Critical points on growth curves in autoregressive and mixed models

Adjusting autoregressive and mixed models to growth data fits discontinuous functions, which makes it difficult to determine critical points. In this study we propose a new approach to determine the critical stability point of cattle growth using a first-order autoregressive model and a mixed model with random asymptote, using the deterministic portion of the models. Three functions were compared: logistic, Gompertz, and Richards. The Richards autoregressive model yielded the best fit, but the critical growth values were adjusted very early, and for this purpose the Gompertz model was more appropriate.

Quality of cut and basecutter blade configuration for the mechanized harvest of green sugarcane

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ozonated water and chlorine effects on the antioxidant properties of organic and conventional broccoli during postharvest

There is growing interest in studies on sanitizers other than chlorine that can maintain the quality of organic products without affecting their phytochemical content. The effects of using chlorinated and ozonized water treatments, as sanitizing procedures, on the post-harvest quality of organic and conventional broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) cv. Italica was evaluated. The biochemical parameters (chlorophyll, polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamin C and antioxidant capacity) of the broccoli samples were analyzed at day (C) (arrival of the plant from the field, original features), and 1, 4 and 7 days after harvest. The polyamine analysis was performed on arrival of the plant from the field and on the first and seventh days. The cultivation procedure influenced polyphenol, vitamin C and total chlorophyll content, and the highest value was observed in organic broccoli after the fourth day. Flavenoid content was higher in organic broccoli. The use of ozone appears not to have had an influence on the amount of polyphenolic, flavonoids and vitamin C during storage. Total chlorophyll content was less affected by ozonized water than by the chlorine treatment as at the first and fourth days of storage. The highest content of putrescine was found in conventional broccoli, while the highest levels of spermidine and spermine were found in organic broccoli. Antioxidant capacity was highest in organic broccoli after day 4 of storage and was affected by the bioactive compounds analyzed. Methods of cultivation influenced natural antioxidant and chlorophyll contents in broccoli under cold storage.

Kinetic role of a histidine residue in the T1 copper site of the laccase from Rigidoporus lignosus

Laccases (benzendiol:oxygen oxidoreductases; EC 1.10.3.2) catalyze the oxidation of a broad range of substrates, such as polyphenols, dyes and pollutants, and thus these enzymes are widely applied in industrial, biotechnological and environmental fields. In order to improve their biotechnological applications, a deep knowledge of structural factors involved in controlling their activity, in various experimental conditions and on different substrates, is required. In the present study, a laccase from the mushroom Rigidoporus lignosus was kinetically characterized. In particular, the stability, the effects of pH, ionic strength and fluoride ion concentration on the kinetic parameters were investigated, using three di-hydroxy-benzene isomers (1,2-dihydroxy-benzene, 1,3-dihydroxy-benzene and 1,4-dihydroxy-benzene) as substrates. The catalytic constant values of the laccase showed a bell-shaped pH profile, with the same optimum pH and pK(a) values for all tested substrates. This behavior appears to be due to the presence of an ionizable residue in the enzyme active site. To identify this residue, the enzyme was derivatized with diethylpyrocarbonate to modify accessible histidine residues, which, according to structural data, are present in the active site of this enzyme. The kinetic behavior of the derivatized laccase was compared with that of the native enzyme and the derivatized residues were identified by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry and kinetic results suggest the main role of His-457 in the control of the catalytic activity of laccase from R. lignosus. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of root canal preparation, type of endodontic post and mechanical cycling on root fracture strength

