Comparison of the Bluetooth iCOquit, piCO, and Vitalograph for the assessment of breath carbon monoxide among adults initiating smoking cessation and standardized canisters.

BACKGROUND: The Bluetooth iCOquit enables remote biochemical verification of smoking status, but its validity among adults attempting to quit smoking is unclear. This study 1) compared the iCOquit, piCO, and Vitalograph sensors to identify device-specific bias, 2) assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the iCOquit for the overall sample and within specific subgroups (sex, race, smoking rate, menthol use), and 3) assessed the validity of iCOquit readings against standardized CO canisters. METHODS: iCOquit devices were tested with human breath samples from individuals seeking treatment for combustible tobacco use (N = 93) attending an in-person clinic visit. Participants provided breath samples via the iCOquit, piCO, and Vitalograph (order randomized). iCOquit devices were also tested using 5 and 10 parts per million (ppm) canisters. RESULTS: The iCOquit underestimated CO and categorized more participants as abstinent relative to the other CO sensors with human breath samples. The results suggested the iCOquit could not be used interchangeably with the other CO devices. Using a cut-off of < 6 ppm, the diagnostic accuracy of the iCOquit (specificity = 94%; sensitivity = 85%) did not vary across demographic/smoking subgroups. Canister tests with the iCOquit suggested good precision (< 1 ppm). CONCLUSIONS: The iCOquit is an affordable option for the remote measurement of CO that provides a reasonably accurate assessment of smoking status of those attempting to quit smoking using abstinence cut-off criteria of < 6 ppm. However, compared to other CO monitors, the iCOquit may underestimate CO, thereby increasing error in assessing abstinence.

The impact of obesity on the accuracy of DXA BMD for DXA-equivalent BMD estimation.

INTRODUCTION: As the radiomics technique using texture features in CT is adopted for accessing DXA-equivalent bone mineral density (BMD), this study aims to compare BMD by DXA and predicted BMD to investigate the impact of obesity and central obesity in general patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 710 cases (621 patients) obtained from May 6, 2012, to June 30, 2021, were used in the study. We focused both their abdomen & pelvis CT's first lumbar vertebrae axial cuts to predict estimated BMD and bone mineral content (BMC). In each patient's CT, we extracted the largest trabecular region of the L1 vertebral body as a region of interest (ROI) using the gray-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM) technique, and linear regression was applied to predict the indices. Cases were divided by central obesity/overall obesity and normal group by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or index of central obesity (ICO) standard. RESULTS: The coefficients were all above 0.73, respectively. P-values from ICO were over 0.05 when the measures were Hip BMD and Hip BMC. In contrast, those from ICO were 0.0131 and 0.0351 when the measures were L1 BMD and L1 BMC, respectively, which show a difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The CT HU texture analysis method was an effective and economical method for measuring estimated BMD and BMC and evaluating the impact of obesity. We found that central obesity especially exerted an effect on the disturbance of the clinical BMD measurements since groups were significantly different under the ICO standard.

Clinical Features of Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Patients with Different Underlying Diseases: A Case Series Study.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of pulmonary nocardiosis (PN) in patients with different underlying diseases. Methods: Clinical, imaging, treatment and prognosis data from patients diagnosed with PN from July 2011 to June 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were collected and analyzed. According to different underlying diseases, patients were grouped into immunocompromised host (ICH) group and immunocompetent host (ICO) group, and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups. Results: There were 64 patients with PN, including 42 males, aged from 21 to 86 (57.1 ± 15.7) years. The most common clinical manifestations were cough, expectoration, fever. There were 41 cases in the ICH group and 23 cases in the ICO group. There were 11 cases with underlying pulmonary diseases in the ICH group, including 2 cases of bronchiectasis, 4 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc. There were 11 cases of underlying pulmonary basic diseases in ICO group, including 7 cases of bronchiectasis and COPD, 1 case of bronchiectasis, 1 case of COPD, etc. The proportion of patients with bronchiectasis and COPD in the ICO group was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Extrapulmonary nocardiosis infection occurred in 6 patients of the ICH group. During the period of hospitalization, 87.0% patients in ICO group received SMZ/TMP therapy, 73.2% of patients in ICH group received two drug combination therapy. In the ICH group, mortality at 28 days was 14.6% and 8.7% in the ICO group. Conclusion: PN mainly occurred in ICH patients, but also occurred in the ICO cases to a lesser extent, especially in patients with bronchiectasis and/or COPD. Complicated with extrapulmonary infections mainly occurred in ICH population and combination of two antibiotics was often used in ICH group. The case fatality rates were 14.6% in ICH and 8.7% in ICO cases, respectively.

