Bioaerossóis bacterianos em um hospital

Microbial contamination of an enclosed area may come from outside or be generated within the area itself. In the study described here, bioaerosol levels in hospital air were quantified and related to those found in the air outside, taking into account some of the environmental variables that affect air quality, such as the number of occupants of a room and the type of ventilation. Airborne bacteria were collected for five minute by blowing air at 500 L min -1 in high speed jets on to the surface on plates culture in a single-stage bioaerosol impactor. The mean viable count of bacteria in the air outside in the hospital, São Paulo State, was 77 ± 4 CFU m -3, while in the air inside the hospital it was 302 ± 260 CFU m-3. The operating theatre was the only space sampled with a controlled environment and, after orthopedic surgery, it had the highest bioaerosol count recorded (867 ± 482 CFU m-3). In the enclosed environments, nine bacterial species were identified. Despite the difficulty in establishing precise numbers of bacteria in the bioaerosols in hospital environments, the values obtained demonstrate a need to instigate suitable programs to keep the microbial density low in these environments, and eliminate microorganisms presenting a significant risk to their occupants. It is also recommended that such programs include the monitoring of hospital air, with the aim of defining standards for acceptable numbers of bacteria in the bioaerosol.

Conhecimento de estudantes de medicina sobre o processo de doacção de córneas

Purpose: To compare knowledge of medical students about the cornea donation process among those who already studied Ophthalmology and the others. Methods: A questionnaire containing data as: age, sex, graduation year, and 10 multiple-choice questions about the subject was applied to medical students from the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil. The questions were: age for donation, contraindication for transplants, the time limit to remove the cornea, among others. The knowledge regarding cornea donation was compared between the two groups: students who already studied Ophthalmology (Group A) and the others (Group B). Results: The study group was composed of 402 students, of whom 140 were of group A and 262 of group B. Knowledge between the two groups was different, but not statistically significant (p=0.8328). Conclusion: Knowledge about the cornea donation process among the interviewed seemed to be insufficient, even those who had studied Ophthalmology. Information and education about transplants in Medical Schools should be improved.

Benzyladenine and Gibberellic acid pulse on postharvest of Calathea louisae cut foliage

Calathea louisae is an herbaceous ornamental plant native of Brazil whose cut foliage has potential to be used as a new product for the local ornamental market, as well as the international market, due to its decorative dark green leaves with greenish white splotches along midrib, and purple undersides. The objective of this study was to evaluate pulse treatments of benzyladenine and gibberellic acid for maintaining quality and extending keepability of foliage. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized design with three replications (three stems in each vase) and seven treatments: distilled water (control) and pulsing cut petioles in benzyladenine or gibberellic acid for 4 h at 100, 250 and 500 mg L-1. The senescence symptoms were characterized by leaf rolling and a decrease in the angle formed between leaf and petiole as a response to water stress. Gibberellic acid or benzyladenine pulse treatments (250 and 500 mg L-1) significantly extended the longevity of cut foliage compared to the control. Gibberellic acid pulse (250 and 500 mg L-1) maintained leaves' green coloration and brightness for a longer time compared to control and benzyladenine pulse. Pulsing with gibberellic acid or benzyladenine (at all tested concentrations) maintained upright leaves for a longer time, showing a significantly higher angle between leaf and petiole compared to control. Foliage pulsed with gibberellic acid (500 mg L-1) showed a significantly higher leaf relative water content, a significantly smaller loss of accumulated fresh mass percentage compared to control and other gibbberellic acid and benzyladenine treatments.

Assessing genetic variability in bat species of Emballonuridae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae and Molossidae families (Chiroptera) by RFLP-PCR

A PCR-RFLP analysis of the restriction pattern in nuclear (RAG2) and mitochondrial (12S/16S) gene sequences of bat species from the Molossidae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Emballonuridae families produced a large number of fragments: 107 for RAG2 and 155 for 12S/16S combined in 139 and 402 haplotypes, respectively. The values detected for gene variation were low for both sequences (0.13 for RAG2 and 0.15 for 12S/16S) and reflected their conservative feature, reinforced by high values of inter- and intraspecies genetic identity (70-100%). The species with a high gene divergence were variable in the analyses of RAG2 (Eumops perotis, Artibeus lituratus, and Carollia perspicillata) and of 12S/16S (Nyctinomops laticaudatus, C. perspicillata, and Cynomops abrasus), and furthermore, one of them, C. perspicillata, also showed the highest intraspecific variation. The species that exhibited the lowest variation for both genes was Molossus rufus. In the families, the highest variation was observed in the Molossidae and this can be attributed to variation exhibited by Eumops and Nyctinomops species. The variations observed were interpreted as a natural variability within the species and genus that exhibited a conserved pattern in the two gene sequences in different species and family analyzed. Our data reinforce the idea that the analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes contribute to our knowledge of the diversity of New World bats. The genetic variability found in different taxa suggests that an additional diversity, unnoticed by other methods, can be revealed with the use of different molecular strategies. ©FUNPEC-RP.

