Surface morphology evaluation of polymer beads based on divinylbenzene by atomic force microscopy

Macroporous poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) and poly(divinylbenzene) beads were synthesized by modified suspension polymerization in the presence of different mixtures of toluene and heptane as porogen agent. Through atomic force microscopy, it was possible to identify the microspheres and the channels between them that constitute the bead pores. It was also possible to make a comparison with the results obtained by nitrogen desorption, a traditional technique used to determine the porosity of macroporous copolymers in the dry state. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 541–551, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10290     

Physical diagnosis skills of physicians in training: a focused assessment

OBJECTIVE: To assess the proficiency of emergency medicine (EM) trainees in the recognition of physical findings pertinent to the care of the critically ill patient. METHODS: Fourteen medical students, 63 internal medicine (IM) residents, and 47 EM residents from three university-affiliated programs in Philadelphia were tested. Proficiency in physical diagnosis was assessed by a multimedia questionnaire targeting findings useful in emergencies or related to diseases frequently encountered in the ED. Attitudes toward diagnosis not based on technology, teaching practices of physical examination during EM training, and self-motivated learning of physical diagnosis also were assessed for all the EM trainees. RESULTS: With the exception of ophthalmology, the EM trainees were never significantly better than the senior students or the IM residents. They were less proficient than the IM residents in cardiology, and not significantly different from the IM residents in all other areas. For no organ system tested, however, did they achieve less than a 42.9% error rate (range: 42.9-72.3%, median = 54.8%). There was no significant improvement in proficiency over the three years of customary EM training. The EM residents who had received supervised teaching in physical diagnosis during training achieved a significantly higher cumulative score. The EM residents attributed great clinical importance to physical diagnosis and wished for more time devoted to its teaching. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm the recently reported deficiencies of physical diagnosis skills among physicians in training. The results are particularly disturbing because they relate to EM trainees and concern skills useful in the ED. Physical diagnosis should gain more attention in both medical schools and residency programs.     

Spatial Quality Evaluation of Pedestrian Streets

This paper presents an assessment of the spatial quality of a pedestrian street located in downtown Bauru, S~o Paulo State, Brazil, from the application of some urban sustainability indicators. Multi-method was used to evaluate the thermal comfort quality of users, urban accessibility and preservation of architectural heritage. The results show that the sustainability indicators, apart from being effective tools in identifying problems, can assist local managers in decision making, planning and monitoring of pedestrian public space. These indicators contribute to a broad diagnosis of the pedestrian street and also the formulation of programs, projects and municipal policies, aimed at providing a better life quality for pedestrians.     

Preparation, characterization, and topical delivery of paromomycin ion pairing

Topical chemotherapy with paromomycin (PA) has been used as an alternative for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis; however, poor skin penetration of this drug limits the efficacy of formulations. The objective of this work was to study the ability of the PA free base to form ion pairing with organic acids, as well as evaluate the effect of these compounds on the topical delivery of PA. PA permeation across intact skin was low, while drug penetration into skin from PA ion pairing was the higher than that observed for the PA base. Data obtained on the stripped skin, a damaged skin model, clearly showed that the ion pairing presented a potential to improve PA skin permeation.     

Heterogeneity of V2O5(010) surfaces – the role of alkali metal dopants

Any solid oxide-originated catalyst is extremely heterogeneous due to several factors. First, it may consist of various phases, each exposing different surfaces characterized by different electronic, and thus catalytic, properties. However, even a particular surface of a chosen phase is heterogeneous as it consists of different chemical elements connected in polyhedra bonded with each other via corners and/or edges and/or walls. In addition, dopants and supports change properties of the surface by enriching its heterogeneity. In the following, the role of dopants as potential sources of surface heterogeneity is discussed, using vanadia as an example.     

Detection of GMO in food products in Brazil: the INCQS experience

Regulations for the use and labeling of genetically modified organism products and derived ingredients are being implemented worldwide, what demands reliable and accurate methods to detect genetically modified organisms (GMO) in raw materials and food products. This study aimed at monitoring products derived from GMO in the Brazilian market using detection methods for the presence of Roundup Ready soybean, Bt176 and MON 810 maize. The results demonstrate for the first time the presence of GM-soy in Brazilian food products, reinforcing the need for the development of accurate quantitative methods in routine analyses.     

Why are most drowning victims men? Sex differences in aquatic skills and behaviors

Two biopsy cases of elastofibroma--one unilateral and one bilateral--are described. A study of 100 autopsies revealed 13 elderly patients with elastofibroma. Males (n = 10; 16.9%) were more affected than females (n = 3; 7.3%). Pre-elastofibroma-like morphological changes (e.g. few or many degenerated elastic fibres) were observed in 81% of the autopsies. Minor pre-elastofibroma-like changes were seen in males and major changes predominantly in females. In addition to physiological ageing as yet unknown factors, rather than abnormal elastogenesis or degeneration, seem to be involved in this pseudotumour.     

Inhibition by diazepam of the effect of additional training and of extinction on the retention of shuttle avoidance behavior in rats.

Rats were submitted to a training and a test session in a shuttle avoidance task. In some groups, a second training session was interpolated 2 or 24 hr after the first session. In others, a session of extinction was interpolated 2 or 24 hr after the training session. When the interpolated task was 2 hr after training, training-test interval was 24 hr. When the interpolated task was 24 hr after training, training-test interval was 48 hr. The additional training enhanced, and the extinction depressed, retention test performance. Diazepam, given 30 min prior to the first (or only) training session enhanced the performance of avoidance responses in that session but inhibited it in the subsequent retention test. Diazepam given 90 min after training had no effect on retention. Diazepam given 30 min prior to either the additional training session or the extinction session did not affect performance in that session but canceled their effects on retention test performance. The effects are related to the previously described prevention by diazepam of interfering effects on memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High exposure to arsenic from drinking water at several localities in eastern Croatia

This study investigated the relationship between arsenic concentrations in drinking water in four towns/villages in eastern Croatia and corresponding hair arsenic concentrations of residents. The mean arsenic concentrations in community drinking water samples were 0.14, 37.88, 171.60, and 611.89 microg/l. The corresponding mean concentrations of the element in hair samples of subjects residing in each of the localities were 0.07 (n=11), 0.26 (n=17), 1.74 (n=11), and 4.31 microg/g (n=23). Chronic exposures to arsenic levels estimated in three investigated locations could present a serious health threat to around 3% of Croatian population.