Psychophysical power functions for apparent area in perceptive, memory, and inference conditions for observers of different age groups

The purpose of this research was to verify the effect of age on the exponent of the power function in Perceptive, Memory, and Inference experimental conditions. In the Memory condition the intervals of 2 min., 8, 24, and 48 hr. and 1 wk. were used between acquisition of information and remembering. For each experimental condition the ages of observers ranged between 17 and 35 years (Group I), 40-55 years (Group II), and 60-77 years (Group III), and education ranged from high school to graduate school. The observers estimated the areas of the Brazilian states using the psychophysical method of magnitude estimation. No significant differences were obtained for Groups I, II, and III for each experimental condition, except in the Memory Condition with the 24-hr. interval. Analysis for experimental conditions and ages showed a significant difference between the Perceptive Condition and each of the others, but no difference between the Inference and Memory Conditions. These results indicated that in the remembering processes there is no loss of information as a function of age. From the small variability in the power function exponents for the three ages, we may assume that age could be related to amount of education of the observers, which suggests study is important.

Free activity in the cage associated with body weight and restoration of bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading

We investigated the importance of daily free activity in the cage and body weight gain during the recovering of bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (CG, n=24) and suspended (SG, n=24) groups. Animals from SG underwent a four-week hindlimb unloading period by tail-suspension. Animals from CG and those from SG after release were kept in collective cages and sacrificed at the age of 12, 16 and 20 weeks. Both femurs were removed and its area, bone mineral density (BMD), resistance to failure and stiffness were determined. Four-week hindlimb unloading decreased (p < 0.05) body weight (CG, 373.00 +/- 9.47 vs. SG, 295.86 +/- 9.19 g), BMD (CG, 0.19 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.15 +/- 0.01 g/cm(2)), bone resistance to failure (CG, 147.75 +/- 5.05 vs. SG, 96.40 +/- 5.95 N) and stiffness (CG, 0.38 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.23 +/- 0.02 N/m). Eight weeks of free activity in cage recovered (p > 0.05) the body weight (CG, 472.75 +/- 14.11 vs. SG, 444.75 +/- 18.91 g), BMD (CG, 0.24 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.22 +/- 0.01 g/cm(2)), bone resistance to failure (CG, 195.73 +/- 10.06 vs. SG, 178.45 +/- 8.48 N) and stiffness (CG, 0.56 +/- 0.02 vs. SG, 0.47 +/- 0.03 N/m) of SG animals. Body weight correlated strongly with bone structural and mechanical properties (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, free activity in the cage associated with body weight gain restored bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading.

Dog culling and replacement in an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

Measures employed to control visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil have focused on vector control by residual insecticide spraying and diagnosis of infection with elimination of positive dogs. We describe dog culling and replacement in a Brazilian endemic area (the Alvorada District, Aracatuba, SP) in order to better understand dog population dynamics when elimination of the dog reservoir is adopted as the main control measure. From August 2002 to July 2004, 60.9% of the estimated dog population for the area was culled with a mean age of 34 months old. The presence of anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies was recorded for only 26.7% of the euthanized canines. Replacement was observed in 38.8% of the cases, some of them by 2 or more dogs and in a mean time of 4 months. Dogs were replaced mostly by puppies of both sexes with a mean age of 6.8 months. From August 2002 to April 2005 we were able to follow-up 116 of these dogs, during a mean time of 8.7 months. Canine visceral leishmaniasis seropositivity by ELISA was observed in 42.2% of the followed dogs, 30.6% of which were already positive at the first evaluation. By the end of the follow-up period 37% of the dogs were submitted to euthanasia, with a mean age of 18.3 months. In the studied CVL endemic area of Brazil, euthanasia and the subsequent replacement ratio were high, increasing the dog population turnover and leading to a younger population that might be more susceptible to a variety of other infectious diseases in addition to CVL. Dog culling as a control strategy for VL should be reassessed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wet deposition of major ions in a rural area impacted by biomass burning emissions

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

Fecal Sterols in Estuarine Sediments as Markers of Sewage Contamination in the Cubatao Area, São Paulo, Brazil

