Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in gas and particulate phases of indoor environments influenced by tobacco smoke: levels, phase distributions, and health risks

As polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have a negative impact on human health due to their mutagenic and/or carcinogenic properties, the objective of this work was to study the influence of tobacco smoke on levels and phase distribution of PAHs and to evaluate the associated health risks. The air samples were collected at two homes; 18 PAHs (the 16 PAHs considered by U.S. EPA as priority pollutants, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[j]fluoranthene) were determined in gas phase and associated with thoracic (PM10) and respirable (PM2.5) particles. At home influenced by tobacco smoke the total concentrations of 18 PAHs in air ranged from 28.3 to 106 ngm 3 (mean of 66.7 25.4 ngm 3),∑PAHs being 95% higher than at the non-smoking one where the values ranged from 17.9 to 62.0 ngm 3 (mean of 34.5 16.5 ngm 3). On average 74% and 78% of ∑PAHs were present in gas phase at the smoking and non-smoking homes, respectively, demonstrating that adequate assessment of PAHs in air requires evaluation of PAHs in both gas and particulate phases. When influenced by tobacco smoke the health risks values were 3.5e3.6 times higher due to the exposure of PM10. The values of lifetime lung cancer risks were 4.1 10 3 and 1.7 10 3 for the smoking and nonsmoking homes, considerably exceeding the health-based guideline level at both homes also due to the contribution of outdoor traffic emissions. The results showed that evaluation of benzo[a]pyrene alone would probably underestimate the carcinogenic potential of the studied PAH mixtures; in total ten carcinogenic PAHs represented 36% and 32% of the gaseous ∑PAHs and in particulate phase they accounted for 75% and 71% of ∑PAHs at the smoking and non-smoking homes, respectively.

Multiresidue method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in still wine and fortified wine using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography – Tandem mass spectrometry

A SPME-GC-MS/MS method for the determination of eight organophosphorus pesticides (azinphos-methyl, chlorpyriphos, chlorpyriphos-methyl, diazinon, fenitrothion, fenthion, malathion, and methidathion) in still and fortified wine was developed. The extraction procedure is simple, solvent free, and without any sample pretreatment. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) values in the range 0.1–14.3 lg/L and 0.2–43.3 lg/L, respectively, were obtained. The LOQ values are below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) established by European Regulation for grapes, with the exception of methidathion. Coefficients of correlation (R2) higher than 0.99 were obtained for the majority of the pesticides, in all different wines analyzed.

Determination of 24 pesticide residues in fortified wines by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

The present work describes a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography_tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method to quantify 24 pesticides in fortified white wine and fortified red wine. In this study “fortified wine” refers to a wine in which fermentation is arrested before completion by alcohol distillate addition, allowing sugar and alcoholic contents to be higher (around 80-100 g/L total sugars and 19-22% alcohol strength (v/v)). The analytical method showed good linearity, presenting correlation coefficients (R2) ≥ 0.989 for all compounds. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) in the ranges of 0.05-72.35 and 0.16-219.23 μg/L, respectively, were obtained. LOQs are below the maximum residue levels (MRL) set by European Regulation for grapes. The proposed method was applied to 17 commercial fortified wines. The analyzed pesticides were not detected in the wines tested.

Dynamics and orchestral effects in late Eighteenth-Century portuguese organ music: the works of José Marques e Silva (1782-1837) and the organs of António Xavier Machado e Cerveira (1756-1828)

A maioria dos órgãos históricos portugueses data dos finais do século XVIII ou do princípio do século XIX. Durante este período foi construído um invulgar número de instrumentos em Lisboa e nas áreas circundantes por António Xavier Machado e Cerveira (1756-1828) e outros organeiros menos prolíficos. O estudo desses órgãos, muitos dos quais (restaurados ou não) se encontram próximos das condições originais, permite a identificação de um tipo de instrumento com uma morfologia específica, claramente emancipada do chamado «órgão ibérico». No entanto, até muito recentemente, não era conhecida música que se adaptasse às idiossincrasisas daqueles instrumentos. O recente estudo das obras para órgão de José Marques e Silva (1782-1837) permitiu clarificar esta situação. Bem conhecido durante a sua vida como organista e compositor, José Marques e Silva foi um dos ultimos mestres do Seminário Patriarcal. A importância da sua produção musical reside não só num substancial número de obras com autoria firmemente estabelecida – escritas, na maior parte, para coro misto com acompanhamento de órgão obbligato – mas também na íntima relação entre a sua escrita e a morfologia dos órgãos construídos em Portugal durante a sua vida. Este artigo enfatiza a importância de José Marques e Silva (indubitavelmente, o mais significativo compositor português para órgão do seu tempo) sublinhando a relevância das suas obras para órgão solo, cujo uso extensivo de escrita idiomática e indicações de registação fazem delas um dos mais importantes documentos só início do século XIX sobre a prática organística em Portugal.

