The principle of IMRT is to treat a patient from a number of different directions (or continuous arcs) with beams of nonuniform fluences, which have been optimized to deliver a high dose to the target volume and an acceptably low dose to... more
The principle of IMRT is to treat a patient from a number of different directions (or continuous arcs) with beams of nonuniform fluences, which have been optimized to deliver a high dose to the target volume and an acceptably low dose to the surrounding normal structures (Khan, 2010). This study intends to provide information to the physicist regarding the application of different dosimeters type, phantoms and analysis technique for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) dose distributions evaluation. The measures were performed using dosimeters of LiF:Mg,Ti and Al2O3:C evaluated by techniques of thermoluminescent (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) phantom with five cavities, two principal target volumes considered like tumours to be treated and other three cavities to measure the scattered radiation dose was developed to carried out the measures.
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Few continuing education programs to train behavioral health professionals to deliver tobacco treatment services have been described and evaluated. The effectiveness of two-day training on changing practice was examined by review of... more
Few continuing education programs to train behavioral health professionals to deliver tobacco treatment services have been described and evaluated. The effectiveness of two-day training on changing practice was examined by review of clinical charts from 20 clinicians who attended in 2012. Ten medical records were randomly selected for review from each clinician's outpatient practice at a large behavioral health system. Five charts from smokers seen within six months before and after training were reviewed per clinician, for a total of 200. Records were electronically searched on…
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ABSTRACT Carcinosarcomas are biphasic tumors consisting of an admixture of malignant epithelial and stromal elements without areas of transition between both elements, and each of these elements showing distinct inmuhistochemical... more
ABSTRACT Carcinosarcomas are biphasic tumors consisting of an admixture of malignant epithelial and stromal elements without areas of transition between both elements, and each of these elements showing distinct inmuhistochemical features. This rare tumor is most commonly seen in the female genital tract. Pulmonary carcinosarcoma was first described in 1951 and is the fourth common site; it constitutes 0.2% of primary pulmonary malignancies. Metastases have been reported to adrenals, kidney, bone, brain and liver and occur especially from the sarcomatous component. We present a case of pulmonary carcinosarcoma with metastases from the sarcomatous component to the soft tissues of the face Case Report: Female 64 years-old with a 1 year history of cough and hemoptysis, during assessment a chest × ray revealed a right pulmonary nodule and a subsequent chest CT showed a tumor depending on the medial segment from the middle lobe, no metastasic mediastinal nodes and no adrenal gland metastases were identified. A transthoracic fine needle aspiration was performed and a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was emitted by our cytologist. A PET scan showed only a lesion in the right lung and discarded nodal and metastasic disease. Then she was carried out to surgical resection and superior bi-lobectomy with mediastinal node mapping was performed. At pathological examination a carcinosarcoma of the lung was reported, tumor size 5.5× 3.7 cm, no nodal involvement (pT2 pN0 M0 stage IB). One month later she developed a preauricular cutaneous nodule, a cytology reported a spindle-cell neoplasm and a subsequent excisional biopsy confirmed a metastatic spindle-cell neoplasm from the sarcomatous component of the carcinosarcoma. Actually she is under palliative chemotherapy with doxrrubicin and cisplatin after three months form initial surgery.Discussion: Carcinosarcoma of the lung remains an unusual tumor. It occurs most commonly in males with a 3:1 ratio, particularly in smokers, with a mean age of diagnosis of 63 years. Clinical symptoms depend on the size and localization of the tumor. The earliest and most frequent are usually due to bronchial obstruction. Peripheral lesions can be asymptomatic for a long time. The most accepted theory about the pathogenesis is that there is a malignant transformation of a single cell line, which can undergo clonal evolution and differentiation into a variety of carcinomatous and sarcomatous components. Inmunohistochemical and ultraestructural studies support this theory. Preoperative assessment and even intraoperative findings can not differentiate carcinosarcoma from other lung malignancies. Most cases are operable when first discovered and treatment should be surgery, the prognosis is poor, with an average postoperative survival of nine months and only 10% will survive two years.
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Despite the numerous differences among the distinct diseases of the chest wall, the surgery of this area shows certain common features. Treatment has progressively changed in the last few years due to advances in diagnostic techniques,... more
Despite the numerous differences among the distinct diseases of the chest wall, the surgery of this area shows certain common features. Treatment has progressively changed in the last few years due to advances in diagnostic techniques, minimally invasive procedures and reconstruction materials, and especially due to the multidisciplinary management of many diseases. Nuss' minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum has gained devotees, although open approaches are performed with increasingly small incisions, almost comparable to the lateral incisions in Nuss' technique. Surgeons supporting the open approach also cite the evident disadvantages of the need for a steel implant for 2 or 3 years and for a second intervention to remove this implant. En-bloc resections with reconstruction using materials, which are increasingly better and covered by myocutaneous grafts in collaboration with plastic surgery departments, constitute a major advance in the treatment of chest wall tumors. Trimodal therapy for Pancoast tumors, consisting of induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy and subsequent surgical treatment of the tumor, currently provides the best results in terms of resectability and survival.
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This paper is a report of a second round of RNA-Puzzles, a collective and blind experiment in three-dimensional (3D) RNA structure prediction. Three puzzles, Puzzles 5, 6, and 10, represented sequences of three large RNA structures with... more
This paper is a report of a second round of RNA-Puzzles, a collective and blind experiment in three-dimensional (3D) RNA structure prediction. Three puzzles, Puzzles 5, 6, and 10, represented sequences of three large RNA structures with limited or no homology with previously solved RNA molecules. A lariat-capping ribozyme, as well as riboswitches complexed to adenosylcobalamin and tRNA, were predicted by seven groups using RNAComposer, ModeRNA/SimRNA, Vfold, Rosetta, DMD, MC-Fold, 3dRNA, and AMBER refinement. Some groups derived models using data from state-of-the-art chemical-mapping methods (SHAPE, DMS, CMCT, and mutate-and-map). The comparisons between the predictions and the three subsequently released crystallographic structures, solved at diffraction resolutions of 2.5-3.2 Å, were carried out automatically using various sets of quality indicators. The comparisons clearly demonstrate the state of present-day de novo prediction abilities as well as the limitations of these state...
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We report the richness and diversity of bird species in three different areas (pasture, regenerating forest and mature forest) in Semievergreen forest from central Veracruz, Mexico. Out of the 171 bird species observed, 45% are abundant,... more
We report the richness and diversity of bird species in three different areas (pasture, regenerating forest and mature forest) in Semievergreen forest from central Veracruz, Mexico. Out of the 171 bird species observed, 45% are abundant, 35% are scarce, and 35% rare; 112 species are permanent residents and 59 migratory species. In the regenerating forest 126 species were observed, as
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In our previous paper, a fuzzy bi-level programming model was developed to determine optimal interplant water integration networks in eco-industrial parks (EIPs). This approach allowed the appropriate incentive mechanisms, in the form of... more
In our previous paper, a fuzzy bi-level programming model was developed to determine optimal interplant water integration networks in eco-industrial parks (EIPs). This approach allowed the appropriate incentive mechanisms, in the form of fresh water and effluent fees as well as water reuse subsidies, to be optimized from the perspective of the EIP authority. This work extends the original mathematical
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In an adversarial military environment, it is important to efficiently and promptly predict the enemy's tactical intent from lower level spatial and temporal information. In this paper, we propose a decentralized... more
In an adversarial military environment, it is important to efficiently and promptly predict the enemy's tactical intent from lower level spatial and temporal information. In this paper, we propose a decentralized Markov game (MG) theoretic approach to estimate the belief of each possible enemy course of action (ECOA), which is utilized to model the adversary intents. It has the following
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In this work we intend to advance towards a computational model to hold up a Group Decision Support System for VirtualECare, a system aimed at sustaining online healthcare services, where Extended Logic Programs (ELP) will be used for... more
In this work we intend to advance towards a computational model to hold up a Group Decision Support System for VirtualECare, a system aimed at sustaining online healthcare services, where Extended Logic Programs (ELP) will be used for knowledge ...
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Abstract. The rate of adoption of Precision Agriculture and Precision Viticulture production systems in the Douro Demarcated Region remains low. We believe that one way to raise it is to address challenging real-world problems whose... more
Abstract. The rate of adoption of Precision Agriculture and Precision Viticulture production systems in the Douro Demarcated Region remains low. We believe that one way to raise it is to address challenging real-world problems whose solution offers a clear benefit to the viticulturist. ...
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El concepto de biblioteca digital está sufriendo cambios y planteamientos nuevos de manera acelerada. El uso y objetivos que propongamos desde un principio para esta tipología de bibliotecas marcarán sin duda el desarrollo y evolución de... more
El concepto de biblioteca digital está sufriendo cambios y planteamientos nuevos de manera acelerada. El uso y objetivos que propongamos desde un principio para esta tipología de bibliotecas marcarán sin duda el desarrollo y evolución de las mismas. El esfuerzo en el ámbito internacional que presentamos aquí tiene como objetivo recoger la literatura de las ciencias de la documentación y
Page 1. F. Oquendo (Ed.): EWSPT 2003, LNCS 2786, pp. 94111, 2003. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003 Integrated Measurement for the Evaluation and Improvement of Software Processes Félix García, Francisco Ruiz, José Antonio Cruz,... more
Page 1. F. Oquendo (Ed.): EWSPT 2003, LNCS 2786, pp. 94111, 2003. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003 Integrated Measurement for the Evaluation and Improvement of Software Processes Félix García, Francisco Ruiz, José Antonio Cruz, and Mario Piattini ...
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We demonstrate a new single bandpass tunable microwave filter based on a broadband optical source and a fibre Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A tuning range of 5-17 GHz and a Q factor around 48 have been measured.
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... This article intends to give an overview about the solution Elder Care, by supplying a global synopsis of related existing solutions and projects (approached in Section 2) and giving acontextualization of the main architecture of... more
... This article intends to give an overview about the solution Elder Care, by supplying a global synopsis of related existing solutions and projects (approached in Section 2) and giving acontextualization of the main architecture of Elder Care (shown in Section 3) as well as ...
