Intra-prostatic injection of botulinum toxin type A in treatment of dogs with spontaneous benign prostatic hyperplasia

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Impedance of carrier injection at the metal-organic interface mediated by surface states in electron-only tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq(3)) thin layers

Capacitance spectra of thin (< 200 nm) Alq(3) electron-only devices have been measured as a function of bias voltage. Capacitance spectra exhibit a flat response at high frequencies (> 10(3) Hz) and no feature related to the carrier transit time is observed. Toward low frequencies the spectra reach a maximum and develop a negative excess capacitance. Capacitance response along with current-voltage (J-V) characteristics are interpreted in terms of the injection of electrons mediated by surface states at the metal organic interface. A detailed model for the impedance of the injection process is provided that highlights the role of the filling/releasing kinetics of energetically distributed interface states. This approach connects the whole capacitance spectra to the occupancy of interface states, with no additional information about bulk trap levels. Simulations based on the model allow to derive the density of interface states effectively intervening in the carrier injection (similar to 1.5 x 10(12) cm (2)). (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Parameterized fast decoupled power flow methods for obtaining the maximum loading point of power systems. Part I. Mathematical modeling

The conventional Newton and fast decoupled power flow (FDPF) methods have been considered inadequate to obtain the maximum loading point of power systems due to ill-conditioning problems at and near this critical point. It is well known that the PV and Q-theta decoupling assumptions of the fast decoupled power flow formulation no longer hold in the vicinity of the critical point. Moreover, the Jacobian matrix of the Newton method becomes singular at this point. However, the maximum loading point can be efficiently computed through parameterization techniques of continuation methods. In this paper it is shown that by using either theta or V as a parameter, the new fast decoupled power flow versions (XB and BX) become adequate for the computation of the maximum loading point only with a few small modifications. The possible use of reactive power injection in a selected PV bus (Q(PV)) as continuation parameter (mu) for the computation of the maximum loading point is also shown. A trivial secant predictor, the modified zero-order polynomial which uses the current solution and a fixed increment in the parameter (V, theta, or mu) as an estimate for the next solution, is used in predictor step. These new versions are compared to each other with the purpose of pointing out their features, as well as the influence of reactive power and transformer tap limits. The results obtained with the new approach for the IEEE test systems (14, 30, 57 and 118 buses) are presented and discussed in the companion paper. The results show that the characteristics of the conventional method are enhanced and the region of convergence around the singular solution is enlarged. In addition, it is shown that parameters can be switched during the tracing process in order to efficiently determine all the PV curve points with few iterations. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Parameterized fast decoupled power flow methods for obtaining the maximum loading point of power systems. Part II. Performance evaluation

The parameterized fast decoupled power flow (PFDPF), versions XB and BX, using either theta or V as a parameter have been proposed by the authors in Part I of this paper. The use of reactive power injection of a selected PVbus (Q(PV)) as the continuation parameter for the computation of the maximum loading point (MLP) was also investigated. In this paper, the proposed versions obtained only with small modifications of the conventional one are used for the computation of the MLP of IEEE test systems (14, 30, 57 and 118 buses). These new versions are compared to each other with the purpose of pointing out their features, as well as the influence of reactive power and transformer tap limits. The results obtained with the new approaches are presented and discussed. The results show that the characteristics of the conventional FDPF method are enhanced and the region of convergence around the singular solution is enlarged. In addition, it is shown that these versions can be switched during the tracing process in order to efficiently determine all the PV curve points with few iterations. A trivial secant predictor, the modified zero-order polynomial, which uses the current solution and a fixed increment in the parameter (V, theta, or mu) as an estimate for the next solution, is used for the predictor step. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

T��cnica de parametriza����o geom��trica para o fluxo de carga continuado baseado nas vari��veis tens��o nodal e fator de carregamento

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Simple and clean determination of tetracyclines by flow injection analysis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient��fico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Mathematical analysis of maximum power generated by photovoltaic systems and fitting curves for standard test conditions

The rural electrification is characterized by geographical dispersion of the population, low consumption, high investment by consumers and high cost. Moreover, solar radiation constitutes an inexhaustible source of energy and in its conversion into electricity photovoltaic panels are used. In this study, equations were adjusted to field conditions presented by the manufacturer for current and power of small photovoltaic systems. The mathematical analysis was performed on the photovoltaic rural system I- 100 from ISOFOTON, with power 300 Wp, located at the Experimental Farm Lageado of FCA/UNESP. For the development of such equations, the circuitry of photovoltaic cells has been studied to apply iterative numerical methods for the determination of electrical parameters and possible errors in the appropriate equations in the literature to reality. Therefore, a simulation of a photovoltaic panel was proposed through mathematical equations that were adjusted according to the data of local radiation. The results have presented equations that provide real answers to the user and may assist in the design of these systems, once calculated that the maximum power limit ensures a supply of energy generated. This real sizing helps establishing the possible applications of solar energy to the rural producer and informing the real possibilities of generating electricity from the sun.

