Acid-Base Changes in Canine Neonates Following Normal Birth or Dystocia

There are limited data concerning blood gas parameters in neonatal dogs. Knowledge of the normal physiology may facilitate effective therapeutic intervention and potentially reduce neonatal mortality. This study examined acid-base parameters in pups born at normal parturition (n = 27) compared with those born after obstetrical assistance or caesarean operation (n = 13) and those born following oxytocin (OXY) administration for treatment of uterine inertia (n = 11). Pups were subjected to an objective scoring method of neonatal health adapted from use in humans (the Apgar score) at birth and again at 5 and 60 min after birth. Venous blood samples were collected at 5 and 60 min after birth for evaluation of blood gas parameters. At birth, all pups had low Apgar scores and a mixed acidosis. The base excess was lowest for pups delivered after OXY administration. The Apgar score improved for all pups after 5 min of birth and there was an improvement in carbon dioxide tension, base excess and venous blood pH at 1 h, although in all pups a metabolic acidosis persisted. These data provide an important insight into neonatal physiology and the variability of blood gas parameters in pups born at normal and abnormal parturition and provide the basis for clinical decision making following dystocia.

Effects of Ethanol on the Surface and Bulk Properties of a Microwave-Processed PMMA Denture Base Resin

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of ethanol on hardness, roughness, flexural strength, and color stability of a denture base material using a microwave-processed acrylic resin as a model system. Materials and Methods: Sixty circular (14 x 4 mm) and 60 rectangular microwave-polymerized acrylic resin specimens (65 x 10 x 3 mm(3)) were employed in this study. The sample was divided into six groups according to the ethanol concentrations used in the immersion solution, as follows: 0% (water), 4.5%, 10%, 19%, 42%, and 100%. The specimens remained immersed for 30 days at 37 degrees C. The hardness test was performed by a hardness tester equipped with a Vickers diamond penetrator, and a surface roughness tester was used to measure the surface roughness of the specimens. Flexural strength testing was carried out on a universal testing machine. Color alterations (Delta E) were measured by a portable spectrophotometer after 12 and 30 days. Variables were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey`s test (alpha = 0.05). Results: For the range of ethanol-water solutions for immersion (water only, 4.5%, 10%, 19.5%, 42%, and 100%), the following results were obtained for hardness (13.9 +/- 2.0, 12.1 +/- 0.7, 12.9 +/- 0.9, 11.2 +/- 1.5, 5.7 +/- 0.3, 2.7 +/- 0.5 VHN), roughness (0.13 +/- 0.01, 0.15 +/- 0.07, 0.13 +/- 0.05, 0.13 +/- 0.02, 0.23 +/- 0.05, 0.41 +/- 0.19 mu m), flexural strength (90 +/- 12, 103 +/- 18, 107 +/- 16, 90 +/- 25, 86 +/- 22, 8 +/- 2 MPa), and color (0.8 +/- 0.6, 0.8 +/- 0.3, 0.7 +/- 0.4, 0.9 +/- 0.3, 1.3 +/- 0.3, 3.9 +/- 1.5 Delta E) after 30 days. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the ethanol concentrations of tested drinks affect the physical properties of the investigated acrylic resin. An obvious plasticizing effect was found, which could lead to a lower in vivo durability associated with alcohol consumption.

The Effect of Polymerization Cycles on Color Stability of Microwave-Processed Denture Base Resin

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of different microwave polymerization cycles on the color changes of a microwave-processed denture base resin after accelerated aging and immersion in beverages. Materials and Methods: Specimens of light pink acrylic resin were divided into three groups according to polymerization cycle: (A) 500 W for 3 minutes, (B) 90 W for 13 minutes + 500 W for 90 seconds, and (C) 320 W for 3 minutes + 0 W for 4 minutes + 720 W for 3 minutes. Control groups were a heat-processed acrylic resin (T) and a chemically activated denture repair resin (Q). Eight specimens per group were aged in an artificial aging chamber and evaluated at 20, 192, and 384 hours. Another series of 40 specimens per group were immersed in water, coffee, tea, cola, or red wine and evaluated at 1, 12, and 36 days. Color was measured by a spectrophotometer before and after aging or immersion. Color changes (Delta E) were analyzed by ANOVA/Bonferroni t-test (alpha = 0.05). Results: Mean Delta E (+/- SD) after 384 hours of accelerated aging were (A) 2.51 +/- 0.50; (B) 3.16 +/- 1.09; (C) 2.89 +/- 1.06; (T) 2.64 +/- 0.34; and (Q) 9.03 +/- 0.40. Group Q had a significantly higher Delta E than the other groups. Color changes of immersed specimens were significantly influenced by solutions and time, but the five groups showed similar values. Mean Delta E at 36 days were (water) 1.4 +/- 0.8; (coffee) 1.3 +/- 0.6; (tea) 1.7 +/- 0.5; (cola) 1.4 +/- 0.7; and (red wine) 10.2 +/- 2.7. Results were similar among the five test groups. Conclusions: Color changes of the microwave-polymerized denture base resin tested were not affected by different polymerization cycles after accelerated aging or immersion in beverages. These changes were similar to the conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin test, but lower than the repair resin after accelerated aging.

