Accelerated expansion from a non-minimal gravitational coupling to matter

It is shown that a non-minimal coupling between the scalar curvature and the matter Lagrangian density may account for the accelerated expansion of the Universe and provide, through mimicking, for a viable unification of dark energy and dark matter. An analytical exploration is first performed, and a numerical study is then used to validate the obtained results. The encountered scenario allows for a better grasp of the proposed mechanism, and sets up the discussion for improvements that can lead to a complete agreement with the observational data.Comment: Latex file, 10 pages, 6 figure

Does water fluoridation influence ethnic inequalities in caries in Brazilian children and adolescents?

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the influence of community water fluoridation on ethnic inequalities in untreated dental caries among children and adolescents in Brazil while taking the human development context into account. / Methods: Data from a nationwide Brazilian epidemiological population oral health survey were used (SB Brazil 2010). Outcomes were caries prevalence measured by the proportion of individuals with one or more untreated decayed teeth and caries severity defined by the mean number of untreated decayed teeth (DT). Three different contexts were considered: 1—cities with no water fluoridation; 2—cities with water fluoridation and low Human Development Index (HDI); and 3—cities with water fluoridation and high HDI. The exposure was ethnic/racial group (White, Pardo, Black) and covariates were age, sex and household income. Multilevel logistic and negative binomial regressions were performed with 6696 children (aged 5 years) and 11 585 adolescents (aged 12 and 15-19 years). / Results: For both children and adolescents, ethnic differences in caries prevalence and mean DT were found in the nonfluoridated cities with low HDI and also in cities with high HDI, most of which were fluoridated. For example in nonfluoridated cities with low HDI, 5-year-old Pardo children were more likely to have untreated decay (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.46) and had more decayed teeth (RR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.34) than their White counterparts after adjusting for sex and household income. No statistically significant differences were observed in fluoridated cities with low HDI. / Conclusion: Water fluoridation appears to be associated with reduced ethnic inequalities in dental caries prevalence and mean DT among children and adolescents in more disadvantaged settings

Is serum phosphorus control related to parathyroid hormone control in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism?

Background Elevated serum phosphorus (P) levels have been linked to increased morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) but may be difficult to control if parathyroid hormone (PTH) is persistently elevated. We conducted a post hoc analysis of data from an earlier interventional study (OPTIMA) to explore the relationship between PTH control and serum P. Methods The OPTIMA study randomized dialysis patients with intact PTH (iPTH) 300–799 pg/mL to receive conventional care alone (vitamin D and/or phosphate binders [PB]; n = 184) or a cinacalcet-based regimen (n = 368). For patients randomized to conventional care, investigators were allowed flexibility in using a non-cinacalcet regimen (with no specific criteria for vitamin D analogue dosage) to attain KDOQI™ targets for iPTH, P, Ca and Ca x P. For those assigned to the cinacalcet-based regimen, dosages of cinacalcet, vitamin D sterols, and PB were optimized over the first 16 weeks of the study, using a predefined treatment algorithm. The present analysis examined achievement of serum P targets (≤4.5 and ≤5.5 mg/dL) in relation to achievement of iPTH ≤300 pg/mL during the efficacy assessment phase (EAP; weeks 17–23). Results Patients who achieved iPTH ≤ 300 pg/mL (or a reduction of ≥30% from baseline) were more likely to achieve serum P targets than those who did not, regardless of treatment group. Of those who did achieve iPTH ≤ 300 pg/mL, 43% achieved P ≤4.5 mg/dL and 70% achieved P ≤5.5 mg/dL, versus 21% and 46% of those who did not achieve iPTH ≤ 300 pg/mL. Doses of PB tended to be higher in patients not achieving serum P targets. Patients receiving cinacalcet were more likely to achieve iPTH ≤300 pg/mL than those receiving conventional care (73% vs 23% of patients). Logistic regression analysis identified lower baseline P, no PB use at baseline and cinacalcet treatment to be predictors of achieving P ≤4.5 mg/dL during EAP in patients above this threshold at baseline. Conclusions This post hoc analysis found that control of serum P in dialysis patients was better when serum PTH levels were lowered effectively, regardless of treatment received

Identificação de deficiências nutricionais do guaraná.