Sterol biomarkers serve as an alternative method for detecting sewage pollution. Sterols were extracted from samples of surface sediment collected in Cubato (the Vila dos Pescadores and Vila Esperan double dagger a communities) and quantified using GC-MS after Soxhlet extraction, cleanup, and derivatization. Fecal contamination was evaluated based on the concentration of coprostanol and the ratio of the selected sterols. The most abundant sterol was cholestanol, followed by coprostanol. The concentrations of coprostanol in surface sediments ranged from a minimum of 4.21 mu g g(-1) dry sediment (Vila dos Pescadores station) to a maximum of 8.32 mu g g(-1) dry sediment (Vila Esperan double dagger a station). A coprostanol concentration of about 10 mu g g(-1) was found, indicating areas of high sewage contamination. Coprostanol levels at sewage stations were higher than in other Brazilian coastal areas, which may be attributed to the fraction of the population without sanitation services.

Ocorrência de mastite bovina causada por Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. E Candida sp. em uma propriedade rural no município de Indianópolis – Minas Gerais

The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of bovine mastitis by Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. and Candida sp. in a rural area of Indianopolis, Minas Gerais. It was realized the California Mastitis Test (CMT) in six collect, a total 671 of milk sample positive. Then the microbiological examination was performed, where the results revealed the presence of 137 milk samples with microbial multiplication. These, showed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (45.2% of strains), other coagulase negative Staphylococcus (10.2%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (9.4%), Staphylococcus simulans (5.8%), other coagulase negative (15.3%), Streptococcus agalactiae (7.2%), other Streptococcus sp. (5.1%) and yeasts (1.4%). It was found that 100% of Staphylococcus were susceptible to rifampicin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin; but, resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, and oxacillin. Regarding antimicrobial susceptibility Streptococcus, were employed, except to clindamycin, erythromycin and tetracycline. We conclude that there is a great necessity of proper hygiene practices and taking prophylactic measures taken in order to reduce the infection of animals caused by infectious microorganisms and resistance.

Spatial and temporal variability of soil CO2 emission in a sugarcane area under green and slash-and-burn managements

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influencia do soerguimento do alto Paranaiba na sedimentacao pos- basaltica na area do Triangulo Mineiro (MG), borda NNE da Bacia do Parana

Faciologic analysis method was applied to after-basaltic sedimentary deposits in Triangulo Mineiro (MG) area. Faciologic association 1 (Adamantina formation) and unities 1 to 5 (Uberaba formation) are related to the fluvial and lake deposits: faciologic association 3 (Ponte Alta Member) and 2 (Sierra da Galga Member) represent the sedimentary deposits associated to the alluvial fans conditions. With faciologic association and unities it could be to recognize the paleogeografic and tectonic conditions in sedimentation time of that depositional tract. -English summary

Lesões do trato gastrointestinal na síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida: estudo de 45 necrópsias consecutivas.

This study was designed to evaluate retrospectively the frequency and etiology of the gastrointestinal (GI) lesions in 45 consecutive necropsies of adult patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Gross descriptions and histological sections of the GI tract, from mouth to anus, were reviewed. The slides were H&E stained, and when necessary special stains and immunohistochemical methods were also employed. There were lesions in GI tract in 37 (82.3%) patients; the mouth was the segment most frequently involved (73.3% of the cases), followed by the colon (55.5%). Multiple lesions occurred in 17 (37.7%) cases. Cytomegalovirus caused colonic lesions in 35.7% of the cases. Candidiasis was observed in 26.6% mainly in the mouth and herpes simplex (8.8%) was the important agent of esophageal lesions. Oral hairy leukoplasia associated with HPV was found in 16 (35.5%) cases. Neoplasia was diagnosed in 7 (15.5%) cases: four Kaposi's sarcoma, two anal intramucosal carcinomas and one gastric lymphoma. Our data confirm the high frequency and variety of GI tract alterations in AIDS.

