Avaliação do método das adições de analito para a determinação de sódio em álcool combustível por espestrometria de emissão atômica em chama

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

Qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença ateroclerótica coronariana grave e estável

FUNDAMENTO: Existem poucas informações sobre fatores agravantes da qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana (DAC), antes da intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP). OBJETIVO: Associar variáveis clínicas com escores de qualidade de vida (EQV) em pacientes com DAC estável, antes da ICP e com desfechos desfavoráveis, 12 meses após o procedimento. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo longitudinal incluindo 78 pacientes (43 homens e 35 mulheres), antes da ICP eletiva. As associações entre EQV (questionário SF-36) e idade, sexo, peso, índice de massa corpórea, diabete melito (DM), hipertensão arterial, dislipidemia, tabagismo atual, evento cardiovascular ou ICP prévios, controle da glicemia e da pressão arterial foram analisadas por meio de regressão logística multivariada. Também se analisaram as associações entre esses atributos clínicos e os desfechos desfavoráveis (morte por qualquer causa, insuficiência cardíaca ou infarto não fatal). O nível de significância foi p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: As medianas dos EQV estiveram abaixo de 70 percentuais em todos os domínios. Sexo feminino, idade < 60 anos, evento cardiovascular ou ICP prévios, IMC > 25 kg/m², DM e pressão arterial elevada foram associados a maior prejuízo de, pelo menos, um dos EQV. Sexo feminino (OR: 7,19; IC95%: 1,55 - 33,36; p = 0,012), evento cardiovascular prévio (OR: 3,97; IC95%: 1,01 - 15,66; p = 0,049) e insucesso na ICP (OR: 10,60; IC95%: 1,83 - 61,46; p = 0,008) foram associados com risco aumentado de desfecho combinado. CONCLUSÃO: Na presença de DAC, mulheres e pacientes com comorbidades têm maior prejuízo da qualidade de vida. Os desfechos desfavoráveis após 12 meses da ICP estão associados com o sexo feminino, evento prévio ou insucesso do procedimento.

Fatores de risco associados ao excesso de peso entre adolescentes da Região Oeste Paulista

Analisar a associação entre excesso de peso e diferentes fatores de risco familiares em adolescentes da região oeste do estado de São Paulo. Estudo transversal com 1779 adolescentes de ambos os sexos, e idade compreendida entre 11 e 17 anos. Calculou-se o índice de massa corporal e os fatores de risco familiares foram analisados por meio de questionário. O excesso de peso foi associado com o sexo masculino (RC=1,55 [1,22-1,97]), estudar em escola particular (RC=2,14 [1,56-2,94]) e maior escolaridade materna (RC=0,52 [0,33-0,83]). Iniciativas de combate à obesidade devem ser instauradas em meio escolar e atingir toda a estrutura familiar, bem como levar em consideração particularidades decorrentes do sexo.

Fatores associados ao sedentarismo no lazer em idosos, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer a prevalência de sedentários no lazer (que referem não praticar nenhum exercício físico no lazer ao menos uma vez por semana) em idosos de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, segundo fatores demográficos e sócio-econômicos, outros comportamentos relacionados à saúde e à presença de morbidades. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, de base populacional, com amostragem em múltiplos estágios. A análise dos dados levou em conta o desenho amostral. A prevalência de sedentários foi 70,9%, sendo que as razões de prevalências foram significativamente maiores que um para os idosos de menor renda (1,31: 1,11-1,55), tabagistas (1,39: 1,23-1,57), com transtorno mental comum (1,20: 1,04-1,39) e do sexo feminino (1,16: 1,00-1,35). A prevalência de caminhada foi 23,5%, seguida por ginástica ou musculação (3,8%) e por natação ou hidroginástica (3,6%). Os resultados apontam para a necessidade do desenvolvimento de ações globais com respeito aos comportamentos relacionados à saúde. Atenção especial deve ser dada aos idosos do sexo feminino, àqueles com transtorno mental comum e aos de menor nível sócio-econômico a fim de garantir eqüidade em relação às práticas de promoção da saúde.

