Detecção do contato entre camadas através do perfil de indução

Dois dos principais objetivos da interpretação petrofísica de perfis são a determinação dos limites entre as camadas geológicas e o contato entre fluidos. Para isto, o perfil de indução possui algumas importantes propriedades: É sensível ao tipo de fluido e a distribuição do mesmo no espaço poroso; e o seu registro pode ser modelado com precisão satisfatória como sendo uma convolução entre a condutividade da formação e a função resposta da ferramenta. A primeira propriedade assegura uma boa caracterização dos reservatórios e, ao mesmo tempo, evidencia os contatos entre fluidos, o que permite um zoneamento básico do perfil de poço. A segunda propriedade decorre da relação quasi-linear entre o perfil de indução e a condutividade da formação, o que torna possível o uso da teoria dos sistemas lineares e, particularmente, o desenho de filtros digitais adaptados à deconvolução do sinal original. A idéia neste trabalho é produzir um algoritmo capaz de identificar os contatos entre as camadas atravessadas pelo poço, a partir da condutividade aparente lida pelo perfil de indução. Para simplificar o problema, o modelo de formação assume uma distribuição plano-paralela de camadas homogêneas. Este modelo corresponde a um perfil retangular para condutividade da formação. Usando o perfil de entrada digitalizado, os pontos de inflexão são obtidos numericamente a partir dos extremos da primeira derivada. Isto gera uma primeira aproximação do perfil real da formação. Este perfil estimado é então convolvido com a função resposta da ferramenta gerando um perfil de condutividade aparente. Uma função custo de mínimos quadrados condicionada é definida em termos da diferença entre a condutividade aparente medida e a estimada. A minimização da função custo fornece a condutividade das camadas. O problema de otimização para encontrar o melhor perfil retangular para os dados de indução é linear nas amplitudes (condutividades das camadas), mas uma estimativa não linear para os contatos entre as camadas. Neste caso as amplitudes são estimadas de forma linear pelos mínimos quadrados mantendo-se fixos os contatos. Em um segundo passo mantem-se fixas as amplitudes e são calculadas pequenas mudanças nos limites entre as camadas usando uma aproximação linearizada. Este processo é interativo obtendo sucessivos refinamentos até que um critério de convergência seja satisfeito. O algoritmo é aplicado em dados sintéticos e reais demonstrando a robustez do método.

GABA and glutamate transporters: new events and function in the vertebrate retina

The neural retina is a highly complex tissue composed of excitatory and inhibitory neurons and glial cells. Glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter, mediates information transfer from photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells, whereas interneurons, mainly amacrine and horizontal cells, use γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. In this review we place an emphasis on glutamate and GABA transporters as highly regulated molecules that play fundamental roles in neurotransmitter clearance, neurotransmitter release, and oxidative stress. We pharmacologically characterized glutamate transporters in chicken retina cells and identified two glutamate transporters: one Na+-dependent transporter and one Na+-independent transporter. The Na+-dependent uptake system presented characteristics related to the high-affinity xAG- system (EAAT1), and the Na+-independent uptake system presented characteristics related to the xCG- system, which highly contributes to glutamate transport in the retina. Glutamate shares the xCG- system with another amino acid, L-cysteine, suggesting the possible involvement of glutathione. Both transporter proteins are present mainly in Müller glial cells. GABA transporters (GATs) mediate high-affinity GABA uptake from the extracellular space and terminate the synaptic action of GABA in the central nervous system. GABA transporters can be modulated by molecules that act on specific sites to promote transporter phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. In addition to a role in the clearance of GABA, GATs may also release GABA through a reverse transport mechanism. In the chicken retina, a GAT-1 blocker, but not GAT2/3 blocker, was shown to inhibit GABA uptake, suggesting that GABA release from retina cells is mainly mediated by a GAT-1-like transporter.

