Photoluminescence enhancement by gold nanoparticles in Eu(3+) doped GeO(2)-Bi(2)O(3) glasses

We report large photoluminescence (PL) enhancement in Eu(3+)-doped GeO(2)-Bi(2)O(3) glasses containing gold nanoparticles (NPs). Growth of approximate to 1000% in the PL intensity corresponding to the Eu(3+) transition (5)D(0)->(7)F(2), at 614 nm, was observed in comparison with a reference sample that does not contain gold NPs. Other PL bands from 580 to 700 nm are also enhanced. The enhancement of the PL intensity is attributed to the increased local field in the Eu(3+) locations due to the presence of the NPs and the energy transfer from the excited NPs to the Eu(3+) ions.

Decision theory applied to image quality control in radiology

Background: The present work aims at the application of the decision theory to radiological image quality control ( QC) in diagnostic routine. The main problem addressed in the framework of decision theory is to accept or reject a film lot of a radiology service. The probability of each decision of a determined set of variables was obtained from the selected films. Methods: Based on a radiology service routine a decision probability function was determined for each considered group of combination characteristics. These characteristics were related to the film quality control. These parameters were also framed in a set of 8 possibilities, resulting in 256 possible decision rules. In order to determine a general utility application function to access the decision risk, we have used a simple unique parameter called r. The payoffs chosen were: diagnostic's result (correct/incorrect), cost (high/low), and patient satisfaction (yes/no) resulting in eight possible combinations. Results: Depending on the value of r, more or less risk will occur related to the decision-making. The utility function was evaluated in order to determine the probability of a decision. The decision was made with patients or administrators' opinions from a radiology service center. Conclusion: The model is a formal quantitative approach to make a decision related to the medical imaging quality, providing an instrument to discriminate what is really necessary to accept or reject a film or a film lot. The method presented herein can help to access the risk level of an incorrect radiological diagnosis decision.

A Dynamic Analysis of Tuberculosis Dissemination to Improve Control and Surveillance

Background: Detailed analysis of the dynamic interactions among biological, environmental, social, and economic factors that favour the spread of certain diseases is extremely useful for designing effective control strategies. Diseases like tuberculosis that kills somebody every 15 seconds in the world, require methods that take into account the disease dynamics to design truly efficient control and surveillance strategies. The usual and well established statistical approaches provide insights into the cause-effect relationships that favour disease transmission but they only estimate risk areas, spatial or temporal trends. Here we introduce a novel approach that allows figuring out the dynamical behaviour of the disease spreading. This information can subsequently be used to validate mathematical models of the dissemination process from which the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for this spreading could be inferred. Methodology/Principal Findings: The method presented here is based on the analysis of the spread of tuberculosis in a Brazilian endemic city during five consecutive years. The detailed analysis of the spatio-temporal correlation of the yearly geo-referenced data, using different characteristic times of the disease evolution, allowed us to trace the temporal path of the aetiological agent, to locate the sources of infection, and to characterize the dynamics of disease spreading. Consequently, the method also allowed for the identification of socio-economic factors that influence the process. Conclusions/Significance: The information obtained can contribute to more effective budget allocation, drug distribution and recruitment of human skilled resources, as well as guiding the design of vaccination programs. We propose that this novel strategy can also be applied to the evaluation of other diseases as well as other social processes.

Femtosecond third-harmonic generation in a glass ceramic containing sodium niobate nanocrystals

The third-harmonic optical susceptibility, chi((3))(3 omega; omega, omega, omega) of a silicate glass ceramic containing sodium niobate nanocrystals was measured for incident broadband light with central frequency omega corresponding to 1900nm. Absolute values of |chi((3))| and the dispersion of the refractive index from 600 to 1900nm were measured using the spectrally resolved femtosecond Maker fringes technique. The experiments show that |chi((3))| is 1 order of magnitude larger than silica, and it grows by similar to 50% when the volume fraction occupied by the nanocrystals increases up to 40%. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

Influence of the heat treatment on the nucleation of silver nanoparticles in Tm(3+) doped PbO-GeO(2) glasses

Nucleation of silver nanoparticles (NPs) in Tm(3+) doped PbO-GeO(2) (PGO) glass is reported. The influence of the heat treatment on the nucleation of silver NPs is studied by means of transmission electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy. Two heat treatment procedures were applied in order to compare their performance. Observation of infrared-to-visible frequency upconversion (UC) luminescence of Tm(3+) ions is reported and correlated with the heat-treatment procedure. Enhancement of the UC emission for samples heat treated during various time intervals is attributed to the increased local field in the vicinity of the NPs. Quenching of the UC signal was also observed and correlated with the growth of NPs amount and size.

