Fouling of a drinking water system in relation to hydraulic circumstances and customer complaints

In a “perfect” drinking water system, the water quality for the consumers should be the same as the quality of the water leaving the treatment plant. However, some variability along the system can lead to a decrease in water quality (such as discolouration) which is usually reflected in the number of the customer complaints. This change may be related to the amount of sediment in the distribution network, leading to an increase in turbidity at the water supply. Since there is no such thing as a perfect drinking water system, the behaviour of particles in a drinking water network needs a suitable approach in order to understand how it works. Moreover, the combination of measurements, such as turbidity patterns and the Resuspension Potential Method (RPM) aid in the prevention of discoloured water complaints and intervention in the treatment upgrade or the network cleaning. Besides sediments there is also bacterial regrowth in the network, which is related to the water quality and distribution network characteristics. In a theoretical drinking water system higher velocities, temperature and shorter residences times lead to wider bacterial growth. In this study we observe velocity and residence steady-states and bacterial does not seem to be related to either. It can be concluded that adequate measurements of RPM, customer complaints and bacterial concentrations allow a wider knowledge on particle behaviour in drinking water systems.

On the relation between the fractional Brownian motion and the fractional derivatives

Physics Letters A, vol. 372; Issue 7

Splenomegaly in relation to Schistosoma mansoni egg counts: a population based study

A cross: sectional survey on schistosomiasis was done in Comercinho (Minas Gerais State, Brazil), a town with 1474 inhabitants. Stool (Kato-Katz method) and physical examinations were done on 90% of the population and on 84% of the individuals over 2 years of age, respectively. The ecological and individual (case-control) analysis were used to investigate the relation between splenomegaly and S. mansoni egg counts in different age groups. In the ecological analysis there was a clearly correspondence between higher geometric mean of eggs and higher percentage of splenomegaly in the age groups 5-9 and 10-12 years. In the individual analysis it was found that only in the youngest individuals (5-8 or 5-9 years old) the splenomegaly was related with higher mean egg counts in the feces, having been a tendency to the decrease of excretion of eggs in patients with splenomegaly as the age increased. These results strongly suggest that the ecological data are' better indicator of the severity of schistosomiasis in endemic areas, as the decrease of the egg excretion in patients with splenomegaly may be a confounding variable for the individual analysis.

Evolution of Iberia during the Cenozoic with special emphasis on the formation of the Betic Cordillera and its relation with the western Mediterranean

The extensional process affecting Iberia during the Triassic and Jurassic times change from the end of the Cretaceous and, throughout the Palaeocene, the displacement between the African and European plates was clearly convergent and part of the future Internal Zone of the Betic Cordillera was affected. To the west, the Atlantic continued to open as a passive margin and, to the north, no significant deformation occurred. During the Eocene, the entire Iberian plate was subjected to compression. which caused major deformations in the Pyrenees and also in the Alpujarride and Nevado-Filabride, Internal Betic, complexes. In the Oligocene continued this situation, but in addition, the new extensional process ocurring in the western Mediterranean area, together with the constant eastward drift of Iberia due to Atlantic opening, compressed the eastern sector of Iberia, giving rise to the structuring of the Iberian Cordillera. The Neogene was the time when the Betic Cordillera reached its fundamental features with the westward displacement of the Betic-Rif Internal Zone, expelled by the progressive opening of the Algerian Basin, opening prolonged till the Alboran Sea. From the late Miocene onwards, all Iberia was affected by a N-S to NNW-SSE compression, combined in many points by a near perpendicular extension. Specially in eastern and southern Iberia a radial extension superposed these compression and extension.

