Solução geotécnica com utilização de EPS em aterros sobre solos moles: estudo de caso na complementação do aterro de encontro à ponte sobre o rio Luís Alves - duplicação BR-470

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Tecnológico. Engenharia Civil.O presente trabalho apresenta as análises para concepção do projeto geotécnico de complementação do aterro de encontro a ponte sobre o rio Luís Alves, para a duplicação da rodovia BR-470. O aterro executado até o momento encontra-se a cerca de 12m do último bloco de fundação da ponte, já construído, em terreno de solo mole. Por esta razão, o trecho de aterro entre o bloco e o aterro atual requer maior atenção, visto que o deslocamento horizontal do subsolo irá resultar em esforços nas estacas já cravadas. Para redução da sobrecarga assimétrica, foi proposta uma solução de aterro leve, com uso de Poliestireno Expandido (EPS). A verificação das deformações horizontais e verticais ocasionadas pela sobrecarga do aterro foi realizada por meio do Método de Elementos Finitos. Para a modelagem computacional e calibração dos modelos considerados, fez-se uso de dados e interpretações advindos de ensaios de campo, laboratoriais e de instrumentação e monitoramento do aterro já existente. Dessa forma, pode-se verificar a validade do emprego de materiais leves no corpo do aterro quando comparado com aterros tradicionais. Além dos requisitos de estabilidade serem atendidos, as deformações no subsolo resultantes possuem magnitudes baixas e que, portanto, garantem a satisfatoriedade do projeto dada a não influência no desempenho dos elementos estruturais

Küttner's tumor of the sub-mandibular gland associated with fibrosclerosis and follicular hyperplasia of regional lymph nodes: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Küttner's tumor is characterized through histology by peri-ductal fibrosis, dense lymphocytic infiltration with lymphoid follicles, loss of acini, and occasional marked sclerosis of the salivary gland. On occasion, Küttner's tumor can be difficult to distinguish from malignant neoplasm.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 58-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital with a three-month history of a painless swollen mass in the right sub-mandibular region. Histological findings revealed both lymphoid follicles with reactive germinal centers and variously sized lymphoid follicle-like nodules without definitive germinal centers or mantle zones. B-cells of similar size and shape occupied the lymphoid follicle-like nodules and stained positive for B-cell lymphoma. These cells were detected in the polyclonal B-cells by flow cytometric analysis and tested negative for CD10. Unusual B-cell proliferation was observed, but as there was no definitive evidence of B-cell lymphoma, the lesion was diagnosed as Küttner's tumor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report on a rare case of Küttner's tumor associated with fibrosclerosis and atypical lymphoid hyperplasia in both the sub-mandibular gland and regional lymph nodes. Although more cases need to be investigated, our findings might be helpful to further studies seeking to clarify the etiology of idiopathic sclerosing lesions arising in the organs and regional lymph nodes.</p

Assessing the oral health

Aims : To compare assessment of the oral health conditions and behaviors of in-patients with diabetes using a clinical version of the Diabetes Oral Health Assessment Tool (C-DiOHAT©) with dental examinations. Methods : A cross-sectional design was used. A nurse assessed 60 in-patients using the C-DiOHAT© (a formatted questionnaire to assess four factors of patients’ oral health conditions and behaviors : oral health conditions, oral hygiene behaviors, sharing health information among patients and dental/medical professionals, and perception and knowledge of oral health) while a dentist examined their oral health conditions. Results : “Use of supplementary tools (e.g., interdental brush, dental floss)” in the item of C-DiOHAT© was significantly associated with dental examination of “the number of present teeth” and “no recommendation of further dental visit”. “Symptoms of gingival swelling” in the item of C-DiOHAT© was also significantly associated with “recommendation of dental visit”. “Knowledge of a relationship between periodontal disease and systemic disease including diabetes” was significantly associated with Community Periodontal Index. Conclusions : These results suggest that nurses should prioritize these assessment items to most quickly acquire useful information about patients’ oral health. It is important to encourage nurses to be interested in patients’ oral health by such small pile of clue

THE UTILIZATION OF THE DIOHAT©

Aim：To evaluate the utilization of the Diabetes Oral Health Assessment Tool （DiOHAT©） for Nurses by Diabetes Nurse Specialists（DNSs）in the clinical settings. Methods ： A survey was done using self-administered questionnaire distributed to １３８ DNSs who signified continuing collaboration during the authors’ previous study. The DNSs answered the questionnaire after utilization of the DiOHAT© in the clinical settings. Results ： Forty-seven DNSs responded（３４．１％）. The data revealed that items on cooperation with dental professionals（e.g., “regular dental visits” （８８％）, etc.）were frequently utilized, but those about oral function and self-care（e.g.,“checking one’s mouth with a mirror” （４０％）and “use of supplementary tools” （４４％）, etc.）were rarely utilized. However, over ６０％ of DNSs evaluated the DiOHAT© utilization version on the “nursing-process” and “collecting-information” as “possible” or “possible if revised”. Non-utilization of the DiOHAT© were due to insufficient time, and insufficient knowledge and skill. Conclusion ： The results of the study revealed the need for DNSs to increase their knowledge and skill about the content and use of the DiOHAT© e.g. oral function, and self-care, and to examine the coordination and division of roles between DNSs and dental specialists to support the oral health care of patients with diabetes