Efeito das condições pré-abate sobre a qualidade da carne de suínos pesados

The objective of this study was to evaluate pig fasting time at the farm (FT= 9, 12, 15 or 18 hours) and pig position into the pig lorry compartment on pork quality through liquid drip loss (DLL), pH1 evaluated at 45 minutes post slaughter and pHu evaluated 24 hours post slaughter. One hundred ninety two females, weighing 133±11 kg, from two farms were used. Pig locations were evaluated on truck compartment considering front, middle and rear (TCL) position and top or botton decks (LUD). The following effects were considered in the statistical model: block (BL= farm), FT, TCL, LUD and the interaction between BL and FT. The FT affected significantly the pH1 of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle, and pHu of Semispinalis capitis (SC), Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Fasting time at farm equal or shorter than 12 hours resulted in carcasses with lower pHu values at LD and SM muscles and fasting time above 15 hours resulted in higher pHu on SC. There were no observed effect (p>0.05) of the evaluated sources of variation on DLL. TCL affected pH1 of SC, LD and SM muscles, and pHu of LD and SM muscles. Pigs located in middle or rear position in the lorry had no difference in pH1 of the evaluated muscles. But pigs located in the middle position of the lorry had greater values of pHu on LD and SM. It is stated that pigs fasting time at farm need to be close to 15 hours in aim of obtain higher frequency of pHu values in the normal range (5.55

Las nuevas medidas de seguridad y sus efectos en las exportaciones agroalimentarias

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Topologically massive yang-mills field on the null-plane: A hamilton-jacobi approach

Non-abelian gauge theories are super-renormalizable in 2+1 dimensions and suffer from infrared divergences. These divergences can be avoided by adding a Chern-Simons term, i.e., building a Topologically Massive Theory. In this sense, we are interested in the study of the Topologically Massive Yang-Mills theory on the Null-Plane. Since this is a gauge theory, we need to analyze its constraint structure which is done with the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism. We are able to find the complete set of Hamiltonian densities, and build the Generalized Brackets of the theory. With the GB we obtain a set of involutive Hamiltonian densities, generators of the evolution of the system. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Energía solar termodinámica en América Latina: los casos del Brasil, Chile y México

Incluye bibliografía

Economic Survey of the Caribbean 2011-2012: positive growth amidst lingering downside risks

Includes bibliography

Echocardiographic predictors of ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in rats

Background: The prediction of the ventricular remodeling process after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may have important clinical implications. Objetive: To analyze echocardiographic variables predictors of remodeling in the infarction model in rats. Methods: The animals underwent echocardiography in two moments, five days and three months after infarction (AMI group) or sham surgery (control group). Linear regression was used to identify the echocardiographic variables on the fifth day after the infarction, which were predictive of remodeling after three months of coronary occlusion. We considered as a criterion of remodeling in this study, the values of left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD) after three months of infarction. Results: The infarction induced increase in the left chambers, associated with changes in systolic and diastolic functions. The variables body weight, left ventricular wall stress index (LVWSI), systolic area (SA), diastolic area (DA), LVDD, left ventricular systolic diameter (LVSD), fractional area change (FAC), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (%Short), posterior wall shortening velocity (PWSV) and infarct size assessed five days after infarction were predictors of LVDD after three months. At the multivariate regression analysis, we included the size of infarction, the LVWSI and PWSV. The LVWSI (coefficient: 4.402, standard error: 2.221, p = 0.05), but not the size of infarction and PWSV, was a predictor of remodeling after three months of infarction. Conclusion: LVPSI was an independent predictor of remodeling three months after the myocardial infarction and could be included in the clinical stratification after the coronary occlusion.

