Laser terapêutico no reparo ósseo de ratos submetidos à ausência de carga

Low-intensity laser has been used as a physical agent in various fields of medical sciences such as bone and tissue repair. Meanwhile little is known about its effects in adverse conditions such as abolition of load and osteopenic. With the assumption that the laser Ga-Al-As accelerates the process of bone consolidation, goal of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in incomplete transverse osteotomies of tibia in adult rats, treated with low power laser therapy in three different groups: G1 (n = 10), reference 15 days; G2 (n=10), suspended by the tail and, accordingly, treated with laser for 12 days; G3 (n = 10), suspended by the tail by 36 days and that after 21 days, there was laser treatment for 12 days. The right tibia treated with laser and left served as control. The laser was used to Ga-Al-As, DMC - Flash Lase® III, with wavelength 830nm, 100 mW, 4J, 140 J / cm ², 40s of application in 12 sessions. It was used densitometer-Lunar DPX®, with computer program for "small animals", and the analysis of BMD was made in the bone throughout the region and the osteotomy. The results showed no efficacy of laser therapy in the process of bone repair, both in animals of group 1, as in group 2 and 3. It follows that either the low-power laser was not an effective performance or the effects of laser therapy is not only manifested at the site of irradiation as well as the systemic level.

Montagem e avaliação de um sistema de varredura a LASER embarcado em VANT

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

AN OVERVIEW OF DEPREDATING BIRD DAMAGE CONTROL IN CALIFORNIA

To many people, California is synonomous with Disneyland, freeways, Los Angeles smog, Yosemite, the California missions, or for you bird aficionados, the California Condor. But do you think about California when you eat strawberry shortcake? You should -- California leads the nation in strawberry production. How about artichokes? California produces over 98% of the artichokes raised in the United States. Dates? California produces over 99% of the dates in the United States. Yes, California is all of these, and it is much more. California may well be the most diverse state in the United States. Within its 100.2 million acres, California has the lowest place in the U.S. in Death Valley and one of the highest mountains with Mt. Whitney. Because California is such a diverse state and has a wide variety of micro- climates, it supports a uniquely diverse agriculture. Agriculture uses only about 36 million acres of its total 100.2 million acres, and most of the cash return from crops is produced on 8,6 million acres that are irrigated. California produces about 250 crops and livestock commodities (excluding nursery crops) and provides the U.S. with about 25% of its table foods. California leads the nation in the production of 46 commercial crops and livestock commodities; its farmers and ranchers marketed $8.6 billion of crop and livestock products in 1975, and the state’s harvested farm production in 1975 set a new record at 51.1 million tons. HISTORY OF BIRD PROBLEMS Records such as this are not achieved without some risk. Crops growing in Cali- fornia have always had competition from many types of vertebrate pests. The wide variety of crops grown in California and the varied climates and situations in which they are grown has resulted in many different species of birds damaging crops. Birds have compet- ed with man for his crops since the dawn of agriculture. McAtee (1932) cited examples of bird damage that occurred in a wide variety of crops in California during the early 1900s. During the 1920s, many requests for Information and relief from damage caused by a wide variety of birds, culminated in the assignment, in May 1929, of two biologists, S. E. Piper and Johnson Neff, of the former U.S. Bio- logical Survey, to initiate field studies in California. In cooperation with the Cali- fornia Department of Food and Agriculture and County Agricultural Commissioners, the study was to determine the problems and devise control procedures relative to bird depredations. Piper and Neff found such damage as Horned Larks pulling sprouting crops, House Finches disbudding deciduous fruit trees and devouring mature fruit. Blackbirds were a problem in the rice crop. Early controls were varied and, for the most part, lacked effectiveness. Flagging of fields was common to deter Horned Larks. Windmill devices were tried to frighten birds. Shooting to kill birds was common; scarecrows were.used. The six-year study brought forth the basis of most of the depredating bird control techniques still in use in California. At the end of the study, these two biologists compiled a book called “Procedure and Methods in Controlling Birds Injurious to Crops in California.” This was and still is the “Bible” for bird damage control techniques used in California. The thorough investigations conducted by these biologists resulted in techniques that have remained valid in California for over 40 years.

