Analyzing two different data processing strategies for monitoring concrete structures using ultrasonic pulse velocity

The increasing number of early deterioration symptoms found in relatively new concrete structures provides a strong argument for the development and validation of techniques to monitor the condition state of concrete elements and provide data to estimate the potential service life. The use of NDT monitoring techniques is an important way to prevent and control the deterioration of concrete structures without damaging the material. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) measurements seem to be a quite effective way to perform quality control, since this reliable and flexible test method allows an in-depth analysis of the material’s condition. Using UPV data it is possible to check the concrete uniformity, accompany the deterioration, detect internal flaws and voids and, by means of a comparison with reference specimens, even estimate the compressive strength. The results indicate that surface mapping seems to be a better way to analyze and visualize UPV results.O crescente aumento dos sintomas de deterioração precoce em estruturas de concreto serve de argumento para o desenvolvimento e validação de técnicas de monitoramento do estado de conservação das mesmas. Além disto, fornecerem dados para estimar a vida útil das estruturas. A utilização de Ensaios Não Destrutivos permite a prevenção e o controle da deterioração de estruturas de concreto, sem danificar o material. O ensaio de Velocidade de Propagação do Pulso Ultrassônico (VPU) é uma forma bastante eficaz para realizar o controle de qualidade. Utilizando os resultados do ensaio de VPU é possível verificar a uniformidade de concreto, acompanhar sua deterioração, detectar falhas e vazios internos e, por meio de uma comparação com as amostras de referência, até mesmo estimar a resistência à compressão. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam que através do mapeamento superficial consegue-se analisar e visualizar os resultados dos ensaios de VPU

Determinação do pH em estruturas de concreto armado

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Campaign, counseling and compliance with influenza vaccine among older persons

OBJECTIVES: Population aging raises concerns regarding the increases in the rates of morbidity and mortality that result from influenza and its complications. Although vaccination is the most important tool for preventing influenza, vaccination program among high-risk groups has not reached its predetermined aims in several settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of clinical and demographic factors on vaccine compliance among the elderly in a setting that includes a well-established annual national influenza vaccination campaign. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 134 elderly patients who were regularly followed in an academic medical institution and who were evaluated for their influenza vaccination uptake within the last five years; in addition, the demographic and clinical characteristics and the reasons for compliance or noncompliance with the vaccination program were investigated. RESULTS: In total, 67.1% of the participants received the seasonal influenza vaccine in 2009. Within this vaccinationcompliant group, the most common reason for vaccine uptake was the annual nationwide campaign (52.2%; 95% CI: 41.4-62.9%); compared to the noncompliant group, a higher percentage of compliant patients had been advised by their physician to take the vaccine (58.9% vs. 34.1%; p,0.01). CONCLUSION: The education of patients and health care professionals along with the implementation of immunization campaigns should be evaluated and considered by health authorities as essential for increasing the success rate of influenza vaccination compliance among the elderly

Estudos de caso sobre avaliação de estruturas de concreto através da utilização de ensaios não destrutivos

O concreto é parte fundamental dos mais variados projetos de engenharia e, sem duvida, é o elemento estrutural mais utilizado no mundo. Esse fato conduz à necessidade de ferramentas de controle e análise de seu estado de conservação. Muitas das construções em concreto armado que formam a infra-estrutura civil que dão suporte às mais diversas atividades das sociedades modernas estão se aproximando do final de sua vida útil de projeto. Diante desse contexto, existe uma preocupação crescente com a avaliação do estado de deterioração e segurança das mesmas. O monitoramento constante das estruturas é um procedimento necessário, uma vez que a detecção preventiva dos problemas permite a utilização de métodos mais simples e econômicos para avaliação e reparo. Para tais fins, os métodos de ensaios não destrutivos (END) tornam-se uma estratégia de investigação bastante atraente e viável. Entre eles destacam-se: o ensaio de velocidade de pulso ultra-sônico, o radar e a esclerometria. Devido à sua facilidade de aplicação e boa capacidade de diagnóstico, esses métodos se tornam alternativas valiosas para investigação do estado de conservação das estruturas de concreto. Diversos exemplos de aplicação evidenciam como a aplicação de END pode contribuir com sucesso no controle da deterioração e na verificação da qualidade de estruturas de concreto. O presente artigo revisa alguns casos reais nos quais atuou o Grupo de Pesquisa LEME-UFRGS, mostrando como foram empregadas técnicas de END

