H-infinity control design for time-delay linear systems: a rational transfer function based approach

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

Morphology variation as a function of composition for blends of PVDF and a polyaniline derivative

Blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, and poly(o-methoxyaniline), POMA doped with toluene sulfonic acid, TSA, were prepared by casting at various compositions and studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The blend composition has a great influence on the morphology obtained. As the concentration of POMA-TSA is increased in the blend an interconnecting fibrillar-like morphology is formed and the spherulites characteristic of pure PVDF are destroyed. The variation of blend morphology is further discussed based on X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative comparison of mobility and gross motor function in Brazilian children with cerebral palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) presents changes in posture and movement as a core characteristic, which requires therapeutic monitoring during the habilitation or rehabilitation of children. Besides clinical treatment, it is fundamental that professionals use systems of evaluation to quantify the difficulties presented to the individual and assist in the organization of a therapeutic program. The aim of this study was to quantitatively verify the performance of children with spastic di-paresia type CP.Methods: The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFM) tests were used and classification made through the GMFCS in the assessment of 7 patients with CP, 4 females and 3 males, average age of 9 years old.Results: According to GMFCS scales, 17% (n=1) were level II and 83% (n=6) were level III. The PEDI test and 88 GMFM items were used in the area of mobility. We observed that there was high correlation between mobility and gross motor function with Pearson's correlation coefficient =0.929) showing the likely impact of these areas in the functional skills and the quality of life of these patients.Conclusion: We suggest the impact of the limitation of the areas in functional skills and quality of life of these patients.

Effects of a muscarinic type-2 antagonist on cardiorespiratory function and intestinal transit in horses anesthetized with halothane and xylazine

Objective-To evaluate the cardiorespiratory and intestinal effects of the muscarinic type-2 (M-2) antagonist, methoctramine, in anesthetized horses.Animals-6 horses.Procedure-Horses were allocated to 2 treatments in a randomized complete block design. Anesthesia was maintained with halothane (1% end-tidal concentration) combined with a constant-rate infusion of xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg/h, IV) and mechanical ventilation. Hemodynamic variables were monitored after induction of anesthesia and for 120 minutes after administration of methoctramine or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control treatment). Methoctramine was given at 10-minute intervals (10 mug/kg, IV) until heart rate (HR) increased at least 30% above baseline values or until a maximum cumulative dose of 30 mug/kg had been administered. Recovery characteristics, intestinal auscultation scores, and intestinal transit determined by use of chromium oxide were assessed during the postanesthetic period.Results-Methoctramine was given at a total cumulative dose of 30 mug/kg to 4 horses, whereas 2 horses received 10 mug/kg. Administration of methoctramine resulted in increases in HR, cardiac output, arterial blood pressure, and tissue oxygen delivery. Intestinal auscultation scores and intestinal transit time (interval to first and last detection of chromium oxide in the feces) did not differ between treatment groups.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Methoctramine improved hemodynamic function in horses anesthetized by use of halothane and xylazine without causing a clinically detectable delay in the return to normal intestinal motility during the postanesthetic period. Because of their selective positive chronotropic effects, M-2 antagonists may represent a safe alternative for treatment of horses with intraoperative bracycardia.

Effects of glycopyrrolate on cardiorespiratory function in horses anesthetized with halothane and xylazine

Objective-To evaluate cardiopulmonary effects of glycopyrrolate in horses anesthetized with halothane and xylazine.Animals-6 horses.Procedure-Horses were allocated to 2 treatment groups in a randomized complete block design. Anesthesia was maintained in mechanically ventilated horses by administration of halothane (1% end-tidal concentration) combined with a constant-rate infusion of xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg/h, IV). Hemodynamic variables were monitored after induction of anesthesia and for 120 minutes after administration of glycopyrrolate or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Glycopyrrolate (2.5 mug/kg, IV) was administered at 10-minute intervals until heart rate (HR) increased at least 30% above baseline or a maximum cumulative dose of 75 mug/kg had been injected. Recovery characteristics and intestinal auscultation scores were evaluated for 24 hours after the end of anesthesia.Results-Cumulative dose of glycopyrrolate administered to 5 horses was 5 mug/kg, whereas 1 horse received 75 mug/kg. The positive chronotropic effects of glycopyrrolate were accompanied by an increase in cardiac output, arterial blood pressure, and tissue oxygen delivery. Whereas HR increased by 53% above baseline values at 20 minutes after the last glycopyrrolate injection, cardiac output and mean arterial pressure increased by 38% and 31%, respectively. Glycopyrrolate administration was associated with impaction of the large colon in I horse and low intestinal auscultation scores lasting 24 hours in 3 horses.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The positive chronotropic effects of glycopyrrolate resulted in improvement of hemodynamic function in horses anesthetized with halothane and xylazine. However, prolonged intestinal stasis and colic may limit its use during anesthesia.