Procuraram-se evidenciar os sintomas de deficiência nutricional do guaraná. Com este objetivo, plantas de guaraná foram cultivadas em substrato de areia lavada e supridas com solução nutritiva completa (todos os nutrientes) e com soluções de um elemento omitido para teste de deficiência. Quando os sintomas foram constatados, realizou-se a documentação fotográfica e a interpretação visual das deficiências. Assim, foi possível elaborar uma chave indicadora da carência de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, B e Mo em plantas de guaraná.bitstream/item/33534/1/CPATU-CirTec13.pd

Validating silicon polytrodes with paired juxtacellular recordings: method and dataset

Cross-validating new methods for recording neural activity is necessary to accurately interpret and compare the signals they measure. Here we describe a procedure for precisely aligning two probes for in vivo “paired-recordings” such that the spiking activity of a single neuron is monitored with both a dense extracellular silicon polytrode and a juxtacellular micropipette. Our new method allows for efficient, reliable, and automated guidance of both probes to the same neural structure with micrometer resolution. We also describe a new dataset of paired-recordings, which is available online. We propose that our novel targeting system, and ever expanding cross-validation dataset, will be vital to the development of new algorithms for automatically detecting/sorting single-units, characterizing new electrode materials/designs, and resolving nagging questions regarding the origin and nature of extracellular neural signals

