Neurorrafia do ramo bucal dorsal do nervo facial em coelhos com proteção de segmento intestinal alógeno

18 rabbits, New Zealand, males, adults were used for clinical and histological evaluation of repair dorsal buccal branch of facial nerve after 15, 30 and 60 days postoperatively (PO). The animals were divided into two groups for transection and 10-0 nylon monofilament epineural suture of buccal branch. In animals in Group I, the nerve was coated with protection of jejunum allograft preserved in glycerin 98% and in group II was applied epineural suture. Both groups occurred the return of movement of the upper lip from the eighth week. There was infiltrated cellular and giant cells with fibrosis unsystematic and collagen fibers of the allograft jejunum joing to the connective tissue. At 15 and 30 days of PO, the distal nerve stumps of both groups were found with degeneration wallerian and in 60 days, regenerated fibers. The repair of the dorsal buccal branch of facial nerve with the allograft wasn't significantly different between the control rabbits as to the assessment of histological and functional recovery.

Proposal of an On-demand Software Deployment System Based on Application Streaming, Virtualization Techniques and P2P Transport

This paper presents the work in progress of an on-demand software deployment system based on application virtualization concepts which eliminates the need of software installation and configuration on each computer. Some mechanisms were created, such as mapping of utilization of resources by the application to improve the software distribution and startup; a virtualization middleware which give all resources needed for the software execution; an asynchronous P2P transport used to optimizing distribution on the network; and off-line support where the user can execute the application even when the server is not available or when is out of the network. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.

Uso do AHP na avaliação do desempenho do sistema de gestão da qualidade, meio ambiente e segurança e saúde ocupacional integrados

The paper analyses the application of the AHP method together with the attach A of ISO 9004:2000 in order to evaluate the performance of two industrial organizations, both possessing quality management systems with ISO 9001:2000 certifications, based on the specific requirements of quality, environment, occupational health and management systems. The evaluated organizations were a government-owned company from the science and technology sector that works in the nuclear area, and a private company that works in the automotive and railroad area. The open software Web-Hipre version 1.22 from Helsinki University of Technology, Finland, was used. The results demonstrated that the AHP method together with the attach A of ISO 9004:2000 is adequate to evaluate organizational performances. Both organizations presented similar performance levels.

Time and temperature on the storage of oocytes from jundiá catfish, Rhamdia quelen

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of three water and storage temperatures on the oocytes of the jundiá catfish, Rhamdia quelen. A factorial experimental design over time, with treatments completed in triplicate every 48 h, was used (5 × 3 × 3 × 3) to study the exposure of the oocytes to temperatures of 15, 25 and 35. °C and activated with water at 15, 25 and 35. °C each at 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 minutes post-collection. Linear regression analysis for the response surface model indicated an interaction (p<0.05) between time and temperature of exposure with greater values for fertilization, hatching and normal larvae rates at the time of oocyte collection (70.2 ± 8.4% fertilized oocytes, 66.7 ± 29.4% hatched eggs and 30.3 ± 25.0% normal larvae). According to the statistical model, the water temperature that resulted in the highest fertilization rate was 25.6. °C (p<0.05). The rates of fertilization, hatching and normal larvae correlated positively (p<0.05) with one another, showing that these parameters can be used in the measurement of oocyte quality. Artificial fertilization of oocytes is recommended immediately after collection; if storage is necessary, it should be carried out at 15. °C. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

Comparative analysis of current and voltage-controlled photovoltaic Maximum Power Point tracking

Maximum Power Point tracking (MPPT) in photovoltaic (PV) systems may be achieved by controlling either the voltage or current of the PV device. There is no consensus in the technical literature about how is the best choice. This paper provides a comparative analysis performance among current and voltage control using two different MPPT strategies: the perturb and observe (P&O) and the incremental conductance techniques. © 2011 IEEE.