International Council of Ophthalmology-Small Incision Cataract Surgery rubric: A roadmap to evaluate cataract surgical skill acquisition during residency training.

PURPOSE: The International Council of Ophthalmology-Small Incision Cataract Surgery (ICO-SICS) rubric is a tool to grade SICS steps from novice to competent. The study aimed to evaluate the progress of residents' surgical skills by using the ICO-SICS rubric and the perceptions of residents and faculties about its use. METHODS: This prospective educational interventional study, done in the Ophthalmology department between September 2019 and February-2020 included 14 residents and five faculties. Faculties scored residents' SICS by ICO-SICS-rubric (four sessions/resident) and helped them identify three steps as "area of focus" to work upon. Feedback was taken using a semi-structured pretested questionnaire. Focus group discussion was done for residents. Data were entered in MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS. Perception analysis presented as percentage of written responses. RESULTS: Step-wise rubric score showed improvement for initial SICS steps and wound closure (P < 0.05). Critical surgical steps and scores for three areas of focus steps showed no statistically significant improvement. Three steps as an area of focus changed partly for 11 residents and completely for three residents at the end of 6 months. Perception analysis of faculty and residents showed that the ICO-SICS rubric is a good tool to record surgical performance, identify steps needing improvement and provide structured feedback hence opined to continue it. Residents considered it as an effective learning and assessment tool. CONCLUSION: ICO-SICS rubric is a good teaching tool and helps to assess the progress of surgical skills. Identification of areas of poor performance and feedback given motivates them to focus on those areas leading to continuous professional development, resulting in competent surgeons performing SICS surgery independently at the end of the residency.

Initial coin offerings (ICOs): Why do they succeed?

Recent literature has addressed initial coin offering (ICO) projects, which are an innovative form of venture financing through cryptocurrencies using blockchain technology. Many features of ICOs remain unexplored, leaving much room for additional research, including the success factors of ICO projects. We investigate the success of ICO projects, with our main purpose being to identify factors that influence a project's outcome. Following a literature review, from which several potential variables were collected, we used a database comprising 428 ICO projects in the banking/financial sector to regress several econometric models. We confirmed the impacts of several variables and obtained particularly valuable results concerning project and campaign variables. We confirmed the importance of a well-structured and informative whitepaper. The proximity to certain markets with high availability of financial and human capital is also an important determinant of the success of an ICO. We also confirm the strong dependency on cryptocurrency and the impact of cryptocurrency valuations on the success of a project. Furthermore, we confirm the importance of social media in ICO projects, as well as the importance of human capital characteristics. Our research contributes to the ICO literature by capturing most of the success factors previously identified and testing their impacts based on a large database. The current research contributes to the building of systems theory and signaling theory by adapting their frameworks to the ICO environment. Our results are also important for regulators, as ICOs are mainly unregulated and have vast future potential, and for investors, who can benefit from our analysis and use it in their due diligence.

Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Polyhedrons Confined Fe-P Nanocrystals as High-Efficiency Bifunctional Catalysts for Aqueous Zn-CO2 Batteries.