Phonological development in relation to native language and literacy: Variations on a theme in six alphabetic orthographies

Phonological development was assessed in six alphabetic orthographies (English, French, Greek, Icelandic, Portuguese and Spanish) at the beginning and end of the first year of reading instruction. The aim was to explore contrasting theoretical views regarding: the question of the availability of phonology at the outset of learning to read (Study 1); the influence of orthographic depth on the pace of phonological development during the transition to literacy (Study 2); and the impact of literacy instruction (Study 3). Results from 242 children did not reveal a consistent sequence of development as performance varied according to task demands and language. Phonics instruction appeared more influential than orthographic depth in the emergence of an early meta-phonological capacity to manipulate phonemes, and preliminary indications were that cross-linguistic variation was associated with speech rhythm more than factors such as syllable complexity. The implications of the outcome for current models of phonological development are discussed.

A cirurgia reconstrutiva em patologia oncológica do nariz : paralisia do nervo facial anatomia cirurgia do nariz

RESUMO: Os carcinomas localizados no nariz são muito frequentes em todas as séries conhecidas. São de diagnóstico clínico fácil e a sua confirmação por biópsia é muito segura. As terapêuticas mais indicadas são a cirurgia e a radioterapia, genericamente eficazes. Verifica-se, no entanto, que os pacientes continuam a solicitar tratamento em estádios muito avançados, mesmo conhecendo o diagnóstico e tendo acesso aos serviços sem custos. Esta situação poderá explicar-se face ao curso relativamente lento de muitos destes tumores e à idade geralmente avançada dos doentes que, de acordo com alguns inquéritos, receiam mais a terapeûtica do que a doença. Para obtenção de informação útil para condução deste problema, foram ainda analisados outros parâmetros. A maioria dos pacientes continua a solicitar tratamento quando as lesões envolvem duas subunidades nasais. Esta circunstância permite planear o tratamento cirúrgico com relativa facilidade, isto é, com exérese e reconstrução cujo resultado estético final é bastante aceitável. Os tumores de grandes dimensões, envolvendo várias subunidades, sendo frequentes, raramente implicam rinectomia total. Pelo contrário, são mais frequentes os tumores que envolvem metade do nariz e as estruturas vizinhas tais como o maxilar, a órbita e o lábio superior, atingindo mesmo a base do crânio. O controlo da doença nestes estádios é muito difícil. Não raramente, quando se crê que a doença está controlada, a cirurgia reconstrutiva bem como outras formas de reabilitação conjugadas, deixam ainda muita insatisfação. A nossa actividade tem-se desenvolvido seguindo os critérios adoptados nos melhores centros, isto é, as técnicas clássicas, complementadas com refinamentos recentes. Porém reflectindo sobre os resultados obtidos no tratamento de tumores do nariz, surge-nos um conjunto de questões para as quais ainda não encontrámos respostas cabais. Actuando de acordo com os princípios que definem o estado da arte, não obtivemos ainda resultados que satisfaçam tanto os doentes quanto os cirurgiões. Incessantemente procuramos novos dados técnicos e científicos que nos permitam sair deste ciclo vicioso em que o doente retarda a procura de assistência, receoso de que a terapêutica o deixe desfigurado. Tendo sempre em vista a obtenção dos melhores resultados com o mínimo de tempos cirúrgicos, valorizamos alguns detalhes praticados nos retalhos com padrão vascular bem definido. Dado que as sequelas na zona dadora de tecidos são uma incontornável preocupação, procuramos refinar a sua aplicação no sentido de as atenuarmos. A fronte, excelente zona dadora para reconstrucção nasal major, era sede de sequelas actualmente inaceitáveis. Estudado o comportamento dos tecidos na fronte, depois de levantado o retalho e efectuado o seu encerramento com uso da técnica de expansão intra-operatória, determinámos a presença do Factor de Crescimento Vascular Endotelial no próprio retalho e na zona dadora, tendo em vista que a sua presença poderá explicar o comportamento dos tecidos que foram submetidos a esta técnica. Procurou-se estudar a qualidade da reconstrução em 45 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia de exérese e reconstrução nasal major, assim como a qualidade de vida, relacionada com a doença e a terapêutica. Embora se possa admitir a existência de dados sugestivos de estratégias mais adequadas, não foi possível relacionar a qualidade da reconstrução com qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Poderá eventualmente concluir-se que a observação permanente da reconstrução, com qualidade estética e funcional, será o melhor método de alterar a ideia clássica, ainda muito divulgada, mas já ultrapassada, de que a cirurgia reconstrutiva do nariz não é mais que transformar um defeito horroroso num defeito ridículo.---------------ABSTRACT: Malignant tumours found in the nose are very frequent in all known series. Clinical diagnosis is simple and confirmation of biopsy diagnosis is accessible and safe. The most advisable therapies are surgery and radiotherapy. Despite everything patients continue to wait until the tumour is in an advanced stage before asking for therapy, although they know the diagnosis and have free access to specialised services. This situation could probably be explained by the slow development rate of the tumours which is associated with the age of the patient. Upon inquiry, it was found that a significant number of patients are more afraid of therapy than of the disease itself. Other parameters have been analysed in order to obtain useful information about the management of this problem. The majority of patients seek adequate treatment when the lesions involve two nasal subunits. This allows the programming of surgical therapy with relative ease as they may be removed and reconstructed with interesting final aesthetical results. Large tumours involving several subunits are frequent, but they rarely call for total rhinectomy. On the contrary, tumours more frequently involve half of the nose and their neighbouring structures: for example, maxillary, orbital and upper lip, even reaching as far as the base of the skull. The