Usefulness of quantitative echocardiographic techniques to predict recovery of regional and global left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction

The left ventricular response to dobutamine may be quantified using tissue Doppler measurement of myocardial velocity or displacement or 3-dimensional echocardiography to measure ventricular volume and ejection fraction. This study sought to explore the accuracy of these methods for predicting segmental and global responses to therapy. Standard dobutamine and 3-dimensional echocardiography were performed in 92 consecutive patients with abnormal left ventricular function at rest. Recovery of function was defined by comparison with follow-up echocardiography at rest 5 months later. Segments that showed improved regional function at follow-up showed a higher increment in peak tissue Doppler velocity with dobutamine therapy than in nonviable segments (1.2 +/- 0.4 vs 0.3 +/- 0.2 cm/s, p = 0.001). Similarly, patients who showed a > 5% improvement of ejection fraction at follow-up showed a greater displacement response to dobutamine (6.9 +/- 3.2 vs 2.1 +/- 2.3 mm, p = 0.001), as well as a higher rate of ejection fraction, response to dobutamine (9 +/- 3% vs 2 +/- 2%, p = 0.001). The optimal cutoff values for predicting subsequent recovery of function at rest were an increment of peak velocity > 1 cm/s, >5 mm of displacement, and a >5% improvement of ejection fraction with low-dose dobutamine. (C) 2003 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.

Evaluation of encapsulation techniques of probiotics for yoghurt

The health benefits provided by probiotic bacteria have led to their increasing use in fermented and other dairy products. However, their viability in these products is low. Encapsulation has been investigated to protect the bacteria in the product's environment and improve their survival. There are two common encapsulation techniques, namely extrusion and emulsion, to encapsulate the probiotics for their use in the fermented and other dairy products. This review evaluates the merits and limitations of these two techniques, and also discusses the supporting materials and special treatments used in encapsulation processes. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bridgehead arylation: A direct route to advanced intermediates for the synthesis of C-20 diterpene alkaloids

[GRAPHICS] Rapid access to the ABCE ring system of the C-20 diterpene alkaloids was achieved by silver(I)-promoted intramolecular Friedel-Crafts arylation of a functional group-specific 5-bromo-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivative.

A moderniza????o do estado e a ger??ncia p??blica

O artigo analisa a problem??tica da moderniza????o do Estado vista como um processo de constitui????o de cidadania e de otimiza????o dos recursos p??blicos. Os autores focalizam, por um lado, o atendimento aos usu??rios, a qualidade dos servi??os e a transpar??ncia. Por outro lado, a incorpora????o de t??cnicas de gest??o avan??adas ?? considerada indispens??vel para o aumento da efic??cia e da efici??ncia no setor p??blico. Os principais problemas discutidos no artigo incluem: racionalidade do setor p??blico racionalidade das empresas privadas; incentivos e motiva????o dos servidores p??blicos; rigidez dos procedimentos administrativos; margem de decis??o dos gestores; sistemas de acesso a informa????o; import??ncia da gest??o de pessoal e da valoriza????o do trabalho no setor p??blico; papel dos gerentes na moderniza????o das institui????es p??blicas; cargos de carreira, cargos de confian??a; mecanismos de recrutamento e reten????o e sistemas de capacita????o dos servidores p??blicos. Os autores concluem que, devido ??s inova????es constantes em mat??ria de ger??ncia p??blica, n??o existe hoje um perfil gerencial definitivo como resposta ??s necessidades do Estado. Pelo contr??rio, o que se observa ?? uma crescente complexidade da gest??o p??blica que continuar?? oscilando entre a pol??tica e a tecnocracia, entre a maior flexibilidade e as exig??ncias de controle, entre a ado????o das t??cnicas de gest??o e a recupera????o da tradi????o administrativa e a cultura da fun????o p??blica.

