Study of photoinduced birefringence vs As content in thin GeAsS films

Thin films of GeAsS glass are prepared by e-beam evaporation technique. Photoinduced birefringence (PIB) is studied as function of the As content with concentrations ranging from 10% to 40%. Raman spectroscopy is used as additional tool to explain the corresponding changes undergone by the material system. The breakdown of homopolar bonds is suggested as a possible mechanism of photo induced structural changes leading to the creation of the PIB.

The behavior of brazilian senators: analyzing the exchange of votes inside the fixed committees during the 52nd legislature

Using the method of Social Networks Analysis, we’ll try to see if politicians swap votes between them seeking support for their projects, to this end, we’ll first map the behavior, activities and contacts of the Senators of the Brazilian Federative Republic within all the fixed committees which had some vote during the 52nd Legislature, then we can see the most popular and central Senators to each committee. After this analysis we wish to answer the following question: did logrolling exist in the Brazilian Senate? Previously the empirical analysis and response to the problems posed, we’ll present the necessary theoretical introduction understood by reviewing the literature on relevant subjects, whether they are purely theoretical with respect to the exchange of support, or analytical about the Brazilian political system.

Immediate and long-term effects of psychological stress during adolescence in cardiovascular function: comparison of homotypic vs heterotypic stress regimens

Adolescence has been proposed as an ontogenic period of vulnerability to stress. Nevertheless, the impact of stressful events during adolescence in cardiovascular activity is poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-lasting effects of exposure to stressful events during adolescence in cardiovascular function of rats. To this end, we compared the impact of 10-days exposure to two chronic stress protocols: the repeated restraint stress (RRS, homotypic) and chronic variable stress (CVS, heterotypic). Independent groups of animals were tested 24 h (immediate) or three weeks (long-lasting) following completion of stress period. Exposure to CVS, but not RRS, during adolescence increased basal HR values without affecting arterial pressure, which was followed by augmented power of oscillatory component at low frequency (sympathetic-related) of the pulse interval (PI). RRS enhanced variance of the PI with an increase in the power of both low and high (parasympathetic-related) frequency components. RRS also increased the baroreflex gain. Neither RRS nor CVS affected systolic arterial pressure variability. The RRS-evoked changes in PI variability were long-lasting and persisted into adulthood while all alterations evoked by the CVS were reversed in adulthood. These findings indicate a stress type-specific influence in immediate and long-term effects of stress during adolescence in cardiovascular function. While immediate changes in cardiovascular function were mainly observed following CVS, long-lasting autonomic consequences in adulthood were observed only in animals exposed to RRS during adolescence.

Water distribution in dentin matrices: Bound vs. unbound water

Objective. This work measured the amount of bound versus unbound water in completely-demineralized dentin.Methods. Dentin beams prepared from extracted human teeth were completely demineralized, rinsed and dried to constant mass. They were rehydrated in 41% relative humidity (RH), while gravimetrically measuring their mass increase until the first plateau was reached at 0.064 (vacuum) or 0.116 g H2O/g dry mass (Drierite). The specimens were then exposed to 60% RH until attaining the second plateau at 0.220 (vacuum) or 0.191 g H2O/g dry mass (Drierite), and subsequently exposed to 99% RH until attaining the third plateau at 0.493 (vacuum) or 0.401 g H2O/g dry mass (Drierite).Results. Exposure of the first layer of bound water to 0% RH for 5 min produced a -0.3% loss of bound water; in the second layer of bound water it caused a -3.3% loss of bound water; in the third layer it caused a -6% loss of bound water. Immersion in 100% ethanol or acetone for 5 min produced a 2.8 and 1.9% loss of bound water from the first layer, respectively; it caused a -4 and -7% loss of bound water in the second layer, respectively; and a -17 and -23% loss of bound water in the third layer. Bound water represented 21-25% of total dentin water. Chemical dehydration of water-saturated dentin with ethanol/acetone for 1 min only removed between 25 and 35% of unbound water, respectively.Signcance. Attempts to remove bound water by evaporation were not very successful. Chemical dehydration with 100% acetone was more successful than 100% ethanol especially the third layer of bound water. Since unbound water represents between 75 and 79% of total matrix water, the more such water can be removed, the more resin can be infiltrated. (C) 2014 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pulmonary function in obese vs non-obese cats

Obesity is a risk factor in the development of several respiratory diseases. Lung volumes tend to be decreased, especially expiratory reserve volume, increasing expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing. Barometric whole-body plethysmography is a non-invasive pulmonary function test that allows a dynamic study of breathing patterns. The objective of this study was to compare pulmonary function variables between obese and non-obese cats through the use of barometric whole-body plethysmography. Nine normal-weight and six obese cats were placed in the plethysmograph chamber, and different respiratory variables were measured. There was a significant decrease in tidal volume per kilogram (P=0.003), minute volume per kilogram (P=0.001) and peak inspiratory and expiratory flows per kilogram (P=0.001) in obese cats compared with non-obese cats. Obesity failed to demonstrate a significant increase in bronchoconstriction index variable enhanced pause (Penh), as previously reported in humans and dogs. The results show that feline obesity impairs pulmonary function in cats, although a significant increase in bronchoconstriction indexes was not observed. Non-invasive barometric whole-body plethysmography can help characterise mechanical dysfunction of the airways in obese cats.

Genetic identification of interspecific hybrid of Neotropical catfish species (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans vs. Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum) in rivers of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Quad-Helix vs placa removible con tornillo de expansion

The different kind of appliances for the treatment of posterior crossbite make that the orthodontist assess some criterions for their selection and success for the treatment. The aim of this paper was to compare two methods of treatment of the posterior crossbite by two case reports treated with Quad-helix and removable plate. Concluding that the Quad-helix is the appliance of first choice in relation of the removable plate for the short time of active treatment, the less visits and chair time, the fewer cost of treatment and the smaller cooperation of the patient.