Montagem e avaliação de um sistema de varredura a LASER embarcado em VANT

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

On the relationship between squid and the environment: artisanal jigging for Loligo plei at Sao Sebastiao Island (24 degrees S), southeastern Brazil

The squid Loligo plei concentrates in the southeastern Brazil Bight, where it has traditionally supported small-scale fisheries around Sao Sebastiao Island (SSI). Sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a (Chl a), windspeed, wave height, rainfall, and lunar phase are related to fishing records and to the results of a survey of local fishers to investigate how they believe environmental variables might affect catches of L. plei. Daily fishery-dependent data over the years 2005-2009 were obtained from a fishing cooperative and were matched with satellite and meteorological forecast data. Generalized linear models were used to explore the significance of environmental variables in relation to variability in catch and catch per unit effort (cpue). Squid are fished with jigs in water shallower than 20 m, generally where SST is warmer and Chl a and windspeed are lower. Cpue and monthly catches decreased from 2005 to 2008, followed by a slight increase in 2009. The correlations between fishery and environmental data relate well to fishers` oceanological knowledge, underscoring the potential of incorporating such knowledge into evaluations of the fishery.

A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SEASONAL VARIATION OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF THE TODOS OS SANTOS BAY (BAHIA, BRAZIL)

The results obtained in the August and December 2003, August 2004 and January 2005 oceanographic campaigns in the northern region of the Todos os Santos Bay (lat. 12 degrees 44.5`S; long. 038 degrees 35.00`W) between the Madre de Deus and Mare islands are analyzed. Instruments of continuous and discrete samplings were used to measure hydrographic properties currents and tides. The water mass of the northern region of the bay is forced by semidiurnal and mesotides of form number 0.08 and the lunar component M(2) height was estimated at 91cm. The time series of the surface currents indicated movements in the N/S direction, forced by the tide with maximum magnitudes of 0.73 m.s(-1) on the December 2003 campaign. However, in August 2004 the currents were dominated by the wind stress forcing, with a maximum speed of 1.85 m.s(-1) and SE direction. Near the bottom, the influence of the tide is not as evident, with a decrease in intensity due to internal and bottom friction, with a maximum velocity of 0.17 m.s(-1). The thermal and haline structures were weakly horizontally, as well as vertically stratified, with extreme values varying in the intervals 23 degrees C (August, 2004) to 28 degrees C (December, 2003) and 31.0 psu (August, 2003) to 36.0 psu (December, 2003), respectively. Some conclusions may be drawn from these results: i) The signs of the dilution of the fresh water discharges of the Caipe, Mataripe and Sao Paulo rivers in the region under the influence of the RLAM were observed only during the winter periods, but in the summer the region was flooded by waters of oceanic origin and the salinities above 36.0 indicated TW mass intrusion; ii) The N-S circulation near the RLAM is strongly dominated by the tide, and the importance of the M(2) component was unequivocal, however, the E-W component presented some tidal modulation away from abrupt bottom topographical changes, and iii) The residual series, calculated as the difference between the original and modeled, is about 1/4 of the original and confirmed its semidiurnal character.

Modeling and Identification of an Open-frame Underwater Vehicle: The Yaw Motion Dynamics

A semi-autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), named LAURS, is being developed at the Laboratory of Sensors and Actuators at the University of Sao Paulo. The vehicle has been designed to provide inspection and intervention capabilities in specific missions of deep water oil fields. In this work, a method of modeling and identification of yaw motion dynamic system model of an open-frame underwater vehicle is presented. Using an on-board low cost magnetic compass sensor the method is based on the utilization of an uncoupled 1-DOF (degree of freedom) dynamic system equation and the application of the integral method which is the classical least squares algorithm applied to the integral form of the dynamic system equations. Experimental trials with the actual vehicle have been performed in a test tank and diving pool. During these experiments, thrusters responsible for yaw motion are driven by sinusoidal voltage signal profiles. An assessment of the feasibility of the method reveals that estimated dynamic system models are more reliable when considering slow and small sinusoidal voltage signal profiles, i.e. with larger periods and with relatively small amplitude and offset.