Avan??os desiguais e inten????es indefinidas: a reforma do estado do M??xico e a estrat??gia de gerenciamento

Este paper defende duas id??ias. A primeira, ?? apresentar os diferentes processos da reforma do Estado mexicano, analisados sob as prioridades diversas no decorrer do tempo. As reformas econ??mica, pol??tica, social e administrativa tiveram prioridades e objetivos divergentes. A reforma econ??mica foi sistem??tica e congruente, a pol??tica foi defensiva e pouco abrangente, e a social foi problem??tica e confusa. A reforma administrativa foi, comparativamente, limitada. Uma proposta para desenvolver um sistema administrativo respons??vel pelo servi??o p??blico foi postergada nos ??ltimos 12 anos at?? que, em maio de 1997, finalmente a atual administra????o prop??s um programa de moderniza????o. A segunda id??ia ?? que, mesmo que a atual administra????o tenha a inten????o de desenvolver um novo sistema de accountability e um plano de carreira para o servi??o p??blico, parece plaus??vel que a tradicional pol??tica de controle, atrav??s da estrutura administrativa, possa ser prejudicada se essas propostas realmente reduzirem o poder discricion??rio dos altos cargos p??blicos e submeterem reservas p??blicas a um esquema de controle social mais aberto e formal. Logo, ?? poss??vel dizer que a alternativa escolhida pelos reformistas foi usar uma abordagem gerenciadora, onde a melhoria dos procedimentos e a implementa????o de algumas t??cnicas administrativas avan??adas substituem, pelo menos at?? agora, uma transforma????o mais profunda da estrutura administrativa. Uma estrat??gia de gerenciamento permite, pelo menos at?? o momento, a melhoria dos servi??os atrav??s do aumento da participa????o de servidores p??blicos, sem prejudicar a atual administra????o, como um instrumento para implementar diferentes agendas pol??ticas usando recursos p??blicos. Nosso argumento ?? que, como o programa de moderniza????o est?? sendo implantado, ?? importante estudar minuciosamente as possibilidades de se implementar a reforma do servi??o p??blico e melhorar a responsabilidade do sistema, dada a particular rela????o que existe entre a administra????o p??blica e o sistema pol??tico no M??xico.

A practical framework for the generation and selection of strategic plans of action, The relevance of timeframe considerations and a systems thinking approach

The paper proposes a methodology especially focused on the generation of strategic plans of action, emphasizing the relevance of having a structured timeframe classification for the actions. The methodology explicitly recognizes the relevance of long-term goals as strategic drivers, which must insure that the complex system is capable to effectively respond to changes in the environment. In addition, the methodology employs engineering systems techniques in order to understand the inner working of the system and to build up alternative plans of action. Due to these different aspects, the proposed approach features higher flexibility compared to traditional methods. The validity and effectiveness of the methodology has been demonstrated by analyzing an airline company composed by 5 subsystems with the aim of defining a plan of action for the next 5 years, which can either: improve efficiency, redefine mission or increase revenues.

Using different satellite imagery and classification techniques to assess the contribution of trees outside forests in the municipality of Maringá, Brazil

Forest cover of the Maringá municipality, located in northern Parana State, was mapped in this study. Mapping was carried out by using high-resolution HRC sensor imagery and medium resolution CCD sensor imagery from the CBERS satellite. Images were georeferenced and forest vegetation patches (TOFs - trees outside forests) were classified using two methods of digital classification: reflectance-based or the digital number of each pixel, and object-oriented. The areas of each polygon were calculated, which allowed each polygon to be segregated into size classes. Thematic maps were built from the resulting polygon size classes and summary statistics generated from each size class for each area. It was found that most forest fragments in Maringá were smaller than 500 m². There was also a difference of 58.44% in the amount of vegetation between the high-resolution imagery and medium resolution imagery due to the distinct spatial resolution of the sensors. It was concluded that high-resolution geotechnology is essential to provide reliable information on urban greens and forest cover under highly human-perturbed landscapes.

