Gravitational wave recoils in non-axisymmetric Robinson-Trautman spacetimes

We examine the gravitational wave recoil waves and the associated net kick velocities in non-axisymmetric Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. We use characteristic initial data for the dynamics corresponding to non-head-on collisions of black holes. We make a parameter study of the kick distributions, corresponding to an extended range of the incidence angle $\rho_0$ in the initial data. For the range of $\rho_0$ examined ($3^{\circ} \leq \rho_0 \leq 110^{\circ}$) the kick distributions as a function of the symmetric mass parameter $\eta$ satisfy a law obtained from an empirical modification of the Fitchett law, with a parameter $C$ that accounts for the non-zero net gravitational momentum wave fluxes for the equal mass case. The law fits accurately the kick distributions for the range of $\rho_0$ examined, with a rms normalized error of the order of $5 \%$. For the equal mass case the nonzero net gravitational wave momentum flux increases as $\rho_0$ increases, up to $\rho_0 \simeq 55^{\circ}$ beyond which it decreases. The maximum net kick velocity is about $190 {\rm km/s}$ for for the boost parameter considered. For $\rho_0 \geq 50^{\circ}$ the distribution is a monotonous function of $\eta$. The angular patterns of the gravitational waves emitted are examined. Our analysis includes the two polarization modes present in wave zone curvature.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1403.4581, arXiv:1202.1271, arXiv:1111.122

Análise da estrutura de uma vegetação ciliar do rio São Francisco no Projeto de Irrigação Bebedouro, Petrolina-PE.

O presente trabalho foi realizado na vegetação ciliar do Rio S ão Francisco, no Projeto de I rrigação Bebedouro, em Petrolina-PE

Relationship between respiratory tract diseases declared by parents and socioeconomic and cultural factors

OBJETIVO: Verificar a relação entre a doença respiratória das crianças declarada pelos pais e os seguintes aspectos: instituição de ensino da criança, grau de instrução dos pais, renda per capita, classe de consumo e grupo étnico da família. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo com enfoque retrospectivo, por meio da análise de dados coletados de pais de uma amostra de 959 escolares entre cinco e nove anos, que residiam no distrito estudado, em São Paulo, em 2004. O levantamento das informações foi realizado por meio de instrumento de coleta de dados. As doenças respiratórias pesquisadas no conjunto foram: rinite, rinossinusite, otite, laringite, faringoamigdalite, pneumonia e asma. A associação entre doença respiratória declarada e aspectos socioeconômicos foi avaliada pelo teste do qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Os pais de crianças que frequentavam escolas privadas declararam significativamente mais doenças respiratórias em seus filhos, em comparação aos pais de crianças que estudavam em escolas públicas. Os pais com grau de instrução superior ou ensino médio completo declararam significativamente mais doença respiratória em seus filhos. Não houve associação entre a doença respiratória com renda per capita, classe de consumo e etnia. CONCLUSÕES: A percepção mais apurada sobre a saúde dos filhos geralmente associa-se à maior escolaridade dos pais, o que também determina melhores condições de vida. Provavelmente, por isso, os pais cujos filhos frequentavam escolas privadas e com melhor nível de escolaridade referiram mais doenças respiratórias nas crianças. Infere-se, portanto, que conquistas na percepção de saúde e, consequentemente, nas condições de saúde associam-se à melhora do nível educacional.OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between children's respiratory diseases reported by parents and the following criteria: attendance at private or public school, parents' educational level; family per capita income; household socioeconomic class, and family ethnicity. METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study analyzed data collected from questionnaires responded by the parents of 959 schoolchildren between five to nine years old, living in the district selected for the study, in São Paulo, Brazil, over 2004. Respiratory diseases reported by parents were rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, ear infections, laryngitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, asthma and asthma-like diseases. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the association between respiratory diseases reported by parents and family socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Parents of children in private schools reported significantly more respiratory diseases in their children than those whose children attended public schools. More respiratory diseases were reported for children whose parents finished high school or college. There were no significant differences between respiratory diseases and per capita income, socioeconomic class or ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: A more accurate perception about the health of children is generally associated with parents' higher education, which is also expected to ensure better living conditions. This may explain why parents with a higher level of education and whose children attended private schools reported more respiratory diseases in their children. Our findings suggest that improvement of educational level is associated with more accurate health perceptions and, consequently, better health conditions

Stability of extemporaneously prepared captopril oral liquid formulation for paediatric patients

Captopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), is used to treat medical conditions like hypertension and heart failure, and it is usually administered in tablet form for adults. Since this dosage form is not recommended for infants and children up to 6 years, hospital pharmacies have to prepare liquid formulations for oral administration of captopril. Traditionally, concentration of captopril used in the formulations is 1mg/ml. The problem is that captopril is prone to oxidation, and its stability in solution is affected by pH, concentration of captopril, the presence of oxygen or metal ions. The influence of different formulation ingredients on the properties of physical and chemical stability of captopril in liquid preparations has been evaluated. Main of the study: to evaluate the stability of captopril for 30 days when formulated in a 1 mg/ml suspension adjuvanted with citric acid

In vitro cytocompatibility evaluation of poly(DL-lactic acid) scaffolds loaded with minocycline and voriconazole addressing osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis or bone infection is an acute or chronic inflammatory process involving the bone and its structures, secondary to infection with pyogenic organisms, such as bacteria and fungi. Considering the associated high patient economic burden, morbidity, and mortality, it is essential to develop novel strategies for osteomyelitis management. Porous scaffolds based on biomaterials may locally deliver high concentrations of antibiotics, an effective strategy in eradicating bone infection. When incorporating bioactive bioglasses and bioresorbable polymers like poly(DL-lactic acid) (PDLLA), these structures exhibit biosafety, biodegradability, and the expected global structure to promote cell expansion and cell differentiation, being critical to consider and evaluate their biocompatibility compliance. As the encapsulation of more than one active pharmaceutical ingredient is an attractive approach, the present study focuses on the cytocompatibility evaluation of an innovative system based on the dual delivery of two antimicrobials, an antibiotic that enhances bone formation, minocycline (MH), and an antifungal agent with a broad spectrum of activity, voriconazole (VCZ), aiming bone infection therapeutics. Scaffolds were prepared by solvent casting/particulate leaching techniques and functionalized with bioglass. The scaffolds produced were adsorbed with 0.5 or 0.1 mg/mL of minocycline and also with 0.1 mg/mL of voriconazole. To test the bio-functionality and the biological safety of scaffolds, in vitro cell assays were achieved employing the MG-63 cell line (ATCC® CRL-1427TM human osteoblast cell line). The AlamarBlue® assay was used to measure cell proliferation in the scaffold. As osteoblast differentiation markers, the following were determined: alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization using Alizarin red assay, an indicator of in vitro bone formation. All scaffolds sustained the proliferation of metabolically active cells, nonetheless, scaffolds adsorbed with the highest concentration of MH (0.5 mg/mL) presented a significant (p<0.05) cytotoxic effect. Matrix maturation assays supported early osteoblasts differentiation and the osteoinductive role of minocycline described in the literature was also highlighted. Matrix mineralization analysis showed the highest value associated with scaffolds with both antimicrobials adsorbed. Once the described scaffolds enhanced osteoblasts' differentiation, and matrix mineralization and evidenced no cytotoxic effects, they come to light as an auspicious alternative for local antimicrobial therapy addressing osteomyelitis prevention and therapeutics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In vitro cytocompatibility evaluation of poly(DL-lactic acid) scaffolds loaded with minocycline and voriconazole addressing osteomyelitis

Purpose: In this work is proposed the cytocompatibility evaluation of an innovative system based on the dual delivery of minocycline (Min) and voriconazole (Vor), aiming for bone infection therapeutics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pain Intensity And Cervical Range Of Motion In Women With Myofascial Pain Treated With Acupuncture And Electroacupuncture: A Double-blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Acupuncture stimulates points on the body, influencing the perception of myofascial pain or altering physiologic functions. The aim was to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EAC) and acupuncture (AC) for myofascial pain of the upper trapezius and cervical range of motion, using SHAM acupuncture as control. Sixty women presenting at least one trigger point at the upper trapezius and local or referred pain for more than six months were randomized into EAC, AC, and SHAM groups. Eight sessions were scheduled and a follow-up was conducted after 28 days. The Visual Analog Scale assessed the intensity of local and general pain. A fleximeter assessed cervical movements. Data were analyzed using paired t or Wilcoxon's tests, ANOVA or Friedman or Kruskal-Wallis tests and Pearson's correlation (α=0.05). There was reduction in general pain in the EAC and AC groups after eight sessions (P<0.001). A significant decrease in pain intensity occurred for the right trapezius in all groups and for the left trapezius in the EAC and AC groups. Intergroup comparisons showed improvement in general pain in the EAC and AC groups and in local pain intensity in the EAC group (P<0.05), which showed an increase in left rotation (P=0.049). The AC group showed increases in inclination (P=0.005) sustained until follow-up and rotation to the right (P=0.032). EAC and AC were effective in reducing the pain intensity compared with SHAM. EAC was better than AC for local pain relief. These treatments can assist in increasing cervical range of motion, albeit subtly.1934-4