A modified rat model of neonatal anoxia: Development and evaluation by pulseoximetry, arterial gasometry and Fos immunoreactivity

Neonatal anoxia is a worldwide clinical problem that has serious and lasting consequences. The diversity of models does not allow complete reproducibility, so a standardized model is needed. In this study, we developed a rat model of neonatal anoxia that utilizes a semi-hermetic system suitable for oxygen deprivation. The validity of this model was confirmed using pulse oximetry, arterial gasometry, observation of skin color and behavior and analysis of Fos immunoreactivity in brain regions that function in respiratory control. For these experiments, 87 male albino neonate rats (Rattus norvegicus, lineage Wistar) aged approximate 30 postnatal hours were divided into anoxia and control groups. The pups were kept in an euthanasia polycarbonate chamber at 36 +/- 1 degrees C, with continuous 100% nitrogen gas flow at 3 L/min and 101.7 kPa for 25 min. The peripheral arterial oxygen saturation of the anoxia group decreased 75% from its initial value. Decreased pH and partial pressure of oxygen and increased partial pressure of carbon dioxide were observed in this group, indicating metabolic acidosis, hypoxia and hypercapnia. respectively. Analysis of neuronal activation showed Fos immunoreactivity in the solitary tract nucleus, the lateral reticular nucleus and the area postrema, confirming that those conditions activated areas related to respiratory control in the nervous system. Therefore, the proposed model of neonatal anoxia allows standardization and precise control of the anoxic condition, which should be of great value in indentifying both the mechanisms underlying neonatal anoxia and novel therapeutic strategies to combat or prevent this widespread public health problem. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Discontinuous local semiflows for Kurzweil equations leading to LaSalle`s invariance principle for differential systems with impulses at variable times

In this paper, we consider an initial value problem for a class of generalized ODEs, also known as Kurzweil equations, and we prove the existence of a local semidynamical system there. Under certain perturbation conditions, we also show that this class of generalized ODEs admits a discontinuous semiflow which we shall refer to as an impulsive semidynamical system. As a consequence, we obtain LaSalle`s invariance principle for such a class of generalized ODEs. Due to the importance of LaSalle`s invariance principle in studying stability of differential systems, we include an application to autonomous ordinary differential systems with impulse action at variable times. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An eigenvalue problem for the biharmonic operator on Z(2)-symmetric regions

In this work we show that the eigenvalues of the Dirichlet problem for the biharmonic operator are generically simple in the set Of Z(2)-symmetric regions of R-n, n >= 2, with a suitable topology. To accomplish this, we combine Baire`s lemma, a generalised version of the transversality theorem, due to Henry [Perturbation of the boundary in boundary value problems of PDEs, London Mathematical Society Lecture Note Series 318 (Cambridge University Press, 2005)], and the method of rapidly oscillating functions developed in [A. L. Pereira and M. C. Pereira, Mat. Contemp. 27 (2004) 225-241].

Boutet de Monvel`s calculus and groupoids I

Can Boutet de Monvel`s algebra on a compact manifold with boundary be obtained as the algebra Psi(0)(G) of pseudodifferential operators on some Lie groupoid G? If it could, the kernel G of the principal symbol homomorphism would be isomorphic to the groupoid C*-algebra C*(G). While the answer to the above question remains open, we exhibit in this paper a groupoid G such that C*(G) possesses an ideal I isomorphic to G. In fact, we prove first that G similar or equal to Psi circle times K with the C*-algebra Psi generated by the zero order pseudodifferential operators on the boundary and the algebra K of compact operators. As both Psi circle times K and I are extensions of C(S*Y) circle times K by K (S*Y is the co-sphere bundle over the boundary) we infer from a theorem by Voiculescu that both are isomorphic.

Avaliação de um método de cromatografia em fase gasosa head space e estudo da estabilidade do etanol em amostras de sangue

