Gender differences in bone geometry during the adolescent growth spurt

To investigate whether there are gender differences in the bone geometry of the proximal femur during the adolescent years we used an interactive computer program ?Hip Strength Analysis? developed by Beck and associates (Beck et al., Invest Radiol. 1990,25:6-18.) to derive femoral neck geometry parameters from DXA bone scans (Hologic 2000, array mode). We analyzed a longitudinal data-set collected on 70 boys and 68 girls over a seven year period. Distance and velocity curves for height were fitted for each child utilizing a cubic spline procedure and the age of peak height velocity (PHV) was determined. To control for maturational differences between children of the same chronological age and between boys and girls, section modulus (Z) an index of bending strength, cross sectional area of bone (CSA), sub-periosteal width (SPW), and BMD values at the neck and shaft of the proximal femur were determined for points on each individual?s curve at the age of PHV and one and two years on either side of peak. To control for size differences, height and weight were introduced as co-variates in the two-way analyses of variance looking at gender over time measured at the maturational age points (-2, -1, age of PHV, +1, +2). The following figure presents the results of the analyses on two variables, BMD and Z at neck and shaft regions:After the age of peak linear growth (PHV), independent of body size, there was a gender difference in BMD at the shaft but not at the neck. Section modulus at both sites indicated that male bones became significantly stronger after PHV. Underlying these maturational changes, male bones became wider (SPW) after PHV in both the neck and shaft and enclosed more material (CSA) at all maturational age points at both regions. These results call into question the emphasis on using BMD as a measure of skeletal integrity in growing children

Detection of Clonal Immunoglobulin and T-Cell Receptor Gene Rearrangements in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using a Low-Cost PCR Strategy

Background Imunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements function as specific markers for minimal residual disease (MRD) which is one of the best predictors of outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) We recently reported on the prognostic value of MRD during the induction of remission through a simplified PCR method Here we report on gene rearrangement frequencies and offer guidelines for the application of the technique Procedure Two hundred thirty three children had DNA extracted from bone marrow Ig and TCR gene rearrangements were amplified using consensus primers and conventional PCR PCR products were submitted to homo/heteroduplex analysis A computer program was designed to define combinations of targets for clonal detection using a minimum set of primers and reactions Results At least one clonal marker could be detected in 98% of the patients and two markers in approximately 80% The most commonly rear ringed genes in precursor B cell ALL were IgH (75%) TCRD (59%) IgK (55%), and TCRG (54%) The most commonly rearranged genes for TALL were TCRG (100%) and TCRD (24%) The sensitivity of primers was limited to the detection of 1 leukemic cell among 100 normal cells Conclusions We propose that eight PCR reactions per ALL subtype would allow for the detection of two markers in most cases In addition these reactions ire suitable for MRD monitoring especially when aiming the selection of patients with high MRD levels (>= 10(-2)) at the end of induction therapy Such an approach would be very useful in centers with limited financial resources Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010 55 1278-1286 (C) 2010 Wiley Liss Inc

Evaluation of distances between the mandibular teeth and the alveolar process in Brazilians with normal occlusion

Introduction: The aims of this study were to evaluate the distances between the mandibular permanent teeth and the alveolar process in Brazilians with normal occlusion and to compare them with normal American values. Methods: We used 59 mandibular casts from untreated subjects who had permanent dentition and the 6 keys to normal occlusion. A computer program was used to calculate the distances between the dental reference points and the alveolar process for each tooth. The mean values were then compared to the normal values by applying the Student t test at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The results showed a progressive increase of these distances from the anterior region (incisors) to the posterior region (molars), from 0.00 to 2.49 mm. All measurements had statistically significant differences from the American sample, except for the values for canines and first premolars. Conclusions: Brazilians with normal occlusion have more lingual crown positions for the incisors, second premolars, and molars compared with Americans with normal occlusion. Although these findings were statistically significant, they are unlikely to be clinically significant. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2010; 137: 308.e1-308.e4)

The effectiveness of personalized smoking cessation strategies for callers to a Quitline service

Aim To assess the effectiveness of a program of computer-generated tailored advice for callers to a telephone helpline, and to assess whether it enhanced a series of callback telephone counselling sessions in aiding smoking cessation. Design Randomized controlled trial comparing: (1) untailored self-help materials; (2) computer-generated tailored advice only, and (3) computer-generated tailored advice plus callback telephone counselling. Assessment surveys were conducted at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Setting Victoria, Australia. Participants A total of 1578 smokers who called the Quitline service and agreed to participate. Measurements Smoking status at follow-up; duration of cessation, if quit; use of nicotine replacement therapy; and extent of participation in the callback service. Findings At the 3-month follow-up, significantly more (chi(2)(2) = 16.9; P < 0.001) participants in the computer-generated tailored advice plus telephone counselling condition were not smoking (21%) than in either the computer-generated advice only (12%) or the control condition (12%). Proportions reporting not smoking at the 12-month follow-up were 26%, 23% and 22%, respectively (NS) for point prevalence, and for 9 months sustained abstinence; 8.2, 6.0, and 5.0 (NS). In the telephone counselling group, those receiving callbacks were more likely than those who did not to have sustained abstinence at 12 months (10.2 compared with 4.0, P < 0.05). Logistic regression on 3-month data showed significant independent effects on cessation of telephone counselling and use of NRT, but not of computer-generated tailored advice. Conclusion Computer-generated tailored advice did not enhance telephone counselling, nor have any independent effect on cessation. This may be due to poor timing of the computer-generated tailored advice and poor integration of the two modes of advice.