Integrated effects of thermal acclimation and challenge temperature on cellular immunity in the plusiine moth larvae Chrysodeixis eriosoma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Temperature is one of the most influential factors for animals. The acclimation (rearing) and challenge temperatures are often more important than the given temperature per se. These effects on physiological responses have been known, but not well understood on immune responses. Here, we investigated the integrated effects of rearing and challenge temperatures on haemocyte populations in larvae of a plusiine moth, Chrysodeixis eriosoma. We hypothesize that the haemocyte concentration is decreased (increased) at higher (lower) temperatures from rearing temperatures and that the proportions of haemocyte types exhibit directional changes at higher (lower) temperatures to compensate for immune reactions. We expect that increasing (decreasing) the challenge temperature from the rearing temperature enhances (reduces) phagocytic activity. We found that higher temperatures slightly decreased the haemocyte concentration. We detected small changes in the proportions of haemocyte types among rearing temperatures, but the changes were non‐directional and most of them were statistically insignificant. We also found the integrated effects only with increases in the challenge temperatures, which resulted in increased phagocytosis, whereas no apparent reactions were detected with decreases in the challenge temperatures. Our results show that the haemocyte concentration is significantly affected by the rearing temperature, which implies that haematopoiesis depends on the ambient temperature.We discuss some adaptive and non‐adaptive components for the positive integrated effects of increases in the challenge temperatures. We also discussed the obtained non‐responsiveness in the integrated effects with decreases in the challenge temperatures

ORAL HEALTH AND SELF-EFFICACY

Background : Bidirectional relationships exist between diabetes and periodontal disease. Fostering timely oral health assessments of patients with diabetes, the modified diabetes oral health assessment tool (M-DiOHATⓒ) for nurses was studied. The DiOHATⓒ has four factors, namely oral health conditions, oral hygiene behaviors, perception and knowledge, and health record sharing. It was modified as the M-DiOHATⓒ scale. To change people's health behaviors, “efficacy beliefs" and “outcome expectancies" are important. However, no studies have been reported that addressed efficacy beliefs and outcome expectancies of oral health conditions and behaviors of patients with diabetes. Objective : To clarify the oral health conditions and behaviors of patients with diabetes using the M-DiOHATⓒ, and to describe their associations with the Self-Efficacy Scale for Self-Care (SESS)/the Outcome Expectancy Scale for Self-Care (OESS). Methods : Twenty-eight patients with diabetes participated in the study. Their personal characteristics were determined from the items of self-efficacy for brushing of the teeth (SE-B), self-efficacy for dental consultations (SE-DC), OESS that are comprised of three factors, namely, the social outcome expectancy (OE-Social), oral outcome expectancy (OE-Oral), and self-evaluative outcome expectancy (OE-Self), and the M-DiOHATⓒ. Results : Forty-three percent of patients had retained their expected number of present teeth, and 68% of them had dental problems. The scores of health record sharing were low, and patients who were under 65 years old had fewer “expected number of present teeth," and lower SE-B/oral health conditions scores than those patients aged over 65 years. The scores of oral hygiene behaviors were significantly correlated with the SE-B scores, SE-DC, OE-Oral, and OE-Self. However, the oral health conditions showed no correlation with SE-B, SE-DC, OESS. Conclusion : The findings suggest that nursing interventions to promote SE-B, SE-DC, and OESS could be effective in enhancing patients' oral hygiene behaviors. However, severity of patients' periodontal disease require different types of dental self-efficacy procedures

High-mobility group box 1 induces bone destruction associated with advanced oral squamous cancer via RAGE and TLR4

Bone destruction of maxillary and mandibular bone by invasive oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) raises various problems in the management of patients, resulting in poor outcomes and survival. However, the mechanism behind bone destruction by OSCC remains unclear. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a highly conserved ubiquitous nuclear non-histone DNA-binding protein, has been demonstrated to be secreted by aggressive cancers and regulate osteoclastogenesis, a central player during bone destruction. We therefore reasoned that HMGB1 secreted by OSCCs contributes to bone destruction. Our results showed that HMGB1 is produced by human cell lines of OSCC and promotes osteoclastogenesis via up-regulation of the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand in osteoblasts and osteocytes, and consequently osteoclastic bone destruction in mice. Further, we found that these actions of HMGB1 are mediated via the receptor for advanced glycation end products and toll-like receptors. These findings suggest that HMGB1 of OSCC and its down-stream signal pathways are potential targets for the treatment of bone destruction associated with advanced OSCC

A caffeine-sensitive membrane electrode: Previous misleading report and present approach

Although a previous study [S.S.M. Hassan, M.A. Ahmed, M.M. Saoudi, Anal. Chem. 57 (1985) 1126] had shown that a caffeine-sensitive electrode made with picrylsulfonate and 1-octanol as a cation-exchanger and a solvent mediator, respectively, had a wide working pH range (5.5-9.5) and exhibited a Nernstian response, we could not find such response in this electrode. The present result was reasonable, because the pK, value of caffeinium ion was reported to be around 0.7 and the neutral form of caffeine was predominant in the pH range examined. Thus, we reinvestigated the response characteristics of a caffeine electrode, taking into consideration the pKa value, and constructed a new electrode with a combination of the lipophilic cation-exchanger, tetrakis[3,5-bis(2-methoxyhexafluoro-2-propyl)phenyl]borate (HFPB), and the solvent mediator with high degree of dielectric constant, 2-fluoro-2'-nitrodiphenyl ether (FNDPE). This electrode showed a pH-dependent response to caffeinium ion and gave a detection limit of 50 mu M with a slope of 55 mV per concentration decade at pH 2. The use of other solvent mediators was less effective than that of FNDPE. The electrode was applied for the determination of caffeine in some central stimulants