Analysis of Masticatory Cycle Efficiency in Complete Denture Wearers

Purpose: This study assessed masticatory efficiency and duration of the masticatory cycle in 14 asymptomatic patients with severe bone resorption. All patients had worn complete dentures for over 10 years. Recall visits were scheduled at 5 months and 1 year after receiving new dentures.Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients were evaluated in this study. The Research Diagnostic Criteria questionnaire and tests of the efficiency and duration of the masticatory cycle were performed with artificial food before, 5 months after, and 1 year after new dentures were delivered. Masticatory efficiency was assessed using a sieve system; artificial food was ground for 35 masticatory cycles and monitored by the operator.Results: Masticatory efficiency at 5 months was significantly improved for the 0.42-mm mesh. An improvement in masticatory efficiency and a reduction in mastication time were observed with the new dentures after 1 year.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that 5 months did not allow enough time to demonstrate improved muscular capacity and ability after receiving new dentures. After 1 year, the duration of the masticatory cycle was reduced, and masticatory efficiency was significantly improved.

Insertion and follow-up of complete dentures: a literature review

Insertion and follow-up of complete dentures: a literature reviewObjective: The aim of this study was to present the importance of clinical procedures related to insertion and follow-up of complete dentures in elderly patients.Materials and Methods: The success of rehabilitation with complete dentures results from the accuracy of clinical and laboratorial procedures that makes the denture insertion an important step of treatment.Conclusion: The follow-up and professional maintenance of function and hygiene facilitates long-term efficiency.

Electromyographic activity of the mandible muscles at the beginning and end of masticatory cycles in patients with complete dentures

The aim of this study was to assess the electrical activity of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles in subjects with severe bone resorption at two different times: ( a) the initial period, with the complete dentures they had worn for over 10 years, and (b) the final period, 5 months after having new dentures put into place. Twelve asymptomatic subjects were asked to respond to the questionnaire, according to the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders, before denture rehabilitation and 5 months after the new dentures were put in place. The electrical activity of the muscles was recorded during mastication in the initial and final period, using artificial food (Optocal). The operator monitored the 35 chewing cycles that were repeated to grind the artificial food. After wearing the new dentures for 5 months, the right anterior temporal muscle showed a statistical difference before and after denture rehabilitation at the beginning and end of mastication. Muscular capacity and ability reduced the electrical activity in the masseter muscles after rehabilitation. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Silent Period of Masticatory Cycles in Dentate Subjects and Complete Denture Wearers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess, through electromyographic activity (EMG), the silent period (SP) of masseter and anterior temporal muscles in dentate subjects (DS) and complete denture wearers (CDW).Materials and Methods: The evaluations were performed at the initial and final period of the mastication for the DS group. For the CDW group, the evaluations were performed at the initial period of mastication, with old complete dentures worn for more than 10 years (OCDW) and at the final period of the mastication with new complete dentures (NCDW), 5 months after rehabilitation. Twenty-four asymptomatic subjects (12 DS, 12 CDW) answered a questionnaire based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders. The CDW group answered the questionnaire before and after new denture insertion and after 5 months of rehabilitation. The SP of the muscles was recorded through EMG at the initial and final periods of mastication using artificial food (Optocal). The operator monitored 35 chewing cycles performed to grind the artificial food and selected eight open-close-clench-chewing cycles for the record.Results: The SP of the muscles analyzed with new complete dentures showed no statistical difference in comparison to the old dentures. There was a statistically significant difference in the SP between the CDW and DS groups for initial and final chewing.Conclusion: Lowered muscular capacity and ability reduced the SP of muscles after rehabilitation with NCDWs.

Cloning and Identification of a Complete cDNA Coding for a Bactericidal and Antitumoral Acidic Phospholipase A(2) from Bothrops jararacussu Venom

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

Tunneling time through a barrier using the local value of a time operator

A time for a quantum particle to traverse a barrier is obtained for stationary states by setting the local value of a time operator equal to a constant. This time operator, called the tempus operator because it is distinct from the time of evolution, is defined as the operator canonically conjugate to the energy operator. The local value of the tempus operator gives a complex time for a particle to traverse a barrier. The method is applied to a particle with a semiclassical wave function, which gives, in the classical limit, the correct classical traversal time. It is also applied to a quantum particle tunneling through a rectangular barrier. The resulting complex tunneling time is compared with complex tunneling times from other methods.

Vacuum energy as a c-function for theories with dynamically generated masses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Two-Point Function at Two Loops via Triangle Diagram Insertion

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Black hole partition function using the hybrid formalism of superstrings

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

Modifications in the correlation function in poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica hybrid wet gels

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