Effects of industrial noise on circumpulpar dentin - a field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis

"Chronic exposure to Industrial Noise (IN), rich in Low Frequency Noise (LFN), causes systemic fibrotic transformation and sustained stress. Dental wear, significantly increased with exposure to LFN, affects the teeth particularly through the circumpulpar dentin. Our goal is to understand the consequences of IN exposure on the circumpulpar dentin of Wistar rats. 10 Wistar rats were exposed to IN for 4 months, according to an occupationally simulated time schedule and 10 animals were used as age-matched controls. The first and the second upper and lower molars of each animal were processed for observation by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis was performed. In exposed animals FESEM showed a 2.0 to 6.0 μm-dense mineral band between dentin and the pulp with no regular continuity with the tubules. This structure had a few tubules where the odontoblasts processes could be observed embedded within the band and collagen fibers were trapped inside. EDS analysis revealed that it was hydroxyapatite similar to dentin, with a higher carbon content. FESEM results show that the band may be tertiary reparative dentin formed by odontoblast-like cells, but the increased amount of carbon (EDS) could mean that it is sclerotic dentin. IN should be acknowledge as a strong stimulus, able to cause an injury to odontoblasts and to the formation of reparative tertiary dentin, in a process that may accelerate the aging of the teeth, either by direct impact of acoustic pressure pulsations or by increased stress and dental wear.

Histomorphometric evaluation of the small coronary arteries in rats exposed to industrial noise

Morphological changes induced by industrial noise (IN) have been experimentally observed in several organs. Histological observations of the coronary arteries showed prominent perivascular tissue and fibrosis among IN-exposed rats. The effects on the small arteries are unknown. Objective: To evaluate the histomorphometric changes induced by IN on rat heart small arteries. Methods: Twenty Wistar rats exposed to IN during a maximum period of seven months and 20 age-matched controls were studied. Hearts were transversely sectioned from ventricular apex to atria and a mid-ventricular fragment was selected for analysis. The histological images were obtained with an optical microscope using 400× magnifications. A total of 634 arterial vessels (298 IN-exposed and 336 controls) were selected. The mean lumen-to-vessel wall (L/W) and mean vessel wall-to-perivascular tissue (W/P) ratios were calculated using image J software. Results: There were no differences between exposed and control animals in their L/W ratios (p = 0.687) and time variations in this ratio were non-significant (p = 0.110). In contrast, exposed animals showed lower W/P ratios than control animals (p < 0.001), with significant time variations (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Industrial noise induced an increase in the perivascular tissue of rat small coronary arteries, with significant development of periarterial fibrosis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The adoption of communication and information technologies and the local development

This paper examines the imbalances in the availability and usage of communication and information technology infrastructure. These imbalances could be broadly attributed to differences in funding, management and technical expertise, exposure and awareness of available technologies, training, and other infrastructures like R&D institutions. In our sample, the imbalances could be broadly attributed not only to differences in such factors as industry, dimension, management education, but also to lack of cooperation, workers mobility and reduced markets which are common factors in disfavoured regions. First Published Online: 14 Oct 201

EFEITOS DE ESTILO E DE HUMOR: PERSPECTIVA CONTRA-CANÔNICA DO DISCURSO ACADÊMICO

O discurso de Austin (1990), com orientações antianalíticas da Filosofia da Linguagem Ordinária, organiza-se pela problematização do humor e do estilo, marcado pela situação concreta de uso, o qual é dialogicamente responsivo. Definindo os conceitos de estilo, humor e responsividade, conforme Bakhtin (2015; 2011; 1978) e Volóchinov (2017), discutimos sobre a forma como Austin se desloca do cânone acadêmico. Destacamos a possibilidade de que a performance discursivo-teórico-conceitual desconstrutora austiniana é uma forma de problematizar os modus operandi conservadores que encarceram a produção científica e filosófica a procedimentos higienizados da linguagem ordinária

Towards a competitive use of solar driers : a case study for the lumber industry

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the discussion of the methodology that leads to a better systematization of the knowledge on solar drying. Based on a case study for the lumber industry, the options and solutions adopted will be reported, along with their evaluation criteria and existing or developed tools. The kilns have 50 m3 interior capacity and proved the capability to dry maritime pine 27 mm thick, from green to 12% moisture content in about 33 days. The performance of the drying process has a significant seasonal and weather dependence, so an interactive control system is essential in order to profit as much as possible from the favorable exterior conditions