Life history of Proctolaelaps bulbosus feeding on the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis and other possible food types occurring on coconut fruits

Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) is a major pest of coconut fruits (Cocos nucifera L.) in many countries of the Americas, Africa, and parts of Asia. Considerable attention has been given to studies of biological control agents of A. guerreronis. Proctolaelaps bulbosus Moraes, Reis and Gondim Jr. is a predator recently discovered in association with A. guerreronis. Nothing is known about its biology. The aim of this study was to determine suitable food sources for P. bulbosus, among items commonly found on coconut fruits, including A. guerreronis. Food sources evaluated included the mites A. guerreronis, Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum Lofego and Gondim Jr., and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), the fungus Rhizopus aff. stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Vuill and coconut pollen; the mite Tetranychus urticae Koch was also included in the assessments, for being a commonly used prey for mass production and laboratory rearing of predatory mites. Proctolaelaps bulbosus was able to develop up to adulthood when fed A. guerreronis, R. aff. stolonifer and T. putrescentiae. It had the highest population growth rates when feeding on the former (R (o) = 17.5; r (m) = 0.392). These results indicate that A. guerreronis is the most suitable food for P. bulbosus among the possible food sources found on coconut fruits and that P. bulbosus can survive in the absence of eriophyid using R. aff. stolonifer as a food source.

Distribution of Aceria guerreronis and Neoseiulus baraki among and within coconut bunches in northeast Brazil

Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) is considered a major pest of coconut in many countries in the Americas, Africa and parts of Asia. Neoseiulus baraki Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is one of the predatory mites most commonly found in association with A. guerreronis in parts of northeast Brazil. The objective of this work was to study the distribution of A. guerreronis and N. baraki among and within coconut bunches. The hypothesis was tested that A. guerreronis and N. baraki are homogenously distributed over the fruits in a bunch, independent of the fruits` age and position. Five collections of bunches, each corresponding to leaves 12-16 from apex (about 2-6 month-old), were conducted in each of three fields in northeastern Brazil, from February to October, 2007. A total of 1,986 fruits were examined. The number of mites, the percentage of fruits hosting them and the level of damage caused by A. guerreronis were evaluated. The highest density of A. guerreronis was observed on fruits of bunch 4 whereas the highest density of N. baraki was observed on bunch 5. Considering all fruits together, no significant differences were observed between densities of either A. guerreronis or N. baraki among the basal, median and apical thirds of the bunches. In younger bunches, fruits of the apical region tend to have lower densities of both mites than fruits of the basal region. This pattern, in association with a similar pattern for the percentage of fruits hosting N. baraki, suggests that the predator initially reaches the basal bunch region, from where it moves to the apical region. The results of the present study suggest that the pest population reduction in bunches older than bunch 4 could be due to (1) an effect of the predator, (2) reduction of the proportion of undamaged tissues amenable to attack, and/or (3) less favorable characteristics of the fruits to attack by A. guerreronis, as indicated by their increasing lignin content as they get older.

New eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from banana and heliconia in Northeastern Brazil-two new genera and three new species

A new genus and new species of the mite family Eriophyidae (Phyllocoptinae), namely Cothrix erugata n. sp. et n. gen., is described from Heliconia stricta Huber (Heliconiaceae). In addition, one new genus and two new species of Diptilomiopidae, namely Rhyncadicrus asperulus n. sp. et n. gen. from banana, Musa acuminata Colla x Musa balbisiana Colla (genomic group AAB) (Musaceae) and Catarhinus granatus n. sp. from Heliconia bihai L., are described and illustrated. The mites were collected in the State of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. All were vagrants on the lower leaf surfaces of their host plants and no visible damage symptoms were observed.

Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from fruit trees in Northeastern Brazil-a new genus, three new species and a redescription

A new genus and two new species of eriophyoid mites in the family Diptilomiopidae associated with Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae), namely Solivagus n. gen. alpha n. sp. and Davisella spondias n. sp., are described. In addition, a new species of Eriophyidae associated with Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae), namely Dichopelmus ibapitanga n. sp., is described and Aculus pitangae Boczek & Davis, also from E. uniflora, is redescribed including a description of the male, and its classification is discussed. All material studied was collected in the State of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil.

Alpha-tocopherol prevents intrauterine undernutrition-induced oligonephronia in rats

The role of alpha-tocopherol during nephrogenesis was investigated in rats subjected to maternal undernutrition, which reduces the number of nephrons. alpha-tocopherol (350 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered daily to well-nourished or malnourished Wistar dams during pregnancy, or to prenatal undernourished rats during lactation. The kidneys of 1- and 25-day-old offspring were removed to evaluate expression of angiotensin II (Ang II) and to correlate this with expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, alpha-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin and vimentin in the glomeruli and tubulointerstitial space. One-day-old prenatally undernourished rats had reduced expression of Ang II and of kidney development markers, and presented with an enlarged nephrogenic zone. Maternal administration of alpha-tocopherol restored the features of normal kidney development in undernourished rats. Twenty-five-day-old prenatally undernourished progeny had fewer glomeruli than the control group. Conversely, animals from mothers that received alpha-tocopherol during lactation presented with the same number of glomeruli and the same glomerular morphometrical profile as the control group. Analyzing the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the liver in conjunction with kidney development markers, it is plausible that alpha-tocopherol had antioxidant and non-antioxidant actions. This study provides evidence that alpha-tocopherol treatment restored Ang II expression, and subsequently restored renal structural development.