Emerging Fe bonded with heteroatom P in carbon matrix (FePC) holds great promise for electrochemical catalysis, but the design of highly active and cost-efficient FePC structure for the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2 RR) and aqueous ZnCO2 batteries (ZCBs) is still challenging. Herein, polyhedron-shaped bifunctional electrocatalysts, FeP nanocrystals anchored in N-doped carbon polyhedrons (Fe-P@NCPs), toward a reversible aqueous ZnCO2 battery, are reported. The Fe-P@NCPs are synthesized through a facile strategy by using self-templated zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), followed by an in situ high-temperature calcination. The resultant catalysts exhibit aqueous CO2 RR activity with a CO Faradaic efficiency up to 95% at -0.55 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), comparable to the previously best-reported values of FeNC structure. The as-constructed ZCBs with designed Fe-P@NCPs cathode, show the peak power density of 0.85 mW cm-2 and energy density of 231.8 Wh kg-1 with a cycling durability over 500 cycles, and outstanding stability in terms of discharge voltage for 7 days. The high selectivity and efficiency of the battery are attributed to the presence of highly catalytic FeP nanocrystals in N-doped carbon matrix, which can effectively increase the number of catalytically active sites and interfacial charge-transfer conductivity, thereby improving the CO2 RR activity.

The Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric for Intravitreal Injections (ICO-OSCAR:IVI).

(1) Background: Intravitreal injections (IVIs) are the most commonly performed intraocular procedure worldwide. Ensuring correct learning is essential to avoid complications. Our purpose was to develop an internationally valid tool to assess skill in performing IVIs. (2) Methods: A panel of six content experts designed a rubric for assessing the IVI procedure by using a modified Dreyfus scale of skill acquisition, dividing it into steps and providing objective behavioral descriptors for each level of skill in each category, following the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) guidance. The rubric draft was then critically reviewed by 12 international content experts, and their constructive comments were considered for the final rubric. (3) Results: The Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric for IVI (ICO-OSCAR:IVI) is the proposed tool for assessing healthcare professionals training to perform IVI. (4) Conclusions: The ICO-OSCAR:IVI is the result of the consensus of an international expert panel. The methodology used for its development provides this rubric with face and content validity. It can be used globally to assess healthcare professionals training to perform IVI, as well as the impact of different teaching methods on performance. Further studies are required to establish intra- and inter-rater reliability, as well as the predictive validity of this tool.

Evaluation of skills transfer in short-term phacoemulsification surgery training program by International Council of Ophthalmology -Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubrics (ICO-OSCAR) and assessment of efficacy of ICO-OSCAR for objective evaluation of skills transfer.

Purpose: To evaluate skills transfer in short-term phacoemulsification surgery training program by International Council of Ophthalmology -Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubrics (ICO-OSCAR) and assessment of efficacy of ICO-OSCAR for objective evaluation of skills transfer. Methods: Prospective analysis of total 1300 phacoemulsification surgeries performed by 52 phacoemulsification trainees divided into three groups based on the previous cataract surgical experience. The pretraining and posttraining average mean scores, independent completion rates (ICR), and complication rates among the groups were calculated and statistically analyzed. Results: Mean age of trainees (N = 52) was found to be 30.98 ± 2.44 years. Mean pretraining scores in the three groups were 42.8 ± 0.2, 46.6 ± 0.2, and 50.1 ± 0.1, respectively, and posttraining mean scores of the groups were 88.4 ± 0.2, 92.3 ± 0.2, and 94.3 ± 0.2, respectively, out of 100. Pretraining independent completion rates (%) were 22.1 ± 2.5, 52.1 ± 2.5, and 62 ± 3.7, respectively, and posttraining independent completion rates (%) were 74.8 ± 3, 79.7 ± 3, and 90.6 ± 3.5, respectively. Learning curves of all groups were noted to be steep. Rate of complications was within acceptable range, overall complication rate being 12.30% (160 out of 1300 cases). OSCAR scores correlate significantly (P = 0.0004) with ICR. Conclusion: Steep learning curve for phacoemulsification can be made easy by the use of standardized rubrics, proper techniques, expert guidance, and adequate surgical volume. The previous SICS experience provides smoother learning curve. ICO-OSCAR is indicator of proficiency and provides constructive feedback and objective evaluation immediately after surgery as well as at the end of training. Short-term (1 Month) training program is an effective, efficient, and safe approach to progressively master phacoemulsification skills for trainees with SICS experience.

Variables Influencing Cryptocurrency Use: A Technology Acceptance Model in Spain.

The first commercial transaction with the first cryptocurrency in 2010 marked the start of a revolution in transactions. Blockchain and cryptocurrencies will dramatically transform how we do transactions, just as the Internet revolutionized how we communicate. Currently, more than 2,000 cryptocurrencies are quoted on the market, and many more are being launched in initial coin offerings for use as an exchange method in a specific business ecosystem or as rights to assets or liabilities. As an emerging fintech, cryptocurrencies open up many opportunities, but they also pose significant challenges and limitations. This paper analyzes the key factors for the successful development of a cryptocurrency from a consumer-behavior perspective. Using a technology acceptance theoretical framework, we test a model able to explain almost 85% of the intention to use cryptocurrencies. Surprisingly, risk was not a significant factor. This could be because most of the respondents considered operating with cryptocurrencies to be risky; the lack of variability in their responses to the questions about perceived risk would explain this lack of explanatory power. However, willingness to manage cryptocurrency risk could be a precondition for adoption. The performance expectancy for a given cryptocurrency was the most important factor for its success. The research was conducted in Spain with college-educated adults with basic knowledge of the Internet.

Establishing a balanced scorecard measurement system for integrated care organizations in China.

To address, among other issues, the regional and international challenges of the heavy health care burden caused by an aging population, integrated care organizations (ICOs) were proposed at the end of the 20th century for health care delivery. However, the implementation of ICOs has not progressed smoothly, and the current results have not eliminated the imbalance of medical service capabilities among hospitals of different levels. To make up for the deficiency in the current evaluation system at ICOs and offer suggestions for improved sustainable health planning and management, this study establishes a balanced scorecard based on a comprehensive measurement system valid for a Chinese ICO by surveying the staff at the West China Hospital ICO. This study collected valid responses from 216 professional staff members at the ICO via questionnaires. K-means clustering and the coefficient of variation method were used to evaluate the weights of the first- and second-level indicators. The results show the importance ranking of the core perspectives of the ICO balanced scorecard in the following order: patient, internal process, learning and growth, and financial. The weight-based analysis identified the importance ranking of all indicators and pointed to the areas that require close attention in future ICO planning and management.

Application of physico-chemical indexes and BMWP / Col. to establish the impact of urbanization on Río Frío (Bucaramanga, Colombia) / Aplicación de índices físico-químicos y BMWP/ Col. para establecer el impacto del urbanismo en Río Frío (Bucaramanga, Colombia) / Aplicação de índices físico-químicos e BMWP/ Col. Para estabelecer o impacto do urbanismo em Rio Frio (Bucaramanga, Colômbia)

Abstract In this study, samples from four different sites were collected from Río Frío, a stream crossing the city of Bucaramanga (Colombia). The course evaluated started in the suburban area and finished in the vicinity where Río Frío becomes the tributary of Río de Oro. Invertebrates were identified belonging to different phyla: Annelida, Mollusca, and Arthropoda, corresponding to five classes, 14 orders, and 51 families. Biological monitoring working party (BMWP)/Col., ICO, and ICA-CETESB (Environmental Agency of the State of São Paulo) indexes were evaluated to determine water quality and environmental impact caused by urban growth. Statistical analysis of collected data revealed progressive basin deterioration from the first site of collection to the last site. At the beginning of the evaluated course, good water quality was observed. However, after flowing through the urban area, very poor quality indexes were detected. Based on the Wenger etal. guidelines two main problems were identified: weak enforcement of environmental laws, in addition to poorly legislated environmental urban planning.