Lar militar: projecto de execução

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de mestre em Engenharia Civil na Área de Especialização em Estruturas

How to integrate stories and ICT in content-based units of work for English learning

The aim of this article is to show how it is possible to integrate stories and ICT in Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) for English as a foreign language (EFL) learning in bilingual schools. Two Units of Work are presented. One, for the second year of Primary, is based on a Science topic, ‘Materials’. The story used is ‘The three little pigs’ and the computer program ‘JClic’. The other one is based on a Science and Arts topic for the sixth year of Primary, the story used is ‘Charlotte’s Web’ and the computer program ‘Atenex’.

Factors that Influence Adherence to Exercise among Patients Attending a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the factors of adherence to physical activity in subjects attending a cardiac rehabilitation program, and subjects who have withdrawal this same program using the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change. Methods: We conducted an observational, cross sectional type study, with a sample of 33 individuals (15 currently participating in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and 18 who no more attended the same program), with the questionnaires being personally delivered or sent by mail. For data analysis, we used the computer program SPSS® version 16.0. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: There were no significant differences in the states of Change, Self-efficacy, Decisional Balance and Change Processes in both groups. We obtained a high Spearman correlation between States of Change and Self-efficacy (r2 = 0.778) and the Pros (r2 = 0.764) and Againsts (r2 = -0.744) in Decisional Balance. However, there were no significant evidence to affirm that States of Change and experiential processes of change (p = 0.465) andbehavioral (p = 0.300) had a correlation. A relationship was found, in terms of proportions between physical activity incorporated or not in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and age (p = 0.003), occupation (p = 0.010) and the entity paying the costs of program (p = 0.027). Conclusion: It was concluded that perceived self-efficacy and Pros and Againsts of the Decisional Balance are related to adherence to physical activity. Results also point out that age, profession and the entity paying the costs of the program influences the dropout of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs.

NONIUS.TV na SMART TV LG PRO: Centric

A Smart TV é um equipamento novo e em evolução que incorpora um computador e acesso à Internet em ecrãs de grande qualidade. Permite a implementação de serviços interactivos, acesso à Internet e televisão. À medida que a tecnologia melhora, muitos equipamentos estão a tornar-se tão capazes quanto os computadores normais quando se trata de navegação na web e até mesmo vídeo na Internet (Video-on-Demand e streaming de vídeo). O projecto de estágio “NONIUS.TV na Smart TV LG Pro:Centric” foi desenvolvido na empresa Nonius Software que está inserida no ramo das telecomunicações. Uma das suas áreas de actividade está relacionada com o desenvolvimento de plataformas de entretenimento para o mercado hoteleiro, combinando diversos serviços e funcionalidades a pensar no hóspede. Este projecto teve como finalidade implementar alguns dos serviços e funcionalidades já existentes em plataformas que usam uma Set-Top Box da Nonius Software, numa Smart TV, aproveitando também para inovar e criar novos serviços. Nesse conjunto está incluída a implementação de uma Caixa de Mensagens, Serviço de Quartos, Serviço de Desporto e Lazer, Serviços Informativos, um cliente RTSP, um despertador, um sistema de mudança de idioma e outras pequenas funcionalidades desenvolvidas ao longo de toda a aplicação. Esta dissertação apresenta um estudo sobre as tecnologias Smart TV existentes no mercado, assim como as vantagens e desvantagens da sua utilização para este projecto. Após uma análise de requisitos de forma a estruturar e desenhar os serviços e funcionalidades a serem criados para a aplicação, implementou-se um conjunto de serviços, usando a linguagem de programação ActionScript 2.0, que permitiram à empresa disponibilizar um novo produto baseado na televisão Pro:Centric da LG.