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of dipyrone in pharmaceutical formulations using ammonium molybdate as chromogenic reagent

A simple and rapid flow-injection spectrophotometric method is reported for the determination of dipyrone in pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on the reaction of dipyrone with ammonium molybdate in acidic medium to produce blue molybdenum, which was detected spectrophotometrically at 620 nm. The analyte was determined in a single-line flow system. The calibration curve obtained was linear in the range of 5x10(-4) to 8x10(-3) mol L-1 for dipyrone concentration and the precision ( s r =1.7%) was satisfactory. The method proved to be selective and adequately sensitive. Application of the method to the analysis of pharmaceutical samples resulted in excellent accuracy; the percent mean recoveries were in the range 95.3%-101% and relative errors less than 5.0% for five pharmaceutical formulations were found.

Per��odos de interfer��ncia das plantas daninhas na cultura da cana-de-a����car: III - capim-braqui��ria (Brachiaria decumbens) e capim-coloni��o (Panicum maximum)

Um experimento foi conduzido em S��o Jo��o da Boa Vista-SP, com o objetivo de determinar o per��odo anterior �� interfer��ncia (PAI) e o per��odo total de preven����o �� interfer��ncia (PTPI) das plantas daninhas na cultura da cana-de-a����car. A cana foi plantada em abril de 1995, na ��poca de plantio caracterizada por maior defici��ncia h��drica. A comunidade infestante presente foi variada, sendo Brachiaria decumbens e Panicum maximum as esp��cies mais importantes. Essa comunidade tendeu a apresentar ac��mulo crescente de mat��ria seca durante todo o per��odo de avalia����o e reduziu em at�� 40% a produtividade de colmos da cana-de-a����car. A cultura conviveu com a comunidade infestante at�� 74 dias ap��s o plantio, sem sofrer redu����o significativa na produtividade (PAI). O per��odo m��nimo de controle para garantir a produtividade foi de 127 DAP (PTPI). Dessa forma, o controle das plantas daninhas foi cr��tico no per��odo compreendido entre 74 e 127 dias ap��s o plantio.

Intravitreal injection versus sub-Tenon's infusion of triamcinolone acetonide for refractory diabetic macular edema: A randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE. To compare the effectiveness of posterior sub-Tenon's infusion (STi) and intravitreal injection (IVI) of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for treatment of refractory diffuse diabetic macular edema.METHODS. Thirty-six phakic diabetic patients with refractory diffuse diabetic macular edema were prospectively enrolled. Patients randomly received either 40 mg STi or 4 mg IVI of TA. Comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation was performed at baseline and 1, 2, 4, 8 +/- 1, 12 +/- 2 and 24 +/- 2 weeks after treatment. Macular morphologic changes detected by optical coherence tomography and visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and lens status were evaluated.RESULTS. Twenty-eight patients (28 eyes) completed the 24-week study. Central macular thickness was significantly reduced in the IVI group when compared with the STi group at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after treatment (P < 0.01). Mean visual acuities (in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) at week-4, -8, and -12 follow-up examinations were significantly higher in the IVI group (0.74, 0.75, and 0.82, respectively) when compared with the STi group (0.88, 0.88, and 0.90, respectively; P < 0.01). A significant change from baseline in mean intraocular pressure (mm Hg) was seen at weeks 4 (+/- 3.21) and 8 (+/- 3.35) in STi the group (P < 0.01), and at week 8 (+/- 2.78) in the IVI group (P < 0.05). No patient had cataract progression during the study.CONCLUSIONS. Although the number of patients and length of follow-up in this preliminary study were limited, the changes in central macular thickness and visual acuity observed after treatment suggest that IVI TA may be more effective than STi for the management of refractory diffuse diabetic macular edema. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Determination of the highest no-effect dose (HNED) and of the elimination pattern for cocaine in horses

