ABSTRACT Among titanium alloys with non-toxic elements, the Ti-25Nb-25Ta alloy has good elastic behavior for applications in osseous implants, biocompatibility, and excellent corrosion resistance. The present study aimed to better the biocompatibility characteristics of Ti-25Nb-25Ta alloy modifying its surface through Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) treatment. The formed oxide coating is amorphous and composed of two distinct porous formations: smaller hole-shaped pores and larger volcano-like pores. The regions with the formation of smaller pores and in the hole shaped presented the highest atomic percentage of the chemical element phosphorus. Nanoindentation tests have shown that the hardness of the Ti-25Nb-25Ta alloy is slightly lower than the commercially pure grade 2 titanium (a material used as reference), while elastic modulus measurements of Ti-25Nb-25Ta presented more suitable values for implant application (lower values when compared with titanium reference). After PEO treatment there were significant mechanical surface improvements (increased fairly surface hardness and decreased elastic modulus) for application in osseous tissue. Despite the Ti-25Nb-25Ta alloy presented excellent characteristics for applications in hard biological tissues, the PEO treatment better its features.

The present study produced binary titanium-niobium alloys Ti-xNb with high niobium percentage (x = 50, 80 e 90 wt.%) aiming to apply it as a base material in osseous implant devices. The produced TiNb alloys presented a cubic crystalline phase, lower corrosion rate than titanium, lower elastic modulus values, and superior cellular viability than titanium and niobium. The Ti50Nb alloy among all analyzed metallic substrates showed the best values of elastic modulus, corrosion properties, wettability, and cellular viability. Thus, this work suggests a Ti/Nb ratio close to 1 (Ti50Nb) displays optimum characteristics to apply in orthopedic devices.

This article reports a novel virtual screening algorithm seeking the rational identification of novel lead anticoagulants. Seven 5-(3-methyl-1-aryl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1H-tetrazoles and seven novel 1-aryl-4-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazoles were obtained in three steps starting from arylhydrazine hydrochlorides as raw materials in good yields: 50-72% and 50-85%, respectively. All compounds were submitted to an in silico target-base pipeline named integrated multiplex analysis virtual screening (IMA-VS), which comprises the evaluation of their (i) fitting physicochemical properties to the chemical environment of the target enzyme; (ii) active-site homing electrostatic potential to the target enzyme; (iii) structural fitting to the target active site through molecular docking; and (iv) overall absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) profile. After the virtual selection of potential anticoagulant hits, all molecules were synthesized and candidates were evaluated in vitro for their anticoagulant and hemolytic profile. The most promising candidate pointed out by IMA-VS was compound 1-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole that shown to display factor Xa (FXa)-specific inhibitory activity in vitro, acting as an uncompetitive inhibitor with an inhibition constant (Ki) = 61.16 ± 12.96 µM, in addition to the lowest hemolytic activity of the series. Further experiments revealed the antithrombotic activity of this compound in an in vivo model of arterial thrombosis induced by FeCl3.

AbstractIntroduction: In this work, we report the development and initial tests of a measuring system that is used to measure the cervical electrical impedance with the purpose of assessing cervical ripening. The objective is to offer a system that provides real-time information about the cervical electrical impedance and, indirectly, of the cervical ripening with the aim of preventing premature birth. Methods Probes were developed and initial tests were performed. The probes used had electrodes that are far apart, with the assumption that in such cases deeper layers of the cervical tissue are measured. Results Preliminary measurements were performed in a single session on a non-gravid uterus, using as excitation signal a sinusoidal wave with frequency varying from 3 kHz to 100 kHz. Results indicate, as expected, that the magnitude of the impedance is inversely proportional to the frequency, indicating capacitive impedance. Conclusion Preliminary results were very encouraging. However, further measurements must be performed to correlate the impedance to the cervical ripening.

RESUMO Objetivou-se diagnosticar e analisar a conectividade estrutural da paisagem fragmentada no entorno da Unidade de Conservação Reserva Particular de Patrimônio Natural Cafundó, propondo a restauração por Corredores Ecológicos. O mapeamento do uso e cobertura da terra e dos índices de ecologia da paisagem possibilitou detectar, analisar e compreender a estrutura da paisagem. Esses índices foram obtidos por meio do software TerraView, dentro do plugin GeoDMA, para as 10 classes mapeadas. No período estudado (1970 e 2007) verificaram-se poucas mudanças no uso e ocupação da terra, predominando a matriz pastagem em ambas as datas. A delimitação do Corredor Ecológico pelo método Processo Hierárquico Analítico utilizou cada classe mapeada para definir o peso relativo de sua instalação. Os resultados demonstraram um aumento da fragmentação da paisagem, sendo possível delimitar um Corredor Ecológico de menor custo como alternativa para aumentar a conectividade entre Unidades de Conservação.

ABSTRACT This work aimed to diagnose and analyze the structural connectivity of fragmented landscape surrounding the Conservation Unit Private Reservation of Natural Patrimony Cafundó, proposing the restoration through Ecological Corridors. The mapping of land use and land cover, and landscape ecology indexes allowed detecting, analyzing and understanding the landscape structure. These indexes were calculated using the GeoDMA plugin for the 10 mapped classes. During the study period (1970 and 2007) there have been few changes in the land use and occupation, predominantly to pasture matrix on both dates. The delimitation of Ecological Corridor for the Analytical Hierarchy Process method used each mapped class to set the relative weight for installation. The results showed an increase in the landscape fragmentation allowing the definition of an Ecological Corridor of lower cost as an alternative to increase the connectivity among conservation units.