Low fatness, reduced fat intake and adequate plasmatic concentrations of LDL-cholesterol are associated with high bone mineral density in women: a cross-sectional study with control group

Background: Several parameters are associated with high bone mineral density (BMD), such as overweight, black background, intense physical activity (PA), greater calcium intake and some medications. The objectives are to evaluate the prevalence and the main aspects associated with high BMD in healthy women. Methods: After reviewing the database of approximately 21,500 BMD scans performed in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, Brazil, from June 2005 to October 2010, high BMD (over 1400 g/cm(2) at lumbar spine and/or above 1200 g/cm2 at femoral neck) was found in 421 exams. Exclusion criteria were age below 30 or above 60 years, black ethnicity, pregnant or obese women, disease and/or medications known to interfere with bone metabolism. A total of 40 women with high BMD were included and matched with 40 healthy women with normal BMD, paired to weight, age, skin color and menopausal status. Medical history, food intake and PA were assessed through validated questionnaires. Body composition was evaluated through a GE-Lunar DPX MD + bone densitometer. Radiography of the thoracic and lumbar spine was carried out to exclude degenerative alterations or fractures. Biochemical parameters included both lipid and hormonal profiles, along with mineral and bone metabolism. Statistical analysis included parametric and nonparametric tests and linear regression models. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age was 50.9 (8.3) years. There was no significant difference between groups in relation to PA, smoking, intake of calcium and vitamin D, as well as laboratory tests, except serum C-telopeptide of type I collagen (s-CTX), which was lower in the high BMD group (p = 0.04). In the final model of multivariate regression, a lower fat intake and body fatness as well a better profile of LDL-cholesterol predicted almost 35% of high BMD in women. (adjusted R2 = 0.347; p < 0.001). In addition, greater amounts of lean mass and higher IGF-1 serum concentrations played a protective role, regardless age and weight. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the potential deleterious effect of lipid metabolism-related components, including fat intake and body fatness and worse lipid profile, on bone mass and metabolism in healthy women.

The peculiar isolated neutron star in the Carina Nebula Deep XMM-Newton and ESO-VLT observations of 2XMM J104608.7-594306

While fewer in number than the dominant rotation-powered radio pulsar population, peculiar classes of isolated neutron stars (INSs) which include magnetars, the ROSAT-discovered "Magnificent Seven" (M7), rotating radio transients (RRATs), and central compact objects in supernova remnants (CCOs) - represent a key element in understanding the neutron star phenomenology. We report the results of an observational campaign to study the properties of the source 2XMM J104608.7-594306, a newly discovered thermally emitting INS. The evolutionary state of the neutron star is investigated by means of deep dedicated observations obtained with the XMM-Newton Observatory, the ESO Very Large Telescope, as well as publicly available gamma-ray data from the Fermi Space Telescope and the AGILE Mission. The observations confirm previous expectations and reveal a unique type of object. The source, which is likely within the Carina Nebula (N-H = 2.6x10(21) cm(-2)), has a spectrum that is both thermal and soft, with kT(infinity) = 135 eV. Non-thermal (magnetospheric) emission is not detected down to 1% (3 sigma, 0.1-12 keV) of the source luminosity. Significant deviations (absorption features) from a simple blackbody model are identified in the spectrum of the source around energies 0.6 keV and 1.35 keV. While the former deviation is likely related to a local oxygen overabundance in the Carina Nebula, the latter can only be accounted for by an additional spectral component, which is modelled as a Gaussian line in absorption with EW = 91 eV and sigma = 0.14 keV (1 sigma). Furthermore, the optical counterpart is fainter than m(V) = 27 (2 sigma) and no gamma-ray emission is significantly detected by either the Fermi or AGILE missions. Very interestingly, while these characteristics are remarkably similar to those of the M7 or the only RRAT so far detected in X-rays, which all have spin periods of a few seconds, we found intriguing evidence of very rapid rotation, P = 18.6ms, at the 4 sigma confidence level. We interpret these new results in the light of the observed properties of the currently known neutron star population, in particular those of standard rotation-powered pulsars, recycled objects, and CCOs. We find that none of these scenarios can satisfactorily explain the collective properties of 2XMM J104608.7-594306, although it may be related to the still poorly known class of Galactic anti-magnetars. Future XMM-Newton data, granted for the next cycle of observations (AO11), will help us to improve our current observational interpretation of the source, enabling us to significantly constrain the rate of pulsar spin down.

Tidal perturbations of the rotation of the moon: the creep tide approach

In this communication we report results from the application to the study of the rotation of the Moon of the creeping tide theory just proposed (Ferraz-Mello, Cel. Mech. Dyn. Astron., submitted. ArXiv astro-ph 1204.3957). The choice of the Moon for the first application of this new theory is motivated by the fact that the Moon is one of the best observed celestial bodies and the comparison of the theoretical predictions of the theory with observations i may validate the theory or point out the need of further improvements. Particularly, the tidal perturbations of the rotation of the Moon - the physical libration of the Moon - have been detected in the Lunar Laser Ranging measurements (Williams et al. JGR 106, 27933, 2001). The major difficulty in this application comes from the fact that tidal torques in a planet-satellite system are very sensitive to the distance between the two-bodies, which is strongly affected by Solar perturbations. In the case of the Moon, the main solar perturbations - the Evection and the Variation - are more important than most of the Keplerian oscillations, being smaller only than the first Keplerian harmonic (equation of the centre). Besides, two of the three components of the Moon's libration in longitude whose tidal contributions were determined by LLR are related to these perturbations. The results may allow us to determine the main parameter of a possible Moon's creeping tide. The preliminary results point to a relaxation factor (gamma) 2 to 4 times smaller than the one predicted from the often cited values of thr Moon's quality factor Q (between 30 and 40), and points to larger Q values.

Temporal and spatial distribution of the ichthyoplankton in the Canary Islands

A pesar del creciente interés en el estudio de las primeras fases de desarrollo de los peces, aún existen zonas donde esta comunidad es relativamente desconocida. Este es el caso de las Islas Canarias. En la presente tesis, gracias a una serie de muestreos semanales en la región costera de la isla de Gran Canaria durante más de dos años, se ha caracterizado de manera precisa la composición, estructura y variabilidad del ictioplancton presente en esta región subtropical. Clupeidos, Espáridos y Góbidos dominaron la comunidad neríticas, mientras que Mictófidos, Gonostomátidos y Photíctidos prevalecieron dentro de las familias oceánicas. La variabilidad temporal de la comunidad larvaria parece estar más relacionada con la temperatura y efectos a pequeña escala (hidrografía, productividad local, ciclo lunar), que con el aumento de productividad anual durante el bloom de finales de invierno. Se definieron dos asociaciones estacionales de larvas estrechamente ligadas a las características de la columna de agua: (1) invierno-primavera, en la que dominan Sardinella aurita, Boops boops y Cyclothone braueri, y son características especies como Pomacentridae sp1, Trachurus picturatus o Scomber colias; y (2) verano-otoño, donde Góbidos y Cyclothone braueri dominan, pero cuyas especies características son Ceratoscopelus warmingii, Pomacentridae sp2 y Anthias anthias, entre otras. Respecto a la variabilidad horizontal, se confirmó la presencia de dos zonas de retención para los huevos y larvas neríticas a barlovento y sotavento (estela cálida) de la isla. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en la composición de la comunidad larvaria entre las diferentes zonas de la plataforma de la isla. La Zona de Transición Costera Canario-Africana se caracteriza por una gran actividad de mesoscala, que afectará a la distribución de las larvas neríticas de las costas africanas. Esta interacción resulta especialmente evidente en el caso de las larvas, principalmente sardina y anchoa, transportadas en filamentos de afloramiento generados en la región de Cabo Juby-Cabo Bojador. Estos filamentos pueden ser atrapados por remolinos ciclónicos situados al sur de Gran Canaria. Este sistema remolino-filamento podrá, en función de su evolución, actuar como un mecanismo de retención o dispersión para las larvas de especies neríticas africanas. Parte de estas larvas pueden llegar a las costas de Gran Canaria, suponiendo un aporte para las poblaciones larvarias locales, al menos durante el verano. A pesar de la gran cantidad de información obtenida a partir de esta tesis, es necesario continuar con este tipo de estudios para evaluar la importancia de este transporte larvario y su aplicación a la gestión pesquera.

