Effect of the racial group and body condition score at calving on production performance and metabolic profile of buffaloes during the transition period.

This study evaluated the body condition score (BCS) at calving and breed (B) effects on milk composition, yield, performance, physiological parameters, hemogram, blood metabolites, and urinary metabolites in the transition and early lactation periods of Mediterranean (MED) and Murrah (MUR) buffaloes. Twenty MED and fifteen MUR buffaloes were distributed into four experimental treatments, in a completely randomized design, considering their racial groups and BCS (LBCS = low; HBCS = high): LBCS MED (N = 9); HBCS MED (N = 11); LBCS MUR (N = 8); HBCS MUR (N = 7). Animals were monitored during the last 21 days of gestation and first 56 days postpartum and kept under the same management and feeding conditions. During data collection, milk composition, yield, performance, physiological parameters, hemogram, blood metabolites, and urinary metabolites were evaluated. Higher milk production and fat-corrected milk were observed in MED than MUR buffaloes. Breed effects were observed on body weight, rectal temperature, glucose, urea, calcium (Ca) concentrations, and BCS effects on total protein, albumin, urea, and Ca. There were BCS effects on hematocrit, neutrophils, eosinophils, and interactions between B × BCS for lymphocytes and platelets. There were breed effects on urinary concentrations of chlorine, uric acid, and interactions between weight (W) × B on chlorine and urea. The MED buffaloes can be considered the most prepared to undergo physiological changes, including the BCS value at calving, indicating higher physiological health. Besides, this study demonstrates more considerable preparation for the calving, regardless of the body condition score at calving.

Safety attributes in primary care: understanding the needs of patients, health professionals, and managers.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were (1) to identify attributes for patient safety at a primary healthcare level and (2) to analyze conceptions of patients, professionals, and managers about how these attributes are being addressed. STUDY DESIGN: This was a qualitative study. METHODS: Participants were recruited from three primary care settings in Brazil. A total of 37 subjects (four physicians, three nurses, three dentists, three managers, five community assistants, and 19 patients) participated on interviews about their perceptions of safety attributes at the primary care settings involved in the study. Some of these participants attended a focus group meeting. A thematic categorical analysis was carried out to interpret the interviews. RESULTS: The main attributes for patient safety were valued by the participants. However, barriers such as discontinuity of care, interruptions during consultations, breakdowns in the communication, and ineffective teamwork were reported as frequent sources of patient safety issues. Reports of patients left unattended for excessive time because of the lack of accurate information and disruptions that took up to 35 min show that there is still a long way to go for primary care to be safe and effective in the study settings. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary that the strategies meet the patient safety needs more effectively and efficiently. Further research is needed to understand the complex nature of the problems that affect patient safety in these settings so that appropriate decisions can be made.

Recording and erasure of photorefractive holograms in undoped BTO crystal at moderate to high intensities of 639.7 nm laser under action of 532 nm laser pre-illumination.

We investigate recording and erasure of photorefractive holographic gratings in an undoped Bi12TiO20 crystal in a moderate to high intensity regime of the recording beams at 639.7 nm without and with the action of laser pre-illumination at 532 nm. The detected hologram without pre-illumination indicates the participation of two photorefractive electronic gratings in its recording process, and the diffracted signal by itself exhibits a fivefold enhancement when the total intensity increases from 38.4 to 214.5 mW/cm2. The dependence of the measured total diffraction efficiency on intensity was investigated and showed linear behavior. At least three gratings are present in the regime of pre-illumination and participate in the writing and erasure of holographic mechanisms. Two of them are electronic, and one is hole-based, with a phase difference of Δϕ between them. The theoretical approach used to analyze the total diffraction efficiency based upon the photorefractivity standard model, and considering the presence of the three gratings, showed good agreement with the holographic erasure experimental data and permitted us to compute Δϕ, which exhibited strong and unusual dependence on the total intensity.

Challenges in Application of Langmuir Monolayer Studies To Determine the Mechanisms of Bactericidal Activity of Ruthenium Complexes.

