Prevalência de papiloma vírus (HPV) perianal assintomático em pacientes portadores de HPV genital tratados no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu

Introduction: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) of greatest incidence and prevalence worldwide, and it is presently considered to be a pre-neoplastic lesion. Human Papillomavirus infection has totaled 23.4% of the sexually transmitted diseases reported to the Department of Health, and it is currently the most common in our country. Many patients are asymptomatic carriers. Methods: Twenty patients who had been previously treated for HPV due to genital lesions were referred for the conduction of anuscopy and colposcopy of the perianal region. Results: Males (80%) prevailed over females (20%). Of the total number of patients, only 2 showed lesions as examined by anuscopy (10%). However, 3 other patients showed lesions by means of colposcopy, thus increasing to 5 (25%) the total number of asymptomatic patients who presented perianal lesions. Of the total number of patients with lesions, 4 were males and 1 was a female. Conclusion: The presence of perianal lesions was observed in 10% of the patients with genital lesions by means of simple anal inspection. This figure increased to 25% when anal colposcopy was associated, thus showing the importance of conducting such examination on all patients with increased risk factors for HPV infection in the anal region.

Polineuropatia associada a hipotireoidismo em cães: Relato de seis casos

Six Doberman Pinscher, between six and eight years of age, were presented to the Veterinary Hospital from Faculty of Veterinary Science of The University of Buenos Aires. Neurological examination revealed tetraparesis with inability to walk, decreased muscle tonus and myotatic reflexes in all dogs. Serum cholesterol levels, creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase activities were mildly to markedly elevated, and tibial motor nerve conduction velocities were slow in all dogs. Basal measurements of free T4 and TSH were determined by radioimmunoassay. Although fT4 values were within normal range, in all dogs TSH values were elevated. Based on this results, hypothyroidism was diagnosed and a supplementation therapy was established with oral levothyroxine (T4). Two weeks after treatment has been started, all patients had an improvement in clinical signs, and within a month gait became normal, as well as muscular tonus and spinal reflexes.

Trolleybus power system for operation with AC or DC distribution networks

This paper presents the development and experimental analysis of a special input stage converter for a Trolleybus type vehicle allowing its operation in AC (two wires, single-phase) or DC distribution networks. The architecture of proposed input stage converter is composed by five interleaved boost rectifiers operating in discontinuous conduction mode. Furthermore, due to the power lines characteristics, the proposed input power structure can act as AC to DC or as DC to DC converter providing a proper DC output voltage range required to the DC bus. When operation is AC to DC, the converter is capable to provide high power factor with reduced harmonic distortion for the input current, complying with the restrictions imposed by IEC 61000-3-4 standard. Finally, the main experimental results are presented in order to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter, demonstrating the benefits and the possibility for AC feeding system for trolleybus type vehicle. © 2010 IEEE.

A human retrieval study of plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite-coated plateau root form implants after 2 months to 13 years in function

Calcium phosphate-based bioactive ceramics in various physical and chemical formulations have been extensively utilized as biomaterials for bone regeneration/conduction. However, the determination of their in vivo temporal behavior from the short to long term in humans has been a challenge due to the lack of physical reference for morphologic and morphometric evaluation. The present study evaluated bone morphology and morphometry (bone-to-implant contact [BIC]) around plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite (PSHA)-coated endosseous implants that were retrieved due to prosthetic reasons while successfully in function at the posterior region of the jaws from as early as 2 months to ~13 years after a 6-month healing period after placement. Bone morphology was evaluated by light microscopy, and BIC was determined using computer software. Irrespective of the time in vivo, lamellar bone was observed in close contact with the implant PSHA-coated surface and between plateaus. BIC ranged from ~35-95%, was highly directional, and Haversian-like osteonic morphology between plateaus was observed for most implants. The PSHA coating was present with little variation in thickness between the samples retrieved regardless of time in vivo. © 2010 by Begell House, Inc.

A importância das informações aferentes podais para o controle postural

Introduction. The postural control involves a complex mechanism for connecting the afferent and efferent pathways and their integration into the central nervous system (CNS). Three systems are responsible to obtain outside information: visual, vestibular and sensory. Recent studies have shown that among such systems, the CNS shows a greater predilection for sensory information to postural control. Objective. Given this, the review proposes to discuss the feet sensory information importance and its reflection in postural control mechanisms. Method. For this reason, a literature search was carried out by PubMed and Bireme libraries, and papers of the last five years were selected. Specific books were also used. Discussion. Studies were separated into topics on sensory information integration to neuro-motor answer, postural feed-forward adjustments recruitment mechanisms; neuro-muscular coordination and synergy responses and the musculoskeletal tissues role. Conclusion. Despite has been found a large number of studies, the real mechanism that the CNS uses to filter, integrate and process the sensory information and select the appropriate motor response, be it for the movement or posture for the stabilization remains obscure.

A comparison of performance indexes in DC-DC converters under different stabilizing state-dependent switching laws

This paper deals with the problem of establishing stabilizing state-dependent switching laws in DC-DC converters operating at continuous conduction mode (CCM) and comparing their performance indexes. Firstly, the nature of the problem is defined, that is, the study of switched affine systems, which may not share a common equilibrium point. The concept of stability is, therefore, broadened. Then, the central theorem is proposed, from which a family of switching laws can be derived, namely the minimum law and the hold state law. Some of these are proved to stabilize the basic DC-DC converters and then, their performances are compared to another law, from a previous work, by simulation, where a great reduction in overshoot is obtained. © 2011 IEEE.

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.

Magnetothermal instabilities in magnetized anisotropic plasmas

Using the 16-moment transport equations for an ideal anisotropic collisionless plasma we analyze the influence of pressure anisotropy on the magnetothermal (MTI) and heat-flux-driven buoyancy (HBI) instabilities. We calculate the dispersion relation and the growth rates for these instabilities in the presence of a background heat flux and for configurations with static pressure anisotropy, finding that when the frequency at which heat conduction acts is much larger than any other frequency in the system (i.e. weak magnetic field) the pressure anisotropy has no effect on the MTI/HBI, provided the degree of anisotropy is small. In contrast, when this ordering of timescales does not apply the instability criteria depend on pressure anisotropy.

CO 2 adsorption on polar surfaces of ZnO

Physical and chemical adsorption of CO 2 on ZnO surfaces were studied by means of two different implementations of periodic density functional theory. Adsorption energies were computed and compared to values in the literature. In particular, it was found that the calculated equilibrium structure and internuclear distances are in agreement with previous work. CO 2 adsorption was analyzed by inspection of the density of states and electron localization function. Valence bands, band gap and final states of adsorbed CO 2 were investigated and the effect of atomic displacements analyzed. The partial density of states (PDOS) of chemical adsorption of CO 2 on the ZnO(0001) surface show that the p orbitals of CO 2 were mixed with the ZnO valence band state appearing at the top of the valence band and in regions of low-energy conduction band. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

A Hermenêutica no Campo Organizacional: Duas possibilidades interpretativistas de pesquisa

The present text has the objective of presenting theoretical considerations regarding two types of strategy of research: phenomenology and ethnography. Based on a hermeneutic approach, the two conceptual propositions are presented, the first being dealt with in the sociological context, and the second presented as an anthropological basis. Their similar uses in an organizational context - as well as their differences - are highligthed according to the theoretical contributions of authors belonging to the qualitative universe of organizational research. The text reveals, by the presentations of reported theoretical assumptions, the relevance of the interpretative perspective for the conduction of research that has the organization as object of study, in the pursuit of the identification of ways of constructing the social reality that is the result of the analysis of meanings and experiences lived by the participants, highlighting the importance of the bond between researcher and the research object The theoretical discussion regarding the two perspectives allows to observe the competence of the phenomenological and ethnographic research practice within the field of organizational studies, showing their methodological possibilities to identify dynamics that relate to the experience of life, favoring the analysis of the human being as a phenomenon of interpretation. © FECAP.