Influência de Manejos de irrigação sobre aspectos de Ecofisiologia e de produção da videira cv. Syrah / Paulsen 1103

O manejo de irrigação pode influenciar o comportamento ecofisiológico e a produção da videira. O objetivo desse trabalho, conduzido em 2010 em Petrolina – PE, no Submédio do Vale do São Francisco, foi avaliar a influência de diferentes estratégias de manejo de irrigação no potencial de água na folha e em aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos das uvas do primeiro ciclo de produção da videira cv. Syrah/Paulsen 1103. O sistema de irrigação utilizado foi gotejamento e a lâmina de água foi estimada com base na evapotranspiração da cultura. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, em 4 repetições e com 3 tratamentos: irrigação plena, realizada durante todo o ciclo de produção; a irrigação com déficit, onde a aplicação de água foi interrompida na fase fenológica de cacho fechado; e a irrigação com déficit controlado, onde a irrigação, também interrompida na fase de cacho fechado, foi eventualmente realizada após a interrupção, de acordo com o monitoramento da água no solo. A imposição de déficit hídrico às plantas favoreceu uma maior concentração de açúcares e a redução da acidez nos frutos, contribuindo para a melhoria da qualidade das uvas para vinificação.

Bridgeless interleaved boost PFC converter with variable duty cycle control

This paper proposes a bridgeless boost interleaved PFC (power factor correction) converter with variable duty cycle control. The application of bridgeless technique causes reduction of conduction losses, while the interleaving technique of converters cells allows division of efforts in semiconductor devices and reduction of weight and volume of the input EMI filter. The use of variable duty cycle control has the functions of regulating the output voltage and eliminating the low order harmonic components that appears in the input current of the common interleaved power factor converters working in Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM). The simulation results of the proposed converter presented high power factor and a good transient response in relation to the output voltage regulation in presence of high load variations and supply voltage variations. © 2011 IEEE.

Pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine administered intravenously in isofluraneanesthetized cats

Objective-To determine the pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine administered as a short-duration IV infusion in isoflurane-anesthetized cats. Animals-6 healthy adult domestic female cats. Procedures-Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride was injected IV (10 μg/kg over 5 minutes [rate, 2 μg/kg/min]) in isoflurane-anesthetized cats. Blood samples were obtained immediately prior to and at 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240, and 480 minutes following the start of the IV infusion. Collected blood samples were transferred to tubes containing EDTA, immediately placed on ice, and then centrifuged at 3,901 X g for 10 minutes at 4°C. The plasma was harvested and stored at -20°C until analyzed. Plasma dexmedetomidine concentrations were determined by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Dexmedetomidine plasma concentration-time data were fitted to compartmental models. Results-A 2-compartment model with input in and elimination from the central compartment best described the disposition of dexmedetomidine administered via short-duration IV infusion in isoflurane-anesthetized cats. Weighted mean ± SEM apparent volume of distribution of the central compartment and apparent volume of distribution at steady-state were 402 ± 47 mL/kg and 1,701 ± 200 mL/kg, respectively; clearance and terminal half-life (harmonic mean ± jackknife pseudo-SD) were 6.3 ± 2.8 mL/min/kg and 198 ± 75 minutes, respectively. The area under the plasma concentration curve and maximal plasma concentration were 1,061 ± 292 min·ng/mL and 17.6 ± 1.8 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Disposition of dexmedetomidine administered via short-duration IV infusion in isoflurane-anesthetized cats was characterized by a moderate clearance and a long terminal half-life.

Problemática de población y desarrollo en pueblos indígenas

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Avaliação microbiológica da superfície dos implantes ortopédicos metálicos usados para fixar fraturas ósseas

In the majority of cases of bone fracture requiring surgery, orthopedic implants (screw-plate and screw) are used for osteosynthesis and the infections associated with such implants are due to the growth of microorganisms in biofilms. The objective of this study was to identify microorganisms recovered from osteosynthesis implants used to fix bone fractures, to assess the viability of the cells and the ability of staphylococci to adhere to a substrate and to determine their sensitivity/resistance to antimicrobials. After surgical removal, the metal parts of austenitic stainless steel (ASTM F138/F139 or ISO NBR 5832-1/9) were transported to the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, washed in buffer and subjected to ultrasonic bath at 40±2 kHz for 5 minutes. The sonicated fluid was used to seed solid culture media and cell viability was assessed under the microscope by with the aid of a fluorescent marker. The production of extracellular polysaccharide by Staphylococcus spp. was investigated by means of adhesion to a polystyrene plate. The profile of susceptibility to antimicrobials was determined by the disk diffusion assay. The most frequently isolated bacteria included coagulase-negative Staphylococcus resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin and oxacillin. Less frequent were Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and ampicillin, Acinetobacter baumannii resistant to ceftazidime, Enterobacter cloacae resistant to cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefazolin, levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, Bacillus spp. and Candida tropicalis. The observation of slides by fluorescence microscope showed clusters of living cells embedded in a transparent matrix. The test for adherence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus to a polystyrene plate showed that these microorganisms produce extracellular polysaccharide. In conclusion, the metal parts were colonized by bacteria related to orthopedic implant infection, which were resistant to multiple antibiotics.