Cocaine is one of the most widespread illegal stimulants utilized by the human population throughout the world. The aim of this study was to establish the highest no-effect dose (HNED) of cocaine on the spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) of horses in a behavior chamber, and thereby to determine the maximal acceptable threshold of the urinary drug concentration in horses. Twelve English thoroughbred mares received 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.08 or 0.12 mg kg(-1) cocaine i.v. or saline solution (control). It was noted that doses above 0.04 mg kg(-1) induced a significant increase in SLA (P < 0.05, Tukey's test). No significant increase in SLA was seen in the mares that received 0.03 mg kg(-1), but the animals showed important behavioral changes that did not occur after the 0.02 mg kg(-1) dose. It was concluded that the HNED of cocaine for horses in a behavior chamber is 0.02 mg kg(-1). After injection of this dose in five horses, urine samples were collected at predetermined intervals through vesical catheterization. The concentrations of cocaine, norcocaine, benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester were quantified by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Cocaine and norcocaine concentrations remained consistently below the level of detection. Benzoylecgonine reached a mean (+/- SEM) maximum concentration of 531.9 +/- 168.7 ng ml(-1) after 4 h, whereas ecgonine methyl ester peaked 2 h after injection at a concentration of 97.2 +/- 26.5 ng ml(-1). The maximum admissible concentration for cocaine and/or metabolites in the urine of horses is difficult to establish unequivocally because of the substantial individual variation in the drug elimination pattern observed in horses, which can be inferred by the large standard error of the means obtained. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

The tof-guard neuromuscular transmission monitor and its use in horses

Quando da utiliza����o de bloqueadores neuromusculares, j�� foi enfatizado na literatura m��dica humana, que �� de vital impor��ncia a monitora����o do bloqueio neuromuscular e que estes agentes nunca devem ser utilizados sem a mesma. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de avaliar o uso do monitor da transmiss��o neuromuscular TOF-Guard em eq��inos. Para tanto, doze eq��inos foram separados aleatoriamente para receberem como bloqueadores neuromusculares o pancur��nio ou o atrac��rio. Todos os eq��inos foram pr��-medicados com romifidina, induzidos com diazepam e quetamina e mantidos com halotano. Foi administrado o atrac��rio ou o pancur��nio, seguindo-se a apn��ia e in��cio da ventila����o mec��nica controlada. O tempo entre a administra����o do relaxante muscular e a obten����o de um bloqueio m��ximo (T1=0), o retorno do T1 para 25% e da raz��o do TOF para 0,7 e o tempo do retorno do T1 de 25 para 75% foram mensurados. Concluiu-se que �� de grande import��ncia a monitora����o do bloqueio neuromuscular quando da utiliza����o de um bloqueador neuromuscular n��o-despolarizante, uma vez que ela torna o ato anest��sico e cir��rgico mais seguro, com a utiliza����o de doses adequadas que inviabilizam a superficializa����o do bloqueio durante o procedimento cir��rgico. O monitor TOF-Guard mostrou ser uma boa op����o para a monitora����o do bloqueio neuromuscular em eq��inos.

Intralesional polysulphated glycosaminoglycan as treatment of equine collagenase induced tendinitis: clinical, ultrasonographic and histopathologic evaluation

Estudou-se o efeito de aplica����es intratend��neas do polissulfato de glicosaminoglicanas (PSGAG) no tratamento de tendinite induzida pela colagenase. Dois grupos (GI e GII) de cinco eq��inos da ra��a Puro-Sangue ��rabe, machos e f��meas, com idades entre dois e seis anos, foram submetidos �� tendinite do tend��o flexor digital superficial do membro tor��cico esquerdo por aplica����o intratend��nea de 1,0ml de colagenase (2,5mg/ml). Decorridos sete dias da indu����o da les��o, os eq��inos do GI receberam cinco aplica����es intralesionais de 1,0ml (125mg) de PSGAG, a intervalos de quatro dias, enquanto que os do GII receberam aplica����es de solu����o fisiol��gica em igual volume e freq����ncia. Efetuaram-se avalia����es cl��nicas e ultra-sonogr��ficas, periodicamente, durante 150 dias. Todos os animais apresentaram claudica����o e aumento local de sensibilidade, de temperatura e de volume 24 horas ap��s a indu����o da les��o. Com exce����o do aumento de volume, que permaneceu vis��vel at�� o final do experimento, observou-se regress��o de todos os sinais em todos os animais. A avalia����o ultra-sonogr��fica evidenciou les��es de tamanho, forma e posi����o variados, de maior severidade entre o s��timo e 23�� dia. Ao t��rmino do experimento, o grau de ecogenicidade encontrava-se entre 1 e 2, e o grau de paralelismo entre 0 e 2. A an��lise histopatol��gica evidenciou ��reas cicatriciais com intensa fibroplasia e neovasculariza����o, fibras col��genas pouco organizadas e endotend��o hipercelular e espessado. N��o se observou diferen��as significativas entre os grupos quanto ao processo de repara����o das les��es, concluindo-se que a aplica����o intralesional de PSGAG n��o produziu efeito ben��fico para tratar tendinite induzida por colagenase.

Control of Brachiaria decumbens and Panicum maximum by S-metolachlor as influenced by the occurrence of rain and amount of sugarcane straw on the soil

Com o objetivo de estudar o controle em pr��-emerg��ncia de Brachiaria decumbens e Panicum maximum pelo herbicida S-metolachlor em fun����o do intervalo de tempo entre a aplica����o e a ocorr��ncia de chuva e da quantidade de palha de cana-de-a����car na superf��cie do solo, dois experimentos foram desenvolvidos em vasos mantidos em casa de vegeta����o. No primeiro, foram estudadas cinco quantidades de palha sobre o solo (0, 3, 6, 10 e 15 t ha-1) e cinco dosagens de S-metolachlor (0; 0,96; 1,44; 1,92 e 2,40 kg ha-1). No outro, foram avaliadas duas quantidades de palha sobre o solo (0 e 10 t ha-1) e sete intervalos de tempo entre a aplica����o de S-metolachlor e a simula����o de chuva (1 dia antes; logo ap��s; 4, 8, 12, 16 e 20 dias ap��s a aplica����o). As dosagens de S-metolachlor n��o foram afetadas pelos n��veis de palha na superf��cie do solo. Al��m disso, sem a manuten����o de palha sobre o solo, o controle das plantas daninhas pelo herbicida S-metolachlor n��o foi influenciado pelos intervalos de tempo entre a aplica����o e a simula����o de chuva, at�� 20 dias. Com 10 t ha-1 de palha, o controle de B. decumbens e P. maximum pelo S-metolachlor n��o foi prejudicado quando choveu at�� 12 dias da sua aplica����o ou um dia antes, mas, nesse caso apenas para P. maximum.

S-metolachlor efficacy on the control of Brachiaria decumbens, Digitaria horizontalis, and Panicum maximum in mechanically green harvested sugarcane

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o controle em pr��-emerg��ncia de Brachiaria decumbens, Digitaria horizontalis e Panicum maximum pelo herbicida S-metolachlor aplicado em pr��-emerg��ncia em ��rea de cana-de-a����car colhida mecanicamente sem queima pr��via das plantas, com e sem palha sobre o solo. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repeti����es, em esquema de parcela subdividida 7 x 2. Nas parcelas, foram estudados cinco tratamentos de herbicidas (S-metolachlor a 1,44, 1,92 e 2,40 kg ha-1; clomazone a 1,20 kg ha-1; e isoxaflutole a 0,188 kg ha-1) e duas testemunhas sem aplica����o. Nas subparcelas, foi avaliada a manuten����o ou n��o da palha de cana na superf��cie do solo. A efic��cia do herbicida S-metolachlor n��o foi prejudicada pela presen��a de 14 ou 20 t ha-1 de palha de cana sobre o solo. Com a manuten����o da palha, a dosagem de S-metolachlor para o controle adequado das plantas daninhas foi de 1,44kgha-1. No ambiente sem palha, o S-metolachlor controlou B. decumbens, D. horizontalis e P. maximum nas dosagens de 1.92, 1.44 e 1.92kgha-1, respectivamente. Nas duas condi����es de palha, os herbicidas clomazone e isoxaflutole foram eficazes para as esp��cies estudadas. O S-metolachlor n��o causou nenhum sintoma vis��vel de intoxica����o �� cana-de-a����car. O clomazone e o isoxaflutole ocasionaram inj��rias visuais ��s plantas de cana. Os herbicidas estudados n��o afetaram o n��mero de colmos vi��veis por m��, a altura e o di��metro de colmos.