Shear strengthening of damaged reinforced concrete beams with hybrid composite plates

This paper aims to evaluate experimentally the potentialities of Hybrid Composite Plates (HCPs) technique for the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams that were previously subjected to intense damage in shear. HCP is a thin plate of Strain Hardening Cementitious Composite (SHCC) reinforced with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates. For this purpose, an experimental program composed of two series of beams (rectangular and T cross section) was executed to assess the strengthening efficiency of this technique. In the first step of this experimental program, the control beams, without steel stirrups, were loaded up to their shear failure, and fully unloaded. Then, these pre-damaged beams were shear strengthened by applying HCPs to their lateral faces by using a combination of epoxy adhesive and mechanical anchors. The bolts were applied with a certain torque in order to increase the concrete confinement. The obtained results showed that the increase of load carrying capacity of the damaged strengthened beams when HCPs were applied with epoxy adhesive and mechanical anchors was 2 and 2.5 times of the load carrying capacity of the corresponding reference beams (without HCPs) for the rectangular and T cross section beam series, respectively. To further explore the potentialities of the HCPs technique for the shear strengthening, the experimental tests were simulated using an advanced numerical model by a FEM-based computer program. After demonstration the good predictive performance of the numerical model, a parametric study was executed to highlight the influence of SHCC as an alternative for mortar, as well as the influence of torque level applied to the mechanical anchors, on the load carrying capacity of beams strengthened with the proposed technique.

Physicians' estimates of the 10 year cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients: an evaluation in primary care physicians in training.

To evaluate how young physicians in training perceive their patients' cardiovascular risk based on the medical charts and their clinical judgment. Cross sectional observational study. University outpatient clinic, Lausanne, Switzerland. Two hundred hypertensive patients and 50 non-hypertensive patients with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Comparison of the absolute 10-year cardiovascular risk calculated by a computer program based on the Framingham score and adapted for physicians by the WHO/ISH with the perceived risk as assessed clinically by the physicians. Physicians underestimated the 10-year cardiovascular risk of their patients compared to that calculated with the Framingham score. Concordance between methods was 39% for hypertensive patients and 30% for non-hypertensive patients. Underestimation of cardiovascular risks for hypertensive patients was related to the fact they had a stabilized systolic blood pressure under 140 mm Hg (OR = 2.1 [1.1; 4.1]). These data show that young physicians in training often have an incorrect perception of the cardiovascular risk of their patients with a tendency to underestimate the risk. However, the calculated risk could also be slightly overestimated when applying the Framingham Heart Study model to a Swiss population. To implement a systematic evaluation of risk factors in primary care a greater emphasis should be placed on the teaching of cardiovascular risk evaluation and on the implementation of quality improvement programs.

Fonaments d'un programa informàtic de suport psicològic i superació personal : dels llibres d'autoajuda al software d'autoajuda

Aquest treball descriu els principis de disseny i els components essencials d'un hipotètic programa informàtic que té per finalitat facilitar el procés d'autoajuda i que també pot ser utilitzat com a eina de desenvolupament personal i motivació. Prèviament, l'autor fa una revisió dels mètodes existents, des de l'èxit dels llibres d'autoajuda del segle XX fins al'expansió de la interactivitat impulsada pel desenvolupament de les tecnologiesinformàtiques. A través d'aquest recorregut es constata la pobre implantació de les novestecnologies com a instruments populars d'autoajuda i s'advoca per la creació i ús deprogrames informàtics flexibles i generalistes com a mitjà de suport psicològic.

Análise de parcimônia de endemismo de cercopídeos neotropicais (Hemiptera, Cercopidae)

The spittlebugs have an extent distribution in the American continent. Their diversity may determinate endemism areas based on their occurence in different localities. We have used Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity method, which is an important historic biogeography tool for detecting and establishing the relationship among endemics areas. A data matrix was built up based on the occurence registration for the species by 66 genus in whole localities divided in five degrees quadrats in the Neotropical Region, using 49 OGUs (Operative Geografic Units). The presence of the taxa in the areas was coded 1 and the absence 0. The data matrix was analysed based on parsimony analysis through the computer program Hennig 86. Nine endemic areas were stipulated (Mexico + Central America, Venezuelan Savana, Guiana + Suriname, Chaco, Trans-andean, Cerrado, Amazon, Pampa and Atlantic Forest) in the first analysis corroborated with ecological and physiographic patterns in each region. The second analysis was made using 48 genera to obtain the relationship among the nine areas stipulated before. In this analysis just one cladogram (3((1,2)((8,9)(6(7(4,5)))))) was obtained with 192 steps, consistence index 0.80 and retention index 0.85.

PyRate: a new program to estimate speciation and extinction rates from incomplete fossil data

Despite the advancement of phylogenetic methods to estimate speciation and extinction rates, their power can be limited under variable rates, in particular for clades with high extinction rates and small number of extant species. Fossil data can provide a powerful alternative source of information to investigate diversification processes. Here, we present PyRate, a computer program to estimate speciation and extinction rates and their temporal dynamics from fossil occurrence data. The rates are inferred in a Bayesian framework and are comparable to those estimated from phylogenetic trees. We describe how PyRate can be used to explore different models of diversification. In addition to the diversification rates, it provides estimates of the parameters of the preservation process (fossilization and sampling) and the times of speciation and extinction of each species in the data set. Moreover, we develop a new birth-death model to correlate the variation of speciation/extinction rates with changes of a continuous trait. Finally, we demonstrate the use of Bayes factors for model selection and show how the posterior estimates of a PyRate analysis can be used to generate calibration densities for Bayesian molecular clock analysis. PyRate is an open-source command-line Python program available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/pyrate/.