Microstructure of organometallic derived PLZT ceramics

The PLZT powders with the formula Pb0.905La0.095(Zr0.65Ti0.35)(0.976)O-3+3.5 wt.% PbO were prepared by the organometallic precursor method (Pechini and partial oxalate processes). The microstructure of sintered 9.5/65/35 PLZT ceramics obtained from a partial oxalate procedure shows that the outstanding feature of this microstructure is its fairly uniform grains of about 1.8 mum. The microstructure of sintered PLZT ceramics obtained by the Pechini process consists of uniform small randomly- oriented grains tightly bonded together in the central part of the sample with,a grain size of about 1.2 mum. Cubic and elongated grains are formed at the sample's border. The microstructures of hot pressed PLZT ceramics obtained from both processes are dense and rather uniform. After a double stage of hot pressing (2 plus 20 h) the microstructure of PLZT is fully dense, uniform and homogeneous with a grain size of approximately 2.5 mum. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Botryoidal platinum, palladium and potarite from the Bom Sucesso stream, Minas Gerais, Brazil: Compositional zoning and origin

Platinum-Pd nuggets from the Born Sucesso stream alluvium Minas Gerais, Brazil. have been investigated by electron-probe microanalysis. The nuggets attain 1 mm in maximum dimension and have a botryoidal habit, with pronounced compositional core-to-margin zoning of internal structures, Although there is a wide variation in internal morphology and individual zones vary markedly in thickness (<1-100 mum), a typical composite arborescent nugget comprises a broad irregular core region of massive auriferous Pd-Hg alloy (potarite delta-PdHg) or cavity space + relict potarite enclosed by a narrow zone of platiniferous, palladium or alloy of near Pt50Pd50 composition, and is progressively oscillatory zoned by palladian platinum, with growth eventually enveloping the whole botryoidal colony, to a narrow rim of palladian platinum or pure platinum. Other nuggets comprise an arborescent to dendritic core of auriferous potarite, a broad internal zone of either pure platinum or palladian platinum, and a narrow rim of platinum, the mineral palladium contains up to about 65 at.% Pd; this is the first detailed modern confirmation of palladium in its type locality. Auriferous potarite ranges in composition from similar toPd(3)Hg(2) to near Pd(Hg,Au). The origin of these nuggets remains unclear, but their mineralogy is broadly equivalent to that of palladian gold. potarite and platinum in alluvial sediments and overburden from Devon, England, which are considered to be detrital, and their platinum-group-clement geochemistry is consistent with precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. We suggest that the Bom Sucesso nuggets resulted from high-level episodic hydrothermal alteration of mafic and ultramafic rocks within the drainage basin, with the remobilized Pt and Pd precipitated in open spaces in the enclosing metaquartzites.

Age polyethism in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus Forel, 1911 (Hym., Formicidae)

This study describes and quantifies the behavioural acts of two laboratory colonies of Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus by investigating worker age polyethism. Twenty-nine behavioural acts were recorded during the 19-week observation period. Young individuals performed tasks inside the nest related to brood care and care for the fungus garden, whereas older individuals performed activities outside the nest such as foraging and activities in the waste chamber. The average longevity (+/- SD) was 108.21 +/- 3.30, 109.15 +/- 1.92 and 122.71 +/- 1.55 days for large, medium and small workers, respectively. The small-sized workers presented a higher probability of reaching older age than large- and medium-sized workers. This study describes task switching according to age polyethism and the relationship of physical and temporal subcastes.

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of aurothiomalate in urine using a screen-printed carbon electrode

This work describes an electroanalytical method for determining gold(I) thiomalate, aurothiomalate, widely used for treatment of reumatoid arthiritis, using a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Aurothiomalate (AuTM) was determined indirectly at the same electrode by accumulating it first at -1.5 V vs. printed carbon. At this potential in the adsorbed state, the AuTM is reduced to Au(0), which is then oxidized at two steps at -0.22 V and +0.54 V on SPCE. Using optimized conditions of 60 s deposition time, -1.5 V (vs. printed carbon) accumulation potential, 100 mV s(-1) scan rate, linear calibration graphs can be obtained by monitoring the peak at +0.54 V for AuTM in HCl 0.1 mol L-1 from 1.43 x 10(-6) to 1.55 x 10(-4) mol L-1. A limit of detection obtained was 6.50 x 10(-7) mol L-1, and the relative standard deviation from five measurements of 3.0 x 10(-5) mol L-1 AuTM is 4.5%. The method was successfully applied for AuTM determination in human urine sample.