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Page 1. Personal data in a large digital library* Accepted at ECDL2000 1 July 2000 José Manuel Barrueco Cruz Markus JR Klink Thomas Krichel ... Thomas Krichel thanks the Digital World Research Centre at the University of Surrey for... more
Page 1. Personal data in a large digital library* Accepted at ECDL2000 1 July 2000 José Manuel Barrueco Cruz Markus JR Klink Thomas Krichel ... Thomas Krichel thanks the Digital World Research Centre at the University of Surrey for sponsoring his attendance at ECDL2000. ...
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Page 1. 355 Cálculo independente de dose para tratamentos de arco dinâmico Radiol Bras 2006;39(5):355359 Artigo Original CÁLCULO INDEPENDENTE DE DOSE PARA TRATAMENTOS DE ARCO DINÂMICO COM COLIMADOR MICROMULTILÂMINAS* ...
DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals, SPARC Europe Award 2009 English. Free, full text, quality controlled scientific and scholarly journals, covering all subjects and many languages. ...
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A chamber and method for the measurement of dielectrophoretic (DEP) force in yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is described. The physical method uses the Stokes drag force and a V-shaped chamber. Velocity measurements were induced... more
A chamber and method for the measurement of dielectrophoretic (DEP) force in yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is described. The physical method uses the Stokes drag force and a V-shaped chamber. Velocity measurements were induced over the frequency range of between 50 kHz and 5 MHz for a suspending medium of 2.2 mS/m in conductivity. Average values of DEP force and effective polarizability have been determined from the velocity measurements. Experimental data with single cells confirm the theoretical expression for the axial profile of the electric field. The results show that this method-and-chamber system is an accurate tool for measuring of DEP force over single cells. Population data of 129 cells confirm the theory showing that the DEP velocity distribution density of the population is similar to the cellular “square radius”
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Research Interests: Information Society, Scenario planning, Collaborative Networks, Multi Agent System, Population Aging, and 11 moreBlood Pressure, INTENSIVE CARE, Group Decision Support System, Idea Generation, Young Adult, Cost effectiveness, Collaborative Work, New Economy, Health Care Delivery, Business environment, and Decision Maker
Microwave and mm-wave photonics for broadband communications is an area of important growth and of great interest for information society technologies (Internet traffic, video on demand, >1 Gb/s to the home, 40 Gb/s... more
Microwave and mm-wave photonics for broadband communications is an area of important growth and of great interest for information society technologies (Internet traffic, video on demand, >1 Gb/s to the home, 40 Gb/s optical systems, optical beam forming for intelligent antennas, all-optical networks, etc.). Fiber Bragg gratings are key components for the development of low-cost microwave photonics. Reliability and high
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Abstract This paper presents observer based feedback control strategies for nonholonomic collaborative robots. The collaborative robot system uses the leader-follower formation controller. The observer based feedback strategies are... more
Abstract This paper presents observer based feedback control strategies for nonholonomic collaborative robots. The collaborative robot system uses the leader-follower formation controller. The observer based feedback strategies are presented for the leader robot. ...
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RESUMO - Em decorrência da grande quantidade de cultivares de milho disponíveis no mercado e da vari a- bilidade de suas características agronômicas, existe a necessidade de informações adequadas para a escolha da cultivar mais adaptada... more
RESUMO - Em decorrência da grande quantidade de cultivares de milho disponíveis no mercado e da vari a- bilidade de suas características agronômicas, existe a necessidade de informações adequadas para a escolha da cultivar mais adaptada aos diferentes sistemas de produção das regiões produtoras. Três variedades, três híbridos duplos, três híbridos triplos e três híbridos simples foram avaliados para a produção de forragem em Sete Lagoas, Uberlândia, Curvelo, Lavras e São Se- bastião do Paraíso, no Estado de Minas Gerais. Foi ut i- lizado o delineamento em blocos casualizados, com doze tratamentos e quatro repetições em cada local. F o- ram avaliadas a produção de massa verde e a de maté- ria seca, a percentagem de espigas na matéria seca e a percentagem de proteína bruta em colmos, folhas e e s- pigas. Foram efetuadas análises de variância conjuntas para todas as característic as. As variedades e os híbridos duplos apresentaram maiores produções de matéria seca total do que os híbri...
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ABSTRACT Several alternatives have been investigated to achieve enhanced supercontinuum generation in the nanosecond pump regime using specialty silica-based microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). Among these alternatives we can point out... more
ABSTRACT Several alternatives have been investigated to achieve enhanced supercontinuum generation in the nanosecond pump regime using specialty silica-based microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). Among these alternatives we can point out the use of (a) MOF tapers, (b) ...
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ABSTRACT We report an experimental study of the response of a hydrogen sensor based on a palladium-coated tapered optical fiber, at different temperatures in the range [-30, 80]°C. The main features of the sensor's response have... more
ABSTRACT We report an experimental study of the response of a hydrogen sensor based on a palladium-coated tapered optical fiber, at different temperatures in the range [-30, 80]°C. The main features of the sensor's response have been correlated with the pressure-composition isotherms of the Pd-H system and its phase transitions. Moreover, heating of the palladium layer optically with an auxiliary laser diode, allows improving the sensor"s time response at low temperatures.
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... Miguel V. Andrés, José Luis Cruz, Antonio Díez, Pere Pérez-Millán, Martina Delgado-PinarRicardo Duchowicz*, Dobryna Zalvídea ... R. Duchowicz, J. Mora, JL Cruz, MV Andrés: "High-efficiency Q-switched erbium fiber laser using a... more
... Miguel V. Andrés, José Luis Cruz, Antonio Díez, Pere Pérez-Millán, Martina Delgado-PinarRicardo Duchowicz*, Dobryna Zalvídea ... R. Duchowicz, J. Mora, JL Cruz, MV Andrés: "High-efficiency Q-switched erbium fiber laser using a Bragg grating-based modulator, Opt. ...
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... JG Castelló1, V. Toccafondo1, P. Pérez-Millán 1, JL Cruz2, MV Andrés2, J. García-Rupérez1 ... the experimental demonstration of this technique, we have used a SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) corrugated waveguide [3] performed in the frame... more
... JG Castelló1, V. Toccafondo1, P. Pérez-Millán 1, JL Cruz2, MV Andrés2, J. García-Rupérez1 ... the experimental demonstration of this technique, we have used a SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) corrugated waveguide [3] performed in the frame of ePIXfab set-up by CEA-LETI, which is ...
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Research Interests: Water quality, Activated Carbon, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Soil organic matter, and 11 moreReduced Tillage, Management System, Soil Structure, Enzyme activity, Organic C, Water Quality, Biological activity, Aggregate Stability, Mean Weight Diameter, Soil Tillage, and Nitrogen mineralization
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Page 1. La victimización por violencia urbana: niveles y factores asociados en ciudades de América Latina y España José Miguel Cruz1 En este artículo se comparan los niveles de victimización por diversas causas y se identifican ...
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... Maurílio Fernandes de Oliveira(2), Ramon Costa Alvarenga(2), Antônio Carlos de Oliveira(2) e José Carlos Cruz(2 ... MF de Oliveira et al ... 2. O número de gramíneas é reduzido significati-vamente pelos níveis de palha,... more
... Maurílio Fernandes de Oliveira(2), Ramon Costa Alvarenga(2), Antônio Carlos de Oliveira(2) e José Carlos Cruz(2 ... MF de Oliveira et al ... 2. O número de gramíneas é reduzido significati-vamente pelos níveis de palha, independentemente da presença de herbicida e da época do ...
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SIDALC - Servicio de Informacion y Documentacion Agropecuaria de las Americas.
We present a novel and simple technique for obtaining transversal filters with negative coefficients by using uniform fiber Bragg gratings. We demonstrate a wide tuning range, good performance, low cost, and easy implementation of... more
We present a novel and simple technique for obtaining transversal filters with negative coefficients by using uniform fiber Bragg gratings. We demonstrate a wide tuning range, good performance, low cost, and easy implementation of multitap filters in an all-optical passive configuration in which negative taps are obtained by use of the transmission of a broadband source through uniform Bragg gratings.
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Structural RNA modules, sets of ordered non-Watson-Crick base pairs embedded between Watson-Crick pairs, have central roles as architectural organizers and sites of ligand binding in RNA molecules, and are recurrently observed in RNA... more
Structural RNA modules, sets of ordered non-Watson-Crick base pairs embedded between Watson-Crick pairs, have central roles as architectural organizers and sites of ligand binding in RNA molecules, and are recurrently observed in RNA families throughout the phylogeny. Here we describe a computational tool, RNA three-dimensional (3D) modules detection, or RMDetect, for identifying known 3D structural modules in single and multiple RNA sequences in the absence of any other information. Currently, four modules can be searched for: G-bulge loop, kink-turn, C-loop and tandem-GA loop. In control test sequences we found all of the known modules with a false discovery rate of 0.23. Scanning through 1,444 publicly available alignments, we identified 21 yet unreported modules and 141 known modules. RMDetect can be used to refine RNA 2D structure, assemble RNA 3D models, and search and annotate structured RNAs in genomic data.
Research Interests: Bioinformatics, Algorithms, Technology, Structural Biology, Genomics, and 14 moreRNA, Biological Sciences, Software, Sequence alignment, Computer Simulation, Ligand Binding, Search Engine, Introns, Three Dimensional, False discovery rate, Base Sequence, Bayes Theorem, D structure, and Nucleic Acid Conformation
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By using local Fourier analysis, a simultaneous directions parallel method, which is a particular instance of the parallel fractional step algorithm, is shown to possess smoothing effects when applied to Poisson problems. The specific... more
By using local Fourier analysis, a simultaneous directions parallel method, which is a particular instance of the parallel fractional step algorithm, is shown to possess smoothing effects when applied to Poisson problems. The specific smoothing factor is determined and the ...
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Research Interests: Environmental Engineering, Climate Change, Cleaner Production, Economic Development, Supply Chain, and 10 moreCase Study, Manufacturing Engineering, Water Stress, Virtual Water, Population Growth, Fuzzy optimization, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Water Resource, Input Output, and Resource Availability
Bragg gratings written in tapered core fibres permit a direct measure of mechanical vibrations with a time response better than 10 µs. The intrinsic properties of the sensors lead to a simple interrogation technique and wavelength... more
Bragg gratings written in tapered core fibres permit a direct measure of mechanical vibrations with a time response better than 10 µs. The intrinsic properties of the sensors lead to a simple interrogation technique and wavelength multiplexing capacity. The sensor system is operated at 800 nm and is compact and low-cost.
