Analysis of floristic composition and structure as an aid to monitoring protected areas of dense rain forest in southeastern Brazil

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

Arthrocentesis procedure: Using this therapeutic maneuver for TMJ closed lock management

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a term that encompasses a number of overlapping conditions, such as closed lock. Closed lock of the TMJ is considered a consequence of a nonreducing deformed disc acting as an obstacle to the sliding condylar head that usually causes a decrease in the maximum mouth opening and acute pain. The management of the TMJ is still controversial. Thus, arthrocentesis of the TMJ is a valuable modification of the traditional method of arthroscopic lavage, which consists of washing the joint in order to remove chemical inflammatory mediators and intra-articular adhesions, changing intra-articular pressure. TMJ disorder has always presented as a therapeutic challenge to maxillofacial surgeons. Therefore, this paper aimed to describe a clinical report of a closed lock of the left TMJ in a 19-year-old female subject who was successfully treated by arthrocentesis procedure. © 2013 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

Cleaner Production initiatives and challenges for a sustainable world: an introduction to this special volume

This special volume of the Journal of Cleaner Production is comprised of articles presented at the 3rd International Workshop Advances in Cleaner Production held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2011. The content underscores the recognition of the pressing and inescapable need for making changes from unsustainable to sustainable production and consumption patterns. The 48 articles from 15 countries provide different, but complimentary approaches to help industrial and societal sectors in advancing on their paths towards sustainability. Initiatives and challenges are included, which systematically address problems affecting raw material changes, technological modifications, product and policy changes. The findings range from proposals for alternative uses of wastes, substitution of raw materials for environmentally friendlier substances, optimization of industrial processes by source reductions of wastes and emissions and documented economic and environmental advantages of a wide array of initiatives. The roles of operational and managerial practices are also stressed, highlighting the role of diverse stakeholders as promoters of implementation and internalization of innovative cleaner technologies within companies. Systemic assessment tools are employed and experimented with in order to more effectively evaluate the environmental performance of systems on the biosphere scale. The methodological procedures and proposals presented can help in the design and management of production systems, for governmental and corporate policy development, for implementing and monitoring CP Programs, prevention and mitigation strategies, and evaluation of the outcomes of CP initiatives in the production and service sectors. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of organic acids and competitive exclusion product as an alternative to antibiotic as a growth promoter in the raising of commercial turkeys

Processo FAPESP: 10/20655-3

Measuring Knowledge Management: A Strategic Approach to Library Information Services

In the study of theoretical trends in Administration, the management of information follows the development of theories of Administration; constant-adaptations are suffered. Information Science area understands and concerns itself with the changes wrought in these endeavour of the knowledge society as new forms of communication and integration. The libraries interact in ways that maximize access to information and facilitate the improvement on their structural environment as strategic approach for your services. The research aims at identifying the requirements and specifications of an information system for knowledge management in the public’s library environment and proposes to achieve a pre-defined structure for the implementation of administration management. The research is conducted with public’s library of the metropolitan region of the North’s Portugal. Portugal libraries are institutions that operate in the social process of their communities reflecting the society and its organic sphere of informational performance. These libraries have developed the organizational theories to make a framework easily for effective management practices and have been using their produced knowledge in the optimization of their actions. In the improvement of systems, theoretical administrative trends become management decisions and result in the ultimate success of the organization. In order to achieve its objectives the study verified an economy based on knowledge management, and its production emphasizes the human capital that permeates the condition of the information in support for the development of communities.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical treatment of aggressive periodontitis: a split-mouth randomized controlled trial

Background: The management of aggressive periodontitis (AgP) represents a challenge for clinicians because there are no standardized protocols for an efficient control of the disease. This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of repeated applications of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with AgP. Methods: Using a split-mouth design, 20 patients with generalized AgP were treated with aPDT + SRP (test group) or SRP only (control group). aPDT was applied at four periods. All patients were monitored for 90 days. Clinical, microbiologic, and immunologic parameters were statistically analyzed. Results: In deep periodontal pocket analysis (probing depth [PD] >= 7 mm at baseline), the test group presented a decrease in PD and a clinical attachment gain significantly higher than the control group at 90 days (P < 0.05). The test group also demonstrated significantly less periodontal pathogens of red and orange complexes and a lower interleukin-1 beta/interleukin-10 ratio than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The application of four sessions of aPDT, adjunctive to SRP, promotes additional clinical, microbiologic, and immunologic benefits in the treatment of deep periodontal pockets in single-rooted teeth in patients with AgP.

Clinical and surgical management of an aggressive cherubism treated with autogenous bone graft and calcitonin

Cherubism is a rare autosomal-dominant inherited syndrome and is usually self-limiting; it starts in early childhood and involutes by puberty. It is a benign fibroosseous disease, characterized by excessive bone degradation of the upper and lower jaws followed by development of fibrous tissue masses. The purpose of this clinical report is to describe a rare and aggressive form of cherubism on an adult female patient that has been treated in our Bioscience Center for Special Health Care Needs-CEBAPE. The patient was firstly submitted to the surgical procedure with partial curettage of the lesion, and the cavity was filled with autogenous cancellous bone and bone marrow grafts. Furthermore, the support treatment used was the administration of salmon calcitonin by nasal spray during the first year after the preconized procedure. At 4-year followup, we confirmed the stomatognathic system improvement and esthetic rehabilitation, which led to a significant increase in the patient's quality of life.

