Long-term results of operative treatment for Hirschsprung's disease and internal anal sphincter achalasia

The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term results of operative treatment for Hirschsprung's disease(HD) and internal anal sphincter achalasia. Fecal continence and quality of life were evaluated by a questionnaire in 100 adult patients who had undergone surgery for HD, during 1950-75. Fecal continence was evaluated using a numerical scoring described by Holschneider. Fifty-four of the 100 patients underwent clinical examination, rigid sigmoidoscopy and manometric evaluation. In anorectal manometry basal resting pressure(BRP)and maximal squeeze pressure(MSP) were measured and voluntary sphincter force(VSF) was calculated by subtracting the BRP from MSP. The results of operative treatment for adult HD were compared with the results of the patients operated in childhood. In adult HD the symptoms are such mild that the patients attain adolescence or even adulthood. The patients with HD and cartilage-hair-hypoplasia were specifically evaluated. The outcome of the patients with internal anal sphincter achalasia operated on by myectomy was evaluated by a questionnaire and continence was evaluated using a numerical scoring described by Holschneider. Of the 100 patients operated on for HD 38 patients had completely normal bowel habits. A normal or good continence score was found in 91 our of 100 patients. Nine patients had fair continence. One of the patients with fair continence had Down's syndrome and two were mentally retarded for other reasons. Only one patient suffered from constipation. In anorectal manometry the difference in BRP between patients with normal and good continence was statistically significant, whereas the difference between good and fair continence groups was not statistically significant. The differences on MSP and VSF between patient groups with different continence outcome were not statistically significant. The differences between patient groups and normal controls were statistically significant in BRP and MSP. In VSF there was not statistically significant difference between the patients and the normal controls. The VSF reflects the working power of the muscles including external sphincter, levator ani and gluteal muscles. The patients operated at adult age had as good continence as patients operated in childhood. The patients with HD and cartilage-hair-hypoplasia had much more morbidity and mortality than non-cartilage-hair-hypoplasia HD patients. The mortality was as high as 38%. In patients with internal anal sphincter achalasia the constipation was cured or alleviated by myectomy whereas a significant number suffered from soiling-related social problems.

Study of voltage collapse at converter bus in asynchronous MTDC-AC systems

This paper presents the analysis and study of voltage collapse at any converter bus in an AC system interconnected by multiterminal DC (MTDC) links. The analysis is based on the use of the voltage sensitivity factor (VSF) as a voltage collapse proximity indicator (VCPI). In this paper the VSF is defined as a matrix which is applicable to MTDC systems. The VSF matrix is derived from the basic steady state equations of the converter, control, DC and AC networks. The structure of the matrix enables the derivation of some of the basic properties which are generally applicable. A detailed case study of a four-terminal MTDC system is presented to illustrate the effects of control strategies at the voltage setting terminal (VST) and other terminals. The controls considered are either constant angle, DC voltage, AC voltage, reactive current and reactive power at the VST and constant power or current at the other terminals. The effect of the strength of the AC system (measured by short circuit ratio) on the VSF is investigated. Several interesting and new results are presented. An analytical expression for the self VSF at VST is also derived for some specific cases which help to explain the number of transitions in VSF around the critical values of SCR.

Are squash players protecting their eyes?

Methods: A survey of 303 players (aged ≥18 years) was conducted at three squash venues in Melbourne, Australia over a three week period in June 2000 to obtain information about protective eyewear use.

Results: Of 303 participants the response rate was 98.1%; 66.1% were males, with a mean age of 40.5 years. The majority (68.4%) had played squash for 10 years or more. Although 18.8% of players reported using protective eyewear, only 8.9% reported wearing approved eyewear. Both age group (p<0.05) and years of squash experience (p<0.01) were significantly associated with any eyewear use. The two main influences were personal experience of eye injuries (50.0%) and knowledge of eye injury risk (33.9%). A commonly reported barrier was restriction of vision (34.2%).

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate a low prevalence of voluntary use of appropriate protective eyewear. Future prevention strategies incorporating education campaigns should focus on increasing players' knowledge of risks. The barriers to use and misconceptions about which types of eyewear is most protective need to be addressed as a priority.

Medidas de parâmetros morfológicos e funcionais do Coração em brasileiros: um subestudo do primeiro registro multicêntricos latino-americano em ressonância magnética cardiáca

There is no data about cardiac measurements em Brazilians obtained by CMR. This a muldisciplinary study with the objective of obtaining measurements of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) diastolic diameter (Dd), systolic diameter (Ds), diastolic volume (Dv), systolic volume (Sv), ejection fraction (EF) and myocardial mass in Brazilians. One hundred and seven (54 men and 53 women, mean age of 43.4 ± 13.1 years) asymptomatic individuals without heart disease were submitted to cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) studies using steady state free precession technique. The means and standard deviations of the parameters of the LV and RV were respectively: LVDD = 4,8 ± 0,5 cm; LVSD = 3,0±0,6 cm; LVDV = 128,4±29,6 ml; LVSV = 45,2±16,6 ml; LVEF = 65,5±6,3%; LV mass = 95,2±30,8.1 g; RVDD = 3,9±1,3 cm; RVSD = 2,5±0,5 cm; RVDV = 126,5±30,7 ml; RVSV = 53.6±18,4 ml; RVEF = 58.3±8,0.0% and RV mass = 26,1±6,1 g. The masses and volumes were significantly higher in men, except for the LVSV. The RV EF was significantly higher in women. There was inverse correlation between RV systolic volume and with age, being more significant in men. This study describes for the first time benchmarks for cardiac measurements obtained by CMR among asymptomatic Brazilians individuals without heart disease and demonstrated differences according to sex and age

Particulate Backscattering Ratio at Leo 15 and Its Use to Study Particle Composition and Distribution

Particulate scattering and backscattering are two quantities that have traditionally been used to quantify in situ particulate concentration. The ratio of the backscattering by particles to total scattering by particles (the particulate backscattering ratio) is weakly dependent on concentration and therefore provides us with information on the characteristics of the particulate material, such as the index of refraction. The index of refraction is an indicator of the bulk particulate composition, as inorganic minerals have high indices of refraction relative to oceanic organic particles such as phytoplankton and detrital material that typically have a high water content. We use measurements collected near the Rutgers University Long-term Ecosystem Observatory in 15 m of water in the Mid-Atlantic Bight to examine application of the backscattering ratio. Using four different instruments, the HOBILabs Hydroscat-6, the WETLabs ac-9 and EcoVSF, and a prototype VSF meter, three estimates of the ratio of the particulate backscattering ratio were obtained and found to compare well. This is remarkable because these are new instruments with large differences in design and calibration. The backscattering ratio is used to map different types of particles in the nearshore region, suggesting that it may act as a tracer of water movement. We find a significant relationship between the backscattering ratio and the ratio of chlorophyll to beam attenuation. This implies that these more traditional measurements may be used to identify when phytoplankton or inorganic particles dominate. In addition, it provides an independent confirmation of the link between the backscattering ratio and the bulk composition of particles.

Procedimiento de análisis y evaluación para la rehabilitación térmica de cerramientos de fachada en edificios residenciales. Caso de estudio en el barrio Pinar del Rey, Madrid

La preocupación por el consumo energético, las emisiones de CO2 y la situación de crisis que tanto afecta al sector de la construcción en nuestro país, ha llevado a las administraciones públicas a promover un nuevo modelo constructivo, la rehabilitación. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las intervenciones se rigen todavía por parámetros estéticos a escala del edificio, mientras que los aspectos de mejora energética aún no tienen la importancia que deberían. En este aspecto, el comportamiento extremadamente disipativo del edificio, es el componente principal del consumo energético de la edificación. El elemento con mayor repercusión en el ahorro energético es el cerramiento de fachada, en algunos casos el ahorro tras la intervención de rehabilitación, puede superar el 70% del ahorro total posible. En este contexto, se ha desarrollado esta investigación, que tiene por finalidad servir de instrumento de ayuda para el técnico que debe afrontar la rehabilitación de fachadas de edificios residenciales. El procedimiento desarrollado, permitirá elegir los criterios para reducir el consumo energético de la edificación durante su vida útil conociendo a la vez el periodo de amortización de la intervención. Se elabora un procedimiento de análisis y evaluación sistematizada de la fachada existente, siguiendo los siguientes pasos: clasificación y caracterización de los sistemas constructivos de fachada del periodo de estudio seleccionado, análisis térmico de la envolvente vertical, clasificación y evaluación de criterios de mejora y estudio comparativo entre el ahorro energético y el coste de la inversión (cálculo de periodo de amortización). Éste cálculo permite realizar una comparación entre distintas soluciones de mejora para un mismo caso de estudio y por lo tanto conocer, previamente a la intervención, cuál es la actuación de rehabilitación más conveniente. Posteriormente se aplica esta metodología a un caso de estudio, un edificio residencial en el barrio madrileño de PInar del Rey.