Temporal and along-shelf distribution of the larval fish assemblage at Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Temporal and spatial variations of the larval fish community off the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) were studied in weekly surveys from October 2005 to June 2006. A total of 156 taxa, belonging to 51 families and 15 orders, were identified. Myctophidae was by far the most abundant family (30%), followed by Sparidae (11%), Clupeidae (9%) and Gonostomatidae (7%). As expected for an oceanic island, neritic and oceanic taxa contributed in similar proportions. Leeward and windward retention areas were found for total egg and neritic larval abundance. However, seasonality showed a stronger influence on the annual larval assemblage than sampling site, as the latter was not significant on a long time scale. Results suggest that there are two seasonal larval assemblages corresponding to the two main characteristic periods of the water column in these waters: mixing (winter) and stratification (summer). In addition, a significant relationship was recorded between lunar illumination and small mesozooplankton biomass, suggesting that this relationship may be extended to certain neritic families. The most abundant neritic larvae (Sparidae) showed this lunar pattern, which partially supports a recent hypothesis about the effect of lunar illumination on larval fish survival and development in subtropical waters.

Colectores artificiales para el estudio de los patrones de colonización de organismos bentónicos: de su selección y optimización a la cuantificación de patrones espacio-temporales de colonización.

Programa de Doctorado en Gestión Costera

Patrones de colonización de organismos bentónicos en hábitats litorales de Gran Canaria

Programa de doctorado en gestión costera

Simulatore di interfaccia uomo-macchina per i controllo di UAV

Recent statistics have demonstrated that two of the most important causes of failures of the UAVs (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle) missions are related to the low level of decisional autonomy of vehicles and to the man machine interface. Therefore, a relevant issue is to design a display/controls architecture which allows the efficient interaction between the operator and the remote vehicle and to develop a level of automation which allows the vehicle the decision about change in mission. The research presented in this paper focuses on a modular man-machine interface simulator for the UAV control, which simulates UAV missions, developed to experiment solution to this problem. The main components of the simulator are an advanced interface and a block defined automation, which comprehend an algorithm that implements the level of automation of the system. The simulator has been designed and developed following a user-centred design approach in order to take into account the operator’s needs in the communication with the vehicle. The level of automation has been developed following the supervisory control theory which says that the human became a supervisor who sends high level commands, such as part of mission, target, constraints, in then-rule, while the vehicle receives, comprehends and translates such commands into detailed action such as routes or action on the control system. In order to allow the vehicle to calculate and recalculate the safe and efficient route, in term of distance, time and fuel a 3D planning algorithm has been developed. It is based on considering UASs representative of real world systems as objects moving in a virtual environment (terrain, obstacles, and no fly zones) which replicates the airspace. Original obstacle avoidance strategies have been conceived in order to generate mission planes which are consistent with flight rules and with the vehicle performance constraints. The interface is based on a touch screen, used to send high level commands to the vehicle, and a 3D Virtual Display which provides a stereoscopic and augmented visualization of the complex scenario in which the vehicle operates. Furthermore, it is provided with an audio feedback message generator. Simulation tests have been conducted with pilot trainers to evaluate the reliability of the algorithm and the effectiveness and efficiency of the interface in supporting the operator in the supervision of an UAV mission. Results have revealed that the planning algorithm calculate very efficient routes in few seconds, an adequate level of workload is required to command the vehicle and that the 3D based interface provides the operator with a good sense of presence and enhances his awareness of the mission scenario and of the vehicle under his control.