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the type of root canal preparation, intraradicular post and mechanical cycling on the fracture strength of roots. Material and Methods: Eighty human single rooted teeth were divided into 8 groups according to the instruments used for root canal preparation (manual or rotary instruments), the type of intraradicular post (fiber posts-FRC and cast post and core-CPC) and the use of mechanical cycling (MC) as follows: Manual and FRC; Manual, FRC and MC; Manual and CPC; Manual, CPC and MC; Rotary and FRC; Rotary, FRC and MC; Rotary and CPC; Rotary, CPC and MC. The filling was performed by lateral compactation. All root canals were prepared for a post with a 10 mm length, using the custom # 2 bur of the glass fiber post system. For mechanical cycling, the protocol was applied as follows: an angle of incidence of 45 degrees, 37 degrees C, 88 N, 4 Hz, 2 million pulses. All groups were submitted to fracture strength test in a 45 degrees device with 1 mm/min cross-head speed until failure occurred. Results: The 3-way ANOVA showed that the root canal preparation strategy (p<0.03) and post type (p<0.0001) affected the fracture strength results, while mechanical cycling (p=0.29) did not. Conclusion: The root canal preparation strategy only influenced the root fracture strength when restoring with a fiber post and mechanical cycling, so it does not seem to be an important factor in this scenario.

Carbohydrate production and transport in cotton cultivars grown under boron deficiency

An adequate supply of boron (B) is required for the optimal growth and development of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants, but the low phloem mobility of B limits the possibilities of correcting B deficiency. There are indications that different cotton cultivars could have different responses to B deficiency. The differences in responses of cotton cultivars to B regarding photoassimilate production and transport were studied in a greenhouse experiment with nutrient solution. Treatments consisted of three cotton cultivars (FMT 701, DP 604BG and FMX 993) and five concentrations of B (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mu mol L-1). Sampling began at the phenological stage B1 (first square) and continued for four weeks. The leaf area and the number of reproductive branches and structures decreased due to B deficiency. A higher level of abortion of reproductive structures was observed under B deficiency. Boron deficiency increased the internal CO2 concentration but decreased the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. Despite the decrease in photosynthesis, nonstructural carbohydrates accumulated in the leaves due to decreased export to bolls in B-deficient plants. The response to B deficiency is similar among cotton cultivars, which shows that the variability for this trait is low even for cultivars with different genetic backgrounds.

Body and Didactics. Possible directions of international research

The paper investigates the role of the body in didactics. It looks up for points of contact between the functional sceneries of the classroom and some recent approaches, such like simplexity, neurosciences and enactivism. The two experiments presented they aim to demonstrate the importance of body awareness to improve the didactic quality. The first experience used a SenseWear Armband that provided data about the energetic expenditure of a teacher during diff erent activities in a lesson. Th e second experiment relied on a neurofeedback device integrated to a sensor, it detected body temperature with the aim of understanding the role of the body in the process of self-regulation-learning and management of attention and arousal.

2 '-Deoxyguanosine, 2 '-deoxycytidine, and 2 '-deoxyadenosine adducts resulting from the reaction of tetrahydrofuran with DNA bases

A recent study showed that tetrahydrofuran (THF), a widely used solvent, is carcinogenic in experimental animals. Despite its carcinogenic activity, there is a paucity of information regarding cellular toxicity, biomolecular damage, and genotoxicity induced by THF. We describe here the structural characterization of adducts produced by the reaction of oxidized THF with 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo-THF 1 and dGuo-THF 2), 2'-deoxyadenosine (dAdo-THF), and 2'-deoxycytidine (dCyd-THF). Adducts were isolated from in vitro reactions by reverse-phase HPLC and fully characterized on the basis of spectroscopic measurements. The stable derivatives obtained by the reduction of adducts with NaBH4 ( the case of dGuo-THF 1, dCyd-THF, and dAdo-THF) and the stable adduct dGuo-THF 2 were used as standards for optimization of chromatographic separations for adduct detection in DNA through HPLC/ESI/MSMS. Using this methodology, we successfully detected the four adducts in calf thymus DNA reacted with oxidized THF. The present study also provides evidence that rat liver microsomal monooxigenases oxidize THF to the reactive electrophilic compounds that are able to damage the DNA molecule, as indicated by a significant increase in adduct dGuo-THF 1 level when NADPH was added to the THF/ microsomes/dGuo incubation mixtures. Our data point to DNA-THF adducts as possible contributing factors to the toxicological effects of THF exposure.