Radiographic and microbiologic evaluation of posttreatment apical and periapical repair of root canals of dogs' teeth with experimentally induced chronic lesion

The objective of the present study was to evaluate radiographically and bacteriologically apical and periapical repair in dogs' teeth with induced chronic periapical lesions with the use of two different operative techniques (techniques 1 and 2). The study was conducted on 40 root canals of upper and lower premolars from two dogs aged approximately 12 months. Periapical lesions were induced by leaving the root canals exposed to the oral environment for 5 days and then sealing them with zinc oxide-eugenol for 45 days. After this period, radiographic examination revealed the occurrence of a radiolucent lesion and endodontic treatment was started. The two techniques did not differ in terms of chemomechanical preparation, final filling, or type of cement, but differed in terms of irrigating solution and the presence of an antibacterial dressing. Thus 4% to 6% hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide (10 volumes) were used in technique 1 during chemomechanical preparation and an antibacterial dressing based on calcium hydroxide was applied between sessions, whereas Dakin's fluid (0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution) and a final filling with no antibacterial dressing were used in technique 2. After chemomechanical preparation, the root canals were filled with gutta-percha cones and Sealapex (Sealapex-Sybron, Kerr, Sao Paulo, Brazil), and the animals were killed 270 days after the final filling. Blocks were cut into 6-μm sections and stained by the Brown and Brenn method. Radiographic, histomicrobiologic and statistical analysis permitted us to conclude the following: radiographically there was a marked reduction or even the disappearance of the radiolucent area present before treatment with greater success in the group treated with technique 1 (group I) than in the group treated with technique 2 (group II); the extent of bacterial invasion of dentinal tubules was greater and more intense in group II than in group I; and the amount of microorganisms detected in the ramifications of the apical delta and in the lumen of the root canal was intense in group II and mild or absent in group I. © 1994.

Mapeamento do contorno estrutural do embasamento da bacia sedimentar de Curitiba - PR

The sedimentary Curitiba basin is located in the Central-Southern part of the first Parananense plateau, and comprises Curitiba (PR), and part of the neighbour Municipalities (fig.1). It is supposed to be of Plio-Pleistocene age. It has a shallow sedimentary fulfillment, represented by the Guabirotuba formation (BIGARELLA and SALAMUNI, 1962) which is dristributed over a large area of about 3.000km2. The internal geometry, not entirely known yet, is actually object of detailed research, that shows its geological evolution to Cenozoic tectonic movements. For the purpose of this study the definition of the structural contour of the basement and their depo-centers is fundamental. This paper presents the results of the integration of surface and subsurface data, processed by statistical methods, which allowed a more precise definition of the morphostructural framework of the basement. For the analysis of the geological spacial data, specific softwares were used for statistical processing for trend surfaces analysis. The data used in this study are of following types: a) drilling logs for ground water; b) description of surface points of geological maps (CRPM, 1977); c) description of points of geotechnical drillings and down geological survey. The data of 223 drilling logs for ground water were selected out of 770 wells. The description files of 700 outcrops, as well as planialtimetric field data, were used for the localization of the basement outcrop. Thus, a matrix with five columns was set up: utm E-W (x) and utm N-S (y); surface altitude (z); altimetric cote of the contact between sedimentary rocks and the basement (k); isopachs (l). For the study of the basement limits, the analysis of surface trends of 2(nd) and 3(rd) degree polinomial for the altimetric data (figs. 2 and 3) were used. For the residuals the method of the inverse of the square of the distance (fig.4) was used. The adjustments and the explanations of the surfaces were made with the aid of multiple linear regressions. The analysis of 3rd degree polinomial trend surface (fig.3) confirmed that the basement tends to be more exposed towards NNW-SSE explaining better the data trend through an ellipse, which striking NE-SW and dipping SW axis coincides with the trough of the basin observed in the trending surface of the basement. The performed analysis and the respective images offer a good degree of certainty of the geometric model of the Curitiba Basin and of the morphostructure of its basement. The surface trend allows to sketch with a greater degree of confidence the structural contour of the topgraphic surface (figs. 5 and 6) and of the basement (figs. 7 and 8), as well as the delimitation of intermediate structural heights, which were responsible for isolated and assymmetric depocenters. These details are shown in the map of figures 9 and 10. Thus, the Curitiba Basin is made up by a structural trough stretching NE-SW, with maximum preserved depths of about 80m, which are separated by heights and depocenters striking NW-SE (fig. 11). These structural features seems to have been controlled by tectonic reactivation during the Tertiary (HASUI, 1990) and which younger dissection was conditioned by neotectonic processes (SALAMUNI and EBERT, 1994).

