Boron adsorption in lowland soils from Parana State, Brazil

Boron adsorption by soil is the main phenomenon that affects its availability to plants. This, the present study investigated the effect of liming on B adsorption by lowland soils of Parana State, and to correlate these values with the physical and chemical properties of the soils. Surface samples of three lowland soils [Gleissolo Haplico (GX), Plintossolo Haplico (FX) and Cambissolo Haplico (CX)], with different origin material and physicochemical properties were used. Samples with or without liming application were incubated during 60 days. Boron adsorption was accomplished by shaking 4.0g soil samples, for 24 h, with 20 mL of 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2 solution containing different concentrations of B (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg L-1). Sorption was fitted to non-linear form of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption isotherms indicated that the B adsorption increased with its increasing concentration in the equilibrium solution. Maximum adsorption capacity of B ranged from 3.0 to 13.9 mg kg(-1) (without liming) and 14.7 to 35.7 mg kg(-1) (with liming). Liming increased the amount of adsorbed B in Gleissolo Haplico and Plintossolo Haplico soils, although the bonding energy has decreased. The amount of adsorbed B by Cambissolo Haplico soil was not affected by liming application. The most important soil properties affecting the B adsorption in lowland soils were pH, clay content, exchangeable aluminum and iron oxide contents.

Number Processing and Calculation in Brazilian Children Aged 7-12 Years

Numerical cognition is based on two components - number processing and calculation. Its development is influenced by biological, cognitive, educational, and cultural factors. The objectives of the present study were to: i) assess number processing and calculation in Brazilian children aged 7-12 years from public schools using the Zareki-R (Battery of neuropsychological tests for number processing and calculation in children, Revised; von Aster & Dellatolas, 2006) in order to obtain normative data for Portuguese speakers; ii) identify how environment, age, and gender influences the development of these mathematical skills; iii) investigate the construct validity of the Zareki-R by the contrast with the Arithmetic subtest of WISC-III. The sample included 172 children, both genders, divided in two groups: urban (N= 119) and rural (N= 53) assessed by the Zareki-R. Rural children presented lower scores in one aspect of number processing; children aged 7-8 years demonstrated an inferior global score than older; boys presented a superior performance in both number processing and calculation. Construct validity of Zareki-R was demonstrated by high to moderate correlations with Arithmetic subtest of WISC-III. The Zareki-R therefore is a suitable instrument to assess the development of mathematical skills, which is influenced by factors such as environment, age, and gender.

Cardiovascular fitness and cardiovascular risk factors among obese men and women aged 58 years and older, in Portugal

Background: A better physical fitness may have survival advantages in adults. Aim: To analyze the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors among obese subjects aged 58 years and older. Material and Methods: Cardiorespiratory fitness using the six-minute walk test, body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and blood pressure were measured in a non-representative sample of 76 obese Portuguese subjects aged 58 to 87 years (55 women). Participants were stratified in tertiles of walking capacity according to the six-minute walk test. Results: Six minutes walk test results were negatively correlated with percentage body fat (r = -0.28; p = 0.012) and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.23; p = 0.045). Participants located in the lowest tertile for the six minutes walk test had an odds ratio of 4.34 (95% confidence intervals: 1.02-18.43) for elevated blood pressure. Conclusions: A lower six minutes walk test result is associated with a higher risk for high blood pressure. (Rev Med Chile 2012; 140: 1164-1169).

Orange juice improved lipid profile and blood lactate of overweight middle-aged women subjected to aerobic training

Objective This study investigated how consumption of orange juice associated with aerobic training affected serum lipids and physical characteristics of overweight middle-aged womenMethods The experimental group consisted of 13 women who consumed 500 mL/d of orange juice and did 1 h aerobic training 3 times a week for 3 months The control group consisted of another 13 women who did the same aerobic training program but did not consume orange juiceResults At the end of the experiment the control group lost an average of 15% of fat mass (P < 0 05) and 25% of weight (P < 0 05) whereas the experimental group lost 11% of fat mass and 1 2% of weight (P < 0 05) Consumption of orange juice by the experimental group was associated with Increased dietary intake of vitamin C and folate by 126% and 61% respectively Serum LDL-C decreased 15% (P < 0 05) and HDL-C increased 18% (P < 0 05) in the experimental group but no significant change was observed in the control group Both groups improved the anaerobic threshold by 20% (P < 0 05) but blood lactate concentration decreased 27% in the experimental group compared to the 17% control group suggesting that experimental group has less muscle fatigue and better response to trainingConclusions The consumption of 500 mL/d of orange juice associated with aerobic training in overweight women decreased cardiovascular disease risk by reducing LDL-C levels and increasing HDL-C levels This association also decreased blood lactate concentration and increased anaerobic threshold showing some improvement in the physical performance (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Influence of aged Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al alloy microstructure on chemical and electrochemical behavior in the Kroll reagent for metallographic etching

The chemical and electrochemical behaviour of the Ti-1 5V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al alloy in Kroll reagent has been studied after ageing at 350-600degreesC, to optimise metallographic etching. Etching tests and polarisation curves showed that samples aged at higher temperatures have been more susceptible to corrosion. It has been attributed to the formation of intra- and intergranular alpha-phase precipitates during ageing.

Use of electrical resistivity to identify collapsible soils in Brazil

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

Influence of alkaline extraction on the characteristics of humic substances in Brazilian soils

An investigation was made of the influence of alkaline extraction on the characteristics of humic substances extracted from Brazilian soil samples. Humic substances (HS) from seven different soils samples collected in Brazil were extracted using the procedure recommended by the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS). Soils, HS and humins were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. About 8 mg of each material (soil, HS and humin) were placed in a platinum crucible and heated continuously from 20 to 750 degrees C at a heating rate of 10 degrees C min(-1) in an atmosphere of synthetic air (100 ml min(-1)). A thermal analysis revealed a difference between the content and structural characteristics of organic matter present in HS and humin fractions in relation to their soils. The results indicated that alkaline extraction alters the characteristics of humic substances during the extraction process, underlining the importance of developing methodologies and analytical procedures that allow organic matter in soils to be studied without extracting it. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Conductive hearing loss in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: A longitudinal follow-up study in children aged between 6 and 24 months

Aims: To determine the occurrence of isolated and recurrent episodes of conductive hearing loss (CHL) during the first two years of life in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).Study design, subjects and outcome measures: In a longitudinal clinical study. 187 children were evaluated at 6, 9, 12,15 18 and 24 months of age by visual reinforcement audiometry, tympanometry and auditory brain response system.Results: of the children with BPD, 54.5% presented with episodes of CHL, as opposed to 34.7% of the children without BPD. This difference was found to be statistically significant. The recurrent or persistent episodes were more frequent among children with BPD (25.7%) than among those without BPD (8.3%). The independent variables that contributed to this finding were small for gestational age and a 5 min Apgar score.Conclusions: Recurrent CHL episodes are more frequent among VLBW infants with BPD than among VLBW infants without BPD. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of ovariectomy on healing of autogenous bone block grafts in the mandible: A histomorphometric study in an aged rat model

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively the influence of estrogen deficiency on autogenous bone block grafts in aged variectomized rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty 12-month-old female Wistar rats were used in the study. They were divided into 2 groups, an ovariectomized group and a sham-operated group. After 30 days the animals received autogenous block bone grafts on the angle of the mandible, harvested from the calvaria. The animals were euthanized at 7, 14, or 28 days postoperatively. Results: Histologic analysis showed that at 7 days postsurgery, the interface between graft and recipient site in the sham-operated group appeared filled by a granulation tissue with angiogenic activity, whereas the ovariectomized group still exhibited a blood clot and a granulation tissue in organization. on the 14th postoperative day, the interface in the shamoperated group was partially filled by newly formed bone establishing a union between the graft and the recipient site. The interface in the ovariectomized group was typically filled by granulation tissue with discrete osteogenic activity in most specimens. on the 28th postoperative day, the graft in the sham-operated group appeared histologically integrated to the mandible. However, the interface in the ovariectomized group appeared partially filled by newly formed bone, with areas of interposed connective tissue. The statistical analysis revealed that bone neoformation was significantly greater in the sham-operated group (57.41% at 14 days and 68.35 at 28 days) in comparison with the ovariectomized group (40.82% at 14 days and 53.09 at 28 days) at the 5% level. Conclusion: The estrogen depletion caused by the ovariectomy hindered the healing process of autogenous block bone grafts placed in the mandibles of aged rats.