Corn productivity in function of surface application of lime in differents management systems and cultural preparation

The evaluation of technologies employed at the agricultural production system such as crop rotation and soil preparation, both associated with crop-livestock integration, is crucial. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the incorporation of lime for three no-tillage systems and cultural managements in system of crop-livestock integration, with emphasis on corn grain yield. The experiment was conducted from January 2003 to April 2005 at Selvíria city, MS, in Dystroferric Red Latosol, clay texture. The experimental design was randomized blocks with split plots consisted of three main treatments, aimed the soil physics conditioning and the incorporation of lime: PD - No-no-tillage; CM - minimum no-tillage, and PC - conventional no-tillage; and of two secondary treatments related to the management: rotation and crop succession, with four replications. Data on agronomic traits of maize were analyzed: plant height, stem diameter, height of the first spike insertion, 100 grains weight and grain yield. The results showed that the maize produced under the system of crop-livestock integration is quite feasible, showing that grain yields are comparable to averages in the region and the different soil physical conditioning and incorporation of lime did not influence the corn yield as well as the cultural managements, rotation and succession, did not affect the maize crop behavior after two years of cultivation.

Cardiovascular risk and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing dialysis: sleep study, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, upper airway collapsibility, autonomic nervous activity, depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life: a prospective, double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most serious public health problems. The increasing prevalence of CKD in developed and developing countries has led to a global epidemic. The hypothesis proposed is that patients undergoing dialysis would experience a marked negative influence on physiological variables of sleep and autonomic nervous system activity, compromising quality of life.Methods/Design: A prospective, consecutive, double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial is proposed to address the effect of dialysis on sleep, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, upper airway collapsibility, autonomic nervous activity, depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life in patients with CKD. The measurement protocol will include body weight (kg); height (cm); body mass index calculated as weight/height(2); circumferences (cm) of the neck, waist, and hip; heart and respiratory rates; blood pressures; Mallampati index; tonsil index; heart rate variability; maximum ventilatory pressures; negative expiratory pressure test, and polysomnography (sleep study), as well as the administration of specific questionnaires addressing sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life.Discussion: CKD is a major public health problem worldwide, and its incidence has increased in part by the increased life expectancy and increasing number of cases of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Sleep disorders are common in patients with renal insufficiency. Our hypothesis is that the weather weight gain due to volume overload observed during interdialytic period will influence the degree of collapsibility of the upper airway due to narrowing and predispose to upper airway occlusion during sleep, and to investigate the negative influences of haemodialysis in the physiological variables of sleep, and autonomic nervous system, and respiratory mechanics and thereby compromise the quality of life of patients.

Color degradation of acrylic resin denture teeth as a function of liquid diet: ultraviolet-visible reflection analysis

The effect of different beverages on acrylic resin denture teeth color degradation is evaluated. Ten acrylic resin denture teeth brands were evaluated: Art Plus (AP), Biolux (BX), Biotone IPN (BI), Magister (MG), Mondial 6 (MD), Premium 6 (PR), SR Vivodent PE (SR), Trilux (TR), Trubyte Biotone (TB), and Vipi Dent Plus (VP). Teeth were immersed in staining solutions (coffee, cola, and orange juice) or artificial saliva (control) (n = 6) for 1, 7, 15, or 30 days. Specimen colors were evaluated spectrophotometrically based on the Commission Internationale d'Eclairage L*a*b* system. Color differences (Delta E) were calculated between the baseline and post-staining results. Data were evaluated by analysis of variance and Tukey test (alpha = 0.05). BI (1.82 +/- 0.95) and TR (1.78 +/- 0.72) teeth exhibited the greatest Delta E values, while BX (0.88 +/- 0.43) and MD (1.09 +/- 0.44) teeth were the lowest, regardless of solution and measurement period, and were different from BI and TR teeth (P < 0.05). Cola and coffee promoted higher denture teeth color alterations than orange juice and saliva (P < 0.05). Saliva generated the lowest denture teeth color alterations. Greater immersion times caused higher denture teeth color changes. The lifespan of removable dentures and the aesthetic satisfaction of several edentulous patients may be increased with the use of stain-resistant artificial denture teeth. (C) The Authors.