Efeitos do extrato de parede de levedura em dieta seca sobre a Microbiologia, ácidos graxos de cadeia curta e redução do odor das fezes de gatos adultos

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of yeast cell wall extract (YCW) in dry diet on the fecal microbiota, concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and on the odor reduction of cats feces. We used 20 animals of both sexes, randomly assigned to four treatments and five repetitions totaling 20 experimental units: 1) dry commercial diet (control); 2) control + 0.2%, 3) control + 0.4%, and 4) control + 0.6% of YCW in dry matter. Enterobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria, fecal concentration of acetic, propionic and butyric acids, ammonia nitrogen and sensory panel were performed. There were no significant differences (p> 0.05) for bacterial counts and the concentration of SCFA and ammonia, but in sensory panel a reduction in the odor of feces could be noted with the use of 0.2% of YCW. We concluded that the addition of up to 0.6% YCW had no effect on the microbiology and the concentration of fatty acids, but there is potential for its use as an additive because of the improvement in the odor of feces. However, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action and the effects of prebiotics for domestic cats.

Effect of Removing Seminal Plasma Using a Sperm Filter on the Viability of Refrigerated Stallion Semen

Cooling of equine semen obtained from some stallions results in lower seminal quality and viability when the seminal plasma (SP) is present. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the removal of SP using a Sperm Filter on the viability of cooled stallion semen. For this purpose, 31 stallions were used. Their ejaculates were divided into three groups: CN, semen was diluted with an extender; FLT, SP was removed by filtration; and CT, SP was removed by centrifugation and cooled to 15°C for 24 hours. Sperm kinetics and plasma membrane integrity were evaluated immediately after collection (T0) and after 24 hours of refrigeration (T1). No difference (P > .05) was noted at T1 for total sperm motility (TM), progressive sperm motility, or plasma membrane integrity when semen samples from all the stallions were analyzed. However, when samples from stallions termed bad coolers were analyzed (TM = <30% at T1), a difference was observed in TM and progressive sperm motility for CN compared with FLT and CT at T1. Sperm recovery was greater when SP was removed using the filter (FLT) to that when the SP was removed by centrifugation (CN) (89% vs. 81%). Thus, we concluded that filtering with a Sperm Filter is an efficient and practical method for removal of SP from stallion ejaculates, with lower sperm loss than centrifugation. We also found that the presence of SP reduces the quality and viability of cooled semen from stallions whose semen is sensitive to the process of refrigeration. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

The Effects of Refrigeration Temperature and Storage Time on Apoptotic Markers in Equine Semen

Evaluation of the damage caused by the sperm preservation process is crucial to improving fertilization rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of refrigeration temperature (5°C and 15°C) and storage time (0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours) on apoptotic markers in equine semen. Membrane phosphatidylserine translocation index, caspase activation index, and DNA fragmentation index were analyzed using epifluorescence microscopy. Analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis, and Tukey test was used to compare means. The significance level was set at P < .05. The results demonstrated that for transport duration shorter than 24 hours, semen quality was maintained when stored at either 5°C or 15°C. A storage temperature of 5°C should be used when it is necessary to transport semen for longer than 24 hours. There was a significant decrease in semen quality after 48 hours of refrigeration. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Effect of Storage Time and Temperature of Equine Epididymis on the Viability, Motion Parameters, and Freezability of Epididymal Sperm

The recovery of sperm from the epididymal cauda may be the last chance to obtain genetic material when sudden death or serious injuries occur in valuable stallions. However, the lack of technical knowledge regarding the storage and transportation of the epididymis often prevents the preservation of the sperm. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare sperm parameters of sperm obtained immediately after orchiectomy with sperm recovered from epididymal cauda at different times after storage at 5°C and at room temperature (RT). For that, 48 stallions of different breeds were used. In group 1 (control group), eight stallions were used, and the harvest of the epididymal sperm was performed immediately after orchiectomy. In group 2, 40 stallions were used, which were divided into five groups according to the storage time of the epididymis after orchiectomy (6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 hours), making a total of eight stallions per group. One epididymis of each stallion was stored at 5°C, and the contralateral epididymis was stored at RT, both for the same period. The sperm parameters of total motility, progressive motility, progressive linear velocity, curvilinear velocity, percentage of rapid sperm, and plasma membrane integrity were evaluated in all the groups after sperm recovery, resuspension in a sperm freezing diluent, and thawing. In conclusion, the storage of the testis-epididymis complex at 5°C provided better preservation of epididymal sperm than the storage at RT, and regardless of the temperature, the progressive motility is the sperm parameter that is most sensitive to storage time. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Modified radical mastectomy: A pilot clinical trial comparing the use of conventional electric scalpel and harmonic scalpel

