Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has failed to distinguish between smaller gut regions and larger haemal sinuses in sea urchins (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

A response to Ziegler A, Faber C, Mueller S, Bartolomaeus T: Systematic comparison and reconstruction of sea urchin (Echinoidea) internal anatomy: a novel approach using magnetic resonance imaging. BMC Biol 2008, 6: 33

An ACA Accelerated isogeometric boundary element analysis of potential problems with non-uniform boundary conditions

This paper presents an Adaptive Cross Approximation (ACA) accelerated Isogeometric Boundary Element Method (IGBEM) using Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) as shape and interpolation functions. Provided that NURBS are used in CAD programs to describe geometry, mesh generation in the IGBEM is no longer necessary. For large and complex models the traditional BEM quickly becomes very time and memory consuming. In order to overcome this problem, the use of ACA is considered in this paper. As the NURBS control points are typically located outside the boundary, non-uniform boundary conditions cannot be applied at control points. So, a transformation matrix is used to allow the application of boundary conditions at control points without losing accuracy and, with a special approach, preserving the time and memory advantages of hierarchical matrices provided by the ACA. Two and tree dimensional numerical examples are presented in order to assess the accuracy and feasibility of the method

Temporomandibular disorders in patients with craniocervical dystonia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Temporomandibular disorders are a set of musculoskeletal dysfunctions within the masticatory system, with multiple etiologies. Objective: Since craniocervical dystonia can involye the same neuromuscular structure as the temporomandibular joint, we sought to assess the correlation between temporomandibular disorders and craniocervical dystonia. Method: We applied the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders to 42 patients with craniocervical dystonia, in order to identify orofacial pain and temporomandibular characteristics on the day of botulinum toxin injection. Results: Twenty-two patients (52.3%) reported temporomandibular joint pain; 24 (57.1%), joint sounds; 20 (47.6%), masticatory muscle pain; and 21(50%), diminished jaw mobility. The patients with oromandibular dystonia presented temporomandibular disorders more frequently than did patients with other types of craniocervical dystonia (p<0.001). Conclusion: Temporomandibular disorders occur frequently in patients with oromandibular dystonia. Further studies should address the proper treatment of temporomandibular disorders associated with dystonia. Key words: botulinum toxin, cervical dystonia, cranial dystonia, temporomandibular disorders.696896899Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Boehringer IngelheimRocheIpsenFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Two accelerated isogeometric boundary element method formulations: fast multipole method and hierarchical matrices method

This work presents two fast isogeometric formulations of the Boundary Element Method (BEM) applied to heat conduction problems, one accelerated by Fast Multipole Method (FMM) and other by Hierarchical Matrices. The Fast Multipole Method uses complex variables and expansion of fundamental solutions into Laurant series, while the Hierarchical Matrices are created by low rank CUR approximations from the k−Means clustering technique for geometric sampling. Both use Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) as shape functions. To reduce computational cost and facilitate implementation, NURBS are decomposed into Bézier curves, making the isogeometric formulation very similar to the conventional BEM. A description of the hierarchical structure of the data and the implemented algorithms are presented. Validation is performed by comparing the results of the proposed formulations with those of the conventional BEM formulation. The computational cost of both formulations is analyzed showing the advantages of the proposed formulations for large scale problems

FRECUENCIA DEL USO DEL ANTICONCEPTIVO ORAL DE EMERGENCIA Y SUS REPERCUSIONES EN LA SALUD de las alumnas de la Universidad Alas Peruanas Puerto Maldonado- Marzo-Mayo, 2012

 Objetivo: Conocer como la frecuencia de uso del  anticonceptivo oral de emergencia (AOE), repercute en la salud de las alumnas de la Universidad Alas Peruanas-Puerto Maldonado, marzo-mayo del 2012. Material y métodos:Se trabajó con una población de 60 alumnas usuarias y el muestreo fue intencionado. Es una investigación de tipo Descriptivo, no experimental y  de corte transversal. Resultados:El 33.0% de la muestra tienen 19 años a más  seguidos de los que tienen 18 años (29.6%). Respecto a la religión el 100% son creyentes. Saben lo que es la AOE, el 42.85% de las usuarias obtuvo la información del internet y en menor % la obtuvieron de la pareja y propaganda televisiva. El 71.42% de las usuarias manifiesta que tienen conocimiento de los efectos Secundarios y conocen la dosificación. La frecuencia en el uso de AOE de los últimos 6 meses el 76.20% ha hecho uso de ella,  14 usuarias manifiestan haberla tomado de 1 a 3 veces. La frecuencia del uso de AOE en periodo de un año  el 90.47% manifiesta que si la uso, de estas usuarias el 84.21%  refiere que la uso de 1 a 3 veces.Dentro de las repercusiones en la salud el síntoma que se presentó con  más frecuencia fue el dolor de cabeza (32%) seguido de las náuseas (28%), hinchazón de mamas (12%), secreción blanquecina (12%), y menstruación adelanta un 4%, frente a un 12% que no presento ningún síntoma.Conclusiones:La mayoría de usuarias son adolescentes tardías (18,19 años). En su totalidad son creyentes, y  conocen la dosificación de la AOE. La frecuencia de uso es elevada y  Dentro de las repercusiones en la salud el síntoma que se presentó con  más frecuencia fue el dolor de cabeza, náuseas, hinchazón de mamas, secreción blanquecina, y menstruación adelantada.La frecuencia elevada de AOE ocasiona efectos colaterales no deseados, en las usuarias. Palabras clave: Anticoncepción oral de emergencia, repercusiones en la salud

Augmented plasma microparticles during acute Plasmodium vivax infection

Background: In the last few years, the study of microparticles (MPs) - submicron vesicles released from cells upon activation or apoptosis - has gained growing interest in the field of inflammation and in infectious diseases. Their role in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax remains unexplored. Because acute vivax malaria has been related to pro-inflammatory responses, the main hypothesis investigated in this study was that Plasmodium vivax infection is associated with elevated levels of circulating MPs, which may play a role during acute disease in nonimmune patients. Methods: Plasma MPs were analysed among thirty-seven uncomplicated P. vivax infections from an area of unstable malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon. The MP phenotype was analysed by flow cytometry using the classical MP marker, annexin, and fluorochrome-labeled monoclonal antibodies against specific cell surface markers. The frequencies of plasma MPs in P. vivax patients (n = 37) were further compared to malaria-unexposed controls (n = 15) and ovarian carcinoma patients (n = 12), a known MPs-inducing disease non-related to malaria. Results: The frequencies of plasma circulating MPs were markedly increased in P. vivax patients, as compared to healthy age-matched malaria-unexposed controls. Although platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes were the main cellular sources of MPs during vivax malaria, platelet derived-MPs (PMPs) increased in a linear fashion with the presence of fever at the time of blood collection (b = 0.06, p < 0.0001) and length of acute symptoms (b = 0.36, p < 0.0001). Finally, the results suggest that plasma levels of PMPs diminish as patient experience more episodes of clinical malaria (b = 0.07, p < 0.003). Conclusions: Abundant circulating MPs are present during acute P. vivax infection, and platelet derived-MPs may play a role on the acute inflammatory symptoms of malaria vivax

Scintillator-based ion beam profiler for diagnosing laser-accelerated ion beams

Next generation intense, short-pulse laser facilities require new high repetition rate diagnostics for the detection of ionizing radiation. We have designed a new scintillator-based ion beam profiler capable of measuring the ion beam transverse profile for a number of discrete energy ranges. The optical response and emission characteristics of four common plastic scintillators has been investigated for a range of proton energies and fluxes. The scintillator light output (for 1 MeV > Ep < 28 MeV) was found to have a non-linear scaling with proton energy but a linear response to incident flux. Initial measurements with a prototype diagnostic have been successful, although further calibration work is required to characterize the total system response and limitations under the high flux, short pulse duration conditions of a typical high intensity laser-plasma interaction

Coastal risk mitigation by green infrastructure in Latin America

This paper aims to highlight the prevailing experiences of Latin America and to clarify what ‘green infrastructure’ entails in addition to describing seven case studies from a range of coastal ecosystems (wetlands, coastal dunes, beaches and coral reefs) at scales varying from local to regional. The case studies are categorised according to their degree of naturalness (nature-based, engineered ecosystems, soft engineering, ecologically enhanced hard infrastructure and de-engineering). Generally, the implementation of green infrastructure projects aims to increase resilience, enhance the provision of ecosystem services, recover biodiversity, reduce the negative effects of hard infrastructure and implement corrective measures. The greatest benefits of these projects relate to the creation of multi-functional spaces, which often combine the above advantages with improved opportunities for recreation and/or economic activities. It is hoped that this paper will disseminate the experience in green infrastructure among academics and practitioners and stimulate wider adoption of green infrastructure projects and good practices

Seroprevalence of Chikungunya Virus after Its Emergence in Brazil.

Chikungunya has had a substantial impact on public health because of the magnitude of its epidemics and its highly debilitating symptoms. We estimated the seroprevalence, proportion of symptomatic cases, and proportion of chronic form of disease after introduction of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 2 cities in Brazil. We conducted the population-based study through household interviews and serologic surveys during October-December 2015. In Feira de Santana, we conducted a serologic survey of 385 persons; 57.1% were CHIKV-positive. Among them, 32.7% reported symptoms, and 68.1% contracted chronic chikungunya disease. A similar survey in Riachão do Jacuípe included 446 persons; 45.7% were CHIKV-positive, 41.2% reported symptoms, and 75.0% contracted the chronic form. Our data confirm intense CHIKV transmission during the continuing epidemic. Chronic pain developed in a high proportion of patients. We recommend training health professionals in management of chronic pain, which will improve the quality of life of chikungunya-affected persons