Variação da massa específica da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis aos 8 anos de idade em função de diferentes níveis de produtividade

It were analyzed Eucalyptus grandis trees of 8 years old in the forest group of Duraflora S/A, with different annual increments based on volume, to the related studies of specific gravity values based on productivity indexes. The methodology used in analysis of specific gravity was the gamma-ray attenuation technique of Americium-241. The Eucalyptus grandis showed a specific gravity decreasing with the increasing of parcel productivity. For a gain of 3,5 m3 in productivity there was a decreasing of 1% in specific gravity. Nevertheless, it was not observed correlation between specific gravity and basal area in a same parcel. The present work stands out too, some of the difficulties found with relation to wood specific gravity determinations and emphasize the importance of take samples in the form of full rounded plates in three or four relative positions in the tree.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on Wild Marsh-Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) from Southeast Brazil: Infestations before and after Habitat Loss

The lake from Porto-Primavera hydroelectric power station inundated an area of 2,200 km2 at the border of São Paulo and Mato-Grosso do Sul States, Brazil. Infestations by ticks were evaluated on 135 marsh deer, Blastocerus dichotomus (Illiger), captured before and after inundation. Ticks were collected for identification, and infestation level of animals was assessed by scoring. Deer were divided into four groups according to capture location and temporal relation to the inundation. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were captured before inundation. Group 4 was captured after inundation. Four tick species were found: Amblyomma cajennense (F.), Amblyomma triste Koch, Anocentor nitens (Neumann), and Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 had 30, 45, 100, and 96%, respectively, of animals carrying B. microplus ticks. A. triste was observed on 16, 22, 22, and 88% of animals from groups 1,2,3, and 4, respectively. A. nitens and A. cajennense were observed only on group 4, on 32 and 16% of the animals, respectively. Groups 1 and 2 had only 4.8 and 6.1% of animals with high infestation levels, respectively, and no ticks on 46.8% and 45.5% of the animals, respectively. Conversely, groups 3 and 4 lacked noninfested animals and had high infestation levels on 77.8 and 50% of deer, respectively. Marsh area shrinkage was blamed for higher infestation levels on deer from groups 3 and 4. The widespread presence of A. triste on marsh deer, a Neotropical tick species, raises the possibility of a natural host-parasite relationship.

Effect of ceramic surface treatment on the microtensile bond strength between a resin cement and an alumina-based ceramic

Purpose: The objective of this study was to test the following hypothesis: the silica coating on ceramic surface increases the bond strength of resin cement to a ceramic. Materials and Methods: In-Ceram Alumina blocks were made and the ceramic surface was treated: G1 - sandblasting with 110-μm aluminum oxide particles; G2 - Rocatec System: tribochemicai silica coating (Rocatec-Pre powder + Rocatec-Plus powder + Rocatec-Sil); G3 - CoJet System: silica coating (CoJet-Sand) + ESPE-Sil. The ceramic blocks were cemented to composite blocks with Panavia F resin cement (under a load of 750 g/1 min). The cemented blocks were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 7 days and sectioned along the x and y axes with a diamond disk. Samples with an adhesive area of ca 0.8 mm 2 (n = 45) were obtained. The samples were attached to an adapted device for the microtensile test, which was performed in a universal testing machine (EMIC) at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Results: The obtained results were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test. Mean values of tensile strength (MPa) and standard deviation values were: (G1) 16.8 ± 3.2; (G2) 30.6 ± 4.5; (G3) 33.0 ± 5.0. G2 and 63 presented greater tensile strength than G1. There was no significant difference between G2 and G3. All the failures took place at the ceramic/resin cement interface. Conclusion: The silica coating (Rocatec or CoJet systems) of the ceramic surface increased the bond strength between the Panavia F resin cement and alumina-based ceramic.