Avaliação da disponibilidade, adsorção e níveis críticos de fósforo em diferentes solos

A avaliação da disponibilidade de P em solos mineralogicamente diferentes por um único método de análise pode ocasionar estimativas inadequadas dessa disponibilidade. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi extrair P por diferentes extratores químicos em solo com elevado teor de Ca, comparativamente a solo hematítico, e estudar as relações entre os níveis críticos e a adsorção de P pelo tempo de incubação dos solos. Assim, realizou-se um experimento utilizando amostras subsuperficiais de um Vertissolo Ebânico órtico (VEo), textura argilosa, com predomínio de argilominerais 2:1 rico em Ca e de um Nitossolo Vermelho distroférrico (NVdf), textura muito argilosa, predominantemente hematítico, coletados no Sertão e na Zona da Mata do Estado de Pernambuco, respectivamente. As doses de P foram definidas em função dos níveis 0; 0,2; 0,4; 0,8; e 1,0 da capacidade máxima de adsorção de P (CMAP) de cada solo e incubadas por 90, 60, 30, 15 e 0,5 dias. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, em esquema fatorial (dois solos, cinco doses de P e cinco tempos de incubação) em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com três repetições. O P disponível foi determinado pelos extratores Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3 e Bray-1 e utilizou-se o milho como planta indicadora. A capacidade de predição do P disponível do Mehlich-1 não foi adequada para o solo com predomínio de argilominerais 2:1 rico em Ca. Para este caso, a maior operacionalidade do Bray-1 credencia esse extrator como mais recomendado. Os níveis críticos no solo apresentaram-se decrescentes com o aumento do tempo de incubação, independentemente do solo.

Adolescente e ato infracional : uma investigação acerca da medida socioeducativa de internação na cidade do Recife-PE

RESUMO: Este estudo procura avaliar a Medida Socioeducativa de Internação decretada a adolescentes autores de ato infracional na Cidade do Recife no ano de 2009. É um trabalho de grande importância para a sociedade brasileira, sobretudo, no que diz respeito ao combate à violência juvenil, à criminalidade em geral, e à construção de um mundo mais justo e solidário. Escolhemos a Cidade do Recife, Capital do Estado de Pernambuco, localizada na região Nordeste do Brasil, para ser o local da nossa pesquisa, por ser esta uma das mais violentas cidades do país. No decorrer desta pesquisa fizemos ainda uma breve análise do cenário sociológico da adolescência na Cidade do Recife. Em seguida estudamos o cenário jurídico dos adolescentes autores de ato infracional com base no Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente – Lei nº 8.069/1990, analisando a evolução histórica do tratamento legal dispensado a estes jovens, abordando o conceito de adolescente e ato infracional, e investigando as Medidas Socioeducativas previstas na legislação brasileira, sobretudo, a Medida de Internação, pelo fato de ser a mais grave delas. Assim, além investigarmos através de dados estatísticos o quantitativo por gênero de adolescentes autores de ato infracional aos quais foram decretadas Medida de Internação, observamos os tipos de atos infracionais mais praticados. Intentamos, dessa forma, questionar a violência juvenil e o modo como a sociedade e as instituições envolvidas têm tratado a questão. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas com servidores da Fundação de Atendimento Socioeducativo- FUNASE, entidade que trabalham diretamente com a reeducação de adolescentes autores de ato infracional submetidos à Internação na Cidade do Recife, para analisar como estão sendo aplicadas essas medidas. ABSTRACT: This study aims to evaluate the Socioeducational Measure of Internation decreed to transgressor teenagers in the City of Recife at the year 2009. This study has a big importance to Brazilian society, above all, because focalize the combat of the juvenile violence in Recife, Capital of the State of Pernambuco on the northwest of the Brazil, one of the most violent city of Brazil. During this investigation, was done a brief analysis of sociological scenery of teenage in this City. It was studied too, the juridical scenery of teenagers that committed any kind of transgression, based on the Statue of Child and the Adolescent- law n° 8.069/1990, analyzing the historical evolution of lawful treatment put into practice to this people, using the concept of adolescent and infracional act, and observing the social and educative punishment in the penal justice system of Brazil, and detaching the measure of internation, that is the gravest form of punishment. So, in this study it was investigated the quantity of transgressors adolescents based in gender and the kinds of transgression most practiced by them which results on internation measure decreed. This way, the purpose of this study is discuss about young violence and the way that society and institutions have faced this question. For this, it was realized interviews with Foundation of Socioeducative Attendance – FUNASE workers, that work directly with re-education of adolescents that committed any transgression and were submitted to internation punishment, in order to analyze how are being applied these measures.

A expansão da hanseníase no nordeste brasileiro

Caracterizou-se a situação epidemiológica da hanseníase na cidade de Recife, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, entre 1960 e 1985, pela análise de 3.923 fichas clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes notificados à Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Foram calculados os coeficientes de detecção de casos brutos e específicos por sexo, grupo etário e forma clínica, além de analisados o modo de detecção dos casos e o intervalo de tempo decorrido entre o aparecimento dos sintomas e o diagnóstico de hanseníase. O estudo da tendência temporal do coeficiente de detecção de casos revelou um crescimento progressivo de 5,5:100 000 habitantes em 1960 para 36,1:100 000 habitantes, em 1985. O predomínio da forma tuberculóide e o elevado percentual de menores de 15 anos acometidos pela doença podem estar refletindo a expansão da endemia na cidade do Recife, PE. A diminuição e estabilização do intervalo de tempo decorrido desde o aparecimento dos sintomas até o diagnóstico de hanseníase, a partir de 1979, foram consideradas indicadores da detecção mais precoce dos casos e, conseqüentemente, da aproximação do coeficiente de detecção de casos do coeficiente de incidência. Entre 1970 e 1985, o modo de detecção de casos mais freqüente foi a consulta dermatológica, seguida pela notificação; apenas 14,2% dos casos foram descobertos através da vigilância de comunicantes. A análise dos indicadores epidemiológicos e operacionais sugere que o aumento expressivo do coeficiente de detecção de casos deve ser resultado tanto da expansão da endemia quanto da implementação de algumas das ações de controle. Já o coeficiente de prevalência calculado para a cidade do Recife, em dezembro de 1985, foi de 2,04/mil habitantes, situando-se a cidade como área de alta endemicidade para a hanseníase, pelos critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde.

Impacto dos praguicidas na saúde: estudo da cultura de tomate

OBJETIVO: A presença de resíduos de praguicidas em alimentos, somada à contaminação da água, oferece risco para a população em geral e representa, sem dúvida, um grande problema de saúde pública no Brasil. Com o objetivo de obter melhor conhecimento da situação, foi estudada a utilização de praguicidas em tomates produzidos no Estado de Pernambuco. MÉTODOS: Foram aplicados questionários semi-estruturados para obtenção de informações socioambientais e de morbidade referida aos trabalhadores rurais, durante a safra de tomates. Foram selecionadas seis propriedades, localizadas em duas regiões produtoras do agreste pernambucano. O total de entrevistados foi de 186. RESULTADOS/CONCLUSÕES: Ficou constatado que as duas regiões estudadas carecem, indiscriminadamente, de ações que visem à proteção da saúde dos trabalhadores rurais, que lidam com os praguicidas, e de medidas contra os danos para o meio ambiente, que se encontra gravemente comprometido.

Cólera e condições de vida da população

INTRODUÇÃO: Fatores relacionados às condições de vida da população e condições ambientais precárias são freqüentemente citados como os maiores obstáculos para o controle de surtos e epidemias por cólera. Nesse sentido, realizou-se estudo com o objetivo de avaliar o peso de fatores referentes às condições de vida da população, relacionando questões ambientais com a instalação e o impacto da cólera. MÉTODO: Através de uma regressão linear múltipla, pelo método "backward stepwise", com influência do investigador, foram correlacionados os indicadores socioeconômicos com as taxas de incidência por cólera observadas nos municípios do Estado de Pernambuco, no ano de 1992. RESULTADOS/CONCLUSÕES: O modelo ajustado indica que a proporção de domicílios que utilizam água não proveniente de uma rede geral é a variável que tem maior peso na flutuação positiva das taxas de incidência de cólera. As variáveis "proporção de domicílios não ligados à rede geral de esgotos" e "proporção de chefes de família com renda igual ou menor do que um salário-mínimo mensal" também se associam positivamente, com coeficientes de regressão estatisticamente significativos, às taxas de incidência de cólera. A proporção de domicílios sem nenhuma instalação sanitária, por outro lado, se associa negativamente às taxas de incidência de cólera, sugerindo que instalações sanitárias, sem existência de rede de esgoto, aumentam o risco de contaminação ambiental. Os resultados apontam que a maior prioridade em saneamento é a oferta de água de boa qualidade.