The ethanol is the most overused psychoactive drug over the world; this fact makes it one of the main substances required in toxicological exams nowadays. The development of an analytical method, adaptation or implementation of a method known, involves a process of validation that estimates its efficiency in the laboratory routine and credibility of the method. The stability is defined as the ability of the sample of material to keep the initial value of a quantitative measure for a defined period within specific limits when stored under defined conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the method of Gas chromatography and study the stability of ethanol in blood samples, considering the variables time and temperature of storage, and the presence of preservative and, with that check if the conditions of conservation and storage used in this study maintain the quality of the sample and preserve the originally amount of analyte present. Blood samples were collected from 10 volunteers to evaluate the method and to study the stability of ethanol. For the evaluation of the method, part of the samples was added to known concentrations of ethanol. In the study of stability, the other side of the pool of blood was placed in two containers: one containing the preservative sodium fluoride 1% and the anticoagulant heparin and the other only heparin, was added ethanol at a concentration of 0.6 g/L, fractionated in two bottles, one being stored at 4ºC (refrigerator) and another at -20ºC (freezer), the tests were performed on the same day (time zero) and after 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days of storage. The assessment found the difference in results during storage in relation to time zero. It used the technique of headspace associated with gas chromatography with the FID and capillary column with stationary phase of polyethylene. The best analysis of chromatographic conditions were: temperature of 50ºC (column), 150ºC (jet) and 250ºC (detector), with retention time for ethanol from 9.107 ± 0.026 and the tercbutanol (internal standard) of 8.170 ± 0.081 minutes, the ethanol being separated properly from acetaldehyde, acetone, methanol and 2-propanol, which are potential interfering in the determination of ethanol. The technique showed linearity in the concentration range of 0.01 and 3.2 g/L (0.8051 x + y = 0.6196; r2 = 0.999). The calibration curve showed the following equation of the line: y = x 0.7542 + 0.6545, with a linear correlation coefficient equal to 0.996. The average recovery was 100.2%, the coefficients of variation of accuracy and inter intra test showed values of up to 7.3%, the limit of detection and quantification was 0.01 g/L and showed coefficient of variation within the allowed. The analytical method evaluated in this study proved to be fast, efficient and practical, given the objective of this work satisfactorily. The study of stability has less than 20% difference in the response obtained under the conditions of storage and stipulated period, compared with the response obtained at time zero and at the significance level of 5%, no statistical difference in the concentration of ethanol was observed between analysis. The results reinforce the reliability of the method of gas chromatography and blood samples in search of ethanol, either in the toxicological, forensic, social or clinic

Taxas de decomposição e de liberação de macronutrientes da palhada de aveia preta em plantio direto

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Métodos numéricos para resolução de equações diferenciais ordinárias lineares baseados em interpolação por spline

In this work we have elaborated a spline-based method of solution of inicial value problems involving ordinary differential equations, with emphasis on linear equations. The method can be seen as an alternative for the traditional solvers such as Runge-Kutta, and avoids root calculations in the linear time invariant case. The method is then applied on a central problem of control theory, namely, the step response problem for linear EDOs with possibly varying coefficients, where root calculations do not apply. We have implemented an efficient algorithm which uses exclusively matrix-vector operations. The working interval (till the settling time) was determined through a calculation of the least stable mode using a modified power method. Several variants of the method have been compared by simulation. For general linear problems with fine grid, the proposed method compares favorably with the Euler method. In the time invariant case, where the alternative is root calculation, we have indications that the proposed method is competitive for equations of sifficiently high order.

Study of Monoethanolamine Nitrate Content Reduction in Explosive Slurries

The reduction of the fuel content of a monoethanolamine nitrate (MEAN) fueled explosive slurry was investigated. The work was performed in three phases. The first one involved the MEAN content reduction in a reference slurry from its initial value of 36 down to 24% by weight, the balance being filled with ammonium nitrate, the least expensive item in the slurry composition. This proved to be successful, leading to an overall cost reduction of 17%, while keeping the overall performance quite satisfactory. The second phase consisted in trying to bring the MEAN content down from 24 to 17%. Although this led to further cost reduction, the formulations, obtained by substituting part of the MEAN content by ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO), produced unsatisfactory results regarding ignition and densities. In the third phase, the Design of Experiments Technique was used to find formulations displaying not only lower cost, but also acceptable overall performance. This led to a raw material cost reduction ranging from 23 to 26% relative to the initial reference slurry formulation.

