Investigation of the potential of buffalo and couch grasses to grow on AFIs and for removal of nutrients from paper mill wastewater.

The potential growth of buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and couch grass (Cynodon dactylon) on artificial floating islands (AFIs) and their ability to remove total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) from a simulated paper mill wastewater was studied. This was done to assess the potential of AFIs for removal of nutrients from aerated stabilization basins (ASBs) that had occasional growth of blue-green algae (BGA) to bloom levels. Small scale AFIs were prepared using polyethylene foam and planted with the grasses in 30 L of tested water. Trials were conducted in a plastic covered greenhouse over a three-month period where temperatures ranged from 15 to 44 °C. The results showed that both buffalo and couch grasses can adapt to planting in AFIs showing increases of 125% and 148% in wet weight, respectively. Nutrient uptake by buffalo grass and couch grass were found to be similar. Percentage uptakes of TP and TN from the synthetic water by the buffalo grass were 82% and 47%, whereas by couch grass, uptakes were 83% and 45%, respectively.

Saúde coletiva e direitos humanos: um diálogo possível e necessário / Public health and human rights: a possible and necessary dialogue

Aborda a história dos direitos humanos, na sua relaçäo com a saúde, em contraste, com a a história e a linguagem da saúde coletiva, mais desenvolvida e explorada no meio acadêmico. Visa oferecer informaçöes que venham otimizar o diálogo recém-inaugurado entre a saúde coletiva e os direitos humanos. (CACMS)

Efficacy of a subcutaneously administered, ultraviolet light-killed Pasteurella haemolytica A1-containing vaccine against transthoracic challenge exposure in goats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of Pasteurella haemolytica biovar A, serovar 1 (Ph A1) killed by UV light and incorporated with an oil adjuvant or carriers. ANIMALS: 40 weaning male Spanish goats. PROCEDURE: Goats were randomly allotted to 1 of 6 treatment groups: 4 Ph A1 bacterins (agar beads, polyacrylate beads [PA], phosphate-buffered saline solution, Freund's incomplete adjuvant), live Ph A1 with polyacrylate beads (LiPhPA), and polyacrylate beads (UnVac). Each of 4 Ph A1 vaccines was administered SC twice, 21 days apart, to 1 of 4 groups; another group received only PA beads SC, and the last group received live Ph A1 with PA beads by transthoracic injection into the left lung. 14 days after the second vaccination, all goats were challenge exposed with live Ph A1 by transthoracic injection into the right lung, and 4 days later, all goats were euthanatized and necropsied. RESULTS: Mean volume of consolidated right lung tissue was 1.02 cm3 for the LiPhPA group, 168.1 cm3 for the UnVac group, 2.3 cm3 for the Freund's incomplete adjuvant bacterin group, 5.53 cm3 for the PA bacterin group, 9.01 cm3 for the agar beads bacterin group, and 7.51 cm3 for the phosphate-buffered saline solution bacterin group. Mean volume of consolidated lung tissue was significantly different between the UnVac group and the other 5 groups. CONCLUSION: The LiPhPA group and 4 bacterin groups developed protective immunity against live Ph A1 challenge exposure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An s.c. administered, UV light-killed Ph A1 bacterin induced protective immunity equal to that induced by virulent live Ph A1 injected into the target organ, the lung.

[Historical interpretation and scientific transformation: the hermeneutical task of a critical theory of epidemiology]. / Interpretação histórica e transformação científica: a tarefa hermenêutica de uma teoria crítica da epidemiologia.

The objective of this work is to discuss the scope of historical issues in an epistemological approach to epidemiology. Considering the contributions to a practical comprehension of science made by Habermas's theory of communicative action and Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics, this study attempts to explore the sense in which a historical point of view redirects the main epistemological questions of epidemiology. In contrast to strictly formal approaches, a historically enhanced epistemology seems to be a more prolific source of reasoning about the striving of epidemiology for scientific axioms. The relevance of historical theoretical improvements to epistemological methods themselves, with regard to emancipatory ideals, is particularly emphasized.

[Historical and philosophical elements for a critical analysis of epidemiology]. / Elementos históricos e filosóficos para a crítica da epidemiologia.

The historical and philosophical foundations of epidemiology are examined for the purpose of establishing objective bounds for a reflexive analysis as to the insertion of this science into today's health practices as a whole. With this in view, an epistemological approach, founded upon the Frankfurt School's criticism of modern rationality and some theoretical and methodological contributions from French School of historical epistemology, is attempted. Historical information was obtained from current specialized literature. The abstract notion of "environment" in the theoretical translation of "health's public space" is emphasized as the contradictory basis for the instrumental shaping of epidemiological knowledge. This abstract notion of environment has opened up increasing possibilities of knowledge of and practical intervention in sanitary phenomena, but has simultaneously restricted the objectivation of the properly public character of these phenomena.

[The problem of true knowledge in epidemiology]. / O problema do conhecimento verdadeiro na epidemiologia.

The philosophical basis of the validation of scientific knowledge, with a view to establishing a critical point of view as to the adoption of Popper's propositions in epidemiology is examined. The conservative character that results from the technical limitations implied in this adoption is a noteworthy aspect of the discussion, despite the evident increase in heuristic rationality and creativity that result.

Proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis with the Herbert screw.

Numerous fixation techniques have been described to obtain successful proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthrodesis. By use of the Herbert screw for compression, 50 (98%) out of 51 PIP joints were fused within 6 weeks. Biomechanically, PIP joint arthrodeses using the Herbert screw in cadaver joints were comparable to tension band arthrodeses evaluated by three-point bending. Herbert screw arthrodesis of the PIP joint achieves a high fusion rate with minimal external protection provided certain technical details are followed.