Wear resistance of experimental titanium alloys for dental applications

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Intravaginal electrical stimulation: a randomized, double-blind study on the treatment of mixed urinary incontinence

Background the aim of this study was to compare effective and sham intravaginal electrical stimulation (IES) in treating mixed urinary incontinence. Methods. Between January 2001 and February 2002, 40 women were randomly distributed, in a double-blind study, into two groups: group G1 (n = 20), effective IES, and group G2 (n = 20), sham IES, with follow up at one month. Different parameters was studied: 1. clinical questionnaire, 2. body mass index; 3. 60-min pad test; 4. urodynamic study. The protocol of IES consisted of three 20-min sessions per week over a seven-week period. The Dualpex Uro 996 used a frequency of 4 Hz. Results. There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic data of both groups. The number of micturitions per 24 h after treatment was reduced significantly in both groups. Urge incontinence was reduced to 15% in G1 and 31.5% in G2; there was no significant difference between the groups. In the analog wetness and discomfort sensation evaluations were reduced significantly in both groups. The pretreatment urodynamic study showed no statistical difference in urodynamic parameters between the groups. Ten percent of the women presented involuntary detrusor contractions. In the 60-min pad test, there was a significant reduction in both groups. In regards to satisfaction level, after treatment, 80% of G1 patients and 65% of G2 patients were satisfied. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion. Significant improvement was provided by effective and sham electrostimulation, questioning the effectiveness of electrostimulation as a monotherapy.

Effect of Jupiter's mass growth on satellite capture

We study the effects of Jupiter mass growth in order to permanently capture prograde satellites. Adopting the restricted three-body problem, Sun-Jupiter-Particle, we performed numerical simulations backward in time while considering the decrease in Jupiter's mass. We considered the particle's initial conditions to be prograde, at pericenter, in the region 100R(4) <= a <= 400R(4) and 0 <= e <= 0.5. The results give Jupiter's mass at the moment when the particle escapes from the planet. Such values give an indication of the conditions that are necessary for capture. An analysis of these results shows that prograde satellite capture is more complex than a retrograde one. It occurs in a two-step process. First, when the particles get inside about 0.85R(Hill) (Hills' radius), they become weakly bound to Jupiter. Then, they keep migrating toward the planet with a strong decrease in eccentricity, while the planet is growing. The radial oscillation of the particles reduces significantly when they reach a radial distance that is less than about 0.45R(Hill) from the planet. Three-dimensional simulations for the known prograde satellites of Jupiter were performed. The results indicate that Leda, Himalia, Lysithea, and Elara could have been permanently captured when Jupiter had between 50% and 60% of its present mass.

Stable satellites around extrasolar giant planets

In this work, we study the stability of hypothetical satellites of extrasolar planets. Through numerical simulations of the restricted elliptic three-body problem we found the borders of the stable regions around the secondary body. From the empirical results, we derived analytical expressions of the critical semimajor axis beyond which the satellites would not remain stable. The expressions are given as a function of the eccentricities of the planet, e(P), and of the satellite, e(sat). In the case of prograde, satellites, the critical semimajor axis, in the units of Hill's radius, is given by a(E) approximate to 0.4895 (1.0000 - 1.0305e(P) - 0.2738e(sat)). In the case of retrograde satellites, it is given by a(E) approximate to 0.9309 (1.0000 - 1.0764e(P) - 0.9812e(sat)). We also computed the satellite stability region (a(E)) for a set of extrasolar planets. The results indicate that extrasolar planets in the habitable zone could harbour the Earth-like satellites.

Possibility of collision between co-orbital asteroids and the Earth

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Algumas considerações sobre o estatuto do psicológico no Projetofreudiano

Embora no Projeto freudiano não seja oferecida, de uma maneira explícita, uma conceituação a respeito do estatuto do psicológico, pensamos que é possível delinear esse estatuto e tentaremos fazê-lo com base em uma maneira de interpretar o modelo do psiquismo que é construído no texto freudiano. Isto levar-nos-á também a situar o Projeto em relação ao clássico problema mente-corpo. Pretendemos dar conta da tarefa proposta apoiando-nos, sobretudo, em uma distinção que estabeleceremos entre o representar, entendido como ato intencional, e a representação, entendida como traço de memória. Também contemplaremos a forma de comportamento do fator quantitativo-energético nas ordens processuais do psicológico e do neurofisiológico.

High volume peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure

Background. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is still widely used for acute renal failure (ARF) in developing countries despite concerns about its inadequacy. Continuous PD has been evaluated in ARF by analyzing the resolution of metabolic abnormality and normalization of plasma pH, bicarbonate, and potassium.Methodology: A prospective study was performed on 30 ARF patients who were assigned to high-dose continuous PD (Kt/V = 0.65 per session) via a flexible catheter (Tenckhoff) and automated PD with a cycler. Fluid removal, pH and metabolic control, protein Loss, and patient outcome were evaluated.Results: Patients received 236 continuous PD sessions; 76% were admitted to ICUs. APACHE II score was 32.2 +/- 8.65. BUN concentrations stabilized after 3 sessions, creatinine after 4, and bicarbonate and pH after 2. Fluid removal was 2.1 +/- 0.62 L/day. Creatinine and urea clearances were 15.8 +/- 4.16 and 17.3 +/- 5.01 mL/minute respectively. Normalized creatinine clearance and urea Kt/V values were 110.6 +/- 22.5 L/week/1.73 m(2) body surface area and 3.8 +/- 0.6 respectively. Solute reduction index was 41% +/- 6.5% per session. Serum albumin values remained stable in spite of considerable protein tosses (median 21.7 g/day, interquartile range 9.1 - 29.8 g/day). Regarding ARF outcome, 23% of patients presented renal function recovery, 13% remained on dialysis after 30 days of follow-up, and 57% died.Conclusion: High-dose continuous PD by flexible catheter and cycler was an effective treatment for ARF. It provided high solute removal, allowing appropriate metabolic and pH control, and adequate dialysis dose and fluid removal. Continuous PD can therefore be considered an alternative to other forms of renal replacement therapy in ARF.