Resumen En este estudio se recolectaron muestras de cuatro sitios diferentes del Río Frío, un arroyo que cruza la ciudad de Bucaramanga (Colombia). El curso evaluado inició en el área suburbana y culminó en las cercanías en donde el Río Frío se convierte en el afluente del Río de Oro. Se identificaron invertebrados pertenecientes a diferentes especies: Annelida, Mollusca y Artrópodos, correspondientes a cinco clases, 14 órdenes y 51 familias. De igual forma, se realizó un monitoreo biológico de los índices de los grupos de investigación (BMWP)/ Col., ICO, e ICA-CETESB (Agencia ambiental de São Paulo) con el fin de determinar la calidad del agua y el impacto ambiental causados por el crecimiento urbano. El análisis estadístico de la información obtenida reveló la deterioración progresiva de la cuenca del rio desde el primer sitio de la toma de la muestra hasta el final. Al inicio del curso evaluado, se observó una buena calidad del agua. Sin embargo, después de atravesar el área urbana, se detectaron índices de muy mala calidad. Basándose en Wenger et al., se identificaron dos problemas principales: un cumplimiento deficiente de las leyes ambientales, y un planeamiento urbanístico ambiental mal legislado.

Resumo Neste estudo se coletaram amostras de quatro locais diferentes do Rio Frío, um canal que cruza a cidade de Bucaramanga (Colômbia). O curso avaliado iniciou na área suburbana e culminou nas proximidades onde o Rio Frio se converte em afluente do Rio de Oro. Se identificaram invertebrados pertencentes a diferentes espécies: Annelida, Mollusca y Artrópodos, correspondentes a cinco classes, 14 ordens e 51 famílias. Adicionalmente, se realizou uma monitoração biológica dos índices dos grupos de investigação (BMWP)/Col., ICO, e ICA-CETESB (Agencia ambiental de São Paulo) com a finalidade de determinar a qualidade da água e o impacto ambiental causado pelo crescimento urbano. A análise estatística da informação obtida revelou a deterioração progressiva da bacia hidrográfica desde o primeiro local de coleta até o local final de amostragem. Na área inicial do curso elevado, se observou uma boa qualidade da água. Entretanto, depois de cruzar a área urbana, se detectaram índices de qualidade muito baixos. De acordo com as guias de Wenger e colaboradores, se identificaram dois problemas principais: um cumprimento deficiente das leis ambientais e um planejamento urbanístico ambiental mal legislado.

A novel algorithm for spectral interval combination optimization.

In this study, a new wavelength interval selection algorithm named as interval combination optimization (ICO) was proposed under the framework of model population analysis (MPA). In this method, the full spectra are divided into a fixed number of equal-width intervals firstly. Then the optimal interval combination is searched iteratively under the guide of MPA in a soft shrinkage manner, among which weighted bootstrap sampling (WBS) is employed as random sampling method. Finally, local search is conducted to optimize the widths of selected intervals. Three NIR datasets were used to validate the performance of ICO algorithm. Results show that ICO can select fewer wavelengths with better prediction performance when compared with other four wavelength selection methods, including VISSA, VISSA-iPLS, iVISSA and GA-iPLS. In addition, the computational intensity of ICO is also economical, benefit from fewer tune parameters and faster convergence speed.

Allosteric activation of midazolam CYP3A5 hydroxylase activity by icotinib - Enhancement by ketoconazole.