Influence of Pigments and Opacifiers on Color Stability of an Artificially Aged Facial Silicone

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

Oral trauma in Brazilian patients aged 0-3 years

The aim of the present investigation was to gather data pertaining to dental trauma in 1654 patients aged 0-3 years, attended at the Baby Clinic of the School of Dentistry at Aracatuba - UNESP, Brazil. The prevalence of traumatic injuries was 16.3%. There was greater involvement of boys (62.6%), of children aged 1-2 years (39.9%) and of the maxillary central incisors (86%). Falls were more often the etiology for dental injuries (58.3%). There was a predominance of uncomplicated crown fractures (48.4%).

Influence of the type of dental trauma on the pulp vitality and the time elapsed until treatment: a study in patients aged 0-3 years

The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of the type of trauma on the pulp vitality and the time elapsed until seeking dental care in children aged 0-3 years seen at the Baby Clinic of the Aracatuba Dental School, UNESP. A total of 1813 records were analyzed. Two hundred and three patients, corresponding to 302 traumatized teeth, were assessed clinically and radiographically. Hard-tissue injuries were the most frequent (52%), with a predominance of enamel crown fractures (41.4%), followed by concussions (12.6%) and intrusions (11.6%). Clinical and radiographic examination revealed that 72% of the traumatized teeth maintained pulp vitality. In the case of supporting-tissue lesions, 51.1% of the patients sought care within 1-15 days after injury, while in the case of hard-tissue injuries, 52.7% sought care only after 16 days. The results showed that supporting-tissue injuries had a significant influence on the faster seeking of dental care.

Exposed collagen in aged resin-dentin bonds produced on sound and caries-affected dentin in the presence of chlorhexidine

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

Mitochondrial alterations and apoptosis in smooth muscle from aged rats

We studied changes in mitochondrial morphology and function in the smooth muscle of rat colon. Under confocal microscopy, tissues loaded with potentiometric dye displayed rapid and spontaneous depolarization. Cyclosporin A (CsA), inhibitor of the permeability transition pore (PTP), caused an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) in tissues from adult young animals. In aged rats these changes were not observed. This suggests that physiological activation of PTP in aged rats is reduced. Electron microscopy showed alterations of the mitochondrial ultrastructure in tissues from aged rats involving a decreased definition of the cristae and fragmentation of the mitochondrial membranes. We also detected an increase in apoptotic cells in the smooth muscle from aged animals. Our results show that the aging process changes PTP activity, the ability to maintain DeltaPsi(m) and mitochondrial morphology. It is suggested that these can be associated with mitochondrial damage and cell death. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of Er:YAG laser on surface treatment of aged composite resin to repair restoration

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Er:YAG laser on surface treatment to the bond strength of repaired composite resin after aged. Sixty specimens (n = 10) were made with composite resin (Z250, 3M) and thermocycled with 500 cycles, oscillating between 5 to 55A degrees C. The specimens were randomly separated in six groups which suffered the following superficial treatments: no treatment (GI, control), wearing with diamond bur (GII), sandblasted with aluminum oxide with 27.5 A mu m particles (GIII) for 10 s, 200 mJ Er:YAG laser (GIV), 300 mJ Er:YAG laser (GV), and 400 mJ Er:YAG laser (GVI), with the last 3 groups under a 10 Hz frequency for 10 s. Restoration repair was done using the same composite. The shear test was done into the Universal testing machine MTS-810. Analyzing the results through ANOVA and Tukey test, no significant differences were found (p-value is 0.5120). Average values analysis showed that superficial treatment with aluminum oxide presented the highest resistance to shear repair interface (8.91MPa) while 400 mJ Er:YAG laser presented the lowest (6.76 MPa). Fracture types analysis revealed that 90% suffered cohesive fractures to GIII. The Er:YAG laser used as superficial treatment of the aged composite resin before the repair showed similar results when used diamond bur and sandblasting with aluminum oxide particles.