RESUMO As métricas de ecologia da paisagem associadas à mineração de dados podem ser utilizadas para aumentar o potencial de análise e aplicações de dados de sensoriamento remoto, tornando-se uma importante ferramenta para a tomada de decisão. Dessa forma, objetivou-se classificar e quantificar diferentes tipos de vegetação por meio de técnicas de mineração de dados e métricas de ecologia da paisagem em uma análise multitemporal (2001 e 2011), em São Luís do Paraitinga, São Paulo, Brasil. A análise de imagens orientada a objetos e o algoritmo de mineração de dados C4.5 foram utilizados para realizar a classificação automática, cuja precisão foi avaliada com o índice kappa e com as medidas de discordância de alocação e de quantidade, recentemente propostas na literatura. Foram classificadas quatro classes de uso e cobertura da terra, entre elas o Eucalipto cuja área aumentou de 4,4% para 8,6%. A classificação automática apresentou kappa de 0,79 e 0,8, erros de quantidade de 2% e 3,5% e alocação de 5,5% e 5% para 2001 e 2011, respectivamente. Conclui-se que o método de mineração de dados e as métricas de ecologia da paisagem foram eficientes na separação de classes de vegetação.

ABSTRACT The landscape ecology metrics associated with data mining can be used to increase the potential of remote sensing data analysis and applications, being an important tool for decision making. The present study aimed to use data mining techniques and landscape ecology metrics to classify and quantify different types of vegetation using a multitemporal analysis (2001 and 2011), in São Luís do Paraitinga city, São Paulo, Brazil. Object-based image analyses and the C4.5 data-mining algorithm were used for automated classification. Classification accuracies were assessed using the kappa index of agreement and the recently proposed allocation and quantity disagreement measures. Four land use and land cover classes were mapped, including Eucalyptus plantations, whose area increased from 4.4% to 8.6%. The automatic classification showed a kappa index of 0.79 and 0.80, quantity disagreements of 2% e 3.5% and allocation measures of 5.5% and 5% for 2001 and 2011, respectively. We therefore concluded that the data mining method and landscape ecology metrics were efficient in separating vegetation classes.

OBJETIVO: comparar, macro e microscopicamente, cicatrizes uterinas pós-cesáreas, nas quais foram feitas suturas com pontos separados, contínuos e contínuos ancorados. MÉTODOS: utilizamos três coelhas prenhes, realizando parto cesáreo no 26º dia de prenhez, com três incisões em cada corno uterino. As histerorrafias foram realizadas com fio Vicryl® 00, com suturas distintas (pontos separados, sutura contínua e contínua ancorada). No 60º dia pós-parto, realizamos histerectomia total abdominal e anexectomia bilateral, para avaliação das cicatrizes cirúrgicas. Na macroscopia, avaliamos o grau de retração cicatricial (longitudinal e transversal), o depósito de fibrina, presença de aderências e integridade dos fios de sutura. Na microscopia, utilizamos coloração de hematoxilina-eosina, para contagem de vasos sangüíneos e fibroblastos, e a coloração do tricômio de Masson, para quantificação do colágeno. Para a análise comparativa das cicatrizes, utilizamos os testes de Friedman e exato de Fisher, adotando nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: foram obtidas 18 cicatrizes, seis para cada tipo de sutura. Obtivemos as seguintes médias 0,5/0,4/0,5 (p=0,069) para os graus de retração longitudinal e 0,3/0,4/0,3 (p=0,143) para os graus de retração transversal, respectivamente para as suturas com pontos separados, contínuo e contínuo ancorado. Todas as suturas apresentaram depósito de fibrina regular, ausência de aderência e reabsorção integral dos fios. Na microscopia, apuramos a média de vasos sangüíneos (158,5/139,3/172,1; p=0,293), de fibroblastos (351,6/345,8/354,3; p=0,311) e da porcentagem de tecido colágeno (44,0/45,5/48,5; p=0,422), respectivamente para as suturas com pontos separados, contínuo e contínuo ancorado. CONCLUSÕES: a técnica de histerorrafia na cesárea de coelhas (pontos simples, sutura contínua e contínua ancorada) não determinou diferenças estatísticas significantes em relação aos parâmetros macroscópicos e microscópicos avaliados.

PURPOSE: to compare macro and microscopically, surgical uterine sutures in female rabbits, after caesarean section utilizing separate, continuous and continuous anchored suture stitches. METHODS: three New Zealand female rabbits in their first pregnancy were used. The caesarean section was carried out at the 26th day of gestation and three incisions were performed in each uterus. The hysterorrhaphy was performed with a 00 Vicryl® thread, and a different suture technique was employed for each incision. Total hysterectomy and adnexectomy were done at the 60th day post-delivery with the preservation of eventual adhesions for the evaluation of the surgical scars. The extent of scar retraction, amount of fibrin deposit and the suture integrity were evaluated through macroscopy. For the evaluation through microscopy, hematoxylin eosin technique was used for cellular colorimetry, and Masson's trichrom to evidence collagen. The statistical non-parametric Friedman's test was employed for the matching hypothesis, and Fisher's exact test to verify the homogeneity of the techniques (level of significance: 5%). RESULTS: a total of 18 scars were obtained (six scars per suture). The following mean values were obtained for the longitudinal (0.5/0.4/0.5, p=0.069) and transversal retraction degrees (0.3/0.4/0.3, p=0.143) respectively for separate, continuous and continuous anchored suture techniques. All sutures presented regular fibrin deposit, no adhesions and integral absorption of the stitches. The mean value of the blood vessels (158.5/139.3/172.1; p=0.293), fibroblasts (351.6/345.8/354.3; p=0.311) and of collagen percentage (44.0/45.5/48.5; p=0.422) were calculated through microscopy, respectively for separate, continuous and continuous anchored suture techniques. CONCLUSIONS: the type of hysterorrhaphy technique of caesarean section in female rabbits did not generate any significant statistical difference in the macroscopic and microscopic parameters evaluated.