Concomitant chemoradiotherapy versus acceleration of radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy in locally advanced head and neck carcinoma (GORTEC 99-02): an open-label phase 3 randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Concomitant chemoradiotherapy and accelerated radiotherapy independently improve outcomes for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a combination of these approaches. METHODS: In our open-label phase 3 randomised trial, we enrolled patients with locally advanced, stage III and IV (non-metastatic) HNSCC and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2. We randomly allocated patients centrally with a computer program (with centre, T stage, N stage, and localisation as minimisation factors) in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive conventional chemoradiotherapy (70 Gy in 7 weeks plus three cycles of 4 days' concomitant carboplatin-fluorouracil), accelerated radiotherapy-chemotherapy (70 Gy in 6 weeks plus two cycles of 5 days' concomitant carboplatin-fluorouracil), or very accelerated radiotherapy alone (64·8 Gy [1·8 Gy twice daily] in 3·5 weeks). The primary endpoint, progression-free survival (PFS), was assessed in all enrolled patients. This trial is completed. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00828386. FINDINGS: Between Feb 29, 2000, and May 9, 2007, we randomly allocated 279 patients to receive conventional chemoradiotherapy, 280 to accelerated radiotherapy-chemotherapy, and 281 to very accelerated radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 5·2 years (IQR 4·9-6·2); rates of chemotherapy and radiotherapy compliance were good in all groups. Accelerated radiotherapy-chemotherapy offered no PFS benefit compared with conventional chemoradiotherapy (HR 1·02, 95% CI 0·84-1·23; p=0·88) or very accelerated radiotherapy (0·83, 0·69-1·01; p=0·060); conventional chemoradiotherapy improved PFS compared with very accelerated radiotherapy (0·82, 0·67-0·99; p=0·041). 3-year PFS was 37·6% (95% CI 32·1-43·4) after conventional chemoradiotherapy, 34·1% (28·7-39·8) after accelerated radiotherapy-chemotherapy, and 32·2% (27·0-37·9) after very accelerated radiotherapy. More patients in the very accelerated radiotherapy group had RTOG grade 3-4 acute mucosal toxicity (226 [84%] of 268 patients) compared with accelerated radiotherapy-chemotherapy (205 [76%] of 271 patients) or conventional chemoradiotherapy (180 [69%] of 262; p=0·0001). 158 (60%) of 265 patients in the conventional chemoradiotherapy group, 176 (64%) of 276 patients in the accelerated radiotherapy-chemotherapy group, and 190 (70%) of 272 patients in the very accelerated radiotherapy group were intubated with feeding tubes during treatment (p=0·045). INTERPRETATION: Chemotherapy has a substantial treatment effect given concomitantly with radiotherapy and acceleration of radiotherapy cannot compensate for the absence of chemotherapy. We noted the most favourable outcomes for conventional chemoradiotherapy, suggesting that acceleration of radiotherapy is probably not beneficial in concomitant chemoradiotherapy schedules. FUNDING: French Ministry of Health.

Regulador de llum controlat per ordinador

RESUM El llum electric és un tipus d’energia amb la que s’il•lumina tot el món i s’utilitza tant per a il•luminar la nit com per a disposar de llum addicional durant el dia. L’energia es pren directament de la xarxa de subministrament elèctric i permet encendre tot tipus de focus i bombetes. Actualment la necessitat de controlar la intensitat lumínica de focus és de gran utilitat i es poden veure exemples en escenaris de teatres, concerts musicals, domòtica bàsica a vivendes, botigues, restaurants, etc. on s’incorporen aparells òptims per aquest control. Aspectes com la programació d’encesa, apagat i intensitat desitjada de focus a una hora convinguda facilita el fet de fer-ho manualment i disposar de més temps propi. L’objectiu principal d’aquest treball és dissenyar i construir un regulador de llum controlat per ordinador capac de regular la intensitat lumínica de 8 focus independentment l’un de l’altre. El control de regulació s’efectua mitjancant un programa informàtic compatible amb ordinadors que incorporin el sistema operatiu Windows i és programable en el temps permetent seleccionar la intensitat desitjada a diferents hores del dia seleccionat. Com a conclusions es pot destacar un estalvi energètic al regular la intensitat dels focus evitant així la permanent connexio a una tensió màxima de 230 VAC i la oportunitat de construir un regulador de llum amb els documents subministrats.