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Research Interests: Radiosurgery, Treatment Outcome, Multivariate Analysis, Humans, Female, and 15 moreMale, Follow-up studies, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Kaplan-Meier, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Prognosis, Brain Metastases, Indexation, Brain Neoplasm, Overall Survival, Proportional Hazards Models, and Brain Neoplasms
Two all-fiber Mach-Zender interferometers have been designed to generate RF modulated light at 633 nm and 830 nm. The interferometers are scanned with a piezoelectric tube driven at its fundamental frequency of resonance. The actual... more
Two all-fiber Mach-Zender interferometers have been designed to generate RF modulated light at 633 nm and 830 nm. The interferometers are scanned with a piezoelectric tube driven at its fundamental frequency of resonance. The actual experimental arrangement covers the frequency range 1 kHz to 1 GHz. The technique combines several interesting features such as the simplicity, the stability and reliability
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We describe a technique for image-guided femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a case of Peters anomaly type 2. The femtosecond laser technology enabled reliable construction of a complete capsulotomy despite central corneal... more
We describe a technique for image-guided femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a case of Peters anomaly type 2. The femtosecond laser technology enabled reliable construction of a complete capsulotomy despite central corneal opacification and a tented anterior capsule. Use of an image-guided femtosecond laser for cataract extraction in Peters anomaly type 2 is a safe method for removing these complex cataracts while preserving capsular and corneal integrity. Dr. De la Cruz is a consultant to Alcon Surgical, Inc. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
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We describe a technique for image-guided femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a case of Peters anomaly type 2. The femtosecond laser technology enabled reliable construction of a complete capsulotomy despite central corneal... more
We describe a technique for image-guided femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a case of Peters anomaly type 2. The femtosecond laser technology enabled reliable construction of a complete capsulotomy despite central corneal opacification and a tented anterior capsule. Use of an image-guided femtosecond laser for cataract extraction in Peters anomaly type 2 is a safe method for removing these complex cataracts while preserving capsular and corneal integrity. Dr. De la Cruz is a consultant to Alcon Surgical, Inc. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
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Page 1. 1352 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, VOL. 48, NO. 8, AUGUST 2000 Variable Delay Line for Phased-Array Antenna Based on a Chirped Fiber Grating Beatriz Ortega, José L. Cruz ...
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To compare the sparing potential of cerebral hemispheres with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for whole-ventricular irradiation (WVI) and conventional whole-brain irradiation... more
To compare the sparing potential of cerebral hemispheres with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for whole-ventricular irradiation (WVI) and conventional whole-brain irradiation (WBI) in the management of localized central nervous system germ cell tumors (CNSGCTs). Ten cases of patients with localized CNSGCTs and submitted to WVI by use of IMRT with or without a "boost" to the primary lesion were selected. For comparison purposes, similar treatment plans were produced by use of 3D-CRT (WVI with or without boost) and WBI (opposed lateral fields with or without boost), and cerebral hemisphere sparing was evaluated at dose levels ranging from 2 Gy to 40 Gy. The median prescription dose for WVI was 30.6 Gy (range, 25.2-37.5 Gy), and that for the boost was 16.5 Gy (range, 0-23.4 Gy). Mean irradiated cerebral hemisphere volumes were lower for WVI with IMRT than for 3D-CRT and were lower for WVI with 3D-CRT than for WBI. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy was associated with the lowest irradiated volumes, with reductions of 7.5%, 12.2%, and 9.0% at dose levels of 20, 30, and 40 Gy, respectively, compared with 3D-CRT. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy provided statistically significant reductions of median irradiated volumes at all dose levels (p = 0.002 or less). However, estimated radiation doses to peripheral areas of the body were 1.9 times higher with IMRT than with 3D-CRT. Although IMRT is associated with increased radiation doses to peripheral areas of the body, its use can spare a significant amount of normal central nervous system tissue compared with 3D-CRT or WBI in the setting of CNSGCT treatment.
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This study was designed to determine if macrophage inhibitory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), a recently described osteoclast (OCL) stimulatory factor,(1) was present in marrow from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and possibly involved... more
This study was designed to determine if macrophage inhibitory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), a recently described osteoclast (OCL) stimulatory factor,(1) was present in marrow from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and possibly involved in the bone destructive process. MIP-1 alpha, but not interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta), or interleukin-6 (IL-6), messenger RNA was elevated in freshly isolated bone marrow from 3 of 4 patients with MM compared to normal controls. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of freshly isolated bone marrow plasma detected increased concentrations of hMIP-1 alpha (range, 75-7784 pg/mL) in 8 of 13 patients (62%) with active myeloma, in 3 of 18 patients (17%) with stable myeloma (range, 75-190.3), as well as in conditioned media from 4 of 5 lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from patients with MM. Mildly elevated levels of MIP-1 alpha were detected in 3 of 14 patients (21%) with other hematologic diagnoses ...
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This study was designed to determine if macrophage inhibitory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), a recently described osteoclast (OCL) stimulatory factor,(1) was present in marrow from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and possibly involved... more
This study was designed to determine if macrophage inhibitory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), a recently described osteoclast (OCL) stimulatory factor,(1) was present in marrow from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and possibly involved in the bone destructive process. MIP-1 alpha, but not interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta), or interleukin-6 (IL-6), messenger RNA was elevated in freshly isolated bone marrow from 3 of 4 patients with MM compared to normal controls. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of freshly isolated bone marrow plasma detected increased concentrations of hMIP-1 alpha (range, 75-7784 pg/mL) in 8 of 13 patients (62%) with active myeloma, in 3 of 18 patients (17%) with stable myeloma (range, 75-190.3), as well as in conditioned media from 4 of 5 lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from patients with MM. Mildly elevated levels of MIP-1 alpha were detected in 3 of 14 patients (21%) with other hematologic diagnoses ...
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Research Interests: Ophthalmology, Treatment Outcome, Visual acuity, Humans, Follow-up studies, and 12 moreClinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Optometry and Ophthalmology, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Retrospective Studies, Prognosis, Eyeglasses, Presbyopia, Age Groups, and Postoperative Period
Research Interests: Ophthalmology, Treatment Outcome, Visual acuity, Humans, Follow-up studies, and 12 moreClinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Optometry and Ophthalmology, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Retrospective Studies, Prognosis, Eyeglasses, Presbyopia, Age Groups, and Postoperative Period
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... Code 5673. Naval Research Laboratory. Washington. DC 20375, USA) ... Temperature-independent strain sensor using a chirped Bragg grating in a tapered optical fibre MG Xu, L. Dong, L. Reekie, JA Tucknott and JL Cruz Indering lerms:... more
... Code 5673. Naval Research Laboratory. Washington. DC 20375, USA) ... Temperature-independent strain sensor using a chirped Bragg grating in a tapered optical fibre MG Xu, L. Dong, L. Reekie, JA Tucknott and JL Cruz Indering lerms: Fibre oplic seii~ir.\, Grutings in fibres. ...
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ABSTRACT We consider the control of a dynamic system modeled as a Markov chain. The transition probability matrix of the Markov chain depends on the control u and also on an unknown parameter α0. The unknown parameter belongs to a given... more
ABSTRACT We consider the control of a dynamic system modeled as a Markov chain. The transition probability matrix of the Markov chain depends on the control u and also on an unknown parameter α0. The unknown parameter belongs to a given finite set A . The long run average cost depends on the control policy and the unknown parameter. Thus, a direct approach to the optimization of the performance is not feasible. A common procedure calls for an on-line estimation of the unknown parameter and the minimization of the cost functional using the estimate in lieu of the true parameter. It is well known that this "certainty equivalence" (CE) solution may fail to achieve optimal performance, even asymptotically. In this presentation of a new optimization-oriented approach to adaptive control, we consider a composite functional which simultaneously takes care of the estimation and control needs. The global minimum of this composite functional coincides with the minimum of the original cost functional. Thus, its joint minimization with respect to control and parameter estimates would yield the optimal control policy. This joint minimization is not feasible, but it suggests an algorithm that asymptotically achieves the desired goal. The transient behavior of the algorithm, as well as the situation when alpha^{0}notin A are also investigated.
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We report a case of post-laser in situ keratomileusis atypical mycobacteria infection unresponsive and resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones, which highlights the importance of a high level of suspicion and the need for... more
We report a case of post-laser in situ keratomileusis atypical mycobacteria infection unresponsive and resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones, which highlights the importance of a high level of suspicion and the need for multidrug therapy for effective eradication.
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We report a case of post-laser in situ keratomileusis atypical mycobacteria infection unresponsive and resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones, which highlights the importance of a high level of suspicion and the need for... more
We report a case of post-laser in situ keratomileusis atypical mycobacteria infection unresponsive and resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones, which highlights the importance of a high level of suspicion and the need for multidrug therapy for effective eradication.
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... Tech. Papers, 1974, pp. 140-141, 243 GOODENOUGH, F.: 'N-channel JFET process makes possible low-cost charge-amplifier ICs', Electron. Des., 1996, 44, (2), pp. 3742 ... JL Cruz,... more
... Tech. Papers, 1974, pp. 140-141, 243 GOODENOUGH, F.: 'N-channel JFET process makes possible low-cost charge-amplifier ICs', Electron. Des., 1996, 44, (2), pp. 3742 ... JL Cruz, B.Ortega, MV Andres, B. Gimeno, D. Pastor, J. Capmany and L. Dong ...
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We analyzed survival, therapeutic response, and prognostic factors in patients with HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated or not with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study included 104 patients with HL, treated (n =... more
We analyzed survival, therapeutic response, and prognostic factors in patients with HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated or not with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study included 104 patients with HL, treated (n = 83) or not (n = 21) with HAART. Outcomes and prognostic factors of complete remission (CR), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed by an intention-to-treat analysis of all patients who received at least 1 chemotherapy course. No differences were found between groups at baseline in the specific characteristics of HIV and HL. The proportion of patients receiving appropriate-for-stage therapy for HL was similar for both groups. The CR rates in the HAART (-) and HAART (+) groups were 14 (70%) of 20 versus 71 (91%) of 78 (P = 0.023). The median OS in the HAART (-) group was 39 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0 to 89) and was not reached in the HAART (+) group (P = 0.0089). The median DFS in the HAART (-) group was 85 months (95% CI: 73 to 97) and was not reached in the HAART (+) group (P = 0.129). Factors independently associated with CR by logistic regression analysis were appropriate-for-stage therapy of HL, HAART, and baseline CD4 count > or =100 cells/microL. CR was the only factor independently associated with OS by Cox regression analysis. The achievement of CR was independently associated with appropriate-for-stage therapy for HL, with HAART, and with a baseline CD4 count > or =100 cells/microL. The only variable independently associated with OS was the achievement of CR.
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We analyzed survival, therapeutic response, and prognostic factors in patients with HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated or not with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study included 104 patients with HL, treated (n =... more
We analyzed survival, therapeutic response, and prognostic factors in patients with HIV-related Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated or not with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study included 104 patients with HL, treated (n = 83) or not (n = 21) with HAART. Outcomes and prognostic factors of complete remission (CR), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed by an intention-to-treat analysis of all patients who received at least 1 chemotherapy course. No differences were found between groups at baseline in the specific characteristics of HIV and HL. The proportion of patients receiving appropriate-for-stage therapy for HL was similar for both groups. The CR rates in the HAART (-) and HAART (+) groups were 14 (70%) of 20 versus 71 (91%) of 78 (P = 0.023). The median OS in the HAART (-) group was 39 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0 to 89) and was not reached in the HAART (+) group (P = 0.0089). The median DFS in the HAART (-) group was 85 months (95% CI: 73 to 97) and was not reached in the HAART (+) group (P = 0.129). Factors independently associated with CR by logistic regression analysis were appropriate-for-stage therapy of HL, HAART, and baseline CD4 count > or =100 cells/microL. CR was the only factor independently associated with OS by Cox regression analysis. The achievement of CR was independently associated with appropriate-for-stage therapy for HL, with HAART, and with a baseline CD4 count > or =100 cells/microL. The only variable independently associated with OS was the achievement of CR.
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... pp. 3706-3712 2 CHADWICK. B., TANK, J., BKIJNGS. M., and GAI.. ... Single-frequency semiconductor lasers with an external fibre grating free of optical isolator, Peltier cooler and wavelength locker are very promising candidates to... more
... pp. 3706-3712 2 CHADWICK. B., TANK, J., BKIJNGS. M., and GAI.. ... Single-frequency semiconductor lasers with an external fibre grating free of optical isolator, Peltier cooler and wavelength locker are very promising candidates to achieve these strict requirements. Fig. ...
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... 3 Relative variation of birefringence, compared to its value at 20 C, of PCF under test ... results for the depen-dence with temperature of the dispersion and the birefringence of a ... their optical properties, PCFs exhibit no... more
... 3 Relative variation of birefringence, compared to its value at 20 C, of PCF under test ... results for the depen-dence with temperature of the dispersion and the birefringence of a ... their optical properties, PCFs exhibit no dependence with temperature of these properties due to the ...
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ABSTRACT A novel tunable dispersion device, based on two chirped
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"Stroke is a major cause of prolonged impairment in industrialized countries. Although healthcare studies suggest that relying on Assistive Products (AP), instead of personal help diminishes dysfunction and promotes independence,... more
"Stroke is a major cause of prolonged impairment in industrialized countries. Although healthcare studies suggest that relying on Assistive Products (AP), instead of personal help diminishes dysfunction and promotes independence, several authors alert to the problems of discontinuance in use or abandonment of AP. A list of 42 Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was developed and applied, along with the Barthel Index, in personal interviews to 67 stroke patients so as to assess: patients’ degree of capability in performing each task; types of help used; and how these aids were being used. Methods deriving from healthcare research were complemented with design research methods, considering as study items not only the patients, but also the objects, ergonomics, surroundings and types of interaction. This combination allowed for quantitative and qualitative data crossing, helpful to both knowledge areas. Data analysis shows that stroke patients do not use as much AP as they should in order to achieve independence, that there is a great lack of awareness about AP and that there are AP in the market not suited for stroke patients’ use. Our findings are in tune with healthcare literature on frequently used AP, but they add important facts on how these are being used. Furthermore, we have identified feelings shared by the majority of patients concerning ADL performance, being fear the most significant of all. This interdisciplinary research illustrates the benefits of design intervention on AP research. Design’s user-centred approaches, combined with healthcare research practices, result in a noteworthy combination to create guidelines for excellence in future AP development. "
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"Stroke is a major cause of prolonged impairment in industrialized countries. Although healthcare studies suggest that relying on Assistive Products (AP), instead of personal help diminishes dysfunction and promotes independence,... more
"Stroke is a major cause of prolonged impairment in industrialized countries. Although healthcare studies suggest that relying on Assistive Products (AP), instead of personal help diminishes dysfunction and promotes independence, several authors alert to the problems of discontinuance in use or abandonment of AP. A list of 42 Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was developed and applied, along with the Barthel Index, in personal interviews to 67 stroke patients so as to assess: patients’ degree of capability in performing each task; types of help used; and how these aids were being used. Methods deriving from healthcare research were complemented with design research methods, considering as study items not only the patients, but also the objects, ergonomics, surroundings and types of interaction. This combination allowed for quantitative and qualitative data crossing, helpful to both knowledge areas. Data analysis shows that stroke patients do not use as much AP as they should in order to achieve independence, that there is a great lack of awareness about AP and that there are AP in the market not suited for stroke patients’ use. Our findings are in tune with healthcare literature on frequently used AP, but they add important facts on how these are being used. Furthermore, we have identified feelings shared by the majority of patients concerning ADL performance, being fear the most significant of all. This interdisciplinary research illustrates the benefits of design intervention on AP research. Design’s user-centred approaches, combined with healthcare research practices, result in a noteworthy combination to create guidelines for excellence in future AP development. "
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ABSTRACT A novel configuration of a wavelength multiplexed hydrogen sensor based on a palladium-coated tapered fibre and a fibre Bragg grating is presented. This scheme allows cascading several sensors along a single fibre, which... more
ABSTRACT A novel configuration of a wavelength multiplexed hydrogen sensor based on a palladium-coated tapered fibre and a fibre Bragg grating is presented. This scheme allows cascading several sensors along a single fibre, which increases the capability of implementing multipoint sensor networks for volumetric detection. Moreover, in this configuration the light interacts twice with the palladium layer, thus enhancing the sensitivity of the sensor.
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Research Interests: Artificial Organs, Treatment Outcome, Cornea, Adolescent, Visual acuity, and 18 moreHumans, Child, Female, Male, Young Adult, American, Fibrosis, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Optometry and Ophthalmology, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Retrospective Studies, Iris, Aniridia, Vitrectomy, and Syndrome
Research Interests: Artificial Organs, Treatment Outcome, Cornea, Adolescent, Visual acuity, and 18 moreHumans, Child, Female, Male, Young Adult, American, Fibrosis, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Optometry and Ophthalmology, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Retrospective Studies, Iris, Aniridia, Vitrectomy, and Syndrome
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Dynamic task assignment is a critical issue in the control of dynamic systems that are controlled by a multi-team structure. In general, assigning a task to one team requires considering the actions taken by the other teams. An... more
Dynamic task assignment is a critical issue in the control of dynamic systems that are controlled by a multi-team structure. In general, assigning a task to one team requires considering the actions taken by the other teams. An interesting example of dynamic task ...
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Research Interests: Artificial Organs, Cornea, Adolescent, Visual acuity, Humans, and 15 moreChild, Glaucoma, Female, Male, Intraocular Pressure, Young Adult, Follow-up studies, American, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Optometry and Ophthalmology, Adult, Public health systems and services research, and Retrospective Studies
RESUMEN Introducción: La carga viral de citomegalovirus (CMV) se relaciona con el desarrollo de enfermedades por el mismo. La concentración de antígeno pp65 se utiliza como indicador de la carga viral, aunque presenta numerosos... more
RESUMEN Introducción: La carga viral de citomegalovirus (CMV) se relaciona con el desarrollo de enfermedades por el mismo. La concentración de antígeno pp65 se utiliza como indicador de la carga viral, aunque presenta numerosos inconvenientes en su ...
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Méthodes parallèles de directions simultanées pour des équations elliptiques et paraboliques. ... Adapting some previous ideas by Lu, Neittaanmäki and Tai, we use simultaneous directions methods to solve linear second-order elliptic and... more
Méthodes parallèles de directions simultanées pour des équations elliptiques et paraboliques. ... Adapting some previous ideas by Lu, Neittaanmäki and Tai, we use simultaneous directions methods to solve linear second-order elliptic and parabolic equations. The task ...
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Un algorithme parallèlle de directions simultanées pour les équations de NavierStokes. ... We use a parallel algorithm (in time and space) to solve the incompressible NavierStokes problem. Adapting some previous ideas by Lu,... more
Un algorithme parallèlle de directions simultanées pour les équations de NavierStokes. ... We use a parallel algorithm (in time and space) to solve the incompressible NavierStokes problem. Adapting some previous ideas by Lu, Neittaanmäki and Tai, the task is reduced ...
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Research Interests: Brachytherapy, Treatment Outcome, Stents, Humans, Female, and 5 moreMale, Recurrence, Aged, Middle Aged, and Arquivos brasileiros
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The mass transport process (migration) of a model substance, benzophenone (BZP), from LDPE into selected foodstuffs at three temperatures was studied. A mathematical model based on Fick's Second Law of Diffusion was used to simulate... more
The mass transport process (migration) of a model substance, benzophenone (BZP), from LDPE into selected foodstuffs at three temperatures was studied. A mathematical model based on Fick's Second Law of Diffusion was used to simulate the migration process and a good correlation between experimental and predicted values was found. The acquired results contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon and the parameters so-derived were incorporated into the migration module of the recently-launched FACET tool (Flavourings, Additives and food Contact materials Exposure Tool). The migration tests were carried out at different time-temperature conditions, and BZP was extracted from LDPE and analysed by HPLC-DAD. With all data, the parameters for migration modelling (diffusion and partition coefficients) were calculated. Results showed that the diffusion coefficients (within the polymer and within the foodstuff) are greatly affected by the temperature and food physical state, whe...