The edentulous ridge expansion (ERE) technique an experimental study in the dog

Objective: To compare the healing and bony crest resorption at implants installed conventionally or applying an edentulous ridge expansion (ERE) technique in the maxilla.Material and methods: In six Labrador dogs, the first and second maxillary incisors were extracted bilaterally. In the left side of the maxilla (Test), the flaps were elevated and the buccal plate of the alveoli and septa was removed. After 3 months of healing, partial-thickness (split) flaps were dissected and the residual alveolar bone was exposed. In the right side of the maxilla, an implant was installed conventionally (Type IV; Control) while, in the left side, the ERE technique was adopted. Hence, an expansion of the buccal bony crest was obtained, and the implant was subsequently installed (Test). After 3 months of healing, biopsies were obtained and ground sections were prepared for histological analyses.Results: A buccal vertical resorption of the bony crest of 2.2 +/- 1.2 mm and 1.6 +/- 0.7 mm was found at the test and control sites, respectively. The difference, however, did not reach statistical significance. The coronal level of osseointegration at the buccal aspect was located at 3.1 +/- 1.0 mm and 2.2 +/- 0.7 mm from the implant shoulder at the test and control sites, respectively, the difference being statistically significant. The mean values of the mineralized bone-to-implant contact (MBIC%) ranged from 43% to 48% at the buccal and lingual sites. No differences reached statistical significance.Conclusions: Implants installed by applying an ERE technique may osseointegrate similarly to conventional implant installation. However, vertical and horizontal resorption of the displaced buccal bony wall occurred as well.

Dar corpo à didática: diálogos internacionais

The article uses theoretical approaches as simplexity, neuroscience and enactivism to discuss everyday classroom activities. It tries to transpose the classical bipolar division between mind and body, through these approaches in cognitive science. Two experiments on the body’s role in teaching are presented to demonstrate the relevance of the awareness of the body, to improve performance in the classroom. The first experiment uses neurofeedback to measure the body temperature, as a means to understand the role of the body in self-regulation and control of the attention. The second uses a bracelet multi-sensor, which provides data on the energy spent by the teacher in daily activities in the classroom. Italian and Brazilian researchers cooperate in this experimental path of inclusive teaching, to be used in classes with children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Construções euclidianas e o desfecho de problemas famosos da geometria

Construction techniques with ruler and the compasses, fundamental on Euclidean geometry, have been related to modern algebraic theories such as solving equations and extension of bodies from the works by Paolo Ruffini (1765-1822), Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829) and Evariste Galois (1811-1832). This relation could provide an answer to some famous problems, from ancient Greece, such as doubling the cube, the trisection Angle, the Quadrature of the Circle and the construction of regular polygons, which remained unsolved for over two thousand years. Also important for our purposes are the notions of algebraic numbers, transcendental and the criteria for constructability, of those numbers. The objective of this study is to reconstruct relevant steps of geometric constructions with ruler (unmarked) and the compasses, from the elementary to the outcome buildings, in the nineteenth century, considering those mentioned problems.

O Serviço Social e a avaliação de impacto na gestão de programas e projetos empresariais

Pós-graduação em Serviço Social - FCHS

Effect of particle size on the flexural strength and phase transformation of an airborne-particle abraded yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic.