Interlimb relation during the double support phase of gait: an electromyographic, mechanical and energy based analysis

The purpose of this study is to analyse the interlimb relation and the influence of mechanical energy on metabolic energy expenditure during gait. In total, 22 subjects were monitored as to electromyographic activity, ground reaction forces and VO2 consumption (metabolic power) during gait. The results demonstrate a moderate negative correlation between the activity of tibialis anterior, biceps femoris and vastus medialis of the trailing limb during the transition between midstance and double support and that of the leading limb during double support for the same muscles, and between these and gastrocnemius medialis and soleus of the trailing limb during double support. Trailing limb soleus during the transition between mid-stance and double support was positively correlated to leading limb tibialis anterior, vastus medialis and biceps femoris during double support. Also, the trailing limb centre of mass mechanical work was strongly influenced by the leading limbs, although only the mechanical power related to forward progression of both limbs was correlated to metabolic power. These findings demonstrate a consistent interlimb relation in terms of electromyographic activity and centre of mass mechanical work, being the relations occurred in the plane of forward progression the more important to gait energy expenditure.

Interlimb coordination during the stance phase of gait in subjects with stroke

Objective: To analyze the relation between contralesional and ipsilesional limbs in subjects with stroke during step-to-step transition of walking. Design: Observational, transversal, analytical study with a convenience sample. Setting: Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic. Participants: Subjects (nZ16) with poststroke hemiparesis with the ability to walk independently and healthy controls (nZ22). Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Bilateral lower limbs electromyographic activity of the soleus (SOL), gastrocnemius medialis, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis (VM) muscles and the ground reaction force were analyzed during double-support and terminal stance phases of gait. Results: The propulsive impulse of the contralesional trailing limb was negatively correlated with the braking impulse of the leading limb during double support (rZ .639, PZ.01). A moderate functional relation was observed between thigh muscles (rZ .529, PZ.035), and a strong and moderate dysfunctional relation was found between the plantar flexors of the ipsilesional limb and the vastus medialis of the contralesional limb, respectively (SOL-VM, rZ .80, P<.001; gastrocnemius medialis-VM, rZ .655, PZ.002). Also, a functional moderate negative correlation was found between the SOL and rectus femoris muscles of the ipsilesional limb during terminal stance and between the SOL (rZ .506, PZ.046) and VM (rZ .518, PZ.04) muscles of the contralesional limb during loading response, respectively. The trailing limb relative impulse contribution of the contralesional limb was lower than the ipsilesional limb of subjects with stroke (PZ.02) and lower than the relative impulse contribution of the healthy limb (PZ.008) during double support. Conclusions: The findings obtained suggest that the lower performance of the contralesional limb in forward propulsion during gait is related not only to contralateral supraspinal damage but also to a dysfunctional influence of the ipsilesional limb.

Ativação muscular na anca e joelho na variação do ângulo de valgo durante a fase de apoio do salto vertical

Introdução e objetivos – A contração muscular do quadricípete, isquiotibiais e rotadores externos apresenta um papel crucial no controlo da estabilidade articular dinâmica, nomeadamente no valgo de joelho no plano frontal. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a existência de relação entre a ativação muscular (medida pela recolha eletromiográfica do reto anterior, dos isquiotibiais e do grande glúteo) e a variação da angulação do joelho durante a fase de apoio do salto vertical no plano frontal (medida pela análise cinemática de vídeo) através de um estudo‑piloto. Metodologia – Trata‑se de um estudo descritivo correlacional com uma amostra de 220 saltos verticais (110 saltos correspondentes a cada um dos membros inferiores) realizados por 4 executantes (dois do género feminino e dois do género masculino com idade média de 28 anos ± 6,4). Resultados – Verificou‑se a existência de correlações significativas entre a ativação muscular do reto anterior na fase descendente do salto à direita e à esquerda e a tendência para um menor ou maior ângulo de valgo, respetivamente. O género influencia a dinâmica do joelho, verificando‑se que as mulheres apresentam estratégias de ativação diferentes dos homens. Conclusão – A diminuição da ativação muscular da anca parece influenciar os movimentos dinâmicos do joelho no plano frontal, enquadrando‑se nos resultados obtidos por outros autores. O material utilizado na recolha de dados, o sincronismo entre o trigger e o vídeo e o número reduzido de executantes que realizaram a amostra poderão constituir limitações ao estudo que se deverão considerar na realização de estudos futuros.

Fractional dynamics and MDS visualization of earthquake phenomena

This paper analyses earthquake data in the perspective of dynamical systems and fractional calculus (FC). This new standpoint uses Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) as a powerful clustering and visualization tool. FC extends the concepts of integrals and derivatives to non-integer and complex orders. MDS is a technique that produces spatial or geometric representations of complex objects, such that those objects that are perceived to be similar in some sense are placed on the MDS maps forming clusters. In this study, over three million seismic occurrences, covering the period from January 1, 1904 up to March 14, 2012 are analysed. The events are characterized by their magnitude and spatiotemporal distributions and are divided into fifty groups, according to the Flinn–Engdahl (F–E) seismic regions of Earth. Several correlation indices are proposed to quantify the similarities among regions. MDS maps are proven as an intuitive and useful visual representation of the complex relationships that are present among seismic events, which may not be perceived on traditional geographic maps. Therefore, MDS constitutes a valid alternative to classic visualization tools for understanding the global behaviour of earthquakes.