Do Espírito do Lugar - Música, Estética, Silêncio, Espaço, Luz - I e II Residências Cistercienses de São Bento de Cástris (2013, 2014)

A igreja do Mosteiro de S. Bento de Cástris em Évora (séc. XIII-XIX) apresenta uma tipologia de configuração de espaços pouco comum e que parece privilegiar diferentes posicionamentos para o funcionamento de grupos corais de apoio às atividades litúrgicas e de expressão musical. Tratando-se de possíveis opções de carácter empírico, pois são relativamente recentes os conhecimentos científicos no domínio da física das construções e em especial da acústica de edifícios, importa explorar, com medições no local, as condições reais de comportamento acústico e em especial conhecer os tempos de reverberação e comparar os resultados obtidos com as recomendações atuais para este tipo de espaços. Nesta comunicação caracteriza-se a igreja do ponto de vista da conceção e seus principais aspetos construtivos, explica-se o significado e interesse da medição dos tempos de reverberação e apresenta-se a metodologia estabelecida para explorar as condições acústicas da igreja objeto de estudoThe church of the Monastery of S. Bento de Cástris, in Évora (14th-19th centuries) has an uncommon spatial typology that seems to privilege the possibility of offering different positions to the choirs that supported both the liturgical and the musical activities. Considering that these were possibly empirical options, because the scientificknowledge on buildings physics and, particularly, on building acoustics are relatively recent, it is important to explore, with on-site measurements, the real acoustic behavior conditions, specifically the reverberation times, and compare the results obtained with the current recommendations for this type of spaces. In this paper we characterize the church in terms of design and of its main construction features, explaining the meaning and interest of measuring its reverberation times and presenting the methodology defined for exploring the acoustic conditions of the church under study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gênero, autoconceito e trabalho na perspectiva de brasileiros e angolanos

The study presents a descriptive qualitative analysis of the differences and similarities of feminine and masculine attributes of Brazilian and Angolan workers, with or without management jobs. The assumption is that the gender attributes found in the individual’s self-concept are related to socialization and the work experience in the two countries. A total of 431 workers participated – 300 from Brazil and 131 from Angola –, 164 men and 267 women. The Inventory of Self-Concept Gender Schemes was used. Data were analyzed using frequency, the chi-square test, and qualitative analysis, taking into account country, gender, and management function. The results indicate the prevalence of feminine attributes in the overall sample, not differentiating by country. The “Responsible” attribute stands out among workers, regardless of country, gender, and managerial level. The “Dedicated” attribute is more strongly present in those without management responsibilities. Masculine attributes, although fewer in number, are strongly associated with men and differ by country and managerial function. It is concluded that feminine attributes are present in workers’ self-assessments regardless of gender and managerial level, supporting the hypothesis of similarities between gender attributes. Limitations of the study are presented in the final section.O estudo apresenta uma análise descritiva e qualitativa das diferenças e similaridades de atributos femininos e masculinos de trabalhadores brasileiros e angolanos, com ou sem função gerencial. A suposição é que os atributos de gênero presentes no autoconceito pessoal estão relacionados à socialização e à experiência de trabalho nos dois países. Participaram 431 trabalhadores – trezentos do Brasil e 131 de Angola –, sendo 164 homens e 267 mulheres. Foi utilizado um Inventário dos Esquemas de gênero do Autoconceito. Os dados foram analisados mediante frequência, teste do qui-quadrado e análise qualitativa, levando em conta país, sexo e função gerencial. Os resultados indicam a prevalência de atributos femininos na amostra geral, não diferenciando países. O atributo responsável destaca-se entre trabalhadores, independentemente de país, sexo e função gerencial. O atributo dedicado está mais fortemente presente naqueles que não assumem funções gerenciais. Os atributos masculinos, apesar de em menor número, estão fortemente associados a homens e se diferenciam por país e função gerencial. Conclui-se que os atributos femininos estão presentes na autoavaliação de trabalhadores, independentemente do sexo e do exercício da função gerencial, corroborando a hipótese das similaridades entre atributos de gênero. Limitações do estudo são apresentadas na seção final