Patch size, functional isolation, visibility and matrix permeability influences neotropical primate occurrence within highly fragmented landscapes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ridge-based fingerprint matching using hough transform

Despite the efficacy of minutia-based fingerprint matching techniques for good-quality images captured by optical sensors, minutia-based techniques do not often perform so well on poor-quality images or fingerprint images captured by small solid-state sensors. Solid-state fingerprint sensors are being increasingly deployed in a wide range of applications for user authentication purposes. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new fingerprint-matching techniques that utilize other features to deal with fingerprint images captured by solid-state sensors. This paper presents a new fingerprint matching technique based on fingerprint ridge features. This technique was assessed on the MSU-VERIDICOM database, which consists of fingerprint impressions obtained from 160 users (4 impressions per finger) using a solid-state sensor. The combination of ridge-based matching scores computed by the proposed ridge-based technique with minutia-based matching scores leads to a reduction of the false non-match rate by approximately 1.7% at a false match rate of 0.1%. © 2005 IEEE.

Qualidade de vida de cirurgiões-dentistas que atuam no serviço público

Introduction: The quality of life of dentists has worsened over time, due to increased risks of labor and competitiveness in the labor market. However, there are only few studies about it. Objective: Investigate the perception of quality of life of dentists working in public service. Methods: In order to accomplish that, a cross-sectional study survey was conducted with 52 dentists of the professional permanent staff of the Municipal Health Service. The data were collected through structured questionnaire, validated, self-administered, proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its shortened version, WHOQOL-Bref. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were conducted, taking 95% as the confidence interval that characterizes the sample and the calculation of scores for each domain. Results: There was predominance of female subjects (76.9%) the majority of them aged 25 to 35 years (48.7%). Most professionals consider their quality of life good (82.7%), and were satisfied with their health (71.2%). Considering the measures of central tendency and dispersion, the physical domain (13.8) and Environment (13.8) had the lowest mean scores. All areas affected equally poor quality of life of research participants. The facets that showed the lowest values were the physical environment with 39.71 points and 53.92 points to financial resources. Conclusion: The majority of professionals were satisfied with their health and considered their quality of life good.

Isolamento e identificação das micobactérias em águas tratadas provenientes do sistema de abastecimento de Araraquara-SP

Water quality is very important for the health and the population welfare, and the public supply system must provide water quality and suffi cient quantity for the entire population. Water treatment stations, are the main way to obtain water quality. When this doesn’t occur, several problems can affect the population, in this case, using water with poor quality is a constant risk of emergence causing various diseases. The elimination of microorganisms in treated water reduces competition, encouraging the multiplication of chlorine resistant bacteria as Mycobacterium genus frequently isolated from treated and chlorinated water. Considering the lack of indication from examinations of mycobacteria routine laboratory for quality control of drinking water and other human uses, the objective was to verify the presence isolate and identify the environmental mycobacteria in the system water source surface of Araraquara - SP. We analyzed 40 water samples, distributed as follows: ten water gross collected at Station Water Treatment Plant (WTP), harvested after ten fi ltration; ten collected in the reservoir after chlorination and ten in the network distribution. Were recovered 43 isolates of mycobacteria. All isolates were subjected to PCR-PRA. The mycobacteria were identifi ed as M. lentifl avum, M. parafortuitum, M. genavense, M. gordonae, M. fortuitum, M. confl uent, M. duvalii, M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis and M. szulgai. With these results, was concluded that water is an important source of environmental mycobacteria probably related to several human diseases, suggesting the carrying out continuous monitoring of the microorganisms in the system drinking water.

Estudo das ilhas de calor no município de piratininga/sp, por meio de dados orbitais.