Renormalized coordinate approach to the thermalization process

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Usando um voltímetro para medir tempo

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

Metodologia experimental para avaliação de custos de produção e utilização de biodiesel: estudo de caso de quatro ésteres metílicos e óleo diesel comercial

Considerando que o Brasil detém uma vasta gama de matérias-primas para produção de biodiesel, e também que há a possibilidade de produção em pequena escala, prima-se por estudos de cunho econômico a partir de metodologias de fácil execução. O objetivo do trabalho foi demonstrar uma metodologia e sua aplicação para avaliação dos custos inseridos dentro do processo produtivo e de utilização do biodiesel. A metodologia foi aplicada a biodieseis originários de óleo de soja, girassol, frango e sebo bovino, dos quais se avaliaram economicamente os custos fixos e variáveis para conversão química dos óleos e gorduras em ésteres metílicos, em uma planta de produção experimental. Os custos de produção para cada uma das quatro citadas são distintos em função do valor inicial por litro de cada uma. Também fora avaliado o custo específico e o consumo específico de cada um dos biodieseis, a fim de determinar a diferença em relação ao óleo diesel comercial. No estudo de caso, os resultados mostraram vantagens para o óleo diesel, tanto no custo quanto no consumo. Comparando-se os biodieseis, o de sebo bovino apresentou-se com o menor custo de produção e o menor consumo.

Interpolating EFGM for computing continuous and discontinuous electromagnetic fields

Purpose - This paper proposes an interpolating approach of the element-free Galerkin method (EFGM) coupled with a modified truncation scheme for solving Poisson's boundary value problems in domains involving material non-homogeneities. The suitability and efficiency of the proposed implementation are evaluated for a given set of test cases of electrostatic field in domains involving different material interfaces.Design/methodology/approach - the authors combined an interpolating approximation with a modified domain truncation scheme, which avoids additional techniques for enforcing the Dirichlet boundary conditions and for dealing with material interfaces usually employed in meshfree formulations.Findings - the local electric potential and field distributions were correctly described as well as the global quantities like the total potency and resistance. Since, the treatment of the material interfaces becomes practically the same for both the finite element method (FEM) and the proposed EFGM, FEM-oriented programs can, thus, be easily extended to provide EFGM approximations.Research limitations/implications - the robustness of the proposed formulation became evident from the error analyses of the local and global variables, including in the case of high-material discontinuity.Practical implications - the proposed approach has shown to be as robust as linear FEM. Thus, it becomes an attractive alternative, also because it avoids the use of additional techniques to deal with boundary/interface conditions commonly employed in meshfree formulations.Originality/value - This paper reintroduces the domain truncation in the EFGM context, but by using a set of interpolating shape functions the authors avoided the use of Lagrange multipliers as well Mathematics in Engineering high-material discontinuity.

An application of the Adomian's decomposition method to the analysis of MHD duct flows

A new approach is proposed in this work for the treatment of boundary value problems through the Adomian's decomposition method. Although frequently claimed as accurate and having fast convergence rates, the original formulation of Adomian's method does not allow the treatment of homogeneous boundary conditions along closed boundaries. The technique here presented overcomes this difficulty, and is applied to the analysis of magnetohydrodynamic duct flows. Results are in good agreement with finite element method calculations and analytical solutions for square ducts. Therefore, new possibilities appear for the application of Adomian's method in electromagnetics.

Dielectric and fatigue properties of Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O-3 thin films prepared from oxide precursors method

Fatigue is an important problem to be considered if a ferroelectric film is used for non-volatile memory devices. In this phenomena, the remanent polarization and coercive field properties degrades in cycles which increase in hysteresis loops. The reasons have been attributed to different mechanisms such as a large voltage applied on ferroelectric film in every reading process in Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FeRAM) or memories for digital storage in computer, grain size effects and others. The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of the crystallization kinetics on dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O-3 thin films prepared by an alternative chemical method. Films were crystallized in air on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates at 700 degrees C for 1 hour, in conventional thermal annealing (CTA), and at 700 degrees C for 1 min and 700 degrees C 5 min, using a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. Final films were crack free and presented an average of 750 nm in thickness. Dielectric properties were studied in the frequency range of 100 Hz - 1 MHz. All films showed a dielectric dispersion at low frequency. Ferroelectric properties were measured from hysteresis loops at 10 kHz. The obtained remanent polarization (P-r) and coercive field (E-c) were 3.7 mu C/cm(2) and 71.9 kV/cm respectively for film crystallized by CTA while in films crystallized by RTA these parameters were essentially the same. In the fatigue process, the P, value decreased to 14% from the initial value after 1.3 x 10(9) switching cycles, for film by CTA, while for film crystallized by RTA for 5 min, P, decreased to 47% from initial value after 1.7 x 10(9) switching cycles.

Stable colloidal suspensions of nanostructured zirconium oxide synthesized by hydrothermal process

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