Bounds on Higgs and gauge-boson interactions from LEP2 data

We derive bounds on Higgs and gauge-boson anomalous interactions using the LEP2 data on the production of three photons and photon pairs in association with hadrons. In the framework of SU(2)L ⊗ U(1)Y effective Lagrangians, we examine all dimension-six operators that lead to anomalous Higgs interactions involving γ and Z. The search for Higgs boson decaying to γγ pairs allow us to obtain constrains on these anomalous couplings that are comparable with the ones originating from the analysis of pp̄ collisions at the Tevatron. Our results also show that if the coefficients of all blind operators are assumed to have the same magnitude, the indirect constraints on the anomalous couplings obtained from this analysis, for Higgs masses MH ≲ 140 GeV, are more restrictive than the ones coming from the W+W- production. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Water sorption, solubility, and bond strength of two autopolymerizing acrylic resins and one heat-polymerizing acrylic resin.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Because water sorption of autopolymerizing acrylic reline resins is accompanied by volumetric change, it is a physical property of importance. As residual monomer leaches into the oral fluids and causes tissue irritation, low solubility of these resins is desired. Another requirement is a satisfactory bond between the autopolymerizing acrylic resins and the denture base acrylic resin. PURPOSE: This study compared the water sorption, solubility, and the transverse bond strength of 2 autopolymerizing acrylic resins (Duraliner II and Kooliner) and 1 heat-polymerizing acrylic resin (Lucitone 550). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The water sorption and solubility test was performed as per International Standards Organization Specification No. 1567 for denture base polymers. Bond strengths between the autopolymerizing acrylic resins and the heat-polymerizing acrylic resin were determine with a 3-point loading test made on specimens immersed in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 50 hours and for 30 days. Visual inspection determined whether failures were adhesive or cohesive. RESULTS: Duraliner II acrylic resin showed significantly lower water sorption than Kooliner and Lucitone 550 acrylic resins. No difference was noted in the solubility of all materials. Kooliner acrylic resin demonstrated significantly lower transverse bond strength to denture base acrylic resin and failed adhesively. The failures seen with Duraliner II acrylic resin were primarily cohesive in nature. CONCLUSIONS: Autopolymerizing acrylic reline resins met water sorption and solubility requirements. However, Kooliner acrylic resin demonstrated significantly lower bond strength to denture base acrylic resin.

Cytotoxic effects of current dental adhesive systems on immortalized odontoblast cell line MDPC-23

Objectives: Evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the three dental adhesive systems. Methods: The immortalized mouse odontoblast cell line (MDPC-23) was plated (30,000 cell/cm 2) in 24 well dishes, allowed to grow for 72 h, and counted under inverted light microscopy. Uncured fresh adhesives were added to culture medium to simulate effects of unset adhesive. Three adhesives systems were applied for 120 min to cells in six wells for each group: Group 1) Single Bond (3M), Group 2) Prime & Bond 2.1 (Dentsply), and Group 3) Syntac Sprint (Vivadent). In the control group, PBS was added to fresh medium. The cell number was counted again and the cell morphology was assessed under SEM. In addition, the adhesive systems were applied to circles of filter paper, light-cured for 20 s, and placed in the bottom of 24 wells (six wells for each experimental materials and control group). MDPC-23 cells were plated (30,000 cell/cm 2) in the wells and allowed to incubate for 72 h. The zone of inhibition around the filter papers was measured under inverted light microscopy; cell morphology was evaluated under SEM; and the MTT assay was performed for mitochondrial respiration. Results: The fresh adhesives exhibited more toxic (cytopathic effects) to MDPC-23 cells than polymerized adhesives on filter papers, and as compared to the control group. The cytopathic effect of the adhesive systems occurred in the inhibition zone around the filter papers, which was confirmed by the MTT assay and statistical analysis (ANOVA) combined with Fisher's PLSD test. In the control group, MDPC-23 cells were dense on the plastic substrate and were in contact with the filter paper. In the experimental groups, when acid in the adhesive systems was removed by changing the culture medium, or when the adhesives were light-cured, some cells grew in the wells in spite of the persistent cytotoxic effect. Significance: All dentin adhesive systems were cytotoxic odontoblast-like cells. Both acidity and non-acidic components of these systems were responsible for the high cytopathic effect of those dental materials. © 1999 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metacercárias de Diplostomum (Austrodiplostomum) compactum Lutz, 1928 (Digenea, Diplostomidae) em peixes do rio Paraná, Brasil. Prevalência, sazonalidade e intensidade de infecção

This paper aims at evaluating the occurrence of Diplostommn (Anstrodiplostomum compactum (Digenea: Diplostomatidae) in the eyeball of Plagioscion sqnamosissimus (corvina) and Cichla ocellaris (tucunaré), monthly captured in Paraná river, Presidente Epitácio, state of São Paulo, Brazil. From 61 corvinas under analysis, 56 of them contained parasites (92%) with intensity rate of 42.0 host parasites. From an amount of 81 tucunarés, 45 contained parasites (55%) with intensity rate of 9.3 parasites. Corvinas showed prevalence from 71 to 100% with the highest intensity rates (103.3 and 106.9) from February to March, 2001. Comparatively, the tucunaré showed the highest prevalence from November 2000 (90%) to February 2001 (80%). The tucunaré highest intensity rates occurred on September, 2000 (12.7), December, 2000 (12.2) and February, 2001 (16.1). Metacercariae showed a hollow womb body and a posterior region of a sinuous conic protuberance, an oral sucker smaller than the acetabulae, a simple acetabulae located in the pre-equatorial region of helminto. A short pre-pharynx followed by a muscular pharynx, genital pore next to acetubulae. Corvina metacercariae presents 1.434,0 μm (880 to 1.840) long by 611.2 ± 93.4 μm (400 to 792) wide. Tucunaré metacercariae, 1.462.4 μm (960 to 2.480) by 710.8 μm (560 to 960). Authors confirmed corvina great susceptibility to Diplomastum and the relationship between the parasitism and the aquatic and climatic parameters.

Postural control in children: Coupling to dynamic somatosensory information

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the coupling between dynamic somatosensory information and body sway is similar in children and adults. Thirty children (4-, 6-, and 8-year-olds) and 10 adults stood upright, with feet parallel, and lightly contacting the fingertip to a rigid metal plate that moved rhythmically at 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 Hz. Light touch to the moving contact surface induced postural sway in all participants. The somatosensory stimulus produced a broadband frequency response in children, while the adult response was primarily at the driving frequency. Gain, as a function of frequency, was qualitatively the same in children and adults. Phase decreased less in 4-year-olds than other age groups, suggesting a weaker coupling to position information in the sensory stimulus. Postural sway variability was larger in children than adults. These findings suggest that, even as young as age 6, children show well-developed coupling to the sensory stimulus. However, unlike adults, this coupling is not well focused at the frequency specified by the somatosensory signal. Children may be unable to uncouple from sensory information that is less relevant to the task, resulting in a broadband response in their frequency spectrum. Moreover, higher sway variability may not result from the sensory feedback process, but rather from the children's underdeveloped ability to estimate an internal model of body orientation.

Análise filogenética de Phytophthora capsici Leonian do estado de São Paulo baseada na seqüência de nucleotídeos da região ITS-5.8S rDNA

Phylogenetic analysis through morphological and cultural traits is considered inconsistent and hard to be scientifically accepted once there is no way to establish the direction of evolution on morphological traits. Molecular markers are suitable for phylogenetic analysis. The sequencing of ITS1 and ITS2 (internal transcribed spacers) regions and of 5.8S gene from ribosomal DNA were used to estimate the genetic variation and distance of 10 Phytophthora capsici isolates. The amount of genetic variation amongst isolated P. capsici from distinct regions of São Paulo State was 0.1 to 1.6 and 0.1 to 1.1% at ITS1 and ITS2, respectively, and a phylogenetic distance of about 78.5% between P. capsici and Phytophthora spp. was observed.

Toxoplasma gondii in semen of experimentally infected swine

Eight reproductive boars were divided into three groups and inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii [GI (n=3) 1.5×104 oocysts strain P; GII (n=3) 1.0×106 tachyzoites strain RH; and GIII (n=2) non-inoculated control]. Clinical, hematological, parasitemia and serological tests and studies of the parasite in the semen through bioassay and PCR, and in reproductive organs (Bioassay and immunohistochemical analyses) were conducted to evaluate the toxoplasmic infection. Blood and semen were collected on day -2, -1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14 and weekly up to 84 days post-inoculation (DPI). No clinical or hematimetric alteration was observed in the boars. Parasitemia was detected in one boar inoculated with oocysts at the 7th DPI and in another boar infected with tachyzoites (GII) at the 3rd and 49 th DPI. Serological tests revealed antibodies against T. gondii in animals inoculated with oocysts or tachyzoites at the 7th DPI with dilutions of 1:256 and 1:64, which reached peaks of 1:4096 at day 11 and 9, respectively. The bioassays revealed the presence of the parasite in semen samples of a boar inoculated with oocysts (GI) at 3, 49 and 56 DPI and from two boars infected with tachyzoites (GII), one animal at 5 and two animals at 49 days DPI. Mice inoculated with semen from the control group (GIII) remained serologically negative. PCR analysis showed T. gondii DNA in the semen of Boar 1 and Boar 3 inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. The immunohistochemical tests showed T. gondii in the reproductive organs of Boar 1 and Boar 2, inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. These findings suggest the possible occurrence of venereal transmission of T. gondii in swine.

Condições hidrológicas de uma bacia hidrográfica com diferentes usos do solo na região de taquaritinga, SP

In areas where human activities, as agriculture, are developed land use contributes to physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. This study aimed to identify physical and chemical variations of the water monitoring network in 4 first magnitude watersheds with different land use/occupation in the hydrographic basin of the Glori Farm Creek in the city of Taquaritinga, State of Sao Paulo, from February to July, 2005. The methodology consisted of weekly sample water collections to naalyze turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and electric conductivity. The characterization of the hydrological conditions of the watersheds showed that agricultural activities, including the productive system of the sugarcane cultivation, have affected the quality of water resources.

Fuzzy logic to predict thermal damages of ground parts

One of the critical problems in implementing an intelligent grinding process is the automatic detection of workpiece surface burn. This work uses fuzzy logic as a tool to classify and predict burn levels in the grinding process. Based on acoustic emission signals, cutting power, and the mean-value deviance (MVD), linguistic rules were established for the various burn situations (slight, intermediate, severe) by applying fuzzy logic using the Matlab Toolbox. Three practical fuzzy system models were developed. The first model with two inputs resulted only in a simple analysis process. The second and third models have an additional MVD statistic input, associating information and precision. These two models differ from each other in terms of the rule base developed. The three developed models presented valid responses, proving effective, accurate, reliable and easy to use for the determination of ground workpiece burn. In this analysis, fuzzy logic translates the operator's human experience associated with powerful computational methods.

Clinical assessment of the efficacy of low-level laser therapy on muscle pain in women with temporomandibular dysfunction, by surface electromyography

The use of low-level laser (LLL) may be an useful tool to promote reduction of muscular pain caused by TMD. Aim: This study evaluated the immediate efficacy of low-level laser therapy on women reporting pain and diagnosed with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Methods: Diode laser (GaAlAs) at 790 nm wavelength (infrared spectrum) was applied as experimental treatment. Irradiations of 1.5 J/cm2 were made at 4 points of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and of 3 J/cm2 at 3 points in the temporal muscle. An electromyographic (EMG) evaluation of the masseter and anterior temporal was done at the following intervals: before, immediately after, 5 min and 20 min after laser application. Results: Comparison of the electrical activity at the times of measurement revealed a statistically significant difference in masseter muscles before (P=0.025) and immediately after (P=0.013) LLLT. Conclusions: Both masseter and temporal muscles showed a reduction in the measured EMG activities at all times after LLLT, and the temporal muscle showed higher EMG activity than the masseter muscle at all the evaluation times. LLLT caused significant immediate relaxation of the masseter muscles.

Effects of drying rate and storage time on Magnolia ovata Spreng. seed viability

Magnolia ovata seeds have been reported as desiccation sensitive. In order to test if the drying rate would affect the assessment of storage behaviour of these seeds, the effect of different drying rates and storage times on the viability was tested. Seeds were dried over activated silica gel (fast drying) or salt solutions for different periods (slow drying) and stored at -20°C. Partial drying transiently increased the final germination and the germination speed index, but further drying resulted in reduction of these parameters. Drying rate affected the final germination and vigour. Seeds that were slow-dried to 0.10 g H 2O ̇ g -1 dw retained high viability when compared with seeds desiccated to the same water content level by the fast drying method, although their vigour was reduced. Only slow-dried seeds could be stored at -20°C for 90 d without reduction of viability. These data suggested that the storage behaviour of seeds of M. ovata seeds should be classified as intermediate.