Statement of problem Because airborne-particle abrasion is an efficient method of improving the bond at the zirconia-cement interface, understanding its effect on the strength of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal is important. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the particle size used for airborne-particle abrasion on the flexural strength and phase transformation of a commercially available yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic. Material and Methods For both flexural strength (20.0 × 4.0 × 1.2 mm) (n=14) and phase transformation (14.0-mm diameter × 1.3-mm thickness) (n=4), the zirconia specimens were made from Lava, and their surfaces were treated in the following ways: as-sintered (control); with 50-μm aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles; with 120-μm Al2O3 particles; with 250-μm Al2O3 particles; with 30-μm silica-modified Al2O3 particles (Cojet Sand); with 120-μm Al2O3 particles, followed by 110-μm silica-modified Al2O3 particles (Rocatec Plus); and with Rocatec Plus. The phase transformation (%) was assessed by x-ray diffraction analysis. The 3-point flexural strength test was conducted in artificial saliva at 37°C in a mechanical testing machine. The data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant difference post hoc test (α=.05). Results Except for the Cojet Sand group, which exhibited statistically similar flexural strength to that of the as-sintered group and for the group abraded with 250-μm Al2O3 particles, which presented the lowest strength, airborne-particle abrasion with the other particle sizes provided the highest values, with no significant difference among them. The as-sintered specimens presented no monoclinic phase. The groups abraded with smaller particles (30 μm and 50 μm) and those treated with the larger ones (110 μm and/or 120 μm particles and 250 μm) exhibited percentages of monoclinic phase that varied from 4% to 5% and from 8.7% to 10%. Conclusions Except for abrasion with Cojet Sand, depending on the particle size, zirconia exhibited an increase or a decrease in its flexural strength. Airborne-particle abrasion promoted phase transformation (tetragonal to monoclinic), and the percentage of monoclinic phase varied according to the particle size.

Effect of surface treatments on the shear bond strength of luting cements to Y-TZP ceramic

Statement of problem Because zirconia is a glass-free material, alternative surface treatments such as airborne-particle abrasion or silica coating should be used for long-term bonding. However, these surface treatments in combination with different bonding agents and luting cements have not yet been studied. Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of surface treatments on the shear bond strength (SBS) of luting cements to Y-TZP ceramic. Material and methods Zirconia disks (N=240) were airborne-particle abraded with the following particles (n=48): 50 μm Al2O3; 120 μm Al2O3; 30 μm silica-coated Al2O3 (Rocatec Soft); 120 μm Al2O3+110 μm silica-coated Al2O3 (Rocatec Plus); and Rocatec Plus. After silanization of the zirconia surface, composite resin disks were bonded with (n=12) RelyX Luting 2; RelyX ARC; RelyX U100; and Panavia F. The bonded specimens were thermocycled (10 000 cycles) and tested for SBS. Failure mode was determined with a stereomicroscope (×20). The morphology and elemental composition of airborne-particle abraded surfaces were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (×500) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (×50). Results Surface treatments, cements, and their interaction were significant (P<.001). For RelyX ARC, Rocatec Soft and Rocatec Plus provided the highest SBS. In general, surface treatments did not influence the SBS of RelyX U100 and Panavia F. Regardless of the cement, no significant difference was found between 50 μm and 120 μm Al2O3 particles, between Rocatec Soft and Rocatec Plus, or between Rocatec Plus and 120 μm Al2O3 particles+Rocatec Plus. All groups showed adhesive failures. Different particle sizes provided differences in morphological patterns. The elemental composition comprised Al and Al/Si for alumina and silica-abraded zirconia. Conclusions Particle size did not influence the SBS of the groups abraded exclusively with alumina or silica-coated particles. RelyX ARC was more surface-treatment dependent than RelyX U100 or Panavia F.

Late diagnosis and vulnerabilities of the elderly living with HIV/AIDS

Objective: To identify vulnerabilities of elderly people with HIV/AIDS and the trajectory that they follow until reaching the diagnosis of the disease. Method: Qualitative research conducted in specialized clinics in the state of Sao Paulo, from January to June 2011. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 elderly people who were found to be infected with the virus at the age of 60 years or older. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results: In this process four categories emerged, then analyzed with reference to the theoretical framework of vulnerability. Conclusion: Late diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS among the elderly happens in the secondary or tertiary service. Issues related to sexual life of the elderly are only questioned by health professionals after the diagnosis, also the time that condom use becomes absolute. It is believed that the investigation of the vulnerability of the elderly to HIV/AIDS allows for carrying out appropriate interventions for this population.