Nanosecond-Scale Proton Emission from Strongly Oblate-Deformed ^{149}Lu

Using the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{96}Ru(^{58}Ni,p4n)^{149}Lu and the MARA vacuum-mode recoil separator, a new proton-emitting isotope ^{149}Lu has been identified. The measured decay Q value of 1920(20) keV is the highest measured for a ground-state proton decay, and it naturally leads to the shortest directly measured half-life of 450_{-100}^{+170}  ns for a ground-state proton emitter. The decay rate is consistent with l_{p}=5 emission, suggesting a dominant πh_{11/2} component for the wave function of the proton-emitting state. Through nonadiabatic quasiparticle calculations it was concluded that ^{149}Lu is the most oblate deformed proton emitter observed to date.

Proton emission study as a guide to astrophysical rp process

Proton emitters play an important role in deciding the path of the astrophysical rapid proton capture (rp) process. The lifetime of these nuclei depends on several factors, like the deformation, angular momentum of the emitted proton, residual interaction between valence proton and neutron (especially in case of odd-odd nuclei) and so on. Therefore, it is worth to investigate the structure of proton emitters to understand the rp process path. However, due to lack of data in this exotic region, the theoretical models should be robust and the dependence on the free parameters should be minimal. In this direction, we have developed the first microscopic approach to study the triaxially deformed odd-odd proton emitters. The application of the developed approach to 108I, a recently observed proton emitter to investigate the end cycle of the rp process, is discussed.

Three-dimensional Baxter-Wu model

A classic three-dimensional spin model, based upon the Baxter-Wu scheme, is presented. It is found, by entropic sampling simulations, that the behavior of the energy and magnetization fourth-order cumulants points to a first-order phase transition. A finite-size procedure was performed, confirming that the system scales with the dimensionality d=3, yielding a high-resolution estimate of the transition temperature as T_{c}=11.377485(29).

Discovery of ^{72}Rb: A Nuclear Sandbank Beyond the Proton Drip Line

In this Letter, the observation of two previously unknown isotopes is presented for the first time: ^{72}Rb with 14 observed events and ^{77}Zr with one observed event. From the nonobservation of the less proton-rich nucleus ^{73}Rb, we derive an upper limit for the ground-state half-life of 81 ns, consistent with the previous upper limit of 30 ns. For ^{72}Rb, we have measured a half-life of 103(22) ns. This observation of a relatively long-lived odd-odd nucleus, ^{72}Rb, with a less exotic odd-even neighbor, ^{73}Rb, being unbound shows the diffuseness of the proton drip line and the possibility of sandbanks to exist beyond it. The ^{72}Rb half-life is consistent with a 5^{+}→5/2^{-} proton decay with an energy of 800-900 keV, in agreement with the atomic mass evaluation proton-separation energy as well as results from the finite-range droplet model and shell model calculations using the GXPF1A interaction. However, we cannot explicitly exclude the possibility of a proton transition between 9^{+}(^{72}Rb)→9/2^{+}(^{71}Kr) isomeric states with a broken mirror symmetry. These results imply that ^{72}Kr is a strong waiting point in x-ray burst rp-process scenarios.

Retinoic acid-loaded polymeric nanoparticles enhance vascular regulation of neural stem cell survival and differentiation after ischaemia

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. However, current therapies only reach a small percentage of patients and may cause serious side effects. We propose the therapeutic use of retinoic acid-loaded nanoparticles (RA-NP) to safely and efficiently repair the ischaemic brain by creating a favourable pro-angiogenic environment that enhances neurogenesis and neuronal restitution. Our data showed that RA-NP enhanced endothelial cell proliferation and tubule network formation and protected against ischaemia-induced death. To evaluate the effect of RA-NP on vascular regulation of neural stem cell (NSC) survival and differentiation, endothelial cell-conditioned media (EC-CM) were collected. EC-CM from healthy RA-NP-treated cells reduced NSC death and promoted proliferation while EC-CM from ischaemic RA-NP-treated cells decreased cell death, increased proliferation and neuronal differentiation. In parallel, human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPC), which are part of the endogenous repair response to vascular injury, were collected from ischaemic stroke patients. hEPC treated with RA-NP had significantly higher proliferation, which further highlights the therapeutic potential of this formulation. To conclude, RA-NP protected endothelial cells from ischaemic death and stimulated the release of pro-survival, proliferation-stimulating factors and differentiation cues for NSC. RA-NP were shown to be up to 83-fold more efficient than free RA and to enhance hEPC proliferation. These data serve as a stepping stone to use RA-NP as vasculotrophic and neurogenic agents for vascular disorders and neurodegenerative diseases with compromised vasculature.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the biocompatibility of a calcium phosphate/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite

This study assess the effects of bioceramic and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite (BCP/PLGA) on the viability of cultured macrophages and human dental pulp fibroblasts, and we sought to elucidate the temporal profile of the reaction of pulp capping with a composite of bioceramic of calcium phosphate and biodegradable polymer in the progression of delayed dentine bridge after (30 and 60 days) in vivo. Histological evaluation of inflammatory infiltrate and dentin bridge formation were performed after 30 and 60 days. There was similar progressive fibroblast growth in all groups and the macrophages showed viability. The in vivo study showed that of the three experimental groups: BCP/PLGA composite, BCP and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) dentin bridging was the most prevalent (90 %) in the BCP/PLGA composite after 30 days, mild to moderate inflammatory response was present throughout the pulp after 30 days. After 60 days was observed dentine bridging in 60 % and necrosis in 40 %, in both groups. The results indicate that understanding BCP/PLGA composite is biocompatible and by the best tissue response as compared to calcium hydroxide in direct pulp capping may be important in the mechanism of delayed dentine bridge after 30 and 60 days.

Fed-batch cultivation of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis: potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride as simultaneous nitrogen sources

Arthrospiraplatensis was cultivated in minitanks at 13 klux, using a mixture of KNO(3) and NH(4)Cl as nitrogen source. Fed-batch daily supply of NH(4)Cl at exponentially-increasing feeding rate allowed preventing ammonia toxicity and nitrogen deficiency, providing high maximum cell concentration (X(m)) and high-quality biomass (21.85 mg chlorophyll g cells(-1); 20.5% lipids; 49.8% proteins). A central composite design combined to response surface methodology was utilized to determine the relationships between responses (X(m), cell productivity and nitrogen-to-cell conversion factor) and independent variables (KNO(3) and NH(4)Cl concentrations). Under optimum conditions (15.5mM KNO(3); 14.1mM NH(4)Cl), X(m) was 4327 mg L(-1), a value almost coincident with that obtained with only 25.4mM KNO(3), but more than twice that obtained with 21.5mM NH(4)Cl. A 30%-reduction of culture medium cost can be estimated when compared to KNO(3)-batch runs, thus behaving as a cheap alternative for the commercial production of this cyanobacterium.

Use of the mini nutritional assessment tool in elderly people from long-term institutions of southeast of Brazil

BACKGROUND

the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is a multidimensional method of nutritional evaluation that allows the diagnosis of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in elderly people, it is important to mention that this method has not been well studied in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

to verify the use of the MNA in elderly people that has been living in long term institutions for elderly people.

DESIGN

transversal study.

PARTICIPANTS

89 people (>/= 60 years), being 64.0% men. The average of age for both genders was 73.7 +/- 9.1 years old, being 72.8 +/- 8.9 years old for men, and 75.3 +/- 9.3 years old for women.

SETTING

long-term institutions for elderly people located in the Southeast of Brazil.

METHODS

it was calculated the sensibility, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. It was data to set up a ROC curve to verify the accuracy of the MNA. The variable used as a "standard" for the nutritional diagnosis of the elderly people was the corrected arm muscle area because it is able to provide information or an estimative of the muscle reserve of a person being considered a good indicator of malnutrition in elderly people.

RESULTS

the sensibility was 84.0%, the specificity was 36.0%, the positive predictive value was 77.0%, and the negative predictive value was 47.0%; the area of the ROC curve was 0.71 (71.0%).

CONCLUSION

the MNA method has showed accuracy, and sensibility when dealing with the diagnosis of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in institutionalized elderly groups of the Southeastern region of Brazil, however, it presented a low specificity.