control of the disease is very difficult in these stages.In cases in which it is believed that the disease is under control, reconstructive surgery in conjunction with other forms of rehabilitation still result in a lot of dissatisfaction. In our activity we try to follow the criteria adopted by the best centres following classic techniques, complemented with recent refinements. Reflecting on the treatment of tumours of the nose has led us to a series of questions to which we haven’t yet found the answers. In accordance with the defined principles of ‘the state of the art’ it still doesn’t satisfy either the patients or the surgeons. We are looking for new technical and scientific data which allows us to leave this vicious cycle, in that the deferred patient avoids looking for assistance, based on the fear that therapy could leave them disfigured. We attach importance to some practiced details on the well-defined vascular pattern of the flaps, with the principle aim of obtaining a good result, from the minimum number of operations. It is known that sequels in donor sites are a concern, so applied refinements are used in order to reduce the defect. The forehead has been considered an excellent donor site for major nasal reconstruction but the area of sequel is nowadays unacceptable. We tried to study the behaviour of the tissues of the forehead after taking the flap and closing the wound, using the intraoperative expansion technique. We determined the presence of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the flaps and in the donor site, in which its presence could explain the behaviour of the tissues of the forehead that are submitted to this technique. The quality of the reconstruction was studied in 45 patients who were submitted to surgical exeresisand major nasal reconstruction, as was the relationship between the disease and the therapy regarding quality of life. It was not possible to directely relate the quality of the reconstruction to the quality of patients life, although some suggestive data of more adequate manegement may be interesting. One might eventually conclude that, permanent exposure of the reconstruction with aesthetic and funcional quality would be the best method in order to modify the classic idea which is still known although overridden today, that nasal reconstruction could transform a horrible defect into a ridiculous one.-------RÉSUMÉ: Les carcinomes situés sur le nez sont très fréquents dans toutes les séries connues. Ils sont de diagnostic facile et la confirmation de ce dernier par une biopsie, est accessible et très fiable. La chirurgie et la radiothérapie sont les thérapeutiques les mieux indiquées. Toutefois les patients continuent de solliciter un traitement, seulement dans des états très avancés bien qu’ils aient eu connaissance du diagnostic et ayant accès aux services. Cette situation pourra probablement s’expliquer par l’évolution relativement indolente de beaucoup de tumeurs, associée à l’âge des malades; bien que selon quelques enquêtes réalisées un nombre élevé de malades craint davantage la thérapeutique que la maladie. D’autres paramètres sont analysés en vue d’obtenir des informations utiles pour l’accompagnement de ce problème. La majorité de nos patients sollicite le traitement adéquat quand les lésions entourent deux sous-unités nasales, ce qui permet de planifier le traitement chirurgique avec une certaine facilité, c’est à dire l’exérèse et la reconstruction ayant un résultat final esthétique généralement très acceptable. Les tumeurs de grandes dimensions entourant différentes sous-unités sont fréquentes mais elles impliquent rarement une amputation nasal total. Au contraire, les tumeurs les plus fréquentes sont celles qui entourent la moitié du nez et les structures voisines comme le maxillaire, l’orbite et la lèvre supérieure, parfois, elles peuvent même atteindre la base du crâne. Le contrôle de la maladie dans ces états est très difficile et quand nous pensons que la maladie est contrôlée, la chirurgie reconstructrice associée à d’autres formes de réhabilitation provoquent encore une grande insatisfaction. Nous exerçons notre activité en essayant de suivre les critères adoptés dans les meilleurs centres. Nous appliquons les techniques classiques complétées de retouches pour obtenir un meilleur resultat. Le fait de traiter les tumeurs nasales nous fait réfléchir et poser un ensemble de questions auxquelles nous n’avons pas pu trouver de réponses. En actuant en accord avec les principes qui définissent l’état de l’art, nous n’avons pas obtenu de résultats qui satisfassent les malades et les chirurgiens. Nous recherchons de nouvelles données techniques et scientifiques qui nous permettent de sortir de ce cercle vicieux dans lequel le patient retarde la recherche d’aide craignant que la thérapeutique le défigure. Nous valorisons certains détails pratiqués sur les lambeaux de patron vasculaire bien défini et ayant comme principaux objectifs l’obtention d’un bon résultat en moins de temps de chirurgie. Nous savons que les séquelles de la zone donneuse de tissus sont préoccupantes, ainsi, que les retouches qui ont été appliqués dans l’objectif de les atténuer. Le front, excellente zone donneuse pour la reconstruction nasale majeure, était une source de séquelle actuellement inacceptable. Nous avons étudié le comportement des tissus du front après avoir relevé le lambeau et effectué la fermeture avec la technique de l’expansion intraoperative. Nous avons déterminé la présence du Facteur de Croissance Vasculaire Endothéliale dans le propre lambeau et dans la zone donneuse, celle-ci pourra expliquer le comportement des tissus du front qui ont été soumis à cette technique. On a essayé d´etudier la qualité de la reconstruction sur 45 patients soumis à la chirurgie d´exérèse et la reconstruction nasal majeure, ainsi comme la qualité de vie en relation avec la maladie et la thérapie. Quoique l´on puisse conclure par l´existence des données subjectives des stratégies plus justes, il est impossible de faire un rapport sur la qualité de la reconstruction avec la qualité de vie des patients. Eventuellement l´on purrait conclure que l´observation permanente de la reconstruction avec qualité esthétique et fonctionnelle, se serait la meilleure méthod de changer l´idée classique, mais depassée, de que la rhinopoièse n´est pas que transformer un affreux défaut par un défaut ridicule.

