Clinical feasibility of mandibular implant overdenture retainers submitted to immediate load

Clinical feasibility of mandibular implant overdenture retainers submitted to immediate load Introduction: Millions of people around the world do not have access to the benefits of osseointegration. Treatments involving oral rehabilitation with overdentures have been widely used by specialists in the oral medicine field. This is an alternative therapy for retention and stability achievement in total prosthesis with conventional treatment, and two implants are enough to establish a satisfactory overdenture. Objective: The objectives of the study were to evaluate 16 patients of both sexes, with an average age of 47.4 +/- 4 years, using electromyographic analysis of masseter and temporal muscles and analyse the increase of incisive and molar maximal bite force with their existing complete dentures and following mandibular implant overdenture therapy to assess the benefits of this treatment. Materials and methods: For these tests, the Myosystem-BR1 electromyograph and the IDDK Kratos dynamometer were used. Statistical analysis was performed using the repeated measures test (SPSS 17.0). Results: A decrease in electromyographic activity during the rest, lateral and protrusion movements and increase of the maximal incisive and molar bite force after 15 months with a mandibular implant overdenture was observed. Conclusion: All the patients in this study reported a considerable improvement in the masticatory function and prostheses stability following treatment. It is possible to propose that the use of mandibular implants overdenture should become the selected treatment for totally edentulous patients to facilitate oral function and quality of life.

A new wavelet-based method for the solution of the population balance equation

A new wavelet-based method for solving population balance equations with simultaneous nucleation, growth and agglomeration is proposed, which uses wavelets to express the functions. The technique is very general, powerful and overcomes the crucial problems of numerical diffusion and stability that often characterize previous techniques in this area. It is also applicable to an arbitrary grid to control resolution and computational efficiency. The proposed technique has been tested for pure agglomeration, simultaneous nucleation and growth, and simultaneous growth and agglomeration. In all cases, the predicted and analytical particle size distributions are in excellent agreement. The presence of moving sharp fronts can be addressed without the prior investigation of the characteristics of the processes. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Establishment of native ecosystems after mining - Australian experience across diverse biogeographic zones

The Australian minerals industry, which is dominated by coal, gold, bauxite, iron ore, base metals and mineral sand operations, is widely scattered across a continent which has a wide range of climatic zones ranging from moist temperate in the south through hot deserts in the centre to moist tropical in the north. There is an emphasis at most mines on establishing native ecosystems after mining, and technologies have had to be developed to ensure successful establishment and stability of these ecosystems under often adverse climatic conditions. This paper describes some of the innovative practices used to establish native ecosystenms in bauxite, mineral sand and coal operations across diverse biogeographic zones. Additionally, brief reference is made to an ecosystem function analysis, which has been developed to assess the success of establishment of these ecosystems. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Redox active macrocyclic receptors for neutral guests

A novel series of triazine-appended macrocyclic complexes has been investigated as potential hydrogen bonding receptors for complementarily disposed heterocycles. Cocrystallization of a melamine-appended azacyclam complex of Cull has been achieved with barbitone, the barbiturate anion and thymine. In each case, a complementary DAD/ADA hydrogen bonding motif between the melamine group and the heterocycle has been identified by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical studies of the copper macrocycles in both nonaqueous and aqueous solution show anodic shifts of the CuII/I redox couple of more than 60 mV upon addition of guest molecules with matching H-bonding motifs. The Zn-II analogues have been synthesized via transmetalation of the Cull complex, and their guest binding properties investigated by NMR spectroscopy. H-1 NMR shifts of up to 0.8 ppm were observed upon addition of guest, and stability constants are similar to those obtained electrochemically.