The effects induced by antibiotics on the bacterial membrane may be correlated with their bactericidal activity, and such molecular-level interactions can be probed with Langmuir monolayers representing the cell membrane. In this study, we investigated the interaction between [Ru(mcbtz)2(PPh3)2] (RuBTZ, mcbtz = 2-mercaptobenzothiazoline) and [Ru(mctz)2(PPh3)2] (RuCTZ, mctz = 2-mercaptothiazoline) with Langmuir monolayers of a lipid extract of Escherichia coli, an extract of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), and a zwitterionic phospholipid, dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC). RuBTZ and RuCTZ had little effects on DOPC, which is consistent with their negligible toxicity toward mammalian cells that may be approximated by a zwitterionic monolayer. Also little were their effects on LPSs. In contrast, RuBTZ and RuCTZ induced expansion in the surface pressure isotherms and decreased the compressional modulus of the E. coli lipid extract. While the more hydrophobic RuBTZ seemed to affect the hydrophobic tails of the E. coli extract monolayer to a larger extent, according to polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy results, evidence of a stronger RuBTZ interaction could not be confirmed unequivocally. Therefore, the interaction with the E. coli cell membrane cannot be directly correlated with the observed higher bactericidal activity of RuBTZ, in comparison to that of RuCTZ. This appears to be a case in which Langmuir monolayer studies do not suffice to determine the mechanisms responsible for the bactericidal activity.

The influence of implant location and position characteristics on peri-implant pathology..

Peri-implant pathology is a multifactorial disease, incorporating biological and biomechanical components in its pathogenesis; however; few studies address the possible risk factors. This study investigated the effect of implant location and position characteristics on the occurrence of Peri-implant pathology. A total of 1350 patients with dental implants were included 270 patients with peri-implant pathology and 1080 healthy controls. Results demonstrated that in the absence of bacterial plaque and smoking, the variable proximity of the implant to other implants or teeth revealed a significant difference between groups with a protective effect, but not in the presence of bacterial plaque and smoking.

Cutaneous Mycobacterium haemophilum infection in a kidney transplant recipient after acupuncture treatment.

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium that can cause disease in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. The most common clinical presentations of infection are the appearance of suppurative and ulcerated skin nodules. For the diagnosis, samples collected from suspected cases must be processed under the appropriate conditions, because M. haemophilum requires lower incubation temperatures and iron supplementation in order to grow in culture. In this case report, we describe the occurrence of skin lesions in a kidney transplant recipient, caused by M. haemophilum, associated with acupuncture treatment. The diagnosis was established by direct smear and culture of material aspirated from cutaneous lesions. Species identification was achieved by characterization of the growth requirements and by partial sequencing of the hsp65 gene. The patient was successfully treated with clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin for 12 months. Considering that the number of patients receiving acupuncture treatment is widely increasing, the implications of this potential complication should be recognized, particularly in immunosuppressed patients.

High prevalence of oral human papillomavirus infection in Fanconi's anemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Fanconi's anemia (FA) is a rare recessive genetic disorder characterized by bone marrow failure, developmental and congenital abnormalities, which frequently evolves to aplastic anemia and neoplasias, primarily acute leukemia and head-neck carcinomas. Risk of malignancies increases after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in FA carcinogenesis have been proposed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate prevalence of oral HPV in FA patients without oral malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After oral examination, 76 subjects without detectable oral malignant lesions were included and classified in four groups: 20 FA submitted to HSCT (I), 22 FA not submitted to HSCT (II), 18 severe aplastic anemia (SAA) submitted to HSCT (III) and 16 healthy subjects (IV). Liquid-based cytology sampling, HPV screening by polymerase chain reaction and genotyping by reverse hybridization were performed. RESULTS: The HPV detection rates were: group I 35%, group II 27.3%, group III 38% and group IV 6.25%. Prevalence of high risk HPV types, mainly HPV16, was detected. Compared with control group, suggestions for increased likelihood of being HPV infected in SAA (OR = 9.55, 95% CI: 1.01-125.41) and FA patients submitted to HSCT (OR = 8.08, 0.83-72.29) emerged. CONCLUSION: Patients without oral malignant lesions submitted to HSCT, have high prevalence of oral HPV. HPV screening and close follow up should be considered in these patients.