Nutritional status in relation to the efficacy of the rhesus-human reassortant, tetravalent rotavirus vaccine (RRV-TV) in infants from Belém, Pará State, Brazil

The rhesus-human reassortant, tetravalent rotavirus vaccine (RRV-TV) was licensed for routine use in the United States of America but it was recently withdrawn from the market because of its possible association with intussusception as an adverse event. The protective efficacy of 3 doses of RRV-TV, in its lower-titer (4 x 10(4) pfu/dose) formulation, was evaluated according to the nutritional status of infants who participated in a phase III trial in Belém, Northern Brazil. A moderate protection conferred by RRV-TV was related to weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) greater than -1 only, with rates of 38% (p = 0.04) and 40% (p = 0.04) for all- and- pure rotavirus diarrhoeal cases, respectively. In addition, there was a trend for greater efficacy (43%, p = 0.05) among infants reaching an height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) of > -1. Taking WAZ, HAZ and weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) indices <= -1 together, there was no significant protection (p > 0.05) if both placebo and vaccine groups are compared. There was no significant difference if rates of mixed and pure rotavirus diarrhoeal cases are compared in relation to HAZ, WAZ and weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) indices. Although a low number of malnourished infants could be identified in the present study, our data show some evidence that malnutrition may interfere with the efficacy of rotavirus vaccines in developing countries.

