Acute and residual neuromuscular effects of displacement in indirect vibratory stimulation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of indirect vibratory stimulation on different magnitudes of displacement on acute and residual neuromuscular responses. Fifteen healthy volunteers were randomly submitted to 3 experimental sessions, with intervals of 5 to 7 days (5 maximal voluntary contractions - MVC, 12 s of duration each and 5 min of recovery) between sessions. To determine the residual responses, the volunteers performed a MVC before and after each treatment for 12 s, with a 5-minute recovery. The experimental sessions were composed of isometric actions without vibrations (CONTROL) and two sessions of isometric actions with the addition of vibrations at 20 Hz and 3 mm (Sinusoidal Vibration A) and 5 mm (Sinusoidal Vibration B). Before and after each of the experimental sessions, an isometric evaluation without vibrations was performed. For the acute effect, it was verified that the addition of vibrations induced a facilitatory effect on the explosive strength variables (p < .05), independent of the type of studied displacement in relation to the control treatment. In short, it was verified that the addition of vibration induced an acute facilitating effect on the explosive strength. However, the induced effect was not persistent (residual effect) for the explosive strength