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This report reviews existing models for spiral inductors and transformers. It also discusses tools we have developed for the generation of S-parameters and for the extraction of lumped parameters from S-parame- ter data. Some examples are... more
This report reviews existing models for spiral inductors and transformers. It also discusses tools we have developed for the generation of S-parameters and for the extraction of lumped parameters from S-parame- ter data. Some examples are given to test the accuracy of these tools.
A decontamination technique based on the utilization of a lipopeptide biosurfactant extracted from corn steep liquor has been developed to eliminate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sewage sludge. High concentrations of PAHs... more
A decontamination technique based on the utilization of a lipopeptide biosurfactant extracted from corn steep liquor has been developed to eliminate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sewage sludge. High concentrations of PAHs were used during experiments observing that 408.3 mg/kg of naphthalene were almost completed mobilized and biodegraded, remaining only 1.7% of naphthalene in the sewage sludge; whereas anthracene and pyrene was reduced up to 51.7% and 69.4% respectively. The biodegradation of PAHs was fitted to several kinetic models (zero-order and first-order kinetic model), observing good correlation coefficients values when biodegradation was described by first-order kinetic model. Experimental results suggest that biosurfactant extracted from corn steep liquor may have a great potential, as an ecofriendly washing agent, for the treatment of sewage sludge contaminated with PAHs. Therefore, in situ application of natural biosurfactants may be considered to be a go...
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This paper describes the synthesis of novel molecularly imprinted hydrogels (MIHs) for the natural antioxidant ferulic acid (FA), and their application as packaging materials to prevent lipid oxidation of butter. A library of MIHs was... more
This paper describes the synthesis of novel molecularly imprinted hydrogels (MIHs) for the natural antioxidant ferulic acid (FA), and their application as packaging materials to prevent lipid oxidation of butter. A library of MIHs was synthesized using a synthetic surrogate of FA, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (HFA), as template molecule, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as cross-linker, and 1-allylpiperazine (1-ALPP) or 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), in combination with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as functional monomers, at different molar concentrations. The DMAEMA/HEMA-based MIHs showed the greatest FA loading capacity, while the 1-ALLP/HEMA-based polymers exhibited the highest imprinting effect. During cold storage, FA-loaded MIHs protected butter from oxidation and led to TBARs values that were approximately half those of butter stored without protection and 25% less than those recorded for butter covered with hydrogels without FA, potentially extending the shelf life of butter. Active packaging is a new field of application for MIHs with great potential in the food industry.
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The potential risk of acquiring a transfusion-transmitted infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) virus, hepatitis C (HCV) virus, or Trypanosoma cruzi was estimated for seven South American and five Central... more
The potential risk of acquiring a transfusion-transmitted infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) virus, hepatitis C (HCV) virus, or Trypanosoma cruzi was estimated for seven South American and five Central American countries during the period 1994-1997. The estimates were based on official national reports of the number of donors, blood screening coverage, and prevalence of serologic markers for infectious diseases. Coverage of screening in 1997 was 100% in 12 and 11 countries for HIV and HBV respectively. Complete screening for HCV was reported by only one country in 1994 and by six in 1997. For T. cruzi, the number of countries with 100% screening coverage increased from two in 1994 to four in 1997. In 1994, three countries showed risk of transfusion-transmitted infections for HIV, seven for HBV, eight for HCV, and seven for T. cruzi. The risk of receiving an infected blood unit and acquiring a transfusion-transmitted infection has been reduced with...
Research Interests: Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, Humans, Infectious Disease, Hepatitis C Virus, and 14 moreRegional Security in Latin American Countries, South America, Risk factors, Chagas disease, Prevalence, Human immunodeficiency virus, Trypanosoma Cruzi, Health risk, Risk Factors, Blood Transfusion, Blood Donors, Hepatitis B virus, Virus diseases, and The American
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ABSTRACT In this paper, we develop a global supply chain network model in which both physical and electronic transactions are allowed and in which supply-side risk as well as demand-side risk are included in the formulation. The model... more
ABSTRACT In this paper, we develop a global supply chain network model in which both physical and electronic transactions are allowed and in which supply-side risk as well as demand-side risk are included in the formulation. The model consists of three tiers of decision-makers: the manufacturers, the distributors, and the retailers who may be located in the same or in different countries and may conduct their transactions in distinct currencies. We model the optimizing behavior of the various decision-makers, with the manufacturers and the distributors being multicriteria decision-makers, and concerned with both profit maximization and risk minimization. The retailers, in turn, are faced with random demands for the product. We derive the governing equilibrium conditions and establish the finite-dimensional variational inequality formulation. We provide qualitative properties of the equilibrium product flow and price pattern in terms of existence and uniqueness results and also establish conditions under which the proposed computational procedure is guaranteed to converge. Finally, we illustrate the global supply chain network model and the computational procedure through several numerical examples. This research extends the modelling, analysis, and computation of solutions to decentralized supply chain networks in the presence of electronic commerce and risk management to the global arena.
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In this paper, we develop static and dynamic models of global supply chains as networks with three tiers of decision-makers: manufacturers, retailers, and consumers associated with the demand markets who compete within a tier but... more
In this paper, we develop static and dynamic models of global supply chains as networks with three tiers of decision-makers: manufacturers, retailers, and consumers associated with the demand markets who compete within a tier but cooperate between tiers. The decision-makers may be based in the same or in different countries, may transact in different currencies, and are faced with different degrees of environmental concern. Moreover, we allow for electronic transactions in the form of electronic commerce between the decision-makers. The proposed supernetworkframework formalizes the modeling and theoretical analysis of such global supply chains and also enables the dynamic tracking of the evolution of the associated prices and product transactions (as well as the emissions) to the equilibrium state. Moreover, it measures the impacts on the environment associated with the behaviors of the decision-makers. Finally, we propose a discrete-time algorithm that allows for the discretization of the continuous time trajectories and that results in closed form expressions at each iteration.
Research Interests: Game Theory, Environmental Management, Environmental Concern, Multicriteria decision making, Variational Inequality Problems, and 8 moreTheoretical Analysis, Dynamic Model of WSN, Decision Maker, Dynamic System, Global Supply Chain, Continuous Time Systems, Discrete Time Systems, and Electronic Commerce
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This paper develops a framework for the analysis of the optimal levels of corporate social responsibility activities in a multiperiod supply chain network consisting of manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. Manufacturers and retailers... more
This paper develops a framework for the analysis of the optimal levels of corporate social responsibility activities in a multiperiod supply chain network consisting of manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. Manufacturers and retailers determine their production quantities, transaction quantities, and the amount of social responsibility activities they want to pursue that maximize net return, minimize emission, and minimize risk over the
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Seven patients with ongoing angina with ST-segment elevation, refractory to oral nifedipine and intravenous nitroglycerin, were treated by adding intravenous beta-blockers. Chest pain resolved in all of them in a few minutes, and... more
Seven patients with ongoing angina with ST-segment elevation, refractory to oral nifedipine and intravenous nitroglycerin, were treated by adding intravenous beta-blockers. Chest pain resolved in all of them in a few minutes, and myocardial infarction did not develop in 5 patients. We recommend this approach for patients to whom thrombolytics are contraindicated or have been very recently administered, although further
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... Center for Resources in General Education (CIVIS): Towards Student Success in General and STEM Education Efraín O'Neill-Carrillo, Dana L. Collins, Juan López Garriga, Raúl Macchiavelli, José A. Cruz University of Puerto... more
... Center for Resources in General Education (CIVIS): Towards Student Success in General and STEM Education Efraín O'Neill-Carrillo, Dana L. Collins, Juan López Garriga, Raúl Macchiavelli, José A. Cruz University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez ...
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Research Interests: Microbiology, Industrial Biotechnology, Western blotting, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sequence alignment, and 17 moreMutation, Oxygen Uptake, Yeast, North America, Molecular cloning, Cytochrome B, Western blot, Xylose, Usda Forest Service, Monoclonal Antibody, Amino Acid Sequence, Forest Products, Gene Disruption, Heterologous Expression, Oxygen Consumption, Carbon Source, and Alternative Oxidase
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Research Interests: Microbiology, Educational Measurement, Medical Microbiology, Reading, Language, and 15 moreHumans, Child, Guatemala, Female, Animals, Male, Albendazole, Public health systems and services research, Feces, School Performance, Anthelmintics, Ascaris Lumbricoides, Trichuriasis, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and Socioeconomic Factors
Mineral waters were monthly sampled in selected springs from Furnas and Fogo trachytic central volcanoes (São Miguel, Azores, Portugal). Water temperatures between 15.1 °C and 90.2 °C, characterize poorly mineralized waters of Na-HCO₃ and... more
Mineral waters were monthly sampled in selected springs from Furnas and Fogo trachytic central volcanoes (São Miguel, Azores, Portugal). Water temperatures between 15.1 °C and 90.2 °C, characterize poorly mineralized waters of Na-HCO₃ and Na-HCO₃-Cl types. According to the spring location, two watersheds were selected in each volcano to evaluate solute fluxes and chemical weathering rates (Fogo volcano: Ribeira Grande river - RRG; Furnas volcano: Ribeira Quente river - RRQ). Na, Mg, K and Ca fluxes in groundwater represented 43%, 60%, 46% and 57% of the total (subsurface plus surface fluxes) in RRG, and respectively 43%, 53%, 46% and 49% in RRQ. Average HCO₃ flux is ten times higher in RRQ (130.1 × 10(6) mol/yr) compared to RRG (13.8 × 10(6) mol/yr), reflecting the volcano degassing and the lower ratio between groundwater and river water fluxes. Based on these values, total CO₂-consumption by weathering ranged from 1.5 × 10(6)mol/km(2)/yr (RRG) to 4 × 10(6)mol/km(2)/yr (RRQ). TDS load varied between 3772 t/yr (RRG) and 15388 t/yr (RRQ), and the ratio between values in groundwater and in surface water is respectively equal to 0.72 and 2.04. The associated chemical weathering rates in groundwater were 206 t/km(2)/yr (RRG) and 399 t/km(2)/yr (RRQ). Coupled to river water, these values indicate that total chemical weathering rates are respectively equal to 493 t/km(2)/yr and 594 t/km(2)/yr. A similar approach developed for the entire archipelago showed that the chemical weathering rates due to groundwater are in the range from 33 to 321 t/km(2)/yr, being partially controlled by the age of the islands. Results of the present study point out to the need to consider groundwater solute fluxes due to weathering when establishing geochemical budgets.