Kasabach-Merritt syndrome: clinical vs. surgical treatment

Kassabach-Merritt syndrome is a combination of capillary hemangioma and thrombocytopenia that predisposes to bleeding with petechiae, ecchymosis and spontaneous bruising. Treatment is generally started with corticosteroids, interferon alpha or chemotherapy. We present the case of a child (aged 1 year and 9 months) with a giant hemangioma, from the root of the thigh to the knee, and thrombocytopenia. Treatment was started with corticosteroids, without improvement, and then intra-tumor and cutaneous bleeding appeared spontaneously. The patient’s clinical condition precluded prescription of vincristine and interferon and emergency tumor resection was conducted because of extreme thrombocytopenia and bleeding. The child then began to develop sepsis with hypotension and ischemia of remnant tissues. This case presented a therapeutic challenge, which is the subject of this article.

Pólis vs. Oikos: a investigação do papel feminino no drama grego

This work analyzes the consequences of the intersection between the two spheres polis and oikos. It does so by examining themes present in three plays: Medea, Agamemnon and Lysistrata. The focus of the analysis is the way in which the feminine characters react to conflicts of interests in their respective situations. To fully comprehend which values correspond to which mentioned institution, the work also necessarily investigates the socialization and functions of both genders in fifth-century Athenian society. The analysis of the feminine condition in the creation myth implies the importance of the misogynistic sense of that time, which culminated in the silencing, discrediting, and systemic repression of females. The role of women in society, instilled in all girls starting in early childhood, is to succeed in marriage and domestic permanence. This lies opposite the masculine role, which was focused outside of the family center and to environments relating to war and public life. Matrimony and family, traditional female values, were threatened when overlapping with male interests, such as unavoidable war or social ascension through a different matrimonial bond. Therefore, it is possible to affirm that the opposition evident in the definitions male vs. female indicates that, in certain contexts, the interests of each element cause the conflicts present in the chosen plays

VS - Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) Surveillance Standards 11/2001

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious and communicable granulomatous disease caused by the acidfast bacilli bacteria of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). It is commonly a chronic, debilitating disease, but occasionally may assume an acute, rapidly progressive course. M. bovisis a widespread zoonosis that is global in magnitude and affects nearly all species of vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, bison, buffalo, and camelids.) Disease is spread by direct contact, inhalation of infected droplets expelled from infected lungs, and ingestion of contaminated feed or milk. In most countries, TB is a notifiable disease. Overall, TB has an important world-wide impact on animal industries and human health. Control measures are based on prevention and eradication. Surveillance is a key element for management of preventions and control programs. Surveillance for TB serves the purpose of enabling Veterinary Services to obtain an accurate picture of the scope of the disease in the US livestock populations; in the event of a disease outbreak, the course TB follows in livestock and wildlife populations for a given area over time; and permits timely intervention if the trend observed deviates from what is expected.

Same-Destination-Intermediate Grouping vs. End-to-End Grouping for Waveband Switching in WDM Mesh Networks

We investigate waveband switching (WBS) with different grouping strategies in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) mesh networks. End-to-end waveband switching (ETEWBS) and same-destination-intermediate waveband switching (SD-IT-WBS) are analyzed and compared in terms of blocking probability and cost savings. First, an analytical model for ETEWBS is proposed to determine the network blocking probability in a mesh network. For SD-IT-WBS, a simple waveband switching algorithm is presented. An analytical model to determine the network blocking probability is proposed for SD-IT-WBS based on the algorithm. The analytical results are validated by comparing with simulation results. Both results match well and show that ETE-WBS slightly outperforms SD-IT-WBS in terms of blocking probability. On the other hand, simulation results show that SD-IT-WBS outperforms ETE-WBS in terms of cost savings.

Transparent vs. Opaque vs. Translucent Wavelength-Routed Optical Networks

A wavelength-routed optical network consists of multi-wavelength crossconnect switches (XCSs) which are interconnected by optical fibers. Some (or all) crossconnects, referred to as nodes in this paper, are also attached to access stations where data from several end-users could be multiplexed onto a single wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) channel. An access station provides optical-to-electronic (O/E) conversion and wice wersa to interface the optical network with conventional electronic equipment. The access station, at an intermediate node, may also be used (as in this study) for signal regenerution on a lightpath. A new call is admitted into the network if a lightpath (a set of free wavelengths along a given route from source to destination) can be established between the call’s source and destination stations. Depending on the number of all-optical fragments in a single lightpath, three different approaches may be employed to operate such a network. These approaches are: transparency, opacity, and translucency (to be explained below). Our study concentrates on evaluating the relative merits of these three approaches in a sample network environment.

Centralized vs. Distributed Connection Management Schemes under Different Traffic Patterns in Wavelength-Convertible Optical Networks

Centralized and Distributed methods are two connection management schemes in wavelength convertible optical networks. In the earlier work, the centralized scheme is said to have lower network blocking probability than the distributed one. Hence, much of the previous work in connection management has focused on the comparison of different algorithms in only distributed scheme or in only centralized scheme. However, we believe that the network blocking probability of these two connection management schemes depends, to a great extent, on the network traffic patterns and reservation times. Our simulation results reveal that the performance improvement (in terms of blocking probability) of centralized method over distributed method is inversely proportional to the ratio of average connection interarrival time to reservation time. After that ratio increases beyond a threshold, those two connection management schemes yield almost the same blocking probability under the same network load. In this paper, we review the working procedure of distributed and centralized schemes, discuss the tradeoff between them, compare these two methods under different network traffic patterns via simulation and give our conclusion based on the simulation data.