Fracture toughness of electroslag weldments

An investigation on electroslag welded two inch thick A-537 steel was conducted to determine the influence of heat treatments after welding on the mechanical properties and toughness of this steel

Technology Prospecting on Enzymes for the Pulp and Paper Industry

The use of enzymes in the pulp and paper industry was introduced in the 1986. However, their use has been relatively minor. This prospective study aims at enhancing the understanding of the most important advances regarding the use of enzymes in this industry and to identify the future trends of this technology. Information gathered from the Web of Science shows a growing number of papers published on this topic indicating an increased interest in this issue. A study on patents also displayed a high number documents related to this technology. Cellulase, xylanase, laccase and lipase are the most important enzymes that can be used in the pulp and paper processes. Furthermore, the key objectives of enzymes development have been in the bleaching boosting with xylanases and fiber modification with cellulases. The current and future trends on the development of enzymes are focused on increasing their thermostability and their alkalinity strength

New insights on the occurrence of peperites and sedimentary deposits within the silicic volcanic sequences of the Parana Magmatic Province, Brazil

The PMP (Parana Magmatic Province) is characterized by lava flows of the Early Cretaceous Serra Geral Formation which covers about 75% of the Parana Basin (southern and southeastern Brazil), composed of a thick (up to 1600 m) volcanic sequence formed by a succession of petrographically and geochemically distinct units of basic and silicic composition. the whole package must have been emplaced during approximately 3 million years of nearly uninterrupted activity. A few aeolian sandstone layers, indicating arid environmental conditions (the Botucatu Formation), are interlayered in the lower basalts. Above the basalts, the Palmas and Chapeco Members are composed of silicic volcanic rocks (quartz latites, dacites, rhyodacites and rhyolites) and basalts. This paper presents new evidence of sedimentation episodes separating silicic volcanic events, expressed by the occurrence of sedimentary deposits. Interaction between the volcanic bodies and the coeval unconsolidated sediments formed peperites. the sediments were observed between basaltic lava flows and silicic rocks or interlayered in the Palmas-type rocks, between the Chapeco-type rocks and overlying basaltic flows, between silicic bodies of the Palmas and Chapeco types, and interlayered within Palmas-type units. the observed structures indicate that the sediments were still wet and unconsolidated, or weakly consolidated, at the time of volcanism, which, coupled with the sediment features, reflect environmental conditions that are different from those characterizing the Botucatu arid conditions.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Geociencias & Ciencias Exatas, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09920540 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Lisbon, Inst Dom Luiz, Fac Ciencias GeoFCUL, Dept Geol, P-1699 Lisbon, PortugalUniv Nacl Salta, Fac Ciencias Nat, Inst Geonorte, Salta, ArgentinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09920540 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Impact Of Taurine Supplementation On Blood Pressure In Gestational Protein-restricted Offspring: Effect On The Medial Solitary Tract Nucleus Cell Numbers, Angiotensin Receptors, And Renal Sodium Handling

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Objective: The current study considers changes of the postnatal brainstem cell number and angiotensin receptors by maternal protein restriction (LP) and LP taurine supplementation (LPT), and its impact on arterial hypertension development in adult life. Methods and results: The brain tissue studies were performed by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and isotropic fractionator analysis. The current study shows that elevated blood pressure associated with decreased fractional urinary sodium excretion (FENa) in adult LP offspring was reverted by diet taurine supplementation. Also, that 12-day-old LP pups present a reduction of 21% of brainstem neuron counts, and, immunohistochemistry demonstrates a decreased expression of type 1 angiotensin II receptors (AT(1)R) in the entire medial solitary tract nuclei (nTS) of 16-week-old LP rats compared to age-matched NP and LPT offspring. Conversely, the immunostained type 2 AngII (AT(2)R) receptors in 16-week-old LP nTS were unchanged. Conclusion: The present investigation shows a decreased FENa that occurs despite unchanged creatinine clearance. It is plausible to hypothesize an association of decreased postnatal nTS cell number, AT(1)R/AT(2)R ratio and FENa with the higher blood pressure levels found in taurine-deficient progeny (LP) compared with age-matched NP and LPT offspring.1614758Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)CNPq [500868/91-3]FAPESP [10/52696-0

Validação de conteúdo das dimensões constitutivas da não adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial

The objective of the study was to validate the content of the dimensions that constituted nonadherence to treatment of arterial systemic hypertension. It was a methodological study of content validation. Initially an integrative review was conducted that demonstrated four dimensions of nonadherence: person, disease/treatment, health service, and environment. Definitions of these dimensions were evaluated by 17 professionals, who were specialists in the area, including: nurses, pharmacists and physicians. The Content Validity Index was calculated for each dimension (IVCi) and the set of the dimensions (IVCt), and the binomial test was conducted. The results permitted the validation of the dimensions with an IVCt of 0.88, demonstrating reasonable systematic comprehension of the phenomena of nonadherence.El objetivo del estudio fue realizar la validación del contenido de las dimensiones que constituyen la falta de adherencia al tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial sistémica. Estudio metodológico de validación del contenido. Inicialmente se realizó una revisión integradora que demostró cuatro dimensiones de la falta de adherencia: persona, enfermedad/tratamiento, servicio de salud y ambiente. Las definiciones de estas dimensiones fueron evaluadas por 17 profesionales expertos en el tema, entre ellos enfermeras, farmacéuticos y médicos. Se calculó el Índice de Validez del Contenido de cada dimensión (IVCi) y del conjunto de las dimensiones (IVCt), y se realizó la prueba binomial. Los resultados permitieron la validación de las dimensiones con un IVCt de 0.88, demostrando razonable comprensión sistémica del fenómeno de la falta de adherencia.O objetivo do estudo foi realizar a validação de conteúdo das dimensões constitutivas da não adesão ao tratamento da Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica. Estudo metodológico de validação de conteúdo. Inicialmente foi realizada uma revisão integrativa que demonstrou quatro dimensões da não adesão: pessoa, doença/tratamento, serviço de saúde e ambiente. As definições dessas dimensões foram avaliadas por 17 profissionais especialistas na temática, entre enfermeiros, farmacêuticos e médicos. Foi calculado o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo de cada dimensão (IVCi) e do conjunto das dimensões (IVCt) e realizado o teste binomial. Os resultados permitiram a validação das dimensões com um IVCt de 0,88, demonstrando razoável compreensão sistêmica do fenômeno da não adesão

Uso de álcool em vítimas de acidentes de trânsito: estudo do nível de alcoolemia

Se trata de estudio epidemiológico exploratorio y descriptivo. El objetivo fue correlacionar los niveles de alcoholemia detectados en las víctimas fatales por accidentes de tránsito, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (datos de los registros del Instituto Médico Legal/IML) con el perfil de la víctima y las características de los accidentes. Los datos fueron recolectados del archivo del IML, a través de los registros que constaban en las fichas de víctimas fatales por accidentes de tránsito; fueron compilados y se elaboraron tablas con el Programa estadístico SPSS, en el período comprendido entre enero y mayo de 2005. Fueron levantados datos sobre 348 víctimas fatales por accidentes de tránsito, de estos, apenas 94 realizaron el examen de alcoholemia, siendo que en 83 fueron detectados niveles de alcoholemia; el 60,2% presentó niveles por encima de 0,6g de alcohol por litro de sangre. Se mostró evidente el envolvimiento del alcohol en accidentes de tránsito con víctimas fatales, en niveles por encima y por debajo de 0,6g de alcohol por litro de sangre.Trata-se de estudo exploratório descritivo. O objetivo foi correlacionar os níveis de alcoolemia, detectados nas vítimas fatais por acidentes de trânsito, na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a partir dos registros do Instituto Medico Legal -IML, com o perfil da vítima e as características dos acidentes. Os dados foram levantados no arquivo do IML, por meio dos prontuários de vítimas fatais por acidentes de trânsito, compilados e tabulados Poe meio do programa estatístico SPSS, no período compreendido entre janeiro e maio de 2005. Avaliaram-se 348 prontuários de vítimas fatais por acidentes de trânsito. Desses, apenas 94 realizaram o exame de alcoolemia, sendo que 83 apresentaram alcoolemia positiva e 60,2% níveis acima de 0,6g/l. Evidenciou-se o envolvimento do álcool com vítimas fatais nos acidentes de trânsito em níveis acima e abaixo de 0,6g/l de álcool por litro de sangue.This was an exploratory, descriptive study that aimed to correlate alcohol levels detected in fatal victims of traffic accidents, in Rio de Janeiro city, with the victims profile and the characteristics of the accident. The data were retrieved from the registers of the Legal Medicine Institute/IML, through the registers of the medical records of the fatal victims of traffic accidents. Compiled and tabulated using the Statistics Program SPSS, for the period between January and May 2005, 348 fatal victims of traffic accidents were reported. Of these victims, 94 had been tested for alcohol, of these, 83 had levels of alcohol detected, 60.2% presented levels above 0.6g/l blood. The use of alcohol was evident, at levels above and below 0.6g per liter of blood, in the cases of fatal victims of traffic accidents