Entre rios, praias e planetas : travessias do congo da Barra do Jucu

O Espírito Santo abriga grande diversidade de expressões populares tradicionais que se dividem em grupos, saberes e celebrações. Uma das práticas mais evidentes são as bandas de Congo que abrangem grande parte do Estado e ganham cada vez mais notoriedade. A Barra do Jucu é uma das comunidades mais antigas do Espírito Santo, uma vila de pescadores que séculos atrás compunha parte da grande fazenda Araçatiba fundada pelos Jesuítas e administrada no século XIX pelo coronel Sebastião Vieira Machado. A diversidade cultural dessa região habitada por africanos, indígenas e europeus, propiciou o surgimento de práticas populares como a Marujada, a Folia de Reis e as Bandas de Congo, que persistem até hoje nos municípios de Cariacica, Vila Velha, Guarapari e Viana, no passado, pertencentes à grande fazenda Araçatiba. A formação do Congo na Barra do Jucu é resultado de rodas informais realizadas por conguistas de comunidades ribeirinhas vizinhas, promovidas principalmente pelo senhor Ignácio Vieira Machado, descendente do coronel Sebastião e lideradas por Alcides Gomes da Silva, descendente de negros africanos e açorianos habitantes da fazenda Araçatiba. Durante muito tempo essa prática foi marginalizada, mas atualmente o Congo é considerado um ícone da cultura capixaba. Essa ressignificação está ligada a um processo de valorização e projeção midiática que se iniciou nos anos 1980 e se intensificou nas décadas seguintes. Boa parte dos movimentos e eventos que estimularam esse processo ocorreu na comunidade da Barra do Jucu. Por outro lado, políticos, empresários, indústria do entretenimento e outros setores sociais, aproveitam cada vez mais dessa ascensão do Congo utilizando os grupos tradicionais para fins lucrativos e promocionais. De prática marginal até se tornar ícone cultural, o Congo da Barra do Jucu passou por fazendas, rios, praias e planetas. E sobre essas travessias não só geográficas, mas sociais, culturais e políticas é que este trabalho pretende refletir, além das práticas tradicionais dos grupos e seus usos, buscando trazer à tona as relações entre conguistas, instituições públicas e privadas, mídia e público.

Fatores determinantes da política de distribuição de dividendos: Evidência empírica para as empresas não financeiras da Euronext Lisbon

Dividends and their distribution decisions, being a component of the compensation of investors are a constant financial worry within companies, thus revealing one of the themes highlighted in the context of the financial literature. Study will address the factors determining the dividend policy practiced by companies listed in the Portuguese stock market. The latter will be 47 non-financial companies listed on the Euronext Lisbon during 2009 until 2011. The two samples that have been investigated include the representative of the majority of non-financial companies listed on Euronext Lisbon and the other financial companies members of the PSI 20. The methodology adopted is one of the ordinary least squares regression and the amount of dividends per share distributed was used in determining the dependent variable. In relation to the independent variables, six explanatory factors were chosen. These include profitability, stability of dividend policy, size, growth, risk and investment opportunities. The conclusion suggests that the most important factors to explain the amount of dividends distributed are profitability and stability of dividend policy. There after, growth and risk factors, as well as factors that explain the amount of dividends distributed are also relevant. The remaining variables obtained were insufficient evidence pointing to a significant effect in explaining the dividend policy of Portuguese companies in the sample. The conclusion also states that differences exist in the importance of the explanatory factors to the amount of dividends distributed between the study samples, given the differentiation of dividend policies, followed by companies from each group analyzed.

Initial performance of maize in response to NPK fertilization combined with Herbaspirillum seropedicae

The inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria can be a technological approach useful for increasing the production of maize. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial performance of maize in response to application of doses of NPK combined with the inoculation of the diazotrophic bacteria Herbaspirillum seropedicae in an greenhouse experiment. The experiment consisted of six fertilizer levels: 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 200% of the recommended dose of NPK applied to maize inoculated and non-inoculated with H. seropedicae. At 30 days after the treatment application, the growth characteristics and nutritional status of the plants were evaluated. Plant development was influenced by fertilization, but it was enhanced by combination with the bacteria, which resulted in significant increases in the dry mass of shoots (7%) and leaf area (9%) when compared with non-inoculated plants. The results showed increases in the concentration of N (11%), P (30%) and K (17%) of maize plants in response to bacterial inoculation together with NPK compared with plants that were applied fertilize only. The greater consistency and stability response of the host plant to bacterization in the presence of chemical fertilizer indicate a promissory biotechnological approach for improving the initial growth and adaptation of maize to the cultivation environment.

Advances on the development of novel heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification of triglycerides in biodiesel

This paper describes experimental work done towards the search for more profitable and sustainable alternatives regarding biodiesel production, using heterogeneous catalysts instead of the conventional homogenous alkaline catalysts, such as NaOH, KOH or sodium methoxide, for the methanolysis reaction. This experimental work is a first stage on the development and optimization of new solid catalysts, able to produce biodiesel from vegetable oils. The heterogeneous catalytic process has many differences from the currently used in industry homogeneous process. The main advantage is that, it requires lower investment costs, since no need for separation steps of methanol/catalyst, biodiesel/catalyst and glycerine/catalyst. This work resulted in the selection of CaO and CaO modified with Li catalysts, which showed very good catalytic performances with high activity and stability. In fact FAME yields higher than 92% were observed in two consecutive reaction batches without expensive intermediate reactivation procedures. Therefore, those catalysts appear to be suitable for biodiesel production.

A influência da reeducação vestibular nas medidas objetivas e subjetivas em pacientes com défice vestibular periférico unilateral

Mestrado em Fisioterapia.

Temporal patterns of TV watching for Portuguese viewers

Audiometer systems provide enormous amounts of detailed TV watching data. Several relevant and interdependent factors may influence TV viewers' behavior. In this work we focus on the time factor and derive Temporal Patterns of TV watching, based on panel data. Clustering base attributes are originated from 1440 binary minute-related attributes, capturing the TV watching status (watch/not watch). Since there are around 2500 panel viewers a data reduction procedure is first performed. K-Means algorithm is used to obtain daily clusters of viewers. Weekly patterns are then derived which rely on daily patterns. The obtained solutions are tested for consistency and stability. Temporal TV watching patterns provide new insights concerning Portuguese TV viewers' behavior.

Intervenção em fisioterapia numa prótese total do ombro

Introdução: A artroplastia total do ombro é largamente aceite como tratamento para uma variedade de patologias do ombro com dor persistente e perda acentuada da funcionalidade. Em termos globais, os resultados obtidos após a intervenção cirúrgica são bastante bons, parecendo estar, no entanto, condicionados com a patologia subjacente e a qualidade da coifa dos rotadores. Objectivo: Pretende-se com este trabalho descrever e avaliar a eficácia de um plano de intervenção numa prótese total do ombro com integridade da coifa dos rotadores. Metodologia: Paciente sexo feminino, 61 anos, reformada, com dor acentuada no ombro esquerdo desde há três anos, submetida a uma cirurgia de colocação de prótese total do ombro. Apresentava limitação da amplitude articular, diminuição da força, alteração do ritmo escapulo-umeral e ligeira incapacidade funcional. Cinco semanas após a cirurgia, iniciou sessões diárias de fisioterapia durante 12 semanas. A intervenção incluiu a aplicação de modalidades anti-álgicas, mobilização articular, fortalecimento muscular e reeducação neuromuscular. Foi avaliada em quatro momentos: antes da intervenção (M1), 4 (M2), 7 (M3) e 12 (M4) semanas após. Resultados: A dor diminuiu de 4 para 0 (END) no final de 7 semanas e as amplitudes articulares passivas aproximaram-se dos valores definidos pelo protocolo com a flexão/elevação anterior a evoluir de 90º para 130º; a abdução/elevação lateral de 80º para 110º e a rotação medial de 35º para 70º. A força muscular inicial era de 3 nos grupos musculares flexores, extensores e rotadores do ombro atingindo no final grau 4. O ritmo escapulo-umeral demonstrou assincronia durante a elevação do ombro na primeira avaliação, ficando quase normalizado no final das sessões. Quanto à funcionalidade, antes da intervenção o score obtido foi de 30.8 atingindo um valor de 11.6 no final das sessões de tratamento. Conclusão: Após 12 semanas de tratamento, os objectivos delineados foram praticamente atingidos, uma vez que a utente já não refere dor no ombro e apresenta uma boa capacidade funcional, apesar de apresentar ligeiras diferenças nas amplitudes articulares e força muscular esperadas, apontando para o sucesso do protocolo de tratamento aplicado.