Color tunability with temperature and pump intensity in Yb3+/Tm3+ codoped aluminosilicate glass under anti-Stokes excitation.

Pump and thermally induced color tunabilities were demonstrated in Yb(3+)/Tm(3+) codoped low silica calcium aluminosilicate (LSCAS) glass under anti-Stokes excitation at 1.064 microm. The effects of pump intensity and sample's temperature on the upconversion emissions and mainly on the color tunabilities (from 800 to 480 nm) were investigated. The results revealed a 20- and a threefold reductions at 800/480 nm ratio as, respectively, the pump intensity and sample's temperature were increased from 27 to 700 kW/cm(2) and from 296 to 577 K. These behaviors with pump intensity and temperature (a strong increase of the 480 nm emission in comparison with the 800 nm one) were attributed to the several efficient processes occurring in the LSCAS system (Yb(3+)-->Tm(3+) energy-transfer processes, easy saturations of the Yb(3+) and Tm(3+) excited states, and radiative emissions). Besides these assigns, the temperature dependence is mainly assigned to the temperature-dependent effective absorption cross section of the ytterbium sensitizer through the so-called multiphonon-assisted anti-Stokes excitation process. Theoretical analyses and fits of the experimental data provided quantitative information.

e-Modulus of resin cements as a function of curing source and storage time.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the e-modulus of two resin cements, with different curing sources and storage times, by flexural strength. METHODS: Ninety-six rectangular specimens were prepared from 2 dual-cured resin cements (Bistite II DC and Panavia F 2.0). A QTH light-curing unit (XL 3000) and a light-emitting diode (Optilight CL) were used for curing. The specimens were stored for 24 hours or 30 days. Testing consisted of three-point flexural strength, with 50 kg of load and crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and Tukey test (5%). RESULTS: When QTH light curing was used, Panavia had flexural strengths of 183.30 MPa at 24h and 112.30 at 30 days; whereas, Bistite had strengths of 160.20 MPA at 24h and 120.20 MPa at 30 days. However, when LED was used, the values were significantly lower for both cements. The main effects of cement type, storage time and curing unit type were statistically significant, as were the statistical interactions of cement/curing unit and time/curing unit. CONCLUSION: The experimental effects of cement type, storage time and curing unit type profoundly affected e-modulus.

How likely is Brazil to achieve its NDC commitments in the energy sector? A review on Brazilian low-carbon energy perspectives.

This paper offers perspectives on the development of low-carbon energy technology in Brazil, pinpointing changes that have occurred since our former publication in 2011. It takes a fresh approach in terms of how likely Brazil will achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions Commitments in the energy sector. Many countries have implemented national climate policies to accomplish their pledged NDC and contribute to the temperature objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Based on official reports and databases of energy development projections in Brazil and the socioeconomic context, we discuss what can be expected for the future of the Brazilian energy sector, the probability of implementing selected technologies, and the prospects of reaching the NDC targets for 2025 and 2030. In addition, this paper provides an overview of the current stage of development of these technologies, main directions, and bottlenecks in Brazil. Analyses have shown that the Brazilian renewable matrix tends to remain significant, driven by the development of solar and mostly small hydroelectric power sources, as well as different types of biomass. In addition, the system will include the replacement of thermoelectric plants powered by diesel and fuel oil by natural gas plants. The prospects for Brazil's official energy plan for 2027 are aligned with the reference technology scenario, which represents the business as usual scenario. Despite this, low-carbon technologies could be implemented far beyond the NDC's goals, given the abundance of renewable natural resources in the country.

Complement 4 phenotypes and genotypes in Brazilian patients with classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

The aim of this work was to analyse C4 genotypes, C4 protein levels, phenotypes and genotypes in patients with the classical form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Fifty-four patients from 46 families (36 female, 18 male; mean age 10.8 years) with different clinical manifestations (31 salt-wasting; 23 simple-virilizing) were studied. Taq I Southern blotting was used to perform molecular analysis of the C4/CYP21 gene cluster and the genotypes were defined according to gene organization within RCCX modules. Serum C4 isotypes were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results revealed 12 different haplotypes of the C4/CYP21 gene cluster. Total functional activity of the classical pathway (CH50) was reduced in individuals carrying different genotypes because of low C4 concentrations (43% of all patients) to complete or partial C4 allotype deficiency. Thirteen of 54 patients presented recurrent infections affecting the respiratory and/or the urinary tracts, none of them with severe infections. Low C4A or C4B correlated well with RCCX mono-modular gene organization, but no association between C4 haplotypes and recurrent infections or autoimmunity was observed. Considering this redundant gene cluster, C4 seems to be a well-protected gene segment along the evolutionary process.

134Cs activity standardization by 4πß(LS)-γ(NaI-Tl) anticoincidence counting and submission to international reference system.

From a commercial supplier a solution containing 134Cs has been standardized at National Laboratory for Ionizing Radiation Metrology (LNMRI) for the first time using three Liquid scintillation based measurement. These measurement methods are 4πß-γ live-timed anticoincidence counting, 4πß-γ coincidence counting and 3H-standard efficiency tracing with the CNET methods. The results obtained by anticoincidence counting was adopted as reference value and its combined uncertainty was 0.38%. The agreement of this reference value with coincidence counting and CNET methods were 0.39% and 0.34% respectively and were in consistency with each uncertainty method. The weighted mean results coincidence counting and CNET methods are also in close agreement 0.03% with anticoincidence counting method and meets the requirement of primary and national standard. This standardization was made in order to reduce the uncertainty in 134Cs measurement in Brazil and also following a request made by Bureau International des Poids and Mesures for new submission to International Reference System. The LNMRI last submission was made in 1987. Therefore from a 134Cs master solution a NIST ampoules was prepared and LNMRI/IRD submitted it to the International Reference System, Bureau International of Poids and Measures (SIR/BIPM). In this paper will be analyzed the LNMRI measurement and performance each measurement methods and also take into account the reference value of KCDB, we determined also the 134Cs gamma emission probabilities of main energy.

Deep and shallow trap contributions to the ionic current in the thermal-electric field poling in soda-lime glasses.

In this paper, we investigate the contribution of deep and shallow trapped ions on the second-order nonlinearity during typical poling procedures in soda-lime glass. The zero-electric field potential barriers of each contribution were estimated. The shallow traps, measured through the electrical ionic current, was determined as ~0.34 eV; while deep trap activation energy, measured by means of the thermal/electric field activated luminescence, was estimated ~3.8 eV. The traps show different dependence on its thermal energy onset for different applied electric field. The ionic current is linearly dependent on the electric field. The luminescence has a minimum electric field ~3.6 kV/cm and thermal energy ~31 meV (~87 degrees C) to occur. The average ionic jump lengths for both processes are also estimated, and the deep trap length is about ten times shorter than the shallow trap one. Samples poled at the border of the luminescence onset parameters revealed that the higher its contributions the more stable the induced second order nonlinearity.

Thermal lens study of energy transfer in Yb(3+)/Tm(3+)-co-doped glasses.

Energy transfer (ET) and heat generation processes in Yb(3+)/Tm(3+)-co-doped low-silica calcium-aluminosilicate glasses were investigated using thermal lens and photoluminescence measurements. Stepwise ET processes from Yb(3+) to Tm(3+), with excitation at 0.976 mum, produced efficient emission in the mid-infrared range at around 1.8 mum, with high fluorescence quantum efficiency (~0.50) and relatively low thermal loading (

Mathematical modelling of scanner-specific bowtie filters for Monte Carlo CT dosimetry.