The biological meaning of anti-HBC positive result in blood donors: relation to HBV-DNA and to other serological markers

In order to assess the potential risk of anti-HBc-positive blood donors for post-transfusional hepatitis and to investigate whether other HBV serological markers are capable of identifying the presence of the virus, 1000 first-time blood donors were enrolled between June and July 1997. These donors were screened using routine Brazilian blood center tests (HIV 1 and 2, HTLV 1 and 2, Chagas disease, Syphilis, HCV, HBsAg, anti-HBc and ALT ). The 120 (12%) found to be anti-HBc-positive underwent further tests: HBe, anti-HBe, anti-HBs and HBV-DNA by PCR. Ten cases were HBsAg positive and all were HBV-DNA positive by PCR. Three HBsAg-negative donors were HBV-DNA-positive. Two HBV-DNA-positive donors were also anti-HBs-positive. All the HBV-positive donors had at least one HBV marker other than anti-HBc. Anti-HBc is an important cause of blood rejection. Testing for HBsAg alone is not fully protective and anti-HBc remains necessary as a screening test. The presence of anti-HBs is not always indicative of absence of the virus. The addition of other HBV serological markers could represent an alternative in predicting the presence of the virus when compared with PCR. It is recommended that other studies should be carried out to confirm this finding.

Significance of Biogenic Amines in Cold-Smoked Fish and Their Relation to Microbiological Characteristics of Products Available in Portuguese Retail Markets

Studies on microbial characterization of cold-smoked salmon and salmon trout during cold storage were performed on samples available in the Portuguese market. Samples were also classified microbiologically according to guidelines for ready-to-eat (RTE) products. Further investigations on sample variability and microbial abilities to produce tyramine and histamine were also performed. The coefficient of variation for viable counts of different groups of microorganisms of samples collected at retail market point was high in the first 2 wk of storage, mainly in the Enterobacteriaceae group and aerobic plate count (APC), suggesting that microbiological characteristics of samples were different in numbers, even within the same batch from the same producer. This variation seemed to be decreased when storage and temperature were controlled under lab conditions. The numbers of Enterobacteriaceae were influenced by storage temperature, as indicated by low microbial numbers in samples from controlled refrigeration. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Enterobacteriaceae were predominant in commercial products, a significant percentage of which were tyramine and less histamine producers. These results might be influenced by (1) the technological processes in the early stages of production, (2) contamination during the smoking process, and (3) conditions and temperature fluctuations during cold storage at retail market point of sale.

Influence of abiotic stress factors on VOCs emission from Portuguese rice paddy fields: relation with increased climate change

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente Perfil de Gestão de Sistemas Ambientais

Cereals and children: A study of their lifetime relation

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Assessment of chemiluminescence and PCR effectiveness in relation to conventional serological tests for the diagnosis of Chagas' disease

While testing 414 sera for the diagnosis of Chagas' disease, the conventional reactions of indirect hemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence and the immunosorbent assay showed a sensitivity of 95.7%, 100% and 98.2% and a specificity of 98%, 98% and 96.4%, respectively, and an excellent association using Fisher's exact test. Chemiluminescence presented 100% sensitivity and 89.6% specificity, while PCR showed 100% specificity and 1.2% sensitivity. It is believed that the three conventional serological reactions are still adequate for diagnosing Chagas' disease.