Evaluation of the Bond Strength of Denture Base Resins to Acrylic Resin Teeth: Effect of Thermocycling

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thermocycling effects and shear bond strength of acrylic resin teeth to denture base resins. Materials and Methods: Three acrylic teeth (Biotone, Trilux, Ivoclar) were chosen for bonding to four denture base resins: microwave-polymerized (Acron MC), heat-polymerized (Lucitone 550 and QC-20), and light-polymerized (Versyo. bond). Twenty specimens were produced for each denture base/acrylic tooth combination and were divided into two groups (n = 10): without thermocycling (control groups) and thermocycled groups submitted to 5000 cycles between 4 and 60 degrees C. Shear strength tests (MPa) were performed with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out with three-way ANOVA and Bonferroni`s multiple comparisons post hoc analysis for test groups (alpha = 0.05). Results: The shear bond strengths of Lucitone/Biotone, Lucitone/Trilux, and Versyo/Ivoclar specimens were significantly decreased by thermocycling, compared with the corresponding control groups (p < 0.05). The means of Acron/Ivoclar and Lucitone/Ivoclar specimens increased after thermocycling (p < 0.05). The highest mean shear bond strength value was observed with Lucitone/Biotone in the control group (14.54 MPa) and the lowest with QC-20/Trilux in the thermocycled group (3.69 MPa). Conclusion: Some acrylic tooth/denture base resin combinations can be more affected by thermocycling; effects vary based upon the materials used.

Effect of methyl methacrylate monomer on bond strength of denture base resin to acrylic teeth

Bond failures at the acrylic teeth and denture base resin interface are still a common clinical problem in prosthodontics. The effect of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer on the bond strength of three types of denture base resins (Acron MC, Lucitone 550 and QC-20) to two types of acrylic teeth (Biotone and Trilux) was evaluated. Twenty specimens were produced for each denture base resin/acrylic tooth combination and were randomly divided into control (acrylic teeth received no surface treatment) and experimental groups (MMA was applied to the surface of the acrylic teeth for 180 s) and were submitted to shear tests (1 mm/mm). Data (MPa) were analyzed using three-way ANOVA/Student`s test (alpha = 0.05). MMA increased the bond strength of Lucitone denture base resins and decreased the bond strength of QC-20. No difference was detected for the bond strength of Acron MC base resin after treatment with MMA. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Review of "Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reduction"

Review of Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reductionbby K. STRATTON, P. SHEATHE, R. WALLACE & S. BANDURANT Washington DC, National Academy Press, 2001, xix + 636 pp, US$49.95, ISBN 0309 07282 4 (hbk)

Synthesis and characterization of mono- and bis-ligand zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of the di-2-pyridylketone Schiff base of S-benzyl dithiocarbazate (Hdpksbz) and the X-ray crystal structures of the [Zn(dpksbz)2] and [Cd(dpksbz)NCS]2 complexes

New mono- and bis-chelated zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of formula, [M(dpksbz)NCS] (dpksbz = anionic form of the di-2-pyridylketone Schiff base of S-benzyldithiocarbazate) and [M(dpksbz)(2)] (M = Zn-II, Cd-II) have been prepared and characterized. The structure of the bis-ligand complex, [Zn(dpksbZ)(2)] has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a distorted octahedral geometry in which the ligands are coordinated to the zinc(II) ion as uninegatively charged tridentate chelates via the thiolate sulfur atoms, the azomethine nitrogen atoms and the pyridine nitrogen atoms. The distortion from a regular octahedral geometry is attributed to the restricted bite angles of the Schiff base ligands. X-ray structural analysis shows that the [Cd(dpksbz)NCS](2) complex is a centrosymmetric dimer in which each of the cadmium(II) ions adopts a five-coordinate, approximately square-pyramidal configuration with the Schiff base acting as a tetradentate chelating agent coordinating a cadmium(II) ion via one of the pyridine nitrogen atoms, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulfur atom; the second pyridine nitrogen atom is coordinated to the other cadmium(II) ion of the dimer. The fifth coordination position around each cadmium(II) is occupied by an N-bonded thiocyanate ligand. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Programa de apoio ao desenvolvimento de novas empresas de base tecnol??gica agropecu??ria e ?? transfer??ncia de tecnologia (Proeta)