The purpose of bowtie filters in CT scanners is to homogenize the x-ray intensity measured by the detectors in order to improve the image quality and at the same time to reduce the dose to the patient because of the preferential filtering near the periphery of the fan beam. For CT dosimetry, especially for Monte Carlo calculations of organ and tissue absorbed doses to patients, it is important to take the effect of bowtie filters into account. However, material composition and dimensions of these filters are proprietary. Consequently, a method for bowtie filter simulation independent of access to proprietary data and/or to a specific scanner would be of interest to many researchers involved in CT dosimetry. This study presents such a method based on the weighted computer tomography dose index, CTDIw, defined in two cylindrical PMMA phantoms of 16 cm and 32 cm diameter. With an EGSnrc-based Monte Carlo (MC) code, ratios CTDIw/CTDI100,a were calculated for a specific CT scanner using PMMA bowtie filter models based on sigmoid Boltzmann functions combined with a scanner filter factor (SFF) which is modified during calculations until the calculated MC CTDIw/CTDI100,a matches ratios CTDIw/CTDI100,a, determined by measurements or found in publications for that specific scanner. Once the scanner-specific value for an SFF has been found, the bowtie filter algorithm can be used in any MC code to perform CT dosimetry for that specific scanner. The bowtie filter model proposed here was validated for CTDIw/CTDI100,a considering 11 different CT scanners and for CTDI100,c, CTDI100,p and their ratio considering 4 different CT scanners. Additionally, comparisons were made for lateral dose profiles free in air and using computational anthropomorphic phantoms. CTDIw/CTDI100,a determined with this new method agreed on average within 0.89% (max. 3.4%) and 1.64% (max. 4.5%) with corresponding data published by CTDosimetry (www.impactscan.org) for the CTDI HEAD and BODY phantoms, respectively. Comparison with results calculated using proprietary data for the PHILIPS Brilliance 64 scanner showed agreement on average within 2.5% (max. 5.8%) and with data measured for that scanner within 2.1% (max. 3.7%). Ratios of CTDI100,c/CTDI100, p for this study and corresponding data published by CTDosimetry (www.impactscan.org) agree on average within about 11% (max. 28.6%). Lateral dose profiles calculated with the proposed bowtie filter and with proprietary data agreed within 2% (max. 5.9%), and both calculated data agreed within 5.4% (max. 11.2%) with measured results. Application of the proposed bowtie filter and of the exactly modelled filter to human phantom Monte Carlo calculations show agreement on the average within less than 5% (max. 7.9%) for organ and tissue absorbed doses.

Determination of impurities in (124)I samples by high resolution gamma spectrometry.

(124)I is a radionuclide used in the diagnosis of tumors. The National Health Agency requires identification and activity measurement of impurities. Using gamma spectrometry with an efficiency calibrated high-purity germanium detector, impurities (125)I and (126)I in an (1)(24)I production sample were identified. Activity ratios of (125)I and (126)I to (124)I were approximately 0.5% and 98%, respectively.

Ten Years of a National Oral Health Policy in Brazil: Innovation, Boldness, and Numerous Challenges.

Brazil is the only country in the world to propose a universal health care system with the aim of guaranteeing delivery of all levels of health care, free of charge, to a population of over 200 million inhabitants by means of a unified health system ("Sistema Único de Saúde" [SUS]). The national policy of oral health, also known as Smiling Brazil ("Brasil Sorridente"), was implemented in 2004. Oral health was designated as 1 of the 4 priority areas of the SUS, transforming oral health care in Brazil, with the objective that the SUS achieve the integrality of care envisaged at its creation. The aim of this article is to share part of this experience in order to prompt reflection about the inclusion of oral health care in other health care systems around the world. The most significant results of Smiling Brazil can be seen in 3 areas: (1) oral health epidemiological indicators, (2) financial investment and professional development, and (3) the building of an oral health care network throughout the 10 y of the policy. The "Discovery!" article presented here portrays 10 y of evolution; however, it is important to point out that this is a process undergoing construction and that the oral health care network needs to be further expanded, refined, and solidified so that over time and through changes in the political parties in power, Smiling Brazil prevails as a perennial policy and not merely an action by a single government.

Quantitation of the Regional Lymph Node Metastatic Burden and Prognosis in Malignant Mammary Tumors of Dogs.

BACKGROUND: As in women, regional lymph node status impacts survival in dogs with malignant mammary tumors. However, few studies have evaluated regional lymph node metastases in dogs with malignant mammary gland tumors. OBJECTIVES: To estimate overall survival based on the assessments of the lymph node status and the morphologic and morphometric features in female dogs with malignant mammary gland tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 178 lymph nodes from 97 female dogs were assessed and reviewed, and after confirmation by immunohistochemistry (IHC), 161 lymph nodes were selected for analysis of metastases. Animals were considered metastasis-free (negative lymph nodes) only after IHC analysis for cytokeratin AE1/AE3. The number of positive lymph nodes, the number of metastatic foci, the maximum diameter and the area of metastasis were analyzed, and estimates of overall survival were made. RESULTS: Dogs with metastasis had lower mean survival than those with metastasis-free regional lymph nodes, showing a direct relationship between the number of affected lymph nodes and shorter survival. However, histologic analysis of the lymph nodes identified lower survival rates in animals with macrometastases and isolated tumor cells, areas of metastasis >20.11 mm², and metastatic diameters >7.32 mm. CONCLUSION: The identification of ≥1 lymph nodes positive for metastasis and morphometric characterization of lymphatic metastases indicate the prognostic relevance of lymph nodes status in dogs with mammary tumors.

Long-term efficacy of fixed CPAP recommended by Autoset for OSAS.

The Autoset autotitration system (Resmed, Australia) was designed as an aid for determination of the effective level of CPAP. Two studies have shown that the 95% pressure centile during a night with Autoset, after excluding any periods with severe leak (P95), was well correlated with the pressure determined manually according to the reference method. However, the suitability of P95 under Autoset for treatment with conventional CPAP needed to be evaluated outside of the context of titration. The objective of this study was to measure the compliance and efficacy of CPAP at P95 determined by Autoset, after 3 months. Twenty-four patients who had undergone routine autotitration by Autoset under polysomnographic control in the laboratory for previously untreated OSAS were evaluated after 3 months of treatment with CPAP at P95. This evaluation was based on compliance, daily usage, determined by reading the hourly counter, Epworth sleepiness score and home respiratory recording under CPAP. Polysomnography under Autoset showed a significant reduction of abnormal respiratory events (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): 5.7 (+/-4.6) vs 69.6 (+/-29.8) n/h; p<0.001). P95 was between 8.5 and 15 cm H2O (mean: 11.2 (+/-1.6)). Two patients were lost to follow-up. At 3 months, 18 out of 22 (82%) patients declared that they were still using their machine with a daily usage of 5.25 (+/-1.82) h. The Epworth sleepiness scale was significantly decreased (5 (+/-4.1) vs 11.4 (+/-5.4); p<0.05). P95 recommended by Autoset remained effective on abnormal respiratory events with a low AHI (4.1 (+/-3.2) n/h) and a low 4% oxygen desaturation index (3.6 (+/-4.5) n/h) under CPAP. This study confirms the efficacy of autotitration and the suitability of P95 determined by Autoset for long-term treatment by conventional CPAP at home.

Usefulness of IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism typing of Brazilian strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and comparison with an international fingerprint database.

Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from 219 different tuberculosis patients, 115 from patients residing in Rio de Janeiro, 79 from Rio Grande do Sul and the remaining from other regions of the country, were analyzed by IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting. The IS6110-DNA patterns from these strains were highly polymorphic: 174 different patterns were observed and 25 patterns were shared by 70 isolates (32%). Most strains (93.4%) had multicopy patterns and only 17% of clustered strains had less than six IS6110 copies. Strain clustering was significantly higher for isolates from Rio Grande do Sul (36.7%) in comparison with strains from Rio de Janeiro (22.6%), but only when using high stringency during cluster analysis. Upon screening of an international database containing 3,970 fingerprints of M. tuberculosis strains, 15% of the patterns of Brazilian strains (21% of the strains) were identical to a fingerprint of an isolate from another country and one particular eight-band pattern forming the largest Brazilian cluster was detected in seven additional countries, suggesting that international transmission of tuberculosis from and to Brazil could be occurring frequently. Alternatively,preferential use of certain IS6110 integration sites could also be important in high-copy number strains, having important consequences for the use of databases for epidemiological studies on a large scale.