Laccase–Prussian blue film–graphene doped carbon paste modified electrode for carbamate pesticides quantification

A novel enzymatic biosensor for carbamate pesticides detection was developed through the direct immobilization of Trametes versicolor laccase on graphene doped carbon paste electrode functionalized with Prussianblue films (LACC/PB/GPE). Graphene was prepared by graphite sonication-assisted exfoliation and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectro- scopy. The Prussian blue film electrodeposited onto graphene doped carbon paste electrode allowed considerable reduction of the charge transfer resistance and of the capacitance of the device.The combined effects of pH, enzyme concentration and incubation time on biosensor response were optimized using a 23 full-factorial statistical design and response surface methodology. Based on the inhibition of laccase activity and using 4-aminophenol as redox mediator at pH 5.0,LACC/PB/GPE exhibited suitable characteristics in terms of sensitivity, intra-and inter-day repeatability (1.8–3.8% RSD), reproducibility (4.1 and 6.3%RSD),selectivity(13.2% bias at the higher interference: substrate ratios tested),accuracy and stability(ca. twenty days)for quantification of five carbamates widely applied on tomato and potato crops.The attained detection limits ranged between 5.2×10−9 mol L−1(0.002 mg kg−1 w/w for ziram)and 1.0×10−7 mol L−1 (0.022 mg kg−1 w/w for carbofuran).Recovery values for the two tested spiking levels ranged from 90.2±0.1%(carbofuran)to 101.1±0.3% (ziram) for tomato and from 91.0±0.1%(formetanate)to 100.8±0.1%(ziram)for potato samples.The proposed methodology is appropriate to enable testing pesticide levels in food samples to fit with regulations and food inspections.

Electrochemical determination of the herbicide bentazone using a carbon nanotube b-Cyclodextrin modified electrode

An electrochemical sensor has been developed for the determination of the herbicide bentazone, based on a GC electrode modified by a combination of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with b-cyclodextrin (b-CD) incorporated in a polyaniline film. The results indicate that the b-CD/MWCNT modified GC electrode exhibits efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of bentazone with high sensitivity and stability. A cyclic voltammetric method to determine bentazone in phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.0, was developed, without any previous extraction, clean-up, or derivatization steps, in the range of 10–80 mmolL 1, with a detection limit of 1.6 mmolL 1 in water. The results were compared with those obtained by an established HPLC technique. No statistically significant differences being found between both methods.

Análise e implementação de filtros e controladores num sistema de processamento digital de sinal

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica Ramo de Automação e Electrónica Industrial

A one-dimensional prescribed curvature equation modeling the corneal shape

We prove existence, uniqueness, and stability of solutions of the prescribed curvature problem (u'/root 1 + u'(2))' = au - b/root 1 + u'(2) in [0, 1], u'(0) = u(1) = 0, for any given a > 0 and b > 0. We also develop a linear monotone iterative scheme for approximating the solution. This equation has been proposed as a model of the corneal shape in the recent paper (Okrasinski and Plociniczak in Nonlinear Anal., Real World Appl. 13:1498-1505, 2012), where a simplified version obtained by partial linearization has been investigated.