La conciliación del empleo y del hogar: respuesta y reflejo de una organización del trabajo construida desde la institución del género

A la luz del debate en torno a la relación entre la vida laboral y familiar, este artículo propone un modelo compuesto por las variables: sexo, edad, estudios, parentesco y dos índices nombrados por vsp y vsf. El primero (vsp) trata de situar a la población ocupada en una escala que refleje la situación en términos de modalidad de contrato, jornadas, ingresos y supervisión. El segundo refleja las cargas familiares. Se plantean dos versiones distintas del modelo: vsp como dependiente o vsf. El objetivo de este ejercicio es doble: 1) observar hasta qué punto las cargas domésticas influyen en la posición dentro del puesto de trabajo remunerado, y 2) averiguar qué variable sociodemográfica tiene mayor influencia sobre ellas. Los datos han sido extraídos de la Encuesta de Calidad de Vida en el Trabajo (ECVT 2001, 2002 y 2003). A la luz de los resultados, la distribución por sexo en «vsp» y «vsf» es significativamente distinta: los hombres asalariados ocupan las mejores posiciones. Además, el modelo sólo actúa para las mujeres asalariadas principales de familia (cabezas de familia y cónyuges). Esta última observación es completamente coherente con una organización de trabajo construida desde la institución del género.

Simulação de desempenho luminoso para salas de aula em Natal-RN

The city of Natal has a significant daylight availability, although it use isn’t systematically explored in schools architecture. In this context, this research aims to determine procedures for the analysis of the daylight performance in school design in Natal-RN. The method of analysis is divided in Visible Sky Factor (VSF), simulating and analyzing the results. The annual variation of the daylight behavior requires the adoption of dynamic simulation as data procedure. The classrooms were modelled in SketchUp, simulated in Daysim program and the results were assessed by means of spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel. The classrooms dimensions are 7.20mx 7.20m, with windows-to-wall-ratio (WWR) of 20%, 40% and 50%, and with different shading devices, such as standard horizontal overhang, sloped overhang, standard horizontal overhang with side view protection, standard horizontal overhang with a dropped edge, standard horizontal overhang with three horizontal louvers, double standard horizontal overhang, double standard horizontal overhang with three horizontal louvers, plus the use of shelf light in half the models with WWR of 40% and 50%. The data was organized in spreadsheets, with two intervals of UDI: between 300lux and 2000 lux and between 300lux and 3000lux. The simulation was performed with the weather file of 2009 to the city of NatalRN. The graphical outputs are illuminance curves, isolines of UDI among 300lux and 2000 lux and tables with index of occurrences of glare and to an UDI among 300lux 3000lux. The best UDI300-2000lux performance was evidenced to: Phase 1 (models with WWR of 20%), Phase 2 (models with WWR of 40% and 50% with light shelf). The best UDI300-3000lux performance was evidenced to: Phase 1 (models with WWR of 20% and 40% with light shelf) and Phase 2 (models with WWR of 40% and 50% with light shelf). The outputs prove that the daylight quality mainly depends on the shading system efficacy to avoid the glare occurrence, which determines the daylight discomfort. The bioclimatic recommendations of big openings with partial shading (with an opening with direct sunlight) resulted in illuminances level higher than the acceptable upper threshold. The improvement of the shading system percentage (from 73% to 91%) in medium-size of openings (WWR 40% and 50%) reduced or eliminate the glare occurrence without compromising the daylight zone depth (7.20m). The passive zone was determined for classrooms with satisfactory daylight performance, it was calculated the daylight zone depth rule-of-thumb with the ratio between daylight zone depth and the height of the window for different size of openings. The ratio ranged from 1.54 to 2.57 for WWR of 20%, 40% and 50% respectively. There was a reduction or elimination of glare in the passive area with light shelf, or with awning window shading.

Híbridos de Psidium: compatibilidade de cruzamentos e aspectos genéticos para controle de Meloidogyne enterolobii.

Desde o primeiro registro da presença destrutiva de Meloidogyne enterolobii, em 2001, em áreas de goiabeira no Vale do São Francisco (VSF), nos estados da Bahia e de Pernambuco, a ocorrência desse nematoide passou a ter dimensão nacional, sendo relatado em outros 17 estados brasileiros, constituindo-se no principal desafio para a cultura. Práticas de controle do patógeno, como uso de nematicidas, controle biológico, adubações nitrogenadas, plantas não hospedeiras e manejo integrado, têm efeito limitado ou ineficiente (Freitas, 2012). O impacto inicial direto do nematoide na cultura da goiabeira foi estimado em quase US$ 70 milhões em todo o Brasil (Pereira et al., 2009), com redução inicial de até 50% da área plantada no VSF.

Desenvolvimento dos ácidos orgânicos em diferentes fases fenológicas de uvas viníferas destinadas à elaboração de vinhos tintos tropicais no Brasil.

A Região do Vale do São Francisco possui condições privilegiadas para o cultivo das videiras, tais como baixa precipitação pluviométrica e disponibilidade de água para irrigação que possibilitam um estresse hídrico e ciclo vegetativo da videira controlados pelo viticultor, permitindo a produção escalonada durante a maior parte do ano (LIMA, 2010) As uvas viníferas contêm na casca, polpa e sementes, uma grande quantidade de diferentes compostos considerados essenciais à qualidade e tipicidade dos vinhos. Se destacam: os açúcares, transformados em álcool durante a sua elaboração; os compostos nitrogenados utilizados pelas leveduras como fonte de energia para a transformação dos açúcares em álcool; os precursores de aromas revelados pelas enzimas das leveduras na vinificação; os ácidos orgânicos com importante papel na conservação e equilíbrio e os compostos fenólicos responsáveis pela coloração e estrutura de vinhos tintos (SILVA NETO et al., 2009). De acordo com Mandelli et al. (2003) a qualidade do vinho encontra-se diretamente relacionada à composição química e ao ponto ideal de colheita da uva, evento que envolve maturações fisiológica, tecnológica e fenólica. Embora as condições edafoclimáticas, os tratos culturais e manejo dos vinhedos tenham fundamental importância sobre os estádios de desenvolvimento das bagas, as pesquisas sobre o tema, nas condições climáticas desta Região são ainda incipientes. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a evolução dos ácidos orgânicos de variedades de uvas viníferas tintas destinadas a produção de vinhos finos no Vale do São Francisco (VSF).

Parâmetros cromáticos e metabólitos secundários de uvas viníferas no vale do São Francisco

No Brasil, a vitivinicultura voltada para elaboração de vinhos finos é desenvolvida nas regiões Sul e Nordeste. No Sul esta atividade apresenta padrão fenológico anual, similar ao encontrado na viticultura de clima temperado com um ciclo vegetativo por ano. No Nordeste, o Vale do São Francisco (VSF), com vinhedos distribuídos nos estados de Pernambuco e Bahia, é a principal região vitivinícola tropical brasileira, localizada entre os paralelos 8º e 9º de latitude sul, com altitude média de 350 m acima do nível do mar e clima tropical semiárido com variabilidade intranual (TONIETTO; TEIXEIRA, 2004). As uvas viníferas contêm na casca, polpa e sementes, uma grande quantidade de diferentes compostos considerados essenciais à qualidade e tipicidade dos vinhos, destacando os açucares transformados em álcool durante a sua elaboração e os compostos fenólicos responsáveis pela coloração e estrutura de vinhos tintos (SILVA NETO et al., 2009). A obtenção de vinhos com qualidade superior no Brasil, entretanto, passa pela obtenção da melhoria na qualidade da uva (AMORIM et al., 2005). Para tanto é importante considerar além das condições críticas da sua formação, a influência de variáveis microclimáticas sobre o processo de maturação fisiológica, caracterizada por transformações bioquímico-enzimáticas, dependentes da temperatura, radiação solar, umidade, dentre outros fatores (SANTOS; KAYE, 2009). Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar parâmetros cromáticos (intensidade de cor e tonalidade) e metabólitos secundários (antocianinas e polifenóis), durante o período de maturação, de uvas viníferas do Vale do São Francisco.