The massive urbanization and activities arising from the uncontrolled growth of urban areas, result in changes on the climate, making it unhealthy. One factor that contributes to poor quality of life due to this fact is the islands of heat that consists in the accumulation of surface heat and raises the temperature in the cities. The vegetation consists of urban greening, urban forests and green areas, have the function to minimize this effect. To reconcile these factors, collected data on surface temperature by satellite images, LANDSAT 5 captured on 18/12/2012 point 75 e 76, orbits 221, band 6 and on-site survey with thermo-hygrometer, possessed the data, crossing the conducted vegetative survey and provided a management vision to improve the microclimate of the city under study. The vegetation coverage at urban area directly affects the ambient temperature, improving the urban micro-climate. The different analyzed surface coverage also affects the apparent temperature. Among the studied ranks, the eucalyptus cultivation, native forest, urban area and solo exposed areas with greater vegetation cover have mild temperatures and improved microclimate.

Efeitos da estabulação sobre o trato respiratório de equinos em dois tipos diferentes de camas e a pasto

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fatores dietéticos, antropométricos e socioeconômicos associados à sarcopenia em idosos: estudo transversal de base populacional

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Bovine Tuberculosis in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer From Michigan

A 4.5 yr-old male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) killed by a hunter during the 1994 firearm hunting season in northeastern Michigan (USA) had lesions suggestive of tuberculosis and was positive on culture for Mycobacterium bovis the causative agent for bovine tuberculosis. Subsequently, a survey of 354 hunter-harvested white-tailed deer for tuberculosis was conducted in this area from 15 November 1995 through 5 January 1996. Heads and/or lungs from deer were examined grossly and microscopically for lesions suggestive of bovine tuberculosis. Gross lesions suggestive of tuberculosis were seen in 15 deer. Tissues from 16 deer had acid-fast bacilli on histological examination and in 12 cases mycobacterial isolates from lymph nodes and/or lungs were identified as M. bovis. In addition, lymph nodes from 12 deer (11 females and 1 male) without gross or microscopic lesions were pooled into 1 sample from which M. bovis was cultured. Although more male (9) than female (3) deer had bovine tuberculosis infections, this difference was not statistically significant. Mycobacterium bovis culture positive deer ranged in age from 1.5 to 5.5 yr with a mean of 2.7 yr (median 2.5 yr) for males and 3.2 yr (median 3.5 yr) for females. This appears to be the first epidemic occurrence of M. bovis in free-ranging cervids in North America. A combination of environmental (high deer density and poor quality habit) and management-related factors (extensive supplemental feeding) may be responsible for this epizootic.

Fatores dietéticos, antropométricos e socioeconômicos associados à sarcopenia em idosos: estudo transversal de base populacional

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Densidade energética da dieta e fatores associados: como está a população de São Paulo?

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a densidade energética da dieta de adultos do município de São Paulo e fatores associados. SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Participantes do estudo ISA-Capital, com amostragem probabilística (n = 710 adultos). O consumo alimentar foi avaliado pelo R24h. As correlações foram investigadas pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. As associações com dados demográficos, socioeconômicos e de estilo de vida foram investigadas por modelos de regressão multivariados. RESULTADOS: A densidade energética média foi 1,98 kcal/g (IC95% [1,94; 2,01]) e correlacionou-se positivamente com a ingestão de energia, gordura, carboidrato, colesterol, gordura saturada, sacarose, gordura trans e açúcar adicionado e negativamente com fibras. Apenas idade e hábito de fumar apresentaram associação com a densidade energética. CONCLUSÕES: Os valores elevados da densidade energética da dieta e a relação demonstrada com outros constituintes nutricionais denotam má qualidade da dieta nessa população, o que pode estar contribuindo para crescentes taxas de excesso de peso. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(9):638-45

Estado nutricional e consumo alimentar de pacientes com psoríase dos tipos sistêmica e artropática sistêmica associada

OBJECTIVE: To identify the nutritional status and food intake of individuals with systemic psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis associated. METHODS: This is an exploratory and cross-sectional study with 34 men aged between 19 and 60 years seen at a Psoriasis Center. Participants were divided into systemic psoriasis group and arthritic-systemic psoriasis associated group. For nutritional assessment we used anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis and whole-body plethysmography. Clinical and nutritional information were assessed using the clinical and nutritional history-taking, and the 24-hour dietary recall. For statistics the general linear model test (p < 0.05) was used. RESULTS: According to the body mass index 29.4% patients (n = 10) were eutrophic, 41.2% (n = 14) overweight and 29% (n = 10) obese. Almost all individuals (60%; n = 21) had body fat percentage above normal levels (> 25%) and a high risk for metabolic complications according to the waist circumference and the obesity index, however, there were no statistically significant differences between groups. The mean food intake, total fat, calories and protein were above recommended levels, being 58.8% for lipids (319.17 ± 241.02 mg of cholesterol and 17.42 ± 11.4 g saturated fatty acids); 29.4% for calories and 67.6% for proteins. Thus, regardless of the psoriasis type, an excessive consumption of calories, lipids, fatty acids, cholesterol and a higher incidence of overweight were found. CONCLUSION: The sample showed an abnormal nutritional condition, an increased risk for chronic diseases related to obesity, worsening of the psoriatic lesions, and poor quality of life.

Caratterizzazione Citogenetico-Molecolare delle alterazioni cromosomiche 3q26 e 1p36 nelle Sindromi Mieloproliferative

L’overespressione dei geni EVI1(3q26) e PRDM16(1p36), è descritta sia in presenza che in assenza di riarrangiamenti 3q26 e 1p36 in specifici sottogruppi citogenetici di LAM, ed è associata ad una prognosi sfavorevole. Lo scopo principale del nostro studio è stato identificare e caratterizzare tramite FISH e RQ-PCR, alterazioni di EVI1 e PRDM16 in pazienti con alterazioni cromosomiche 3q e 1p.Riarrangiamenti di EVI1 si associavano ad alterazioni cromosomiche 3q26, ma, in 6 casi (6/35;17,1%) erano presenti in assenza di coinvolgimenti, in citogenetica convenzionale, della regione 3q26, a causa di meccanismi complessi e/o alterazioni ‘criptiche’. Inoltre, abbiamo identificato quattro nuovi riarrangiamenti di EVI1, tra cui due nuove traslocazioni simili presenti in due fratelli. Riarrangiamenti e/o amplificazioni di PRDM16 erano spesso associate ad alterazioni 1p36 (7/14;50%). L’analisi di EVI1 e PRDM16 è stata estesa ad altri casi con alterazioni -7/7q-, con cariotipo normale, con alterazioni 3q per PRDM16 e con alterazioni 1p per EVI1. L’overespressione di EVI1 era presente solo nel gruppo -7/7q- (10/58;17.2%) ed in un caso si associava ad amplificazione genica, mentre PRDM16 era overespresso in casi di tutti i gruppi analizzati,sia con cariotipi complessi, dove si associava in alcuni casi ad amplificazione genica, sia con cariotipi normali o con singole alterazioni. Il nostro studio dimostra come la FISH permetta di identificare alterazioni dei geni EVI1 e PRDM16, anche in assenza di coinvolgimenti delle regioni 3q26 e 1p36. Riarrangiamenti complessi e/o una scarsa qualità dei preparati citogenetici sono le cause principali per la mancata identificazione di queste alterazioni. La RQ-PCR permette di identificare l’overespressione anche nei casi in cui non sia dovuta ad alterazioni citogenetiche. È importante confermare con FISH e/o RQ-PCR il coinvolgimento di questi due geni, per individuare alla diagnosi pazienti con prognosi sfavorevole e che potranno beneficiare di terapie maggiormente aggressive e/o di trapianto allogenico di cellule staminali.

Chemical exfoliation of graphene and its application in organic electronics and energy storage devices

Graphene, the thinnest two-dimensional material possible, is considered as a realistic candidate for the numerous applications in electronic, energy storage and conversion devices due to its unique properties, such as high optical transmittance, high conductivity, excellent chemical and thermal stability. However, the electronic and chemical properties of graphene are highly dependent on their preparation methods. Therefore, the development of novel chemical exfoliation process which aims at high yield synthesis of high quality graphene while maintaining good solution processability is of great concern. This thesis focuses on the solution production of high-quality graphene by wet-chemical exfoliation methods and addresses the applications of the chemically exfoliated graphene in organic electronics and energy storage devices.rnPlatinum is the most commonly used catalysts for fuel cells but they suffered from sluggish electron transfer kinetics. On the other hand, heteroatom doped graphene is known to enhance not only electrical conductivity but also long term operation stability. In this regard, a simple synthetic method is developed for the nitrogen doped graphene (NG) preparation. Moreover, iron (Fe) can be incorporated into the synthetic process. As-prepared NG with and without Fe shows excellent catalytic activity and stability compared to that of Pt based catalysts.rnHigh electrical conductivity is one of the most important requirements for the application of graphene in electronic devices. Therefore, for the fabrication of electrically conductive graphene films, a novel methane plasma assisted reduction of GO is developed. The high electrical conductivity of plasma reduced GO films revealed an excellent electrochemical performance in terms of high power and energy densities when used as an electrode in the micro-supercapacitors.rnAlthough, GO can be prepared in bulk scale, large amount of defect density and low electrical conductivity are major drawbacks. To overcome the intrinsic limitation of poor quality of GO and/or reduced GO, a novel protocol is extablished for mass production of high-quality graphene by means of electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. The prepared graphene shows high electrical conductivity, low defect density and good solution processability. Furthermore, when used as electrodes in organic field-effect transistors and/or in supercapacitors, the electrochemically exfoliated graphene shows excellent device performances. The low cost and environment friendly production of such high-quality graphene is of great importance for future generation electronics and energy storage devices. rn

Retinal thickness in Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND: Visual symptoms are common in Parkinson's disease with studies consistently demonstrating reductions in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, colour and motion perception as well as alterations in electroretinogram latencies and amplitudes. Optical coherence tomography can examine retinal structure non-invasively and retinal thinning has been suggested as a potential biomarker for neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Our aim was to examine the retinal thickness of a cohort of Parkinson's disease subjects (and age-matched controls) to establish the practical utility of optical coherence tomography in a representative older Parkinson's disease group. METHODS: Fifty-one established Parkinson's disease subjects and 25 healthy controls were subjected to ophthalmological assessment and optical coherence tomography (Zeiss Stratus 3000™) of macular thickness and volume and retinal nerve fibre thickness around the optic nerve head. Twenty four percent of control and 20% of Parkinson's disease subjects were excluded from final analysis due to co-morbid ocular pathology. Further data was excluded either due to poor tolerability of optical coherence tomography or poor quality scans. RESULTS: Despite a reduction in both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in the residual evaluable Parkinson's disease cohort, we did not detect any differences between the two study groups for any measures of retinal thickness, in contrast to previously published work. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to technical problems inherent in the evaluation, the lack of difference between Parkinson's disease and healthy control subjects suggests longitudinal studies, employing newer techniques, will be required to define the role of optical coherence tomography as a potential diagnostic biomarker.

Surplus embryos in Switzerland in 2003: legislation and availability of human embryos for research

Legislation influences the availability of embryos for research. The law in Switzerland, and in some other European countries, is restrictive concerning medically assisted reproduction and stem cell research. Swiss law prohibits the creation of embryos for research purposes. It permits the derivation of human embryonic stem cells for research from surplus embryos but prohibits research with intact surplus embryos and embryo donation to other couples. Swiss law defines all embryos generated during a reproductive cycle and not used for reproduction as surplus embryos. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surplus embryos generated in Switzerland in 2003. A detailed questionnaire was sent to all registered IVF units in Switzerland (n = 22). 11727 embryos were generated during 2003. Of these, 93.5% were transferred into the uterus and 0.4% were cryopreserved. The remaining 6.1% (n = 711) became surplus. Of these, 2.7% were transferred intravaginally and the rest discarded due to poor quality (1.6%), development arrest (1.5%), renunciation by the couple (0.2%) or for other reasons (0.1%). The number of surplus embryos in Switzerland in 2003 was evaluated. Most surplus embryos became so during a therapeutic cycle. The restrictive legal regulation decreases the availability of human embryos for research.