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the rates of local postoperative complications among women undergoing modified radical mastectomy with an electric scalpel (ES) or a harmonic scalpel (HS). It is thought that HS use has less postoperative complications, mainly seroma formation. Methods: This study was a prospective non-randomised clinical trial (NCT01391988) among consecutive patients, performed in parallel. Patients underwent modified radical mastectomy using an HS or ES. We analysed the following operative variables: time, blood loss and seroma volume drainage. Postoperative complications, including seroma, flap necrosis, haematoma and infection were evaluated on the 7th and 14th days. Results: Forty-six patients underwent a MRM with ES and 49 with HS; no differences were observed between the groups. The rate of local complications was 29% in the HS group and 52% in the ES group (p=0.024). The rates of seroma (16.3% versus 28.3%; p=0.161), necrosis (4.1% vs. 21.7%; p=0.013; OR=0.15), haematoma (2.0% vs. 8.7%; p=0.195) and infection (2.0% vs. 6.5%; p=0.351) were lower in the HS group. Adding the findings of all comparative studies using HSs in MRM to the seroma rates in the current study, the seroma rate, expressed as a categorical variable, did not decrease with HS. Seroma was present in 60/219 cases using an HS and in 69/239 cases utilising an ES (p=0.72). Based on a multivariate analysis, HS decreased the risk of skin necrosis (p=0.015). Conclusions: HSs do not decrease the seroma rate. However, this method may be useful in skin sparing mastectomy because it decreases skin flap necrosis. © 2013 Surgical Associates Ltd.

Laparoscopic adhesiolysis in a mini pony

Background: Intraperitoneal adhesions are common in equines, especially following exploratory celiotomy. Adhesiolysis is the treatment of choice for patients presenting postsurgical adhesions. Laparoscopic approach for adhesiolysis presents several advantageous aspects in human patients. The aim of the current study was to report a case of successful laparoscopic adhesiolysis in a mini pony horse. Case: A male Shetland Pony, weighing 140 kg, was admitted under complaint of right hind limb trauma and treated surgically for metatarsal fracture reduction. The patient has also had intermittent episodes of colic and was always treated clinically without major complications. The pony had no history of previous abdominal surgery and no episodes of acute abdomen were seen during hospital stay. Three months following ostheosynthesis, an exploratory laparoscopic approach was carried out to assess the possible cause or consequences of the episodes of acute abdomen. The patient was submitted to general anesthesia, positioned in dorsal recumbency and the abdomen was clipped and aseptically prepared for surgery. During the laparoscopic inspection, there were adhesions involving the ventral abdominal wall and a ventral mesogastric segment of duodenum. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis was performed using a two-port approach, by gently breaking the adhesion bands using meticulous traction with a 10-mm laparoscopic atraumatic Babcock forceps. Afterwards, the intestinal loop was rinsed with heparin sodium solution diluted in normal saline. The pneumoperitoneum was completely drained and the trocars sequentially withdrawn from the abdominal wall. The synthesis of the muscular layer was carried out using an interrupted cross mattress pattern, followed by synthesis of the skin with an interrupted cushion pattern. Total surgical time was 58 min. the patient was able to recover without complications. In the early postoperative period, the surgical recovery was considered excellent. No apparent adhesion involving the previously affected intestinal loop was found during the ultrasound exam following 15 days of surgery. Furthermore, the surgical wounds had healed completely, with no complications. Discussion: In the current case report, the primary cause of the acute abdomen episodes was not determined since the patient had never undergone abdominal surgery. It was hypothesized that an acute inflammation of the duodenal loop that was involved by the adhesion bands may have triggered the adhesiogenesis. Laparoscopy was efficient and presented a short operative time, due to magnification of image and adequate observation of structures surrounded by adhesion bands. Although the use of Babcock forceps is not usually recommended for adhesiolysis in the current literature, it was both effective in manipulating the bowel and performing the adhesiolysis. The heparin solution diluted in normal saline was effective in preventing the recurrence of new adhesions, which was evidenced by ultrasonography following 15 days. The laparoscopic approach usually minimizes the new formation of adhesions as trauma to the peritoneal surfaces is minimized by the use of delicate instruments, as observed in the current study. In addition, laparoscopy reduces the possibility of contact among the peritoneal surfaces and foreign bodies, such as gauze, glove powder and room air particles. Moreover, it maintains the abdominal surfaces in adequate humidity environment.