Usefulness of chlorezidine gluconate in 2% aqueous solution for treating bacterial pododermatitis in dogs

O artigo não apresenta resumo.

Tratamento da dermatofitose felina com o Lufenuron

O artigo não apresenta resumo.

Síndrome do cão tremedor em um Pinscher

O artigo não apresenta resumo.

Childhood epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis: a comparative study

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical profile of pediatric patients with epilepsy and neurocysticercosis (NC), and compare them with a group of pediatric patients with benign partial epilepsy to determine clinical differences, response to treatment, and prognosis.

METHODS

We studied 28 patients (16 girls) with probable or definitive diagnosis of NC and epilepsy and 32 patients (16 girls) with partial benign epilepsy (BE). All patients had normal neurologic examination. We compared NC and BE patients looking for differences in demographics (age at first seizure, gender, family history); clinical presentation (type, frequency, duration, and total number of seizures, duration of epilepsy, status epilepticus, cluster, and postictal deficit); treatment [duration, number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), maximal dose, drug association, number of seizure-free patients, time to obtain control and recurrence after medication discontinuation]; complementary examinations (the first and the last EEG).

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 5.4 years for the 28 NC patients and 4.6 years for the 32 BE patients (p=0.98). We did not find statistical differences between NC and BE in gender, family history, types of seizures, frequency and length of seizures, previous status epilepticus, seizure clustering, and presence of postictal deficits. However, we found that NC compared with BE patients had significant longer AED treatment, more seizures after AED introduction, tried more AEDs and at maximal dose, and in 20%, required polytherapy. The recurrence rate in NC was 54.4% and this was not significantly associated with number of lesions and disease activity seen on CT scans or the presence of EEG abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

NC presents with a mild form of epilepsy in terms of seizure severity; however, it is more challenging in regard to drug management and has a less favorable long-term prognosis in terms of seizure remission. The number of lesions or disease activity seen on computed tomography (CT) as well as EEG abnormalities have no prognostic value in childhood epilepsy due to NC.

Odd-odd deformed proton emitters

Proton decay from odd-odd deformed nuclei is a long-standing unsolved problem. We present for the first time an exact solution using single particle Nilsson resonances. The lifetime is found to depend strongly on the single particle level occupied by the unpaired neutron, allowing a clear assignment of its Nilsson level. The emitters 112Cs, 140Ho, 150Lu, and 150Lu(m) are considered. The agreement with the experimental data is very good with deformations 0.1<beta<0.19 for 112Cs and -0.17<beta<-0.16 for the ground and isomeric states of 150Lu. In the case of 140Ho, two ranges of deformation 0.16<beta<0.28 and 0.28<beta<0.38 according to the neutron single particle level can describe the experimental half-life.

[A case report of human lagochilascariasis coming from Pará State, Brazil]

A new case of lagochilascariasis is reported in a child from Xinguara, PA, Brazil. The patient had an abscess in the right cervical region, which was drained at the Clinical Hospital of UFG. Eggs and adult stages of Lagochilascaris minor were found in the secretion of the abscess. Treatment with albendazol, at a dosage of 400 mg/day for 30 days, associated with antibiotics promoted regression of the lesion.

[Cerebrovascular disease in children: II. Clinical aspects in 42 cases]

We report the findings recorded in 42 children suffering cerebrovascular disease and assisted at the Hospital das Clínicas FCM-UNICAMP, over a 8 years period (January 1990 until April 1998). The ischemic type was the most common, and involvement of the middle cerebral artery, sudden onset of clinical manifestation with seizures and motor disability were more common in early aged children. Motor sequelae predominated in the follow-up of these children.

Hepatocellular carcinoma HBsAg positive in pregnancy

The authors present a case of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed in a pregnant woman (four months pregnancy). The clinical evolution was complicated because of a severe hypoglicemia and the patient died 12 weeks after admission. The fetus died before a tentative of surgical delivery. The patient was HBsAg positive and five out of eight sons (inclusively the fetus), were HBsAg positive. There was not indication that the pregnancy had enhanced the tumor evolution.