Preliminary results of a floating subirrigation system (Aquaforest system) as an alternative to conventional tree nurseries

A new methodology for tree seedling production (Aquaforest system) based on a continuous floating subirrigation system was developed and tested using creeks with different nutrient levels. Eucalyptus grandis seedlings were produced in water from polluted and clean creeks, and compared to conventional tree nursery production. The growth variables analyzed in the seedling phase were: survival, height, diameter, shoot and root dry weight, leaf area, and root/shoot ratio. Water and substrate were analyzed, as well as leaf nutritional status. Plant survival was 100% in all treatments. Height and diameter were greater in the higher nutrient water treatment. Leaf area and dry weight of plants produced in the higher nutrient water treatment were similar to those of the control. The results showed that polluted water can represent a good nutrient source. The preliminary results show that the Aquaforest system can be a viable alternative for tree seedling production. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An approach to generalized holomorphic functions

A study of the generalized holomorphic functions, HG(Omega), having in mind its strict elements, i.e. those which are in HG(Omega) - H(Omega), as well as the possibility of the existence of hybrid elements, i.e. elements which have, in a part of a domain Omega subset of C-n, the strict behaviour and, in another part of the same domain, the classical behaviour, is carried out in this work. The study of hybrid elements is important in the approach of a concept of generalized domain of holomorphy.

Variable-Structure Control Design of Switched Systems With an Application to a DC-DC Power Converter

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

Modeling the dielectric response of lanthanum modified lead zirconate titanate ferroelectric ceramics-an approach to the phase transitions in relaxor ferroelectrics

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

Evaluation of laryngeal mask as an alternative to endotracheal intubation in cats anesthetized under spontaneous or controlled ventilation

Objective To compare the cardiorespiratory effects and incidence of gastroesophageal reflux with the use of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or endotracheal tube (ET) in anesthetized cats during spontaneous (SV) or controlled ventilation (CV).Study design Prospective randomized experimental trial.Animals Thirty-two adult crossbred cats, weighing 2.7 +/- 0.4 kg.Methods the cats were sedated with intramuscular (IM) methotrimeprazine (0.5 mg kg(-1)) and buprenorphine (0.005 mg kg(-1)), followed 30 minutes later by induction of anesthesia with intravenous (IV) thiopental (12.5-20 mg kg(-1)). An ET was used in 16 cats and an LMA in the remaining 16 animals. Anesthesia was maintained with 0.5 minimum alveolar concentration (0.6%) of halothane in oxygen using a Mapleson D breathing system. Cats in both groups were further divided into two equal groups (n = 8), undergoing either SV or CV. Neuromuscular blockade with pancuronium (0.06 mg kg(-1)) was used to facilitate CV. Heart and respiratory rates, direct arterial blood pressure, capnometry (PE'CO2) and arterial blood gases were measured. Gastric reflux and possible aspiration was investigated by intragastric administration of 5 mL of radiographic contrast immediately after induction of anesthesia. Cervical and thoracic radiographs were taken at the end of anesthesia. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls, Kruskal-Wallis or Friedman test where appropriate.Results Values for PaCO2 and PE'CO2 were higher in spontaneously breathing cats with the LMA when compared with other groups. Values of PaO2 and hemoglobin oxygen saturation did not differ between groups. Gastroesophageal reflux occurred in four of eight and two of eight cats undergoing CV with ET or LMA, respectively. There was no tracheal or pulmonary aspiration in any cases.Conclusions and clinical relevance the use of an LMA may be used as an alternative to endotracheal intubation in anesthetized cats. Although aspiration was not observed, gastric reflux may occur in mechanically ventilated animals.

Effect of follicle size on mRNA expression in cumulus cells and oocytes of Bos indicus: an approach to identify marker genes for developmental competence

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The use of vinasse as an amendment to ex-situ bioremediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with diesel oil

Este trabalho investigou a possibilidade de se usar a vinhaça como um agente estimulador de processos de biorremediação ex-situ. Amostras de água subterrânea e solo foram coletadas em três postos de combustíveis. A biorremediação do solo foi simulada em frascos de Bartha, usados para medir a produção de CO2, durante 48 dias, onde a vinhaça foi adicionada a uma concentração de 33 mL.Kg-1 de solo. A eficiência de biodegradação também foi medida pela quantificação de hidrocarbonetos totais de petróleo (TPH) por cromatografia gasosa. A biorremediação da água subterrânea foi realizada em experimentos laboratoriais simulando condições aeradas (bioreatores) e não aeradas (frascos de DBO). em ambos os casos, a concentração de vinhaça foi de 5 % (v/v) e diferentes parâmetros físico-químicos foram avaliados durante 20 dias. Embora um aumento da fertilização e da população microbiana do solo foram obtidos com a vinhaça, esta estratégia não se mostrou adequada em aumentar a eficiência da biorremediação dos solos contaminados com óleo diesel. A adição de vinhaça às águas subterrâneas contaminadas teve efeitos negativos na biodegradação dos hidrocarbonetos, uma vez que a vinhaça, como uma fonte de carbono facilmente assimilável, foi preferencialmente consumida.

The Q-D algorithm for transforming series expansions into a corresponding continued fraction: an extension to cope with zero coefficients

An algorithm for deriving a continued fraction that corresponds to two series expansions simultaneously, when there are zero coefficients in one or both series, is given. It is based on using the Q-D algorithm to derive the corresponding fraction for two related series, and then transforming it into the required continued fraction. Two examples are given. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.