On the scattering of comets by a planet

In this paper, numerical simulations are made, using the three-dimensional restricted three-body problem as the mathematical model, to calculate the effects of a swing-by with the planet Saturn in the orbit of a comet. To show the results, the orbit of the comet is classified in four groups: elliptic direct, elliptic retrograde, hyperbolic direct and hyperbolic retrograde. Then, the modification in the orbit of the comet due to the close approach is shown in plots that specify from which group the comet's orbit is coming and to which group it is going. Several families of orbits are found and shown in detail. An analysis about the trends as parameters (position and velocity at the periapse) vary is performed and the influence of each of them is shown and explained. The result is a collection of maps that describe the evolution of the trajectory of the comet due to the close approach. Those maps can be used to estimate the probability of some events, like the capture or escape of a comet. An example of this technique is shown in the paper. (C) 2005 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Renormalization in non-relativistic quantum mechanics

The importance and usefulness of renormalization are emphasized in non-relativistic quantum mechanics. The momentum space treatment of both two-body bound state and scattering problems involving some potentials singular at the origin exhibits ultraviolet divergence. The use of renormalization techniques in these problems leads to finite converged results for both the exact and perturbative solutions. The renormalization procedure is carried out for the quantum two-body problem in different partial waves for a minimal potential possessing only the threshold behaviour and no form factors. The renormalized perturbative and exact solutions for this problem are found to be consistent with each other. The useful role of the renormalization group equations for this problem is also pointed out.

Effects of recovery type after a judo combat on blood lactate removal and on performance in an intermittent anaerobic task

Aim. The objective of this study was to verify the effects of active (AR) and passive recovery (PR) after a judo match on blood lactate removal and on performance in an anaerobic intermittent task (4 bouts of upper body Wingate tests with 3-min interval between bouts; 4WT).Methods. The sample was constituted by 17 male judo players of different competitive levels: A) National (Brazil) and International medallists (n. 5). B) State (São Paulo) medallists (n. 7). Q City (São Paulo) medallists (n. 5). The subjects were submitted to: 1) a treadmill test for determination of VO2peak and velocity at anaerobic threshold (VAT); 2) body composition; 3) a 5-min judo combat, 15-min of AR or PR followed by 4WT.Results. The groups did not differ with respect to: body weight, VO2peak, VAT, body fat percentage, blood lactate after combats. No difference was observed in performance between AR and PR, despite a lower blood lactate after combat (10 and 15 min) during AR compared to PR. Groups A and B performed better in the high-intensity intermittent exercise compared to athletes with lower competitive level (C).Conclusion. The ability to maintain power output during intermittent anaerobic exercises can discriminate properly judo players of different levels. Lactate removal was improved with AR when compared to PR but AR did not improve performance in a subsequent intermittent anaerobic exercise.

Impact of the training program on lipid profile and cardiac health

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of training programs on serum lipid profile and myocardial oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats (2 mo-old) were divided into three groups (n=8): sedentary (S), loadless trained (T) and trained-overload 2% body weight (TL). T and TL were trained through swimming for 9 weeks. T and TL rats had increased myocardial lipoperoxide (TBA) and lipid hydroperoxide (HP), whereas HP was higher in TL than in T animals. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were lowest in TL. Myocardial glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was lower in TL than in T and S rats. TL decreased HDL-cholesterol and increased LDL-cholesterol. The serum lactate dehydrogenase and TBA were increased, while SOD and GSH-Px activities were decreased in TL rats. Loadless training was able to improve HDL-cholesterol and to reduce LDL-cholesterol. In conclusion, the loadless training program induced beneficial effects on lipid profile, while overload training induced dyslipidemic profile that was associated with serum oxidative stress. The overload training program was deleterious relative to loadless training program, increasing myocardial oxidative stress.

Alternative paths to Earth-Moon transfer

The planar, circular, restricted three-body problem predicts the existence of periodic orbits around the Lagrangian equilibrium point L1. Considering the Earth-lunar-probe system, some of these orbits pass very close to the surfaces of the Earth and the Moon. These characteristics make it possible for these orbits, in spite of their instability, to be used in transfer maneuvers between Earth and lunar parking orbits. The main goal of this paper is to explore this scenario, adopting a more complex and realistic dynamical system, the four-body problem Sun-Earth-Moon-probe. We defined and investigated a set of paths, derived from the orbits around L1, which are capable of achieving transfer between low-altitude Earth (LEO) and lunar orbits, including high-inclination lunar orbits, at a low cost and with flight time between 13 and 15 days.

Strategies for plane change of Earth orbits using lunar gravity and derived trajectories of family G

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Energy Expenditure and Oxygen Consumption as Novel Biomarkers of Obesity-induced Cardiac Disease in Rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Regiões de estabilidade no sistema Plutão-Caronte

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)