Icotinib (ICO), a novel small molecule and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was developed and approved recently in China for non-small cell lung cancer. During screening for CYP inhibition potential in human liver microsomes (HLM), heterotropic activation toward CYP3A5 was revealed. Activation by icotinib was observed with CYP3A-mediated midazolam hydroxylase activity in HLM (∼40% over the baseline) or recombinant human CYP3A5 (rhCYP3A5) (∼70% over the baseline), but not in the other major CYPs including rhCYP3A4. When co-incubated with selective CYP3A4 inhibitor CYP3cide or monoclonal human CYP3A4 inhibitory antibody in HLM, the activation was extended to ∼60%, suggesting CYP3A5 might be the isozyme involved. Further, the relative activation was enhanced to ∼270% in rhCYP3A5 in the presence of ketoconazole. The activation was substrate and pathway dependent and observed only in the formation of 1'-OH-midazolam, and not 4-OH-midazolam, 6ß-OH-testosterone, or oxidized nifedipine. The activation requires the presence of cytochrome b5 and it is only observed in the liver microsomes of dogs, monkeys, and humans, but not in rats and mice. Kinetic analyses of 1'-OH-midazolam formation showed that ICO increased the Vmax values in HLM and rhCYP3A5 with no significant changes in Km values. By adding CYP3cide with ICO to the incubation, the Vmax values increased 2-fold over the CYP3cide control. Addition of ketoconazole with ICO alone or ICO plus CYP3cide resulted in an increase in Vmax values and decrease in Km values compared to their controls. This phenomenon may be attributed to a new mechanism of CYP3A5 heterotropic activation, which warrants further investigation.

Estimation of the potential overall impact of human papillomavirus vaccination on cervical cancer cases and deaths.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination offers potential for primary prevention of HPV-related pre-cancers and cancers as demonstrated in clinical trials. Mathematical models have estimated the potential real-life impact of vaccination on the burden of cervical cancer (CC). However, these are restricted to evaluations in a limited number of countries. METHODS: Potential decline in CC cases and deaths with the AS04-adjuvanted HPV-16/18 vaccine of young girls naïve to HPV, was estimated at steady-state (vaccine coverage: 0-100%) based on clinical trial and country-specific incidence data. Data on vaccine efficacy were taken from the end of study PATRICIA trial of the AS04-adjuvanted HPV-16/18 vaccine. The numbers of cases and deaths due to HPV-16/18 were estimated and compared with those due to any HPV type to estimate the additional cases prevented. This difference estimates CC cases and deaths avoided due to protection against non-vaccine HPV types. Cost-offsets due to reductions in CC treatment were estimated for five countries (Brazil, Canada, Italy, Malaysia and South African Republic) using country-specific unit cost data. Additionally, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 (CIN2/3)-related burden (cases and treatment costs) prevented by vaccination were estimated for two countries (Italy and Malaysia). RESULTS: HPV vaccination could prevent a substantial number of CC cases and deaths in countries worldwide, with associated cost-offsets due to reduced CC treatment. Cross-protection increased the estimated potential number of CC cases and deaths prevented by 34 and 18% in Africa and Oceania, respectively. Moreover, vaccination could result in a substantial reduction in the number of CIN2/3 lesions and associated costs. CONCLUSION: HPV vaccination could reduce the burden of CC and precancerous lesions in countries worldwide, part of disease burden reduction being related to protection against non HPV-16/18 related types.

The vision of making ICO examinations computerized in our country / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Compared to traditional paper & pencil test,computer-based test has obvious advantages in improving reliability and validity of test.With the increasing popularity of computer-basedtest,making ICO examinations(International Basic Science and Clinical Sciences Assessment for Ophthalmologists) computerized can be realized in our country for the reason that we own hardware and software required by computerized exam,including standardized examination room,professional test personnel,examinee with computer skills,etc.Currently,we can rely on available resources to carry out pilots in the areas meeting the condition of computer-based test,take the form of paper and pencil and computer at the same time,and then promote the process of computer-based ICO examinations.