Em dezembro de 2001, o Proeta foi criado pela Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecu??ria (Embrapa) com apoio financeiro do Fundo Multilateral de Investimentos do Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (Fumin/BID), por meio de um acordo de coopera????o t??cnica n??o-reembols??vel. O programa tem o objetivo de contribuir para a transfer??ncia de tecnologias e conhecimentos gerados pela Embrapa para empreendimentos de base tecnol??gica, mediante a utiliza????o do processo de incuba????o de empresas. Para concretizar a iniciativa, foram estabelecidas experi??ncias-piloto em cinco unidades de pesquisa da Embrapa, estrategicamente situadas nas regi??es Nordeste, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste. Entre os resultados e avan??os obtidos merecem destaque 21 tecnologias disponibilizadas, 14 conv??nios firmados com incubadoras, 16 propostas de neg??cios apresentadas, 14 empresas pr??-selecionadas e incubadas, e uma empresa graduada. A consolida????o das alian??as e parcerias no processo de incuba????o resultou em um sistema de inova????o que auxilia o desenvolvimento sustent??vel da cadeia produtiva do agroneg??cio, gerando benef??cios para a sociedade em geral

Programa de Racionaliza????o de Processos com base na Aprendizagem Organizacional: PRPAO

O Programa de Racionaliza????o de Processos com base na Aprendizagem Organizacional (PRPAO), unindo os princ??pios da organiza????o racional e da organiza????o de aprendizagem, teve como objetivo levantar e aplicar os meios mais eficientes para a consecu????o das tarefas di??rias, incorporando conhecimentos e novas pr??ticas de gest??o ?? organiza????o. Por ocasi??o de sua implementa????o, primeiramente procurou-se identificar a forma como as atividades eram realizadas; em seguida, detectar as id??ias e os conhecimentos existentes para melhoria dessas atividades; e, por ??ltimo, por meio de prioriza????es, implementar as mudan??as sugeridas. O principal recurso utilizado nesse programa foi o humano, sobretudo voltado para capacidade de gerir id??ias, n??o havendo, no momento, necessidade de despesas extras com consultoria. Os resultados foram surpreendentes, pois medidas simples trouxeram uma redu????o no tempo gasto, de mais de 80%, em determinados processos e uma economia de recursos financeiros superior a 20%

Produtividade e sa??de financeira: a import??ncia da venda de servi??os pela Base Naval de Natal para clientes extra: Marinha

A Marinha, com sua vis??o para o futuro e preocupada com a dificuldade de mensura????o dos custos de suas organiza????es industriais e prestadoras de servi??os, instituiu, a partir de 1994, o sistema de Organiza????es Militares Prestadoras de Servi??os (OMPS). Nesse contexto, a base Naval de Natal (BNN) precisou encontrar propostas que a mantivesse superavit??ria. Para tal, tornou-se necess??rio o engajamento de todos os n??veis da OM para, dentro de uma vis??o sist??mica de mensura????o existente, atingir um desempenho global satisfat??rio. Ap??s a implanta????o da iniciativa, alcan??ou-se o aumento substancial do faturamento, com rela????o aos clientes extra-Marinha, a redu????o dos prazos de prontifica????o dos servi??os prestados, sem queda na qualidade e com a constante preocupa????o de se verificar o n??vel de satisfa????o do cliente; o incremento da terceiriza????o consciente; o surgimento de parcerias com a iniciativa privada que geraram a otimiza????o da capacidade instalada em algumas oficinas; maior agilidade no processo de obten????o, devido a uma melhor coordena????o entre as ??reas industrial e de log??stica; e a possibilidade de investimentos na ??rea industrial e nas condi????es de trabalho,em decorr??ncia do aumento da produtividade

Uma base para o desenvolvimento de estrat??gias de aprendizagem para a gest??o de riscos no servi??o p??blico

Este Caderno traz o relat??rio elaborado pela Mesa-Redonda de Pesquisa A????o sobre Gest??o de Riscos, do Centro Canadense para o Desenvolvimento da Gest??odo Canad??, que objetiva principalmente avaliar as v??rias iniciativas e estudos realizados, identificar princ??pios b??sicos e pr??ticas positivas e definir mecanismos para estimular a divulga????o de estudos te??ricos e medidas pr??ticas no campo da gest??o de riscos

Base flutuante de fiscaliza????o federal integrada

Este projeto consiste na celebra????o de conv??nios entre a Superintend??ncia Regional da Secretaria da Receita Federal no Par?? com as principais institui????es envolvidas nas atividades de policiamento da Amaz??nia, visando reduzir a pr??tica do contrabando, narcotr??fico e a devasta????o do meio-ambiente causada pela extra????o indiscriminada de madeiras. O conv??nio foi celebrado entre a Pol??cia Federal, IBAMA, SUFRAMA e Secretaria de Estado da Fazenda. No munic??pio de ??bidos ??? PA, por onde passam todas as embarca????es procedentes da Zona Franca de Manaus com destino ??s cidades de Santar??m e Bel??m ??? PA, foi constru??da uma base flutuante denominada Candiru, a qual se constitui em um eficiente mecanismo de vigil??ncia e repress??o ?? pr??tica do contrabando via fluvial