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River water chemistry in two of the major rivers in São Miguel Island (Azores archipelago, Portugal) has been characterized monthly between June 2010 and October 2011 in order to estimate the main geochemical processes that explain water... more
River water chemistry in two of the major rivers in São Miguel Island (Azores archipelago, Portugal) has been characterized monthly between June 2010 and October 2011 in order to estimate the main geochemical processes that explain water composition and to estimate solute fluxes and the thermal water input to rivers. Both rivers (Ribeira Grande - RRG, and Ribeira Quente - RRQ) drain active trachytic central volcanoes. The number of sampling stations is seven in RRG and six in RRQ. Rivers are mainly slightly acid to basic in nature (pH in the range 5.41-8.70 in RRG and 5.90-8.10 in RRQ) and from the Na-HCO3 and Na-HCO3-Cl water types. In both cases water temperature increases towards the river mouth and median values are slightly higher in Ribeira Quente (15.5-22.4°C) comparing to Ribeira Grande river (15.2-19.7°C). Electrical conductivity suggests poorly mineralized waters (139-456 μS/cm in RRG and 209-402 μS/cm in RRQ, and values increase downstream. Higher solute fluxes are associated to HCO3 and Na, and the total CO2 flux is equal to 3647 t/yr in RRQ and 7546 t/yr in RRG. Mixture with thermal water discharges also influences river water chemistry and in RRQ the contribution to the annual average discharge rate was estimated in 2.96×10(6)m(3)/yr (12.8% of overall discharge rate in the watershed). In RRG thermal water discharges were estimated in 2.4×10(6)m(3)/yr (14.9% of the discharge rate). The minimum total CO2-consumption associated with low-temperature weathering is equal to 0.58×10(6)mol/km(2)/yr in Ribeira Quente river and equal to 0.78×10(6)mol/km(2)/yr in Ribeira Grande river.
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Las transfusiones de sangre y de sus componentes constituyen el trata-miento más utilizado para corregir las pérdidas de sangre agudas y las ane-mias crónicas. En todos los casos, la unidad de sangre donada por una persona el donante es... more
Las transfusiones de sangre y de sus componentes constituyen el trata-miento más utilizado para corregir las pérdidas de sangre agudas y las ane-mias crónicas. En todos los casos, la unidad de sangre donada por una persona el donante es la que hace posible la ...
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This article has two objectives: (1) to present for countries and territories of the Region of the Americas data on the number of blood donations, proportion of voluntary blood donors versus remunerated blood donors, coverage of screening... more
This article has two objectives: (1) to present for countries and territories of the Region of the Americas data on the number of blood donations, proportion of voluntary blood donors versus remunerated blood donors, coverage of screening for infectious agents, and separation of donated blood into its components and (2) to explore the relationships of those characteristics with economic and organisational factors in the countries and territories. We carried out comparative analyses using population and health information gathered annually by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) from national health officials from the countries in the Americas, as well as economic information (gross national product (GNP) per capita) obtained from publications of the World Bank. There is a direct correlation between the availability of blood for transfusion and GNP per capita. Seven countries with a GNP per capita above US dollar 10,000 per year account for 38% of the Regional population but 68% of the Regional blood donations. Voluntary blood donation is more common in the countries with better blood availability. There is no association between GNP per capita and coverage of screening for infectious agents. Nevertheless, of the six countries with a GNP per capita below US dollar 1,000, only one of the six screens all units for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Countries with a higher proportion of voluntary blood donors tend to have lower prevalence rates of infectious markers. Separation of blood into its components is also more common in countries with higher blood donation rates. The availability, safety and quality of blood for transfusion in the Americas needs to be improved. As part of that effort, national policies and strategies must be put into place so that the resources already allocated for blood services are better utilised.
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Research Interests: Sexual Dysfunction, Global Health, Quality of life, France, Logistic Regression, and 18 moreSpain, Germany, Humans, End Stage Renal Disease, Female, Male, Benzodiazepines, Haemodialysis, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Health surveys, Sexual Function, Chronic Kidney Failure, Logistic Models, Renal Dialysis, and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Research Interests: Nutrition, Depression, Eating Disorders, Logistic Regression, Appetite, and 19 moreProspective studies, Humans, Cox Regression, Female, Male, Statistical Significance, Haemodialysis, Nutritional Status, Body Mass Index, Serum Creatinine, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Longitudinal data, Prognosis, Hospital Mortality, Confidence Interval, Renal Dialysis, and Relative Risk
Research Interests: Applied Mathematics, Risk Management, Financial Engineering, Business and Management, Multicriteria decision making, and 10 moreNaval, Profitability, Naval Logistics, Numerical Analysis and Computational Mathematics, Decision Maker, Transaction Cost, Global Supply Chain, Discrete Time Systems, Social Network, and Electronic Commerce
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Research Interests: Applied Mathematics, Supply Chain, Variational Inequality Problems, Mathematical and Computer Modelling, Numerical Analysis and Computational Mathematics, and 7 moreDecision Maker, Dynamic System, Global Supply Chain, Continuous Time Systems, Discrete Time Systems, Electronic Commerce, and Network Equilibrium
Page 1. Criminal Violence and Democratization in Central America: The Survival of the Violent State José Miguel Cruz ABSTRACT Why does Nicaragua have less violent crime than Guatemala, El Sal-vador, and Honduras? ...
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Research Interests: Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Hepatitis C, Clinical Virology, Hepatitis B, and 13 moreHumans, Infectious Disease, Clinical, Hepatitis C Virus, Risk factors, Caribbean region, Clinical Sciences, Study design, Biological markers, Risk Factors, Blood Transfusion, Blood Donors, and Hepatitis B virus
Winemaking waste solids (WS, resulting from red grapes after fermentation and distillation to recover spirits) were subjected to various processing schemes for isolating fractions with antioxidant activity. The liquors entrapped in WS as... more
Winemaking waste solids (WS, resulting from red grapes after fermentation and distillation to recover spirits) were subjected to various processing schemes for isolating fractions with antioxidant activity. The liquors entrapped in WS as received were separated by pressing and freeze-dried to yield a fraction with antioxidant activity (measured as DPPH radical scavenging capacity) comparable to those of synthetic antioxidants. A second approach based on the direct processing of raw WS in sulfuric acid medium under fixed operational conditions and further extraction of hydrolysis liquors with ethyl acetate enabled the isolation of a fraction with higher antioxidant ability at an improved yield. The most favorable approach started with a washing stage leading to liquors (which were directly freeze-dried to yield 1.20 g of extract/100 g of oven-dry WS and presented an EC50 of 0.41 g of extract/L) and washed solids, which were dried and subjected to hydrolytic processing (i) with water as a reactive in an autocatalyzed reaction (autohydrolysis) or (ii) with sulfuric acid solutions to give an ethyl acetate-soluble fraction with improved antioxidant properties (EC50 in the range of 0.18-0.40 g/L). Samples from washing liquors and processing of washed solids in aqueous medium were subjected to chromatographic fractionation and analysis to give isolates with remarkable antioxidant activity (with EC50 as low as 0.07 g/L) and to identify their major components.
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Blood-borne transmission is the most efficient route for acquiring HIV infection, particularly through transfusion. Availability of noninfectious blood units for hemotherapy is a necessary condition for efficient functioning of health... more
Blood-borne transmission is the most efficient route for acquiring HIV infection, particularly through transfusion. Availability of noninfectious blood units for hemotherapy is a necessary condition for efficient functioning of health services. They have the obligation to ensure that the blood supply is safe, which includes interviewing potential donors to ascertain whether they might be at risk of being HIV infected. The interview procedures demand that blood services staff inquire potential blood donors about sexual practices associated to HIV transmission. Assumptions and misconceptions may unnecessary exclude adequate donors. Review of published and unpublished country reports in Latin America regarding blood safety and deferral criteria related to same sexual behavior among males. An analysis of criteria for deferral of potential blood donors shows inconsistencies that may impact the necessary safe blood supply. The blood donor deferral criteria should be revised according to relevant epidemiological evidence and social legitimacy. Personnel in blood banks and hemotherapy services should be educated to conduct appropriate interviews for accepting or deferring potential donors. Potential donors and the public should be knowledgeable for them to understand the reasons why some individuals may be deferred. Health authorities should work to reduce the stigma associated with HIV, prioritize building strong and meaningful partnerships with civil society, and engage diverse sectors in the national AIDS response.
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... Kleindorfer, PR and Saad, GH. 2005. ... Harvard Business Review , : 109115. [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] View all references). For example, a fire at Toyota's supplier facility forced the automotive manufacturer to shutdown 18... more
... Kleindorfer, PR and Saad, GH. 2005. ... Harvard Business Review , : 109115. [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] View all references). For example, a fire at Toyota's supplier facility forced the automotive manufacturer to shutdown 18 plants for nearly two weeks in February 1997. ...
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Research Interests: Cardiology, Forecasting, Evolution, Treatment Outcome, Electrocardiography, and 20 moreHumans, Female, Feasibility Studies, Male, Exploration, Acute Myocardial Infarction, Length of Stay, Aged, Middle Aged, Electrocardiogram, Observer Variation, Myocardial Infarction, Adult, Survival Rate, Prognosis, Age Factors, Logistic Models, Thrombolytic Therapy, Mortality rate, and Pulmonary Edema
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The pattern of left ventricular filling by Doppler examination is frequently abnormal in myocardial infarction. To relate the different patterns of left ventricular filling to the clinical course of acute myocardial infarction. We have... more
The pattern of left ventricular filling by Doppler examination is frequently abnormal in myocardial infarction. To relate the different patterns of left ventricular filling to the clinical course of acute myocardial infarction. We have studied 133 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Three different patterns of mitral flow were defined by Doppler examination: Type I has an E/A ratio lesser than one, and a deceleration time of the E wave longer than 180 ms; Type II has either an E/A ratio greater than one or a deceleration time shorter than 180 ms; Type III has an E/A ratio greater than 1.6 and a deceleration time shorter than 180 ms. We also determined the pulmonary wedge pressure through a pulmonary artery catheter simultaneously with the Doppler examination on 22 occasions in 11 patients. Mortality rate was 13%, 9% and 35% respectively in Type I, II and III (P=0.007). After logistic regression analysis of determinants of death, including all eight variables related with mortality on an univariate analysis, only Killip class and the presence of a Type III pattern of the mitral flow remained significant (P=0.0004 and P=0.019 respectively). Pulmonary wedge pressure was 8.4+/-6.1 mmHg in Type I, 21.0+/-7.3 mmHg in Type II, and 22.4+/-7.1 mmHg in Type III (P=0.0017). Type III pattern of left ventricular filling is an independent predictor of death. Type I and II had no significant differences on prognosis. Type I is associated with a normal pulmonary wedge pressure.