Painéis de partículas de madeira leucena e resina poliuretana derivada de óleo de mamona

This research aimed to test particleboard with leucena (Leucaena leucocephala) wood particles and polyurethane resin castor oil based. The response variables are: modulus of rupture (MOR), internal adhesion (AI), apparent density (dap) and wood moisture content (um). The experiments were developed based on the methodological procedures of the ABNT NBR 14810:2002 standard. The particleboards were manufactured by hot-pressing at 4MPa and 90°C, using timber particles with 5% of moisture content and 10% of monocomponent and bicomponent polyurethane resin. The higher moisture content was achieved when the monocomponent polyurethane resin was used. The bicomponent polyurethane resin provided a percent increase of 43.7% and 22.7% on the modulus of rupture and apparent density, respectively, when compared to the standard limit. The internal adhesion of the panels manufactured with monocomponent resin was 2.45 times higher than the standard limit. The confidence interval between means revealed that the internal adhesion and apparent density exhibited statistical equivalence. A good correlation between the internal adhesion and apparent density was found, for this reason it was possible to estimate the internal adhesion of the panels based on the apparent density data.

The relationships between scrotal surface temperature, age and sperm quality in stallions

In horses, spermatogenesis normally occurs at an average intratesticular temperature of 35. °C; therefore, mechanisms for testicular thermoregulation are essential. Measuring the scrotal surface temperature by thermography is one of the methodologies used to evaluate the effectiveness of testicular thermoregulation. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the control of scrotal surface temperature and sperm quality in horses of different ages. In total, 24 Quarter Horse stallions were divided into three groups: YS (young stallions), AS (adult stallions) and OS (old stallions). Initially, we calculated the testicular volume (TV) and evaluated various aspects of the semen (sperm kinetics, plasma membrane integrity and sperm morphology) for all the animals. We also evaluated rectal temperature (RT), body surface temperature (BST,) and average scrotal surface temperature in the testicular region (SST) before (M0) and after sun exposure (M1). Differences were observed (p<0.05) between the RT and BST before and after sun exposure in all three groups. However, there were no differences (p>0.05) in the SST values at these two time points, thus demonstrating the efficiency of the mechanisms for testicular thermoregulation. The SST was similar (p>0.05) among all three groups. Based on these results, we conclude that fertile stallions of different age groups are able to maintain SST and measuring the heat radiating from the scrotum using a digital infrared thermographer. We can also conclude that measuring the heat radiating from the scrotum using a digital infrared thermographer is a practical and efficient tool for monitoring SST in horses. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

SOCS3 expression correlates with severity of inflammation, expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and activation of STAT3 and p38 MAPK in LPS-induced inflammation in vivo

SOCS3 is an inducible endogenous negative regulator of JAK/STAT pathway, which is relevant in inflammatory conditions. We used a model of LPS-induced periodontal disease in rats to correlate SOCS3 expression with the inflammatory status. In vitro we used a murine macrophage cell line to assess the physical interaction between SOCS3 and STAT3 by coimmunoprecipitation. 30 ug of LPS from Escherichia coli were injected in the gingival tissues on the palatal aspect of first molars of the animals 3x/week for up to 4 weeks. Control animals were injected with the vehicle (PBS). The rats were sacrificed at 7, 15, and 30 days. Inflammation and gene expression were assessed by stereometric analysis, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and western blot. LPS injections increased inflammation, paralleled by an upregulation of SOCS3, of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-and increased phosphorylation of STAT3 and p38 MAPK. SOCS3 expression accompanied the severity of inflammation and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as the activation status of STAT3 and p38 MAPK. LPS stimulation in a macrophage cell line in vitro induced transient STAT3 activation, which was inversely correlated with a dynamic physical interaction with SOCS3, suggesting that this may be a mechanism for SOCS3 regulatory function. © 2013 João Antônio Chaves de Souza et al.

Deposição de filmes por plasma eletrolítico em ligas de alumínio

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC