Non-linear 3D finite element analysis of full-arch implant-supported fixed dentures

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

Feeding non-preference by Spodoptera frugiperda and Spodoptera eridania on tomato genotypes

Lagartas do gênero Spodoptera spp. são altamente polífagas, podendo causar danos econômicos em diversas culturas agrícolas. em vista de sua emergente importância na cultura do tomate, principalmente o destinado à indústria, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a não preferência, para alimentação, de lagartas de Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) e Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1782) por genótipos de tomateiro, e classificá-los quanto aos graus de resistência. Como padrão susceptível, utilizou-se o cultivar comercial Santa Clara e, como resistente, a linhagem PI 134417, sendo avaliadas, ainda, as linhagens PI 134418, PI 126931, LA 462 e LA 716. Realizaram-se testes de não preferência, para alimentação, com e sem chance de escolha, avaliando-se a atratividade dos genótipos de tomateiro para as lagartas, em tempos pré-estabelecidos após sua liberação, além da massa foliar consumida. em geral, os genótipos LA 716 e PI 126931 foram os menos atrativos para a S. frugiperda, enquanto Santa Clara foi o mais atrativo e consumido. Quanto a S. eridania, os genótipos PI 126931, LA 462, LA 716 e PI 134418 foram os menos preferidos, para a alimentação, pelas lagartas, e Santa Clara e PI 134417 foram os mais atrativos e consumidos. Os genótipos LA e PI 126931 são moderadamente resistentes, do tipo não preferência para alimentação, para a S. frugiperda e S. eridania; PI 134418 e LA 462 são moderadamente resistentes a S. eridania; PI 134417 é susceptível a S. frugiperda e S. eridania; Santa Clara é altamente susceptível a S. frugiperda e S. eridania.

Finite group actions on products of spheres

In this work we make some contributions to the theory of actions of finite groups on products of spheres. Suppose that the group Z(q)(tau) acts freely on the product of k copies of spheres. Question: Is r less than or equal to k? We solve this question for several values of r and k.

High current-density anodic electro-dissolution in flow-injection systems for the determination of aluminium, copper and zinc in non-ferroalloys by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An automatic Procedure with a high current-density anodic electrodissolution unit (HDAE) is proposed for the determination of aluminium, copper and zinc in non-ferroalloys by flame atonic absorption spectrometry, based on the direct solid analysis. It consists of solenoid valve-based commutation in a flow-injection system for on-line sample electro-dissolution and calibration with one multi-element standard, an electrolytic cell equipped with two electrodes (a silver needle acts as cathode, and sample as anode), and an intelligent unit. The latter is assembled in a PC-compatible microcomputer for instrument control, and far data acquisition and processing. General management of the process is achieved by use of software written in Pascal. Electrolyte compositions, flow rates, commutation times, applied current and electrolysis time mere investigated. A 0.5 mol l(-1) HNO3 solution was elected as electrolyte and 300 A/cm(2) as the continuous current pulse. The performance of the proposed system was evaluated by analysing aluminium in Al-allay samples, and copper/zinc in brass and bronze samples, respectively. The system handles about 50 samples per hour. Results are precise (R.S.D < 2%) and in agreement with those obtained by ICP-AES and spectrophotometry at a 95% confidence level.

Knowledge on dental trauma and orthodontic tooth movement held by a group of orthodontists

The objective of this work was to assess the knowledge about orthodontic tooth movement and dental trauma held by a group of orthodontists in specific areas of Brazil. For this purpose, 166 questionnaires with 15 objective questions about this subject were distributed. One hundred and five questionnaires were properly filled and collected after 30 days. It was concluded that, except for avulsion, the knowledge on dental injuries held by the professionals interviewed was considered unsatisfactory, and about 40% of them were not acquainted with the recommendations for the orthodontic movement of traumatized teeth.

Complex modal analysis of a slender vertical rotor by finite elements method

In this paper, natural frequencies were analyzed (axial, torsional and flexural) and frequency response of a vertical rotor with a hard disk at the edge through the classical modal and complex analysis. The equation that rules the movement was obtained through the Lagrangian formulation. The model considered the effects of bending, torsion and axial deformation of the shaft, besides the gravitational and gyroscopic effects. The finite element method was used to discretize the structure into hollow cylindrical elements with 12 degrees of freedom. Mass, stiffness and gyroscopic matrices were explained consistently. The classical modal analysis, usually applied to stationary structures, does not consider an important characteristic of rotating machinery which are the methods of forward and backward whirl. Initially, through the traditional modal analysis, axial and torsional natural frequencies were obtained in a static shaft, since they do not suffer the influence of gyroscopic effects. Later research was performed by complex modal analysis. This type of tool, based on the use of complex coordinates to describe the dynamic behavior of rotating shaft, allows the decomposition of the system in two submodes, backward and forward. Thus, it is possible to clearly visualize that the orbit and direction of the precessional motion around the line of the rotating shaft is not deformed. A finite element program was developed using MATLAB (TM) and numerical simulations were performed to validate this model. Natural frequencies and directional frequency forced response (dFRF) were obtained using the complex modal analysis for a simple vertical rotor and also for a typical drill string used in the construction of oil wells.

Nest Digging by Leaf-Cutting Ants: Effect of Group Size and Functional Structures.

Leaf-cutting ant workers dig underground chambers, for housing their symbiotic fungus, interconnected by a vast quantity of tunnels whose function is to permit the entrance of food (leaves), gaseous exchanges, andmovement of workers, offspring, and the queen. Digging is a task executed by a group of workers, but little is known about the group effect and group-constructed functional structures. Thus, we analyzed the structures formed by worker groups (5, 10, 20, and 40 individuals) of the leaf-cutting ant, Atta sexdens rubropilosa, for 2 days of excavation. The digging arena was the same for the 4 groups, with each group corresponding to a different density. Our results verified a pattern of tunneling by the workers, but no chamber was constructed. The group effect is well known, since the 40-worker group dug significantly more than the groups of 5, 10, and 20. These groups did not differ statistically from each other. Analysis of load/worker verified that workers of the smallest group carried the greatest load. Our paper demonstrates the group effect on the digging of nests, namely, that excavation is proportional to group size, but without emergence of a functional structure such as a chamber.

The influence of area/volume ratio on microstructure and non-Ohmic properties of SnO2-based varistor ceramic blocks

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

Sibutramine Effects on the Reproductive Performance of Pregnant Overweight and Non-Overweight rats

It is well established that sibutramine produces weight loss and is used frequently in women of childbearing age. However, the potential adverse consequences attributed to sibutramine use by women who may become pregnant is not known. It was thus of interest to determine the effects of sibutramine on the reproductive performance of pregnant rats. Overweight as well as non-overweight female Wistar rats were treated with sibutramine (6 mg/kg) orally, daily for 15 d and then mated with normal male rats. Pregnancy was confirmed and treatment continued with sibutramine until d 14 of pregnancy. on d 20 of pregnancy all rats were anesthetized for determination of various maternal and fetal parameters. There was a significant maternal weight reduction at the end of pregnancy in the non-overweight drug-treated group compared to the control (non-overweight, no drug). Sibutramine alone and overweight condition alone produced a significant increase in postimplantation loss and placental index. In the overweight with or without sibutramine groups a significant decrease in fetal weight was noted. Data suggest that sibutramine alone or the condition of excess weight in the absence of drugs produced impaired reproductive performance. However, treatment of overweight rats with sibutramine did not further exacerbate fetal loss compared to sibutramine alone or the effects noted with excess weight alone.

Proteinuria predicts relapse in adolescent and adult minimal change disease

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to outline the clinical and laboratory characteristics of minimal change disease in adolescents and adults and establish the clinical and laboratory characteristics of relapsing and non-relapsing patients.METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with confirmed diagnoses of minimal change disease by renal biopsy from 1979 to 2009; the patients were aged >13 years and had minimum 1-year follow-ups.RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with a median age (at diagnosis) of 34 (23-49) years were studied, including 23 males and 40 females. At diagnosis, eight (12.7%) patients presented with microscopic hematuria, 17 (27%) with hypertension and 17 (27%) with acute kidney injury. After the initial treatment, 55 (87.3%) patients showed complete remission, six (9.5%) showed partial remission and two (3.1%) were nonresponders. Disease relapse was observed in 34 (54%) patients who were initial responders (n = 61). In a comparison between the relapsing patients (n = 34) and the non-relapsing patients (n = 27), only proteinuria at diagnosis showed any significant difference (8.8 (7.1-12.0) vs. 6.0 (3.6-7.3) g/day, respectively, p = 0.001). Proteinuria greater than 7 g/day at the initial screening was associated with relapsing disease.CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, minimal change disease in adults may sometimes present concurrently with hematuria, hypertension, and acute kidney injury. The relapsing pattern in our patients was associated with basal proteinuria over 7 g/day.

High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in pregnant and non-pregnant women

Objectives: To evaluate if the prevalence of cervical smear results varies between pregnant and nonpregnant women stratified by age group.Study design: Observational analytical study with a total sample of 1,336,180 pregnant and nonpregnant women, aged between 20 and 34 years, who underwent cervical cancer screening in the Primary Health Care of the national health system in the area of Campinas in Brazil during the period of 2005-2009. The source is the information system for cervical cancer screening. Data collected on abnormal cervical smears were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test and the magnitude of the association between pregnancy and high-grade squamous epithelial lesions was analyzed by odds ratio (OR) and estimated values with confidence intervals (CI) of 95%.Results: 15,190 pregnant women and 395,961 non-pregnant women were analyzed and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Regardless of age, no statistical differences were observed for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion prevalence (OR 0.90; CI 0.66-1.23). Taking into account the five-year age groups, however, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was less prevalent in pregnant women aged 20-24 (OR 0.71; 0.54-0.95) and 25-29 years (OR 0.56; 0.35-0.89); also, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance was more prevalent in non-pregnant women aged 25-29 years (OR 0.72; 0.54-0.97).Conclusion: The study showed that the cytological prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was similar in pregnant and non-pregnant women, regardless of age. The results indicate that there are no reasons for specific approaches to cervical cancer screening for pregnant women. The examination should be carried out only on pregnant women who have not been tested according to current recommendations. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide on Oxidative Stress and Histopathological and Inflammatory Lung Injury in a Saline-Lavaged Rabbit Model of Acute Lung Injury

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

Ultrasonography as a predicting tool for carcass traits of young bulls

O desenvolvimento de técnicas não invasivas e não destrutivas para a avaliação da composição e qualidade de carcaça em animais tem mobilizado consideráveis recursos em pesquisa. A ultra-sonografia aparece neste contexto como uma técnica viável, confiável e de custo aceitável para esta função. No presente trabalho foi avaliada a técnica de ultra-sonografia em tempo real como ferramenta para predição da área de olho-de-lombo (AOL) e espessura da camada de gordura subcutânea (ECG) a partir de imagens tomadas em animais vivos, quando comparadas com as medições na carcaça. Foram utilizados 115 bovinos jovens (30, ½ Angus x Nellore; 30, ½ Canchim x Nellore; 30, ½ Simental x Nellore, e 25 Nellores), com peso inicial médio de 329 kg e de dois tamanhos à maturidade (pequeno e grande), no sistema de produção do novilho superprecoce. As medidas de ultra-sonografia foram realizadas a cada 28 dias totalizando quatro medições até o final do confinamento. A precisão da predição aumentou em função da proximidade da data do abate, sendo máxima na quarta medida (R²= 0,68 para AOL e 0,82 para ECG). Houve efeito de grupo genético e de medida ultra-sonográfica para ECG. O tamanho corporal não teve efeito sobre nenhuma das características estudadas.

IL-6 and TNF-alpha production during active canine visceral leishmaniasis

We investigated the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) during canine visceral leishmaniasis (VL) to gain a better understanding of the role of such multi-functional cytokines in parasite resistance. IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were measured by capture ELISA in sera from 8 healthy dogs from a non-endemic area (control group) and in sera from 16 dogs from Aracatuba, SP, Brazil, an area endemic for leishmaniosis. The dogs from the endemic area were selected by positive ELISA serology against total Leishmania chagasi antigen, positive spleen imprints for Leishmania, and the presence of at least three clinical signs associated with active visceral leishmaniasis (fever, dermatitis, lymphoadenopathy, onychogryphosis, weight loss, cachexia, locomotory difficulty, conjunctivitis, epistaxis, hepatosplenomegaly, edema, and apathy).Enhanced systemic IL-6 production was found in sera from dogs with the active disease compared to healthy dogs (t-test, P < 0.05). In contrast, TNF-alpha did not differ between the two groups studied. There was no correlation between IL-6 production and anti-leishmanial antibody titers in the sera. Our findings suggest that IL-6 is a good marker of active disease during leishmaniasis, and that other cytokines may be involved in the hypergammaglobulinemia characteristic of canine visceral leishmaniasis. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Histological and three-dimensional evaluation of osseointegration to nanostructured calcium phosphate-coated implants

Nanostructures on implant surfaces have been shown to enhance osseointegration; however, commonly used evaluation techniques are probably not sufficiently sensitive to fully determine the effects of this process. This study aimed to observe the osseointegration properties of nanostructured calcium phosphate (CaP)-coated implants, by using a combination of three-dimensional imaging and conventional histology. Titanium implants were coated with stable CaP nanoparticles using an immersion technique followed by heat treatment. Uncoated implants were used as the control. After topographical and chemical characterizations, implants were inserted into the rabbit femur. After 2 and 4 weeks, the samples were retrieved for micro-computed tomography and histomorphometric evaluation. Scanning electron microscopy evaluation indicated that the implant surface was modified at the nanoscale by CaP to obtain surface textured with rod-shaped structures. Relative to the control, the bone-to-implant contact for the CaP-coated implant was significantly higher at 4 weeks after the implant surgery. Further, corresponding 3-D images showed active bone formation surrounding the implant. 3-D quantification and 2-D histology demonstrated statistical correlation; moreover, 3-D quantification indicated a statistical decrease in bone density in the non-coated control implant group between 2 and 4 weeks after the surgery. The application of 3-D evaluation further clarified the temporal characteristics and biological reaction of implants in bone. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.