Research Interests: Cardiology, Multivariate Analysis, Heart Failure, Humans, Left Ventricular Assist Device, and 14 moreFemale, Male, Acute Myocardial Infarction, Left Ventricular Dysfunction, Logistic Regression Analysis, Aged, Middle Aged, Observer Variation, Myocardial Infarction, Adult, Prognosis, Thrombolytic Therapy, Left Ventricle, and Mortality rate
Puncture of a femoral artery for left heart catheterization is considered a relative contraindication for thrombolytic therapy for some days. We treated 9 patients with systemic thrombolysis who had undergone left heart catheterization in... more
Puncture of a femoral artery for left heart catheterization is considered a relative contraindication for thrombolytic therapy for some days. We treated 9 patients with systemic thrombolysis who had undergone left heart catheterization in the previous hours. Four patients developed a large hematoma, but only 1 required transfusion. We suggest that thrombolytic therapy can be administered soon after left heart catheterization by the femoral approach, provided that continuous care can be taken over the puncture site.
Research Interests: Humans, Hemodynamics, Female, Male, Acute Myocardial Infarction, and 12 moreClinical Sciences, Cardiac Catheterization, Middle Aged, Myocardial Infarction, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Time Factors, Intensive Care Medicine, Hematoma, Streptokinase, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, and Thrombolytic Therapy
The capacity of a natural antioxidant derived from barley husks to retard oxidation of PUFA in blue shark muscle was investigated. Blue shark slices were packaged in low density polyethylene (LDPE) film containing the natural antioxidant... more
The capacity of a natural antioxidant derived from barley husks to retard oxidation of PUFA in blue shark muscle was investigated. Blue shark slices were packaged in low density polyethylene (LDPE) film containing the natural antioxidant (sample C1=7mg/dm2 film, and sample C2=24mg/dm2 film) or in LDPE film without the antioxidant (control sample) and frozen for 12months. Peroxide value was significantly
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Measurements that show significant differences between currents measured in individual wires of a bundle due to equal current excitations by external radiated fields or by bulk injection are reported. This raises concern whether bulk... more
Measurements that show significant differences between currents measured in individual wires of a bundle due to equal current excitations by external radiated fields or by bulk injection are reported. This raises concern whether bulk current injection is a reliable technique for EMC work
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In the Azores, the advanced trophic state of the lakes requires a fast intervention to achieve the good ecological status prescribed by the Water Framework Directive. Despite the considerable effort made to describe the phytoplankton... more
In the Azores, the advanced trophic state of the lakes requires a fast intervention to achieve the good ecological status prescribed by the Water Framework Directive. Despite the considerable effort made to describe the phytoplankton growing on the water column, the lack of information regarding the microbial processes in sediments is still high. Thus, for the successful implementation of internal management actions, the present work explored the relationships between geochemical profiles and dominant members of the bacterial community in sediments from eutrophic Azorean lakes. Lake Azul geochemical profiles were quite homogeneous for all parameters, while in lake Furnas the total iron profile presented a peak below the aerobic layer. For lake Verde, the concentrations of all studied parameters (20 ± 2% loss-on-ignition; 2.10 ± 0.08 mg g−1 total phosphorus; 1.31 ± 0.50 mg g−1 total nitrogen; 8.06 ± 0.13 mg g−1 total iron) in the uppermost sediment layer were approximately two times higher than the ones in sediments from other lakes, decreasing with sediment depth. The higher amounts of phosphorus and organic matter in lake Verde suggested a higher internal contribution of phosphorus to eutrophication. The dominant members of the sediment bacterial community, investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, were mostly affiliated to Proteobacteria phylum (Alpha-, Delta-, and Gamma-subclasses), group Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi and phylum Chloroflexi. The Cyanobacteria phylum was solely detected in sediments from lake Verde and lake Furnas that presented the highest amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus both in the water column and sediments, while the other phyla were detected in sediments from the three studied lakes. In conclusion, management measurers to achieve the good ecological status until 2015 should be distinct for the different lakes taking into account the relative magnitude of the nutrient sources and the bacterial diversity in sediments.
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The use of peroxide value (PV), free fatty acids (FFA), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and p-anisidine value (PA) proved suitable for studying lipid hydrolysis and primary and secondary lipid oxidation in samples of... more
The use of peroxide value (PV), free fatty acids (FFA), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and p-anisidine value (PA) proved suitable for studying lipid hydrolysis and primary and secondary lipid oxidation in samples of Atlantic halibut throughout frozen storage. After twelve months, the FFA values in the samples packaged with the film containing natural antioxidants (extracted from barley husks) were
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Research Interests: Pregnancy, Humans, Fertility and Sterility, Female, In Vitro Fertilization, and 12 moreCohort Study, Blastocyst, Embryo Transfer, Clinical Sciences, Fertility Rate, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Retrospective Studies, Fertilization in Vitro, Embryos, Pregnancy Rate, and Cohort Studies
Objective: To investigate the expression of αv integrin in developing human embryos.Design: Observational study.Setting: University medical center.Patient(s): Women undergoing IVF cycles.Intervention(s): Immunofluorescent monoclonal... more
Objective: To investigate the expression of αv integrin in developing human embryos.Design: Observational study.Setting: University medical center.Patient(s): Women undergoing IVF cycles.Intervention(s): Immunofluorescent monoclonal antibodies against αv integrin were used to stain human preimplantation embryos.Main Outcome Measure(s): Immunofluorescence microscopy and computerized image analysis were used to evaluate both qualitative and quantitative expression of integrins in human embryos.Result(s): The αv integrin subunit
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► We present two-stage Stackelberg game models. ► We investigate dynamics between the supply chain players’ profits. ► We explore varying levels of competition and consumers’ environmental awareness. ► We study three supply... more
► We present two-stage Stackelberg game models. ► We investigate dynamics between the supply chain players’ profits. ► We explore varying levels of competition and consumers’ environmental awareness. ► We study three supply chain network structures. ► We provide analytical results, numerical examples, and managerial implications.
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Research Interests: Corporate Social Responsibility, Decision Making, Logistics, Modeling, Network Analysis, and 22 moreRisk Management, Supply Chain, Multidisciplinary, Optimization, Decision support system, Risk Analysis, Socially-responsible Investing, Multicriteria decision making, Variational Inequality Problems, Profitability, Profit, Supply Chain Network Design & logistics, Retailers, Multicriteria Optimization, Variational Inequalities, Waste minimisation, Decision Maker, Discrete Time Systems, Social Network, Environment, Minimization, and Modeling and Analysis
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In this paper we develop a network equilibrium model for optimal pricing and resource allocation in Computational Grid Network. We consider a general network economy model with Grid Resource Providers, Grid Resource Brokers and Grid... more
In this paper we develop a network equilibrium model for optimal pricing and resource allocation in Computational Grid Network. We consider a general network economy model with Grid Resource Providers, Grid Resource Brokers and Grid Users. The proposed framework allows for the modeling and theoretical analysis of Computational Grid Markets that considers a non-cooperative behavior of decision-makers in the same
Research Interests: Grid Computing, Resource Allocation, Decision Support Systems, Risk Management, Decision support system, and 13 moreMathematical Sciences, Quality of Service, System Reliability, Profitability, Theoretical Analysis, Decision making process, Boolean Satisfiability, Decision Maker, Computational Grid, Service Provider, Cooperative Behavior, Network Equilibrium, and Modeling and Analysis
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Research Interests: Training and Development, Health Care, Communicable Diseases, Health Policy, Latin America, and 14 moreQuality Assurance, Humans, Developing Country, Infectious Disease, Legislation, Regional Security in Latin American Countries, Chagas disease, Nonprofit Organization, Blood Transfusion, Blood Donors, World Health Assembly, Communicable disease control, Virus diseases, and Member States
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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an expanding procedure thus far restricted to a target population of old and high-comorbidity patients with symptomatic aortic ste-nosis. The need for bulky devices (up to 24F) combined with the... more
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an expanding procedure thus far restricted to a target population of old and high-comorbidity patients with symptomatic aortic ste-nosis. The need for bulky devices (up to 24F) combined with the high prevalence of peripheral vascular ...
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Actins are highly conserved proteins that serve as the basic building blocks of cytoskeletal microfilaments. In animal cells, specific nuclear actin adopts unconventional conformations that are involved in multiple nuclear functions and... more
Actins are highly conserved proteins that serve as the basic building blocks of cytoskeletal microfilaments. In animal cells, specific nuclear actin adopts unconventional conformations that are involved in multiple nuclear functions and that associate with nuclear actin binding proteins. However, there is practically no information available about nuclear actin in plants. Indeed, actin has not been detected in the nuclear proteomes of many plants, and orthologs of the main structural nuclear actin-binding proteins have yet to be identified. Here, we have investigated the characteristics, intranuclear compartmentalization, and function of actin in isolated Allium cepa nuclei as well as that of its motor protein nuclear myosin I (NMI). Using conformation-specific antibodies for nuclear actin isoforms, ss-actin, and NMI, the distribution of these proteins was studied in Western blots and by immunocytochemistry. Moreover, the participation of nuclear actin in transcription was analyzed in run on in situ assays and inhibition of RNA polymerases I and II. We show that actin isoforms with distinct solubilities are present in onion nuclei with a consistent subnuclear compartmentalization. Actin and NMI are highly enriched in foci that are similar to transcription foci, although actin is also distributed diffusely in the nucleus and nucleolus as well as accumulating in a subset of the Cajal bodies. Immunogold labeling identified both proteins in the nuclear transcription subdomains and in other subnuclear compartments. In addition, actin and NMI were diffusely distributed in the nuclear matrix.
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Sixteen patients with angina refractory to medical therapy who were not considered suitable for standard revascularization underwent transmyocardial revascularization with holmium laser. The average age of the patients was 63.2 +/- 10.5... more
Sixteen patients with angina refractory to medical therapy who were not considered suitable for standard revascularization underwent transmyocardial revascularization with holmium laser. The average age of the patients was 63.2 +/- 10.5 years. All of them had angina class 3 or 4, and 9 (56%) had previously undergone an aortocoronary bypass grafting. Four patients died during the 6-month follow-up period (25%). Among the survivors, anginal class decreased to class 2 or 1 at the 6th month (p = 0.002). Ejection fraction did not change. The ischemic burden by Holter decreased from 85.3 +/- 656 to 5.5 +/- 9.7 min (p = 0.046). Myocardial perfusion with 201Tl single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images at rest and after dipyridamole showed a significant improvement among the ischemic treated segments (p = 0.015). Baseline ejection fraction was somehow lower in nonresponsive than in responsive patients (33 +/- 13 vs. 49 +/- 10, p = 0.052). We conclude that transmyocardial laser revascularization with holmium laser is effective in treatment in ischemic patients not amenable to surgery or percutaneous procedures, as previously reported with CO2 laser. Further investigation is needed to determine which clinical profiles identify the patients for whom this therapy is suitable.
Research Interests: Cardiology, Treatment Outcome, Echocardiography, Humans, Female, and 13 moreMale, Follow-up studies, Myocardial Revascularization, Aged, Middle Aged, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Survival Rate, Cardiac Output Monitoring, Retrospective Studies, Laser Therapy, Coronary Artery Disease, Ejection Fraction, and Coronary artery bypass surgery
We analyzed the transmitral flow pattern on admission in 95 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Nineteen patients had a restrictive pattern, defined as a peak early to peak atrial filling wave ratio greater than 1.6, plus an early... more
We analyzed the transmitral flow pattern on admission in 95 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Nineteen patients had a restrictive pattern, defined as a peak early to peak atrial filling wave ratio greater than 1.6, plus an early wave deceleration time shorter than 180 ms. Restrictive pattern, compared with nonrestrictive one, was associated with the development of heart failure (42 versus 11%, p = 0.001) and greater in-hospital mortality (32 versus 7%, p = 0.002). After multivariate analysis, it remained significantly predictive of death (p = 0.028). We conclude that a restrictive pattern of left ventricular filling in patients with acute myocardial infarction is an independent predictor of early outcome.
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The effect of Larrea tridentata leaf resin extract applied to solarized and nonsolarized plots was evaluated on disease severity of soilborne pathogens, nematode natural populations and total yield of pepper cv. Anaheim. Solarization... more
The effect of Larrea tridentata leaf resin extract applied to solarized and nonsolarized plots was evaluated on disease severity of soilborne pathogens, nematode natural populations and total yield of pepper cv. Anaheim. Solarization caused a significant reduction of disease severity and the inhibitory effect of nematode populations, since the control treatment showed a 7.8 fold increase in nematode population and
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Colonoscopy is the gold standard exam to investigate patients with colonic complaints. However, its availability is limited in developing countries. Sigmoidoscopy has been advocated as a first procedure in colorectal cancer screening... more
Colonoscopy is the gold standard exam to investigate patients with colonic complaints. However, its availability is limited in developing countries. Sigmoidoscopy has been advocated as a first procedure in colorectal cancer screening strategies, in order to select those who need colonoscopy. To study the correlation between distal and proximal colonic neoplasias in symptomatic patients 50 years or older and patients 40 to 49 years old who underwent colonoscopy at a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit in 1999 and 2000 with the purpose to evaluate its role in a symptomatic population. All colonoscopies performed in our Department in 1999-2000 were reviewed. The distal colon was defined as the colonic segment aboral to the splenic flexure. Advanced neoplasias were defined as adenomas larger than 10 millimeters and adenocarcinomas. Of the 2,701 colonoscopies retrieved, 1,125 were enrolled in this study. Prevalence rates for adenoma, advanced adenoma and carcinoma were 28.9%, 4.6% and 4% in the group of 830 patients 50 years or older (mean age 65 years, 491 women). The finding of one small (<10 mm) adenoma in the distal bowel doubled the likelihood of finding a proximal neoplasia (OR = 2.12, 95% CI, 1.27-3.54), and multiple (OR = 3.99, 95% CI, 1.72-9.28) or advanced (OR = 3.73, 95% CI, 1.81-7.7) adenomas increased this risk even further. Of the patients without adenoma or carcinoma in the distal colon, 1.93% had proximal advanced neoplasia. In the group of 40 to 49-year-old patients (n = 395; mean age 44.8 years, 208 women) the prevalence of adenomas (14.9%), advanced adenomas (3.4%), and carcinomas (1.7%) was lower. The likelihood of finding a proximal lesion is greater in patients with distal neoplasias. This likelihood is further increased when adenomas are multiple or larger than 10 mm. One out of 52 patients 50 years or older with an apparently normal distal colon has advanced proximal neoplasia. Sigmoidoscopy is not an adequate exam for symptomatic patients aged 50 years or older.
Research Interests: Humans, Female, Male, Colonoscopy, Aged, and 6 moreMiddle Aged, Carcinoma, Adult, Retrospective Studies, Adenoma, and Colorectal Neoplasms
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A simple, low-cost solar water heater has been developed for operation in Mediterranean Europe or regions of similar latitude (4045° north). It takes the form of a trapezoidal-shaped water store in direct contact with an inclined... more
A simple, low-cost solar water heater has been developed for operation in Mediterranean Europe or regions of similar latitude (4045° north). It takes the form of a trapezoidal-shaped water store in direct contact with an inclined flat-plate solar collector assembly. This cross-section ...
Research Interests: Engineering, Economics, Network Analysis, Heat Exchanger, Solar Energy, and 11 moreWater Demand, Energy Saving, Solar Collector, Thermal Performance, Energy Storage, Cross Section, Solar Water Heater, Applied Energy, Finite Temperature Field Theory, Thermal Stratification, and Convective Heat Transfer
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Medical treatment decisions should be based on the preferences of informed patients or their proxies and on the expected outcomes of treatment. Because seriously ill patients are at risk for cardiac arrest, examination of... more
Medical treatment decisions should be based on the preferences of informed patients or their proxies and on the expected outcomes of treatment. Because seriously ill patients are at risk for cardiac arrest, examination of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) practices affecting them provides useful insights into the associations between various factors and medical decision making. To examine the association between patients' preferences for resuscitation (along with other patient and physician characteristics) and the frequency and timing of DNR orders. Prospective cohort study. 5 teaching hospitals. 6802 seriously ill hospitalized patients enrolled in the Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatment (SUPPORT) between 1989 and 1994. Patients and their surrogates were interviewed about patients' cardiopulmonary resuscitation preferences, medical records were reviewed to determine disease severity, and a multivariable regression model was constructed to predict the time to the first DNR order. The patients' preference for cardiopulmonary resuscitation was the most important predictor of the timing of DNR orders, but only 52% of patients who preferred not to be resuscitated actually had DNR orders written. The probability of surviving for 2 months was the next most important predictor of the timing of DNR orders. Although DNR orders were not linearly related to the probability of surviving for 2 months, they were written earlier and more frequently for patients with a 50% or lower probability of surviving for 2 months. Orders were written more quickly for patients older than 75 years of age, regardless of prognosis. After adjustment for these and other influential patient characteristics, the use and timing of DNR orders varied significantly among physician specialties and among hospitals. Patients' preferences and short-term prognoses are associated with the timing of DNR orders. However, the substantial variation seen among hospital sites and among physician specialties suggests that there is room for improvement. In this study, DNR orders were written earlier for patients older than 75 years of age, regardless of prognosis. This finding suggests that physicians may be using age in a way that is inconsistent with the reported association between age and survival. The process for making decisions about DNR orders needs to be improved if such orders are to routinely and accurately reflect patients' preferences and probable outcomes.
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... Veterinary Journal 169: 262-267. Miranda, M., López-Alonso, M., Castillo, C., Hernandez, J. and Benedito, JL 2000. ... Veter-inary and Human Toxicology 42: 92-95. Underwood, EJ and Suttle, NF 1999. The mineral nutrition of livestock,... more
... Veterinary Journal 169: 262-267. Miranda, M., López-Alonso, M., Castillo, C., Hernandez, J. and Benedito, JL 2000. ... Veter-inary and Human Toxicology 42: 92-95. Underwood, EJ and Suttle, NF 1999. The mineral nutrition of livestock, third edition. ...
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Research Interests: Immunology, Complement activation, Immunohistochemistry, Immunology of the Gut, Confocal Microscopy, and 10 moreLasers, Mice, Animals, Male, The, Clinical Sciences, Optometry and Ophthalmology, Public health systems and services research, Transforming Growth Factor Beta, and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Research Interests: Treatment Outcome, United Kingdom, Canada, Erythropoietin, Humans, and 17 moreEurope, End Stage Renal Disease, Hospitalization, United States, Hemodialysis, Male, New Zealand, Anemia, Australasia, American, Data Collection, Iron, Clinical Sciences, Survival Rate, Polycystic kidney disease, Hemoglobins, and Renal Dialysis
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The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-positive former blood donors (FBDs) in Hubei province, central China, and the subtypes of these two viruses are identified. HIV-1-positive specimens were... more
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-positive former blood donors (FBDs) in Hubei province, central China, and the subtypes of these two viruses are identified. HIV-1-positive specimens were collected from FBDs, transfusion recipients, and their sexual partners in Hubei province, central China. The prevalence of HCV in HIV-1-positive FBDs was 78.6%. The dominant circulating HIV-1 subtype of FBDs was subtype B' (Thai-B); one belonged to U.S.-European subtype B. HCV genotypes 2a (78.6%) and 1b (21.4%) were detected. No recombinant form of HIV-1 was identified. Non-B' subtypes occurring among FBDs indicate the complexity of the HIV-1 prevalence in central China, where HIV is beginning to spread into the general population.