Experimental evaluation of the bridgeless interleaved boost PFC converter

This paper presents theoretical evaluation and experimental results to the proposed bridgeless interleaved boost PFC (power factor correction) converter. The application of bridgeless technique causes reduction of conduction losses, while the interleaving technique of the converter cells allows division of the current stress in semiconductor devices and reduction of weight and volume of the input EMI filter. In each cell of the converter, the inductor current operates in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), which eliminates turn-on switching losses and the effects of reverse recovery in semiconductors, increasing the efficiency of the converter. The experimental results show the power factor of 0.96 for employed voltage ratio and an efficiency of 95.2 % for nominal load conditions. © 2012 IEEE.

Efficiency analysis of an isolated high voltage gain converter operating in resonant and non-resonant mode

This paper presents an efficiency investigation of an isolated high step-up ratio dc-dc converter aimed to be used for energy processing from low-voltage high-current energy sources, like batteries, photovoltaic modules or fuel-cells. The considered converter consists of an interleaved active clamp flyback topology combined with a voltage multiplier at the transformer secondary side capable of two different operating modes, i.e. resonant and non-resonant according to the design of the output capacitors. The main goal of this paper is to compare these two operating modes from the component losses point of view with the aim of maximize the overall converter efficiency. The approach is based on losses prediction using steady-state theoretical models (designed in Mathcad environment), taking into account both conduction and switching losses. The models are compared with steady-state simulations and experimental results considering different operating modes to validate the approach. © 2012 IEEE.

Alternate treatments of jacobian singularities in polar coordinates within finite-difference schemes

Jacobian singularities of differential operators in curvilinear coordinates occur when the Jacobian determinant of the curvilinear-to-Cartesian mapping vanishes, thus leading to unbounded coefficients in partial differential equations. Within a finite-difference scheme, we treat the singularity at the pole of polar coordinates by setting up complementary equations. Such equations are obtained by either integral or smoothness conditions. They are assessed by application to analytically solvable steady-state heat-conduction problems.

A DC-DC converter based on the three-state switching cell for high current and voltage step-down applications

This paper presents a pulsewidth modulation dc-dc nonisolated buck converter using the three-state switching cell, constituted by two active switches, two diodes, and two coupled inductors. Only part of the load power is processed by the active switches, reducing the peak current through the switches to half of the load current, as higher power levels can then be achieved by the proposed topology. The volume of reactive elements, i.e., inductors and capacitors, is also decreased since the ripple frequency of the output voltage is twice the switching frequency. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the topology, total losses are distributed among all semiconductors. Another advantage of this converter is the reduced region for discontinuous conduction mode when compared to the conventional buck converter or, in other words, the operation range in continuous conduction mode is increased, as demonstrated by the static gain plot. The theoretical approach is detailed through qualitative and quantitative analyses by the application of the three-state switching cell to the buck converter operating in nonoverlapping mode $(D < 0.5)$. Besides, the mathematical analysis and development of an experimental prototype rated at 1 kW are carried out. The main experimental results are presented and adequately discussed to clearly identify its claimed advantages. © 1986-2012 IEEE.

Water fluoridation in 40 Brazilian cities: 7 year analysis.

Fluoride levels in the public water supplies of 40 Brazilian cities were analyzed and classified on the basis of risk/benefit balance. Samples were collected monthly over a seven-year period from three sites for each water supply source. The samples were analyzed in duplicate in the laboratory of the Center for Research in Public Health - UNESP using an ion analyzer coupled to a fluoride-specific electrode. A total of 19,533 samples were analyzed, of which 18,847 were artificially fluoridated and 686 were not artificially fluoridated. In samples from cities performing water fluoridation, 51.57% (n=9,720) had fluoride levels in the range of 0.55 to 0.84 mg F/L; 30.53% (n=5,754) were below 0.55 mg F/L and 17.90% (n=3,373) were above 0.84 mg F/L (maximum concentration=6.96 mg F/L). Most of the cities performing fluoridation that had a majority of samples with fluoride levels above the recommended parameter had deep wells and more than one source of water supply. There was some variability in the fluoride levels of samples from the same site and between collection sites in the same city. The majority of samples from cities performing fluoridation had fluoride levels within the range that provides the best combination of risks and benefits, minimizing the risk of dental fluorosis while preventing dental caries. The conduction of studies about water distribution systems is suggested in cities with high natural fluoride concentrations in order to optimize the use of natural fluoride for fluoridation costs and avoid the risk of dental fluorosis.