Avaliação da qualidade de iogurte aromatizado / Evaluation of the quality of yogurt aromatiser

Amostras de iogurte aromatizados, nos sabores morango, abacaxi e coco, da mesma marca, foram adquiridas de um supermercado da cidade de Uberlândia-MG, no período de outubro de 2002 à janeiro de 2003, com a finalidade de avaliar os aspectos físico-químicos (acidez titulável e pH) e microbiológicos (contagem de bactérias láticas totais, coliformes totais e fecais). Foram analisadas 30 amostras, 10 de cada sabor, todos em duplicata. Os resultados mostraram que 40 por cento das amostras sabor morango e 10 por cento dos demais sabores estavam com o pH abaixo de 4,0 que é o valor mínimo exigido para que o iogurte tenha sabor adequado. Quanto à acidez titulável, todas as amostras estavam dentro dos padrões (0,60 por cento a 1,50 por cento g de ácido lático). Nas contagens de bactérias láticas totais, os valores mais elevados foram encontrados no iogurte sabor abacaxi, seguido dos sabores morango e coco, estando todas elas com o mínimo determinado pela legislação, ou seja, 10 UFC/ml.

Flavors yogurt samples, in the savors strawberry, pineapple and coconut, of the same mark, had been acquired of a supermarket of the city of Uberlãndia- MG, in the period of October of 2002 to the January of 2003, with the purpose to evaluate the aspects physicist- chemistries (titillate acidity and pH) and microbiological (counting of total lactic bacteria, coliformes totals and fecal). 30 samples had been analyzed, 10 of each flavor, all in duplicate. The results had shown that 40% of the samples flavor strawberry and 10% of the too many flavors were with pH below of 4,0 that is the demanded minimum value so that the yogurt has adequate flavor. How much to the titulável acidity, all the samples were inside of the standards (0.60% 1.50% g of acid lático). ln the counting of total lactic bacteria, the raised values more had been found in the yogurt flavor pineapple, followed of the flavors strawberry and coconut, being all they with the minimum determined for the legislation, or either, 107 UFC/ml.

Biomassa da parte aérea da vegetação da Floresta Tropical úmida de terra-firme da Amazônia Brasileira

A data set with 315 trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) greater than 5 cm was used to test four statistical models - linear, non-linear and two logarithmics - to estimate aboveground biomass of standing trees. The data were collected destructively near Manaus, Central Amazonia, on a site covered by a typical dense "terra-flrme" moist forest on plateaus dominated by yellow oxisols. The difference between observed and estimated biomass was always below 5%. The logarithmic model using a single independent variable (dbh) produced results as consistent and precise as those with two variables (dbh and total height). Besides statistical models to estimate aboveground biomass, the following information are also presented in this paper: the contribution of each free component (stem, branch, twigs, leaves and flowers or fruits) to the total weight of a standing tree, water content to estimate the dry weight and carbon concentration of each tree component.

Usando um banco de dados com 315 árvores, com DAP5 cm, foram testados quatro modelos estatísticos - linear, não linear e dois logarítmicos - para estimar a biomassa de árvores em pé. Os dados foram coletados, de forma destrutiva, na região de Manaus, Estado do Amazonas, em um sítio coberto por floresta de terra-fírme sobre platôs de latossolo amarelo. Em diferentes simulações com diferentes intensidades de amostragem, os quatro modelos estimam precisamente a biomassa, sendo que o afastamento entre a média observada e a estimada, em nenhuma ocasião ultrapassou 5%. As equações para estimar a biomassa de árvores individuais em uma parcela fixa, distintamente para árvores com 5 DAP 20 cm e com DAP20 cm, são mais consistentes do que o uso de uma única equação para estimar, genericamente, todas as árvores com DAP5 cm. O modelo logarítmico com apenas uma variável independente, o DAP, apresenta resultados tão consistentes e precisos quanto os modelos que se utilizam também da variável altura total da árvore. Além do modelo estatístico para estimar o peso da massa fresca total de uma árvore, outras informações são apresentadas, estratificadas nos diferentes compartimentos (tronco, galho grosso, galho fino, folhas e, eventualmente, flores e frutos) de uma árvore, como: concentração de água para estimar o peso da massa seca, concentração carbono e a contribuição do peso de cada compartimento no peso total.