Eight-Year Follow-Up of a Fixed-Detachable Maxillary Prosthesis Utilizing an Attachment System: Clinical Protocol for Individuals With Skeletal Class III Malocclusions

The aim of this article is to describe a successful clinical protocol for prosthodontic rehabilitation of a patient with a skeletal Class III malocclusion using a fixed-detachable maxillary prosthesis supported by 6 implants and the MK1 attachment system. The patient was followed up for 8 years. A 46-year-old edentulous woman with a skeletal Class III malocclusion expressed dissatisfaction with her old existing maxillary denture from an esthetic point of view and frustration regarding its function. A fixed-detachable maxillary prosthesis using the MK1 attachment system was made. The patient was followed up clinically and radiographically for 8 years. No bone loss, fracture of prosthetic components, or fracture of the prosthesis was detected in that period. A fixed detachable maxillary prosthesis using the MK1 attachment system is a treatment option for patients with Class III malocclusions who opt not to undergo orthognathic surgery.

Role of Training and Detraining on Inflammatory and Metabolic Profile in Infarcted Rats: Influences of Cardiovascular Autonomic Nervous System

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

Vocal complaint in physical education teachers and its association with the cardiovascular system

Background: We examined the vocal complaints and evaluated the correlation between the vocal handicap index (VHI) and heart rate variability (HRV) in physical education teachers. We evaluated 46 teachers. Method: The subjects were investigated regarding voice complaint and the VHI was applied. HRV was recorded at seated rest for ten minutes and it was analyzed in the time, frequency domains, geometric indices and fractal exponents. The three domains of the VHI were correlated with the indices of HRV. Results: The physical education teachers presented a VHI score much below the standard of the physiological normality. There was correlation of the organic domain of the VHI with the NN50 and pNN50 and correlation of the functional domain and organic domain of the VHI with the HF index of HRV. Conclusion: The physical education teachers evaluated reported vocal complaints that affected their function and it is suggested to be related with the cardiac autonomic regulation.

Spin-dependent beating patterns in thermoelectric properties: Filtering the carriers of the heat flux in a Kondo adatom system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Origin and function of short-latency inputs to the neural substrates underlying the acoustic startle reflex

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

Periodic solutions of el nino model through the vallis differential system

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Function inferences from a molecular structural model of bacterial ParE toxin

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

Fish immunology: the modification and manipulation of the innate immune system: Brazilian studies

The understanding of fish immune system structure and function is essential for the development of new technologies and products to improve productivity. This is the first review on immune system of fish with Brazilian studies. Aquaculture in Brazil has shown massive growth in recent years due to methods of culture intensification. However, these procedures led to disease outbreaks, as well as the chemotherapy and the misuse of antibiotics. A viable alternative to avoid the use of chemicals and prevent economic losses is the administration of immunostimulants and prebiotcs, which act by increasing the innate immune system. In Brazil there is a lack of studies on fish immune system, except by some groups that have studied the effects of the immunostimulants administration in various species.

Analysis of hourly global, direct and diffuse solar radiations attenuation as a function of optical air mass

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

The changes on microstructure and electrical properties of Bi:2223/Ag composite as a function of the granulation and the content of the added silver powder

The Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system has been one of the most studied superconducting ceramic materials for industry applications. The most of the studies with this aim are on silver/ceramic composites, due to the benefits and great compatibility of this metal with the oxide. In this paper we describe a systematic and comparative study on Ag/BSCCO composite, made by the citrate route, in which the ceramic pellets are sintered in the presence of silver powder using several proportions and having several granulations. It was observed that the introduction of fine (0.5 and 2 μm) silver powder in the proportions of 5 wt. % always implies in a better critical current density compared to the no silver pellet. According to the results, the silver powder in excess of 5 wt.% may not promote best electrical properties, depending on the size of the silver particles.