Root Caries Prevalence And Severity In Brazilian Adults And Older People

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of root caries in Brazilian adults and elderly. Methods: We assessed data from the Brazilian Oral Health Survey (SBBrasil 2010). Dental examinations were performed on 9,564 adults and 7,509 elderly individuals in households in the 26 state capitals, the Federal District and 150 provincial towns. Diagnostic criteria and data assessment tools were those standardized by the World Health Organization. The outcome was measured by using root caries index and the index of decayed and fi lled dental roots. Results: The prevalence of root caries was 16.7% in adults and 13.6% in the elderly. The index of decayed and fi lled dental roots was 0.42 and 0.32 for adults and the elderly respectively, with most of the index represented by untreated caries. The prevalence of root caries differed signifi cantly among states capitals and provincial towns, with higher values being reported in the state capitals in the North and Northeastern Brazilian regions. In adults, the root caries index ranged from 1.4% in Aracaju to 15.1% in Salvador (both in the Northeast). Among the elderly, this index ranged from 3.5% in Porto Velho to 29.9% in Palmas (both North). Root caries was more prevalent in men than in women in both age groups. Conclusions: There is a wide variation in root caries indices in adults and in the elderly, and between and within Brazilian regions. Most root caries is untreated. We recommend the incorporation of this disease into the oral health surveillance system.47SUPPL.35968Barbato, P.R., Peres, M.A., Perdas dentárias em adolescentes brasileiros e fatores associados: estudo de base populacional (2009) Rev Saude Publica., 43 (1), pp. 13-25. , DOI: 10.1590/S0034-89102009000100003Cimões, R., Caldas, J.A.F., Souza, E.H.A., Gusmão, E.S., Influência da classe social nas razões clínicas das perdas dentárias (2007) Cienc Saude Coletiva., 12 (6), pp. 1691-1696. , DOI: 10.1590/S1413-81232007000600030Du, M., Jiang, H., Tai, B., Zhou, Y., Wu, B., Bian, Z., Root caries patterns and risk factors of middle-aged and elderly people in China (2009) Community Dent Oral Epidemiol., 37 (3), pp. 260-266. , DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00461.xKatz, R.V., Hazen, S.P., Chilton, N.W., MummaJr, R.D., Prevalence and intraoral distribution of caries in an adult population (1982) Caries Res., 16 (3), pp. 265-271. , DOI: 10.1159/000260607Katz, R.V., Clinical signs of root caries: measurements issues from an epidemiologic perspective (1990) J Dent Res., 69 (5), pp. 1211-1215. , DOI: 10.1177/00220345900690051801Katz, R.V., Assessing root caries in populations: the evolution of the root caries index (1980) J Pub Health Dent., 40 (1), pp. 7-16. , DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1980.tb01844.xKularatne, S., Ekanayake, L., Root surface caries in older individuals from Sri Lanka (2007) Caries Res., 41 (4), pp. 252-256. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000101913, DOIMamai-Homata, E., Topitsoglou, V., Oulis, C., Margaritis, V., Polychronopoulou, A., Risk indicators of coronal and root caries in Greek middle aged adults and senior citizens (2012) BMC Public Health., 12, p. 484. , DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-484Nicolau, B., Srisilapanan, P., Marcenes, W., Number of teeth and risk of root caries (2000) Gerodontology., 17 (2), pp. 91-96. , DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2000.00091.xPaim, J., Travassos, C., Almeida, C., Bahia, L., Macinko, J., The Brazilian health system:history, advances and challenges (2011) Lancet., 377 (9779), pp. 1778-1797. , DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60054-8Peres, M.A., Barbato, P.R., Reis, S.C.G.B., Freitas, C.H.S.M., Antunes, J.L.F., Perdas dentárias no Brasil: análise da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde Bucal 2010 (2013) Rev Saude Publica., 47 (SUPL 3), pp. 78-89. , DOI:10.1590/S0034-8910.2013047004226Rihs, L.B., Souza, M.L.R., Wada, R.S., Root caries in areas with and without fl uoridated water at southeast region of São Paulo State, Brazil (2008) J Appl Oral Sci., 16 (1), pp. 70-74. , DOI: 10.1590/S1678-77572008000100014Roncalli, A.G., Góes, P.S.A., Freire, M.C.M., Cortes, M.I.S.G., Vetore, M.V., Narvai, P.C., Aspectos metodológicos do Projeto SBBrasil 2010 de interesse para inquéritos nacionais de saúde (2012) Cad Saude Publica., 28 (SUPPL.), pp. 40-57. , DOI: 10.1590/S0102-311X2012001300006Schmidt, M.I., Duncan, B.B., Silva, G.A., Menezes, A.M., Monteiro, C.A., Barreto, S.M., Chronic noncommunicable diseases in Brazil: burden and current challenges (2011) Lancet., 377 (9781), pp. 1949-1961. , DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60135-9Slade, G.D., Spencer, A.J., Distribution of coronal and root caries experience among persons aged 60+ in South Australia (1997) Aust Dent J., 42 (3), pp. 178-184. , DOI: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.1997.tb00118.xSplieth, C.H., Schwahn, C.H., Bernhardt, O., John, U., Prevalence and distribution of root caries in Pomerania, North-East Germany (2004) Caries Res., 38 (4), pp. 333-340. , DOI: 10.1159/000078179Steele, J.G., Sheiham, A., Marcenes, W., Fay, N., Walls, A.W.G., Clinical and behavioural indicators for root caries in older people (2001) Gerodontology., 18 (2), pp. 95-101. , DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2001.00095.xVictora, C.G., Barreto, M.L., Leal, M.C., Monteiro, C.A., Schmidt, M.I., Paim, J., Lancet Brazil Series Working Group (2011) Health conditions and health-policy innovations in Brazil: the way forward. Lancet., 377 (9782), pp. 2042-2053Walls, A.W.G., Silver, P.T., Steele, J.G., Impact of treatment provision on the epidemiological recording of root caries (2000) Eur J Oral Sci., 108 (1), pp. 3-8. , DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0722.2000.00767.xWinn, D.M., Brunelle, J.A., Selwitz, R.H., Kaste, L.M., Oldakowski, R.J., Kingman, A., Coronal and root caries in dentition of adults in the United States, 1998-1991 (1996) J Dent Res., 75, pp. 642-651. , SpecOral health surveys: basic methods (1997), World Health Organization. 4. ed. Genev