Accuracy Comparison of Implant Impression Techniques: A Systematic Review

Background: Several studies link the seamless fit of implant-supported prosthesis with the accuracy of the dental impression technique obtained during acquisition. In addition, factors such as implant angulation and coping shape contribute to implant misfit. Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the most accurate impression technique and factors affecting the impression accuracy. Material and Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted analyzing articles published between 2009 and 2013. The following search terms were used: implant impression, impression accuracy, and implant misfit.A total of 417 articles were identified; 32 were selected for review. Results: All 32 selected studies refer to in vitro studies. Fourteen articles compare open and closed impression technique, 8 advocate the open technique, and 6 report similar results. Other 14 articles evaluate splinted and non-splinted techniques; all advocating the splinted technique. Polyether material usage was reported in nine; six studies tested vinyl polysiloxane and one study used irreversible hydrocolloid. Eight studies evaluated different copings designs. Intraoral optical devices were compared in four studies. Conclusions: The most accurate results were achieved with two configurations: (1) the optical intraoral system with powder and (2) the open technique with splinted squared transfer copings, using polyether as impression material.

Evaluation of staining techniques on the results of micronucleus in exfoliated oral mucosa cells

Micronuclei (MN) in exfoliated epithelial cells are widely used as biomarkers of cancer risk in humans. MN are classified as biomarkers of the break age and loss of chromosomes. They are small, extra nuclear bodies that arise in dividing cells from centric chromosome/chromatid fragments or whole chromosomes/chromatids that lag behind in anaphase and are not included in the daughter nuclei in telophase. Buccal mucosa cells have been used in biomonitoring exposed populations because these cells are in the direct route of exposure to ingested pollutant, are capable of metabolizing proximate carcinogens to reactive chemicals, and are easily and rapidly collected by brushing the buccal mucosa. The objective of the present study was to further investigate if, and to what extent, different stains have an effect on the results of micronuclei studies in exfoliated cells. These techniques are: Papanicolaou (PAP), Modified Papanicolaou, May-Grünwald Giemsa (MGG), Giemsa, Harris’s Hematoxylin, Feulgen with Fast Green counterstain and Feulgen without counterstain.

Identification of tsunami-induced deposits using numerical modeling and rock magnetism techniques: A study case of the 1755 Lisbon tsunami in Algarve, Portugal

Storm- and tsunami-deposits are generated by similar depositional mechanisms making their discrimination hard to establish using classic sedimentologic methods. Here we propose an original approach to identify tsunami-induced deposits by combining numerical simulation and rock magnetism. To test our method, we investigate the tsunami deposit of the Boca do Rio estuary generated by the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon which is well described in the literature. We first test the 1755 tsunami scenario using a numerical inundation model to provide physical parameters for the tsunami wave. Then we use concentration (MS. SIRM) and grain size (chi(ARM), ARM, B1/2, ARM/SIRM) sensitive magnetic proxies coupled with SEM microscopy to unravel the magnetic mineralogy of the tsunami-induced deposit and its associated depositional mechanisms. In order to study the connection between the tsunami deposit and the different sedimentologic units present in the estuary, magnetic data were processed by multivariate statistical analyses. Our numerical simulation show a large inundation of the estuary with flow depths varying from 0.5 to 6 m and run up of similar to 7 m. Magnetic data show a dominance of paramagnetic minerals (quartz) mixed with lesser amount of ferromagnetic minerals, namely titanomagnetite and titanohematite both of a detrital origin and reworked from the underlying units. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate a better connection between the tsunami-induced deposit and a mixture of Units C and D. All these results point to a scenario where the energy released by the tsunami wave was strong enough to overtop and erode important amount of sand from the littoral dune and mixed it with reworked materials from underlying layers at least 1 m in depth. The method tested here represents an original and promising tool to identify tsunami-induced deposits in similar embayed beach environments.

Design of improved rail-to-rail low-distortion and low-stress switches in advanced CMOS technologies

This paper describes the efficient design of an improved and dedicated switched-capacitor (SC) circuit capable of linearizing CMOS switches to allow SC circuits to reach low distortion levels. The described circuit (SC linearization control circuit, SLC) has the advantage over conventional clock-bootstrapping circuits of exhibiting low-stress, since large gate voltages are avoided. This paper presents exhaustive corner simulation results of a SC sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit which employs the proposed and optimized circuits, together with the experimental evaluation of a complete 10-bit ADC utilizing the referred S/H circuit. These results show that the SLC circuits can reduce distortion and increase dynamic linearity above 12 bits for wide input signal bandwidths.