Study of stayability in Nellore cows using a threshold model

The objectives of the current study were to assess the feasibility of using stayability traits to improve fertility of Nellore cows and to examine the genetic relationship among the stayabilities at different ages. Stayability was defined as whether a cow calved every year up to the age of 5 (Stay5), 6 (Stay6), or 7 (Stay7) yr of age or more, given that she was provided the opportunity to breed. Data were analyzed based on a maximum a posteriori probit threshold model to predict breeding values on the liability scale, whereas the Gibbs sampler was used to estimate variance components. The EBV were obtained using all animals included in the pedigree or bulls with at least 10 daughters with stayability observations, and average genetic trends were obtained in the liability and transformed to the probability scale. Additional analyses were performed to study the genetic relationship among stayability traits, which were compared by contrasting results in terms of EBV and the average genetic superiority as a function of the selected proportion of sires. Heritability estimates and SD were 0.25 +/- 0.02, 0.22 +/- 0.03, and 0.28 +/- 0.03 for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. Average genetic trends, by year, were 0.51 +/- 0.34, and 0.38% for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. Estimates of EBV SD, in the probability scale, for all animals included in the pedigree and for bulls with at least 10 daughters with stayability observations were 7.98 and 12.95, 6.93 and 11.38, and 8.24 and 14.30% for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. A reduction in the average genetic superiorities in Stay7 would be expected if the selection were based on Stay5 or Stay6. Nonetheless, the reduction in EPD, depending on selection intensity, is on average 0.74 and 1.55%, respectively. Regressions of the sires' EBV for Stay5 and Stay6 on the sires' EBV for Stay7 confirmed these results. The heritability and genetic trend estimates for all stayability traits indicate that it is possible to improve fertility with selection based on a threshold analysis of stayability. The SD of EBV for stayability traits show that there is adequate genetic variability among animals to justify inclusion of stayability as a selection criterion. The potential linear relationship among stayability traits indicates that selection for improved female traits would be more effective by having predictions on the Stay5 trait.

Thermally enhanced cooperative energy-transfer frequency upconversion in terbium and ytterbium doped tellurite glass

Infrared-to-visible frequency upconversion through cooperative energy-transfer and thermal effects in Tb3+/Yb3+-codoped tellurite glasses excited at 1.064 mum is investigated. Bright luminescence emission around 485, 550, 590, 625 and 65 nm, identified as due to the D-5(4) --> F-7(J) (J= 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2) transitions of the terbium ions, respectively, was recorded. The excitation of the D-5(4) emitting level of the Tb3+ ions is assigned to cooperative energy-transfer from pairs of ytterbium ions.. The effect of temperature on the upconversion process was examined and the results revealed a fourfold upconversion enhancement in the 300-500 K interval. The enhancement of the upconversion process is due to the temperature dependence of the Yb3+-sensitizer absorption cross-section under anti-Stokes excitation. A rate-equation. model using multiphonon-assisted absorption for the ytterbium excitation combined with the energy migration effect between Yb-Yb pair, and Tb3+ ground-state depopulation via multiphonon excitation of the F-7(J) excited states describes quite well the experimental results. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Erbium-activated HfO2-based waveguides for photonics

Silica-based sol-gel waveguides activated by Er3+ ions are attractive materials for integrated optic devices. 70SiO(2)-30HfO(2) planar waveguides, doped with Er3+ concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 4 mol%, were prepared by sol-get route. The films were deposited on v-SiO2 and silica-on-silicon substrates, using dip-coating technique. The waveguides show a homogeneous surface morphology, high densification degree and uniform refractive index across the thickness. Emission in the C-telecommunication band was observed at room temperature for ill the samples upon excitation at 980 nm. The shape is found to be almost independent on erbium content, with a FWHM between 44 and 48 nm. The I-4(13/2) level decay curves presented a single-exponential profile, with a lifetime ranging between 1.1 and 6.7 ms, depending on the erbium concentration. The waveguide deposited on silica-on-silicon substrate supports one single propagation mode at 1.5 mum with a confinement coefficient of 0.85, and a losses of about 0.8 dB/cm at 632.8 nm. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

HORMONAL AND METABOLIC STUDY OF A CASE OF ADIPOSIS-DOLOROSA (DERCUMS DISEASE)

A case of a 43-year-old nonobese woman with adiposis dolorosa (Dercum's disease) is reported. Muscle glucose uptake and oxidation before and after ingestion of 75 g of glucose were similar to control group values, although a greater insulin release (16,578 vs 6,242 +/- 1,136 muU/3 h) occurred simultaneously. In vitro studies of abdominal normal and painful subcutaneous adipose tissue of the patient revealed lower responsiveness to norepinephrine and lack of response to the antilipolytic effect of insulin in the painful adipose tissue (0.98 vs 1.43 muM FFA/10(6) cells at 5.0 muM of norepinephrine). The disease was not correlated with the HLA system and there were no alterations in hormonal secretion at the pituitary, adrenal, gonadal, and thyroid levels. These findings indicate the presence of peripheral insulin resistance in this patient with adiposis dolorosa.

Oxygen mobility in SmBa2Cu3O7-delta measured by anelastic spectroscopy

Anelastic spectroscopy has been performed on a sample of superconducting oxide SmBa2Cu3O7-delta (SBCO) using a torsion pendulum operating with frequency around 10 Hz. A thermally activated relaxation peak is observed near 500 K with the activation enthalpy of 1.55 +/- 0.03 eV and the pre-exponential factor of approximately 10(-15) s, which is attributed to the mobility of non-stoichiometric oxygen by jumps in positions O1 and O5 of the lattice. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the thermal shrinkage of titanium and the setting and thermal expansion of phosphate-boded investments

Statement of problem. There are few studies on titanium casting shrinkage, and phosphate-bonded investments for titanium casting have not produced appropriate marginal fit.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the thermal shrinkage of titanium and the setting and thermal expansion of 3 phosphate-bonded investments.Material and methods. The thermal shrinkage between the melting temperature and room temperature was calculated using a titanium thermal expansion coefficient. The thermal and setting expansion were measured for 3 phosphate bonded investments: Rematitan Plus (RP) specific for titanium, Rema Exakt (RE), and Castorit Super C (CA), using different special liquid concentrations (100%, 75%, and 50%). Setting expansion was measured for cylindrical specimens 50 mm long x 8 mm in diameter with a transducer. The heating and cooling curves were obtained with a dilatometer (DIL 402 PC). The total expansion curve was drawn using software, and temperatures to obtain expansion equivalent to titanium casting shrinkage were determined (n=5). In addition, the total expansion of the control group (RP at 430 degrees C) was measured, as well as the temperatures at which the other groups achieved equivalent total expansion (n=5). Data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test (alpha=.05).Results. Titanium casting shrinkage was estimated as 1.55%. RP did not achieve this expansion. RE achieved expansion of 1.55% only with a special liquid concentration of 100% at 594 degrees C. CA with all special liquid concentrations attained this expansion (351 degrees C to 572 degrees C). Total expansion of the control group was 0.86%, and the other groups reached that expansion within the range of 70 degrees C to 360 degrees C.Conclusions. Only RE and CA demonstrated sufficient expansion to compensate for titanium casting shrinkage. All groups reached total expansion equivalent to that of the control group at significantly lower temperatures.

Indole glucoalkaloids from Chimarrhis turbinata and their evaluation as antioxidant agents and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

As part of our study on bioactive agents from Brazilian rainforest plants, two new glucoalkaloids, 3,4-dehydro-strictosidine (1) and 3,4-dehydro-strictosidinic acid (2), were isolated from Chimarrhis turbinata, along with seven known glucoalkaloids, cordifoline (3), strictosidinic acid (4), strictosidine (5), 5alpha-carboxystrictosidine (6), turbinatine (7), desoxycordifoline (8), and harman-3-carboxylic acid (9). The structures of the new alkaloids were established on the basis of comprehensive spectral analysis, mainly 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as high-resolution HRESIMS. Alkaloid 3 showed strong free-radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as well as pronounced antioxidant activity evidenced by redox properties measured by ElCD-HPLC. Additionally, alkaloids 1-9 were submitted to TLC screening for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Both 7 and 8 were shown to be moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibitors at a concentration of 0.1 and 1.0 muM, respectively. In an in vitro rat brain assay, 7 showed moderate activity (IC50 1.86 muM), compared to the standard compound, galanthamine (IC50 0.92 muM).