Impact of adhesive and photoactivation method on sealant integrity and polymer network formation

We evaluated the influence of photoactivation method and hydrophobic resin (HR) application on the marginal and internal adaptation, hardness (KHN), and crosslink density (CLD) of a resin-based fissure sealant. Model fissures were created in bovine enamel fragments (n = 10) and sealed using one of the following protocols: no adhesive system + photoactivation of the sealant using continuous light (CL), no adhesive system + photoactivation of the sealant using the soft-start method (SS), HR + CL, or HR + SS. Marginal and internal gaps and KHN were assessed after storage in water for 24 h. The CLD was indirectly assessed by repeating the KHN measurement after 24 h of immersion in 100% ethanol. There was no difference among the samples with regard to marginal or internal adaptation. The KHN and CLD were similar for samples cured using either photoactivation method. Use of a hydrophobic resin prior to placement of fissure sealants and curing the sealant using the soft-start method may not provide any positive influence on integrity or crosslink density

Alteração do filme lacrimal e superfície ocular em usuários crônicos de medicação antiglaucomatosa

PURPOSE: Tear film can be altered by chronic medications that may disrupt the equilibrium responsible for the functioning of the lacrimal gland and ocular surface. The purpose of this study was to determine if antiglaucomatous chronic treatment induced alterations in the tear film and ocular surface. METHODS: After informed consent, 21 patients using antiglaucomatous eye drops for more than 8 months and 20 age- and sex-matched volunteers without eye and systemic medications (control group) were enrolled. The data of ocular discomfort, fluorescein and lisamine green staining, tear film break-up time and Schirmer test were collected and compared by Student's t test. The impression cytology data were graded and compared by chi-square test. RESULTS: Patients chronically using antiglaucomatous medications presented with significant higher fluorescein staining (p=0.003), lisamine green staining (p=0.02) and lower TFBUT (p=0.001). The other comparedparameters, including impression cytology were similar between the treated and control group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the tear film and the ocular surface are altered in patients under antiglaucomatous medications. In common, all medications were preserved with benzalkonium chloride. Efforts to minimize the adverse effects of chronic use of antiglaucomatous drugs must be addressed.OBJETIVO: O filme lacrimal pode ser alterado por medicações crônicas, que podem comprometer o equilíbrio responsável pela função da glândula lacrimal e da superfície ocular. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar se o tratamento crônico com drogas antiglaucomatosas induz alterações no filme lacrimal e superfície ocular. MÉTODOS: Após o consentimento informado, 21 pacientes usando drogas antiglaucomatosas por mais de 8 meses e 20 voluntários com similar distribuição etária e por sexo, não usuários de medicação ocular ou sistêmica (grupo controle) foram incluídos. Os dados do desconforto ocular, coloração com fluoresceína e lissamina verde, tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal e teste de Schirmer foram colhidos e analisados pelo teste t de Student. A citologia de impressão foi avaliada e comparada pelo teste de qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Pacientes usando cronicamente medicação antiglaucomatosa apresentaram ignificativamente maior coloração por fluoresceína (p=0,003), lissamina verde (p=0,02) e menor TRFL (p=0,001). Os outros parâmetros comparados, incluindo a citologia de impressão foram similares entre o grupo tratado e controle (p>0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Esse estudo demonstra que o filme lacrimal e a superfície ocular estão alterados em usuários de medicação antiglaucomatosa. Essas medicações apresentam em comum o cloreto de benzalcônio como conservante. Esforços para minimizar efeitos adversos do uso crônico de drogas antiglaucomatosas devem ser considerados.CNPqFAEPAFAPES