wistar rats were randomly distributed (n=6) into two groups during 6 weeks: control (C) in a conventional cage and enriched environment (EE). The body mass were recorded weekly and the body length at the end of the study. After euthanasia, blood was collected for analysis of glucose, triglycerides and the brain was collected for analysis of mass. The EE group had higher brain mass and lower gain of body weight compared to control group. The control group animals had normal values of blood glucose and triglyceride levels, and the maintenance in an EE did not promote changes in these parameters. Therefore, it can be concluded that the EE group increases brain mass and reduces the gain of body weight without changing the blood glucose and triglycerides in aged animals.