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) and sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.): Antioxidant activity, fatty acids profile and determination of tocopherols

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the soursop and sugar apple seeds as to its composition, to evaluate the antioxidant potential of seeds extract and characterize the oil extracted from them, regarding the fatty acids profile and content of tocopherols. Design/methodology/approach: To obtain the extracts, dried and crushed seeds were extracted with ethanol for 30 minutes, at a ratio of 1:3 (m/m, seed: ethyl alcohol) under continuous stirring at room temperature. Then, the mixture was filtered and the supernatants subjected to rotoevaporator at 40°C aiming to determine, by direct weighing, the yields of dry extracts. Findings: According to the results, the soursop and sugar apple seeds constituted significant sources of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates and can therefore be used in food and feed, and offer relevant antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds. The oil seeds are a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic and linoleic acids and they have significant amounts of total tocopherol. Research limitations/implications: Implications are the identification of bioactive compounds extracted from seeds of tropical and subtropical fruits, and to prevent certain types of diseases. Practical implications: The information presented might be directly used for developing of functional foods such as fruits. Originality/value: The article tries to identify new source of compounds extracted from fruits. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

An anisotropic linear elastic boundary element formulation for masonry wall analysis

This work presents an application of a Boundary Element Method (BEM) formulation for anisotropic body analysis using isotropic fundamental solution. The anisotropy is considered by expressing a residual elastic tensor as the difference of the anisotropic and isotropic elastic tensors. Internal variables and cell discretization of the domain are considered. Masonry is a composite material consisting of bricks (masonry units), mortar and the bond between them and it is necessary to take account of anisotropy in this type of structure. The paper presents the formulation, the elastic tensor of the anisotropic medium properties and the algebraic procedure. Two examples are shown to validate the formulation and good agreement was obtained when comparing analytical and numerical results. Two further examples in which masonry walls were simulated, are used to demonstrate that the presented formulation shows close agreement between BE numerical results and different Finite Element (FE) models. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Population dynamics of the freshwater crab Dilocarcinus pagei in tropical waters in southeastern Brazil

In the northwestern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, the freshwater crab Dilocarcinus pagei Stimpson, 1861 is usually sold as bait for several fish species for sport fishing. Thus, knowledge of the reproductive biology of this species is essential to provide information for maintaining natural stocks and implementing future farming initiatives. The objective of this study was to investigate the population dynamics of the red freshwater crab D. pagei, focusing on reproductive and juvenile recruitment periods, sex ratio, and individual growth. Sampling was performed monthly from October 2005 to September 2007 in the Marimbondo-Fumas Hydroelectric Plant reservoir, Rio Grande, municipality of Icém in northwestern São Paulo state. The individuals were sexed, carapace widths were measured, and the gonads were examined macroscopically. In total, 1002 individuals were analyzed, consisting of 568 males and 434 females, of which 4 were ovigerous and 35 carried early juveniles in the incubatory chamber. The largest numbers of reproductive individuals of both sexes were recorded during the winter and spring months before spawning, which occurred in the spring. Intense juvenile recruitment and the highest rainfall levels were observed during the Southern Hemisphere summer. The results indicate that spawning can be considered seasonal, and the simultaneous emergence of juveniles with high rainfall levels is probably the result of the higher availability of food and potential sites for protection against predators. The skewed sex ratio (♂ 1:0.76 ♀) may be associated with growth rates, mortality, food restriction, behavioral differences, migration, and differential habitat use between the sexes. The similar maximum size (CW∞) and growth constant (k) for males (k = 1.78 y-1, CW = 61.43 mm) and females (k = 1.67 y-1, CW = 60.66 mm) may be associated with different energy investment strategies between the sexes. Additionally, a closed season is proposed for the species. © The Crustacean Society, 2013. Published by Brill NV, Leiden.