Estudo anatomico do ligamento popliteo obliquo

OBJECTIVE:To study the anatomy of the oblique popliteal ligament, as regards its dimensions, expansion and anatomical relationships.METHODS:Eleven cadaver knees were dissected in order to study the anatomy and take mea-surements of anatomical structures and relationships of the oblique popliteal ligament. The dissection was for posterior access to the proper exposure of the oblique popliteal ligament, the semimembranosus muscle and its expansions. For measurement of dimensions, 40 × 12 needles were used for marking the specific points and a caliper. The angles were calculated using the software ImagePro Plus(r) .RESULTS:The distance from the origin of the oblique popliteal ligament to the tibial plateau was 7.4 mm, the thickness at its origin was 7.3 mm, length was 33.6 mm and the tibial plateau angle 34.8°. The length of the expansion of the proximal oblique popliteal ligament was 39.2 mm, thickness 7.8 mm and angle of the oblique popliteal ligament with its expansion 32.2°.CONCLUSION:The oblique popliteal ligament is thick, rises in the semimembranosus and protrudes proximally forming an acute angle with the joint interline, crossing the popliteal fossa. In some cases it has a proximal expansion.OBJETIVO:Estudar a anatomia do ligamento poplíteo oblíquo no que se refere às suas dimensões, expansões e relações anatômicas.MÉTODOS:Onze joelhos de cadáveres foram dissecados com o intuito de se estudar a anatomia e fazer medições das estruturas e das relações anatômicas do ligamento poplíteo oblíquo. A dissecção foi por acesso posterior até a exposição adequada do ligamento poplíteo oblíquo, do músculo semimembranoso e de suas expansões. Para aferição das medidas, foram usados agulhas 40x12 na marcação dos pontos específicos e um paquímetro. Os ângulos foram calculados com o auxílio do software ImagePro Plus(r).RESULTADOS:A distância da origem do ligamento poplíteo oblíquo ao platô tibial foi de 7,4 mm, a espessura na sua origem foi de 7,3 mm, o comprimento foi de 33,6 mm e o ângulo com o platô tibial foi de 34,8°. O comprimento da expansão proximal do ligamento poplíteo oblíquo foi de 39,2 mm, a espessura foi de 7,8 mm e o ângulo do ligamento poplíteo oblíquo com sua expansão foi de 32,2°.CONCLUSÃO:O ligamento poplíteo oblíquo é espesso, nasce no músculo semimembranoso, projeta-se proximalmente, forma um ângulo agudo com a interlinha articular e cruza a fossa poplítea. Em alguns casos apresenta uma expansão proximal.Universidade Federal do ParanaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaPontificia Universidade Catolica do ParanaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Fixation of the short-term central venous catheter. A comparison of two techniques

Purpose: To compare the fixation of the central venous catheter (CVC) using two suture techniques. Methods: A clinical, analytical, interventional, longitudinal, prospective, controlled, single-blind and randomized study in adult, intensive care unit (ICU) patients. After admission and indication of CVC use, the patients were allocated to the Wing group (n = 35, catheter fixation with clamping wings and retainers) or Shoelace group (n = 35, catheter fixation using shoelace cross- tied sutures around the device). Displacement, kinking, fixation failure, hyperemia at the insertion site, purulent secretion, loss of the device, psychomotor agitation, mental confusion, and bacterial growth at the insertion site were evaluated. Results: Compared with the Wing group, the Shoelace group had a lower occurrence of catheter displacement (n = 0 versus n = 4p = 0.04), kinking (n = 0 versus n = 8p = 0.001), and fixation failure (n = 2 versus n = 8p = 0.018). No significant difference was found in bacterial growth (n = 20 versus n = 14p = 0.267) between groups. Conclusion: The Shoelace fixation technique presented fewer adverse events than the Wing fixation technique.Univ Vale Sapucai UNIVAS, Profess Masters Program Appl Hlth Sci, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Vale Sapucai, Profess Masters Program Appl Hlth Sci, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Vale Sapucai, Hosp Clin Samuel Libanio, Dept Cardiac Surg, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Vale Sapucai, Dept Biostat, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Vale Sapucai, Res Lab, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Vale Sapucai, Hosp Clin Samuel Libanio, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Vale Sapucai, Hosp Clin Samuel Libanio, Intens Care Dept, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Vale Sapucai, Pouso Alegre, MG, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Plast Surg, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Plast Surg, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Plast Surg, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Plast Surg, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi enhances the adhesion properties and fibronectin-driven migration of thymocytes

In experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infections, severe thymic atrophy leads to release of activated CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells to the periphery. In humans, activated DP T cells are found in the blood in association with severe cardiac forms of human chronic Chagas disease. The mechanisms underlying the premature thymocyte release during the chagasic thymic atrophy remain elusive. We tested whether the migratory properties of intrathymic thymocytes are modulated by the parasite trans-sialidase (TS). We found that TS affected the dynamics of thymocytes undergoing intrathymic maturation, and these changes were accompanied by an increase in the number of recent DP thymic emigrants in the peripheral lymphoid organs. We demonstrated that increased percentages of blood DP T cell subsets were associated with augmented antibody titers against TS in chagasic patients with chronic cardiomyopathy. In vitro studies showed that TS was able to activate the MAPK pathway and actin filament mobilization in thymocytes. These effects were correlated with its ability to modulate the adhesion of thymocytes to thymic epithelial cells and their migration toward extracellular matrix. These findings point to effects of TS that could influence the escape of immature thymocytes in Chagas disease.Fil: Nardy, Ana Flávia F.R.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Silva Filho, Joao Luiz da. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Perez, Ana Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Meis, Juliana de. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Farias de Oliveira, Désio Aurélio. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Penha, Luciana. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Isadora de Araújo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dias, Wagner B.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Todeschini, Adriane. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Freire de Lima, Célio Geraldo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Bellio, Maria. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Caruso Neves, Celso. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Pinheiro, Ana Acácia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Takiya, Christina Maeda. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Bottasso, Oscar Adelmo. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Savino, Wilson. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Morrot, Alexandre. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection