Design to reliability shielded vertical interconnection applied to microwave Chip Scale Packaging

This paper presents the electrical design, measurement and reliability ests of a shielded vertical interconnection dedicated to microwave solder-mount packages. Electromagnetic simulations show very good results up to 20 GHz. Test samples have been designed and manufactured. Electrical results are in accordance with the simulations with insertion loss lower than 0.1 dB up to 20 GHz for the proposed interconnection. Reliability tests of present no degradation of the after 500 thermal cycles in the [-55°C, +125°C] temperature range

(Dis)agreement on Sight-Singing Assessment of Undergraduate Musicians

Assessment criteria for sight-singing abilities are similar to those used to judge music performances across music school programs. However, little evidence of agreement among judges has been provided in the literature. Fifty out of 152 participants were randomly selected and blindly assessed by three judges, who evaluated students based on given criteria. Participants were recorded while sight-singing 19 intervals and 10 tonal melodies. Interjudge agreement on melodic sight-singing was tested considering four items in a five-point Likert scale format as follows: (1) Intonation and pitch accuracy(2) Tonal sense and memory(3) Rhythmic precision, regularity of pulse and subdivisions(4) Fluency and music direction. Intervals were scored considering a 3-point Likert scale. Agreement was conducted using weighted kappa. For melodic sight-singing considering the ten tonal melodies, on average, the weighted kappa (kappa(w)) were: kappa 1(w) = 0.296, kappa 2(w) = 0.487, kappa 3(w) = 0.224, and kappa 4(w) = 0.244, ranging from fair to moderate.. For intervals, the lowest agreement was kappa = 0.406 and the highest was kappa = 0.792 (on average, kappa = 0.637). These findings light up the discussion on the validity and reliability of models that have been taken for granted in assessing music performance in auditions and contests, and illustrate the need to better discuss evaluation criteria.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa (FAPESP-Brasil)Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Mus, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2014/03322-1Web of Scienc

Avaliação do Efeito da Solução de Hipoclorito de Sódio 5,25% Aquecida Sobre a Rugosidade Dentinária

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da solução aquecida de hipoclorito de sódio (NaOCl) 5,25% sobre a rugosidade da dentina humana. Foram selecionados cinco terceiros molares hígidos extraídos dos quais foram obtidos um disco de dentina coronária com 3 milímetros de espessura de cada dente. Com o intuito de se utilizar um modelo experimental de uma mesma amostra (amostra única) foram realizados dois cortes longitudinais em cada disco obtendo-se quatro fragmentos, dos quais três foram selecionados aleatoriamente. Sobre os fragmentos foi aplicada a solução de NaOCl 5,25% em diferentes temperaturas constituindo três grupos experimentais: GI - NaOCl 5,25% à 25°C (temperatura ambiente); GII - NaOCl 5,25% à 37°C; GIII - NaOCl 5,25% à 45°C. A rugosidade da superfície dentinária foi mensurada por meio de um topógrafo tridimensional, através dos parâmetros Rougness Average (Ra) e Surface Average (Sa), antes e após a aplicação do NaOCl 5,25% por 20 minutos nos diferentes tratamentos térmicos. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística através dos testes de Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney e Kruskal Wallis com nível de significância de 5%. As análises foram realizadas no modelo de amostra única (Ra) e em amostras agrugadas por tratamento térmico (Ra e Sa). Não houve diferença estatística significante entre as rugosidades dentinárias (inicial e final) para Ra e Sa, após a aplicação do NaOCl 5,25%, independente da temperatura utilizada. Os resultados não diferiram quando as amostras foram avaliadas através do modelo de amostra única ou com as amostras agrupadas. Pode-se concluir que o aquecimento da solução de NaOCl 5,25% não causou aumento da rugosidade dentinária (Ra) em um mesmo dente e em amostras agrupadas (Ra e Sa). Palavras-chave: Hipoclorito de sódio. Aquecimento. Dentina

Respiratory Effects of Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollutants During Exercise

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is increasing worldwide. Habitual physical activity is known to prevent cardiorespiratory diseases and mortality, but whether exposure to TRAP during exercise affects respiratory health is still uncertain. Exercise causes inflammatory changes in the airways, and its interaction with the effects of TRAP or ozone might be detrimental, for both athletes exercising outdoor and urban active commuters. In this Mini-Review, we summarize the literature on the effects of exposure to TRAP and/or ozone during exercise on lung function, respiratory symptoms, performance, and biomarkers. Ozone negatively affected pulmonary function after exercise, especially after combined exposure to ozone and diesel exhaust (DE). Spirometric changes after exercise during exposure to particulate matter and ultrafine particles suggest a decrease in lung function, especially in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ozone frequently caused respiratory symptoms during exercise. Women showed decreased exercise performance and higher symptom prevalence than men during TRAP exposure. However, performance was analyzed in few studies. To date, research has not identified reliable biomarkers of TRAP-related lung damage useful for monitoring athletes' health, except in scarce studies on airway cells obtained by induced sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage. In conclusion, despite partly counteracted by the positive effects of habitual exercise, the negative effects of TRAP exposure to pollutants during exercise are hard to assess: outdoor exercise is a complex model, for multiple and variable exposures to air pollutants and pollutant concentrations. Further studies are needed to identify pollutant and/or time thresholds for performing safe outdoor exercise in cities

Fiberoptic monitoring of central venous oxygen saturation (PediaSat) in small children undergoing cardiac surgery: continuous is not continuous

Background: Monitoring of superior vena cava saturation (ScvO2) has become routine in the management of pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The objective of our study was to evaluate the correlation between continuous ScvO2 by the application of a fiber-optic oximetry catheter (PediaSat) and intermittent ScvO2 by using standard blood gas measurements. These results were compared to those obtained by cerebral near infrared spectroscopy (cNIRS). Setting: Tertiary pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU). Methods and main results: A retrospective study was conducted in consecutive patients who were monitored with a 4.5 or 5.5 F PediaSat catheter into the right internal jugular vein. An in vivo calibration was performed once the patient was transferred to the PCICU and re-calibration took place every 24 hours thereafter. Each patient had a NIRS placed on the forehead. Saturations were collected every 4 hours until extubation. Ten patients with a median age of 2.2 (0.13-8.5) years and a weight of 12.4 (3.9-24) kg were enrolled. Median sampling time was 32 (19-44) hours: 64 pairs of PediaSat and ScVO2 saturations showed a poor correlation (r=0.62, 95% CI 44-75; p<0.0001) and Bland Altman analysis for repeated measures showed an average difference of 0.34 with a standard deviation of 7,9 and 95% limits of agreement from -15 to 16. Thirty-six pairs of cNIRS and ScVO2 saturations showed a fair correlation (r=0.79, 95% CI 0.60-0.89; p<0.0001) an average difference of -1.4 with a standard deviation of 6 and 95% limits of agreement from -13 to 10. Analysis of median percentage differences between PediaSat and ScvO2 saturation over time revealed that, although not statistically significant, the change in percentage saturation differences was clinically relevant after the 8th hour from calibration (from -100 to +100%). Conclusion: PediaSat catheters showed unreliable performance in our cohort. It should be further investigated whether repeating calibrations every 8 hours may improve the accuracy of this system. CNIRS may provide similar results with a lower invasiveness

Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and Surfactant protein-B turnover in human acute lung injury and in control patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Acute Lung Injury (ALI) have low concentrations of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. No information is available on their turnover.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To analyze disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B turnover in patients with ARDS/ALI and in human adults with normal lungs (controls).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>²H₂O as precursor of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine-palmitate and 1¹³C-Leucine as precursor of surfactant protein-B were administered intravenously to 12 patients with ARDS/ALI and to 8 controls. Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B were isolated from serial tracheal aspirates, and their fractional synthetic rate was derived from the ²H and ¹³C enrichment curves, obtained by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine, surfactant protein-B, and protein concentrations in tracheal aspirates were also measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>1) Surfactant protein-B turned over at faster rate than disaturated-phosphatidylcholine both in ARDS/ALI patients and in controls. 2) In patients with ARDS/ALI the fractional synthesis rate of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine was 3.1 times higher than in controls (p < 0.01), while the fractional synthesis rate of surfactant protein-B was not different. 3) In ARDS/ALI patients the concentrations of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B in tracheal aspirates were markedly and significantly reduced (17% and 40% of the control values respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>1) Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B have a different turnover both in healthy and diseased lungs. 2) In ARDS/ALI the synthesis of these two surfactant components may be differently regulated.</p

Vellozia flavicans Mart. ex Schult. hydroalcoholic extract inhibits the neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOBackground: Snakebite is a significant public health issue in tropical countries. In Brazil, some of the most common snake envenomations are from Bothrops. Bothrops bites trigger local and systemic effects including edema, pain, erythema, cyanosis, infections, and necrosis. Vellozia flavicans is a plant from the Brazilian " cerrado" (savanna) that is popularly used as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Since inflammation develops quickly after Bothrops bites, which can lead to infection, the aim of the present study was to observe possible anti-snake venom and antimicrobial activities of V. flavicans (Vf). Methods: The chromatographic profile of the main constituents from the Vf leaf hydroalcoholic extract was obtained by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The anti-snake venom activity was measured by Vf's ability to neutralize the in vitro neuromuscular blockade caused by Bothrops jararacussu venom (Bjssu) in a mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm model (PND). After a 20 min incubation, preparations of PND were added to Tyrode's solution (control); Vf (0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL); 40 μg/mL Bjssu; pre-incubation for 30 min with Bjssu and 1 mg/mL Vf; and a Bjssu pretreated preparation (for 10 min) followed by 1 mg/mL Vf. Myographic recording was performed, and the contractile responses were recorded. The antimicrobial activity (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC]) was obtained for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis, using gentamicin and vancomycin as positive controls. Results: TLC analysis yielded several compounds from Vf, such as flavonoids (quercetin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid). Bjssu completely blocked the contractile responses of PND preparations, while Vf preserved 97% (±10%) of the contractile responses when incubated with Bjssu. In the PND pretreated with Bjssu, Vf was able to inhibit the neuromuscular blockade progress. MIC and MBC of Vf ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 mg/mL for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains, while no antimicrobial activity was observed for E. coli and E. faecalis.Conclusions: The hydroalcoholic extract from Vf leaves was able to neutralize and decrease the in vitro neuromuscular blockade caused by Bjssu. However, it did not show significant antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria. © 2014 Tribuiani et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Snakebite is a significant public health issue in tropical countries. In Brazil, some of the most common snake envenomations are from Bothrops. Bothrops bites trigger local and systemic effects including edema, pain, erythema, cyanosis, infections, and necrosis. Vellozia flavicans is a plant from the Brazilian "cerrado" (savanna) that is popularly used as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Since inflammation develops quickly after Bothrops bites, which can lead to infection, the aim of the present study was to observe possible anti-snake venom and antimicrobial activities of V. flavicans (Vf). The chromatographic profile of the main constituents from the Vf leaf hydroalcoholic extract was obtained by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The anti-snake venom activity was measured by Vf's ability to neutralize the in vitro neuromuscular blockade caused by Bothrops jararacussu venom (Bjssu) in a mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm model (PND). After a 20 min incubation, preparations of PND were added to Tyrode's solution (control); Vf (0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL); 40 μg/mL Bjssu; pre-incubation for 30 min with Bjssu and 1 mg/mL Vf; and a Bjssu pretreated preparation (for 10 min) followed by 1 mg/mL Vf. Myographic recording was performed, and the contractile responses were recorded. The antimicrobial activity (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC]) was obtained for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis, using gentamicin and vancomycin as positive controls. TLC analysis yielded several compounds from Vf, such as flavonoids (quercetin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid). Bjssu completely blocked the contractile responses of PND preparations, while Vf preserved 97% (±10%) of the contractile responses when incubated with Bjssu. In the PND pretreated with Bjssu, Vf was able to inhibit the neuromuscular blockade progress. MIC and MBC of Vf ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 mg/mL for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains, while no antimicrobial activity was observed for E. coli and E. faecalis. The hydroalcoholic extract from Vf leaves was able to neutralize and decrease the in vitro neuromuscular blockade caused by Bjssu. However, it did not show significant antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria14FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2004/09705-8; 2007/53883-6; 2008/52643-4; 2008/11005-5; 2012/08271-0Neglected tropical diseases: Snakebite, , http://www.who.int/bloodproducts/animal_sera/Rabies.pdf?ua=1, WHO - World Health Organization(2009) Textos Básicos de Saúde (Cadernos de Atenção Básican. 22), , Health surveillance:zoonoses, Brasil. 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QJM, 90, pp. 323-334Petricevich, V.L., Teixeira, C.F.P., Tambourghi, D.V., Gutiérrez, J.M., Increments in serum cytokine and nitric oxide levels in mice injected with Bothrops asper and Bothrops jararaca snake venom (2000) Toxicon, 38, pp. 1253-1266(2007) Rabies and envenomings: a neglected public health issue, , http://www.who.int/bloodproducts/animal_sera/Rabies.pdf, Available from: WHO - World Health OrganizationMalomouzh, A.I., Mukhtarov, M.R., Nikolsky, E.E., Vyskocil, F., Lieberman, E.M., Urazaev, A.K., Glutamate regulation of non-quantal release of acetylcholine in the rat neuromuscular junction (2003) J Neurochem, 85, pp. 206-213Rubem Mauro, L., Rocha, D.S., Barcelos, C.C., Varca, G.H., Andréo Filho, N., Barberato Filho, S., Oshima Franco, Y., Phenobarbital pharmacological findings on the nerve-muscle basis (2009) Lat Am J Pharm, 28, pp. 211-218. , Vila MMDCCintra-Francischinelli, M., Silva, M.G., Andréo-Filho, N., Gerenutti, M., Cintra, A.C.O., Giglio, J.R., Leite, G.B., Oshima-Franco, Y., Antibothropic action of Casearia sylvestris Sw. 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Receptor de GPS experimental para satélites de órbita baja

En este trabajo se presenta el diseño, la implementación y la validación de un receptor de GPS capaz de operar en un satélite de baja órbita. Se desarrolló tanto el hardware como el software necesario debiendo recurrir a diversas técnicas como diseño de circuitos de radio frecuencia y circuitos impresos para señales de alta velocidad, sincronización de señales de comunicaciones digitales, diseño de software de tiempo real y algoritmos de estimación no lineal. El desarrollo completo de un receptor de GPS con estas características, resultado de más de 10 años de trayectoria en la temática del grupo de trabajo, pone en evidencia el nivel de desarrollo que puede tener la electrónica realizada en el país. El receptor fue implementado y probado, pudiéndose verificar su correcto funcionamiento. Se muestran algunas de las pruebas realizadas, por simulación y con mediciones reales, que permitieron validar distintas etapas del diseño. Actualmente, este receptor forma parte del satélite argentino SAC-D de la CONAE a ser puesto en órbita en 2011

Bothrops jararacussu venom-induced neuromuscular blockade inhibited by Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet hydroalcoholic extract

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOThe hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 mu g/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (+/- 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6% (+/- 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g%) and polyphenols (4.63 g%) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims163432441CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOsem informaçãosem informaçã

Pre-surgery urine metabolomics may predict late neurodevelopmental outcome in children with congenital heart disease

Background: From fetal life until cardiac surgery, complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) exhibit different hemodynamic and oxygenation patterns that can lead to alteration of the metabolic profile. We used a metabolomic approach to identify urine metabolic markers before cardiac surgery, aiming to define the physiology of patients with complex CHD and to contribute to predict their neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods: In a prospective, observational, single-center study we enrolled 28 patients with complex biventricular and univentricular CHD aged less than 5 years, on stable hemodynamic conditions, and with no genetic anomalies. We analyzed urine samples, collected at the induction of anesthesia, by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Profiles of 1H NMR spectra were submitted to unsupervised (principal component) and supervised (partial least squares-discriminant) multivariate analysis. Neurodevelopment was assessed by neuropsychological and adaptive functioning testing. Results: Principal components analysis divided CHD patients metabolic profiles in two distinct clusters (RED and BLACK). Metabolic profiles belonging to the RED cluster showed higher levels of accumulation of citric acid cycle intermediates and glucose compared to the profiles in the BLACK cluster, indicating a possible switching to anaerobic metabolism. Patients belonging to the RED cluster were significantly more prone to show an adverse neurodevelopment pattern (p = 0.01). Conclusions: The application of metabolomic analysis to CHD children permitted a deeper insight on their metabolic status that could help to obtain a better understanding of the physiological implications and to predict long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. © 201