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This article provides an linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based procedure for reaching time estimation of the multivariable super-twisting algorithm dealing with convex bounded parameter uncertainty and exogenous disturbances with norm-bounded time-derivative. For a class of Lyapunov functions, we are able to determine the optimal reaching time estimation that emerges from the solution of a surprisingly simple mathematical programming problem. As far as the reaching time estimation and validation are concerned the worst input disturbance, related to the considered class of Lyapunov function, is fully characterized. The impact of the theoretical results is discussed by means of illustrative examples borrowed from the literature.

Portal vein embolization with N-butyl-cyanoacrylate plus iodized oil generates greater and faster liver regeneration as seen at CT compared with standard polyvinyl alcohol particles plus coils, allowing for earlier surgical intervention for liver cancer.

Repeated drug consumption may progress to problematic use by triggering neuroplastic adaptations that attenuate sensitivity to natural rewards while increasing reactivity to craving and drug cues. Converging evidence suggests a single sub-anesthetic dose of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine may work to correct these neuroadaptations and restore motivation for non-drug rewards. Using an established laboratory model aimed at evaluating behavioral shifts in the salience of cocaine now vs money later, we found that ketamine, as compared to the control, significantly decreased cocaine self-administration by 67% relative to baseline at greater than 24 h post-infusion, the most robust reduction observed to date in human cocaine users and the first to involve mechanisms other than stimulant or dopamine agonist effects. These findings signal new directions in medication development for substance use disorders.

To draw attention and increase professional awareness about the potentially serious complications that may occur when these misfortunes happen and to what actions could be implemented to avoid such accidents. The present case report is of an accidental ingestion of a rapid maxillary expander (RPE) activation key in a cardiac patient and the subsequent diagnostic confirmation with radiographs and the management of this accident thereafter. On the third day after the accidental ingestion of the RPE key, the patient’s parents reported that the key was expelled in the stools without further complication. Ingestion of foreign bodies is a potential complication during orthodontic treatment. These types of accidents may cause serious consequences to the patient, especially if there is a pre-existing systemic condition, such as heart disease or respiratory problems.

In Portugal, few studies have been made of the historical floods of the RiverTagus (the longest in the Iberian Peninsula). This fact led to the study of theLower Tagus (Santarém region) using written historical documents,cartographic documents and hydrological data, consisting mainly of waterlevel records. With the support of the historical documents and the analysisof all the maps, it was possible to verify that the human intervention has beenfundamental in the morphological changes of the Tagus' channel. It becameaware that the river changed from a braided to a single channel with alternatebars. From the hydrological data, return periods for the floods were determined,using the Pearson Type 3 distribution. The selection of the most important floods,from 1855 to 1998, enabled to build a ``flood hazard scale'' for this region.

A 31/2 year audit of the outcome of oral mucosal grafts was conducted at the occuloplastic service of Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa. We studied 17 consecutive patients with ages ranging from 2 years to 83 years; young males predominated. The causative pathologies included six gunshot wounds, three retinoblastomas, two congenital abnormalities, two childhood traumas, a chemical burn, an occular pemphigoid, a stab wound and a firework injury. We treated 14 patients for a contracted socket, and performed mucosal grafts to the globe in the other three. Prostheses were successfully fitted in 12 of the patients with a contracted socket and in one patient with microphthalmia. Of the former patients, 10 had a good result and two had a fair result. Out of the 14 patients with a contracted socket, 10 required a repeat procedure. An onlay prothesis was used instead of an inlay prosthesis in one patient because of the child's social circumstances; one patient was lost to follow-up. During the first year of the study, a thermoplastic conformer of Stent's composition was used. This was later changed to a plug of medicated paraffin gauze, which was easier to use. A permanent prosthesis was fitted 1 week postoperatively. The crucial factor for success was that there should be no delay between removing the plug and inserting the prosthesis. A single-stage reconstruction of the orbital wall and socket using costal cartilage and temporalis fascia together with an oral mucosal graft is discussed for reconstruction following gunshot wounds or retinoblastoma enucleation and radiotherapy. Oral mucosal grafts can be used successfully to reconstruct the conjunctiva on the globe and in the fornices. nices.

In this work Pb 0.05 Fe 0.95 nanostructured alloy was prepared by high energy ball milling under argon atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Mo¨ssbauer measurements were performed in the milled samples to study the alloying process and the structural variation with milling time. XRD and DSC results of Pb 0.05 Fe 0.95 alloy indicate the presence of free Pb metal for milling times shorter than 20 h. On the other hand, XRD and Mo¨ssbauer results show that the final Pb 0.05 Fe 0.95 alloy (sample milled for 310 h) is constituted by four nanocrystalline phases: b.c.c.-Fe, possibly with Pb impurities trapped in it, Fe/Pb phase and finally two Fe oxide phases (Fe 1− x O and Fe 3 O 4 ). The relative areas corresponding to these phases in the Mo¨ssbauer spectrum are 58% for the b.c.c.-Fe, 12% for the b.c.c. Fe/Pb alloy, and 30% for the Fe oxide phases. The Fe/Pb phase, with approximate composition Fe 0.71 Pb 0.29 , is being reported for the first time and it is also shown that this phase is thermally stable up to 650 K.

Abstract: This paper presents a review of the principal studies conducted on scientific production in Brazil related to Public Health/Collective Health. Some of the findings highlighted in this study, show the progress of this area in terms of production of articles, doctorate theses, dissertations and publications.

Studies on X-ray sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Benathen 1973, Benathen and Beam 1977) show that the XS6, XS8 and XS9 genes are not only involved in the repair of X-ray-induced damage but also in the repair of U.V.-induced damage. Analysis of the U.V. sensitivity of multiple xs mutants indicates the participation of three repair pathways which differ from excision repair. Under conditions which can influence repair, such as plating of the U.V.-irradiated cells in the presence of caffeine, followed or not by hyperthermic incubation, the wild type strain shows a diphasic survival curve, consisting of an exponential component for low doses and a sigmoidal one for higher doses. Comparison with the survival curves obtained for the sensitive mutants suggests that the first component of the wild type survival curve corresponds to the inhibition of the XS6 and XS8 gene products while the appearance of a radioresistant fraction in the population relies on the induction of another repair pathway. A sequential model of repair with two branching points is proposed to explain the results.

In order to analyze the roles of some repair genes in the processing of bleomycin-induced DNA damage and, especially, the interrelationships among the involved repair pathways, we investigated the potentially lethal effect of bleomycin on radiosensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in recombination, excision, and RAD6-dependent DNA repair. Using single, double, and triple rad mutants, we analyzed growth kinetics and survival curves as a function of bleomycin concentration. Our results indicate that genes belonging to the three epistasis groups interact in the repair of bleomycin-induced DNA damage to different degrees depending on the concentration of bleomycin. The most important mechanisms involved are recombination and postreplication repair. The initial action of a potentially inducible excision repair gene could provide intermediate substrates for the RAD6- and RAD52-dependent repair processes. Interaction between RAD6 and RAD52 genes was epistatic for low bleomycin concentrations. RAD3 and RAD52 genes act independently in processing DNA damage induced by high concentrations of bleomycin. The synergistic interaction observed at high concentrations in the triple mutant rad2-6 rad6-1 rad52-1 indicates partial independence of the involved repair pathways, with possible common substrates. On the basis of the present results, we propose a heuristic model of bleomycin-induced DNA damage repair.

Summary In the present work we have investigated the possible interaction between Bleomycin (B) and UV light or hyperthermia (HT) in the induction of lethal events in diploid yeast populations in the stationary phase of growth. UV and B acting as single agents determine sigmoid survival curves. The combination of UV + B produces different degrees of sensitization depending on dose ranges. For [B] = 7.5 µg/ml combined with different UV fluences an exponential course is observed, suggesting overlapping lesion specificity of the involved repair pathways (excision and recombination). The hyperthermia plus Bleomycin treatment produces different degrees of inactivation depending on the sequences. Maximal inactivation effect was obtained for the sequence B + HT. In the case of HT + B ([B] > 7.5 µg/ml) the obtained sensitization is lower.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a term that encompasses a number of overlapping conditions, such as closed lock. Closed lock of the TMJ is considered a consequence of a nonreducing deformed disc acting as an obstacle to the sliding condylar head that usually causes a decrease in the maximum mouth opening and acute pain. The management of the TMJ is still controversial. Thus, arthrocentesis of the TMJ is a valuable modification of the traditional method of arthroscopic lavage, which consists of washing the joint in order to remove chemical inflammatory mediators and intra-articular adhesions, changing intra-articular pressure. TMJ disorder has always presented as a therapeutic challenge to maxillofacial surgeons. Therefore, this paper aimed to describe a clinical report of a closed lock of the left TMJ in a 19-year-old female subject who was successfully treated by arthrocentesis procedure.

AbstractThe leaves of Zanthoxylum articulatumEngler (Rutaceae), collected in Jacobina-Bahia, Northwest of Brazil, was subjected to hydrodistillation and its essential oil was characterized by GC/MS. Twelve compounds were identified representing 90.4% of the oil. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (65.4%) were the major constituents with viridiforol (35.4%), spathulenol (9.9%), elemol (9.7%) and globulol (6.5%) being the main compounds. The oil was examined with respect to its larvicidal properties against the larvae of a mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and showed LC5077.62 ± 0.64 ppm.

This paper aims to study the use of performance indicators (PIs) by business managers in the civil construction sector in a region that encompasses eight districts located in the north of Portugal. Through the literature review, it was possible to gather a list of twenty potential PIs used in this sector. Subsequently, a questionnaire was applied to a sample of construction companies from this region. A statistical analysis of the data collected allowed to identify the twelve most used and most important PIs for the companies surveyed. The results indicate that the companies involved in this study mainly use the traditional financial measures, however, recognize that non-financial measures, namely the customer satisfaction index, employee satisfaction, internal customer satisfaction index, and the training of employees, are increasingly important for the success of companies. The study also analysis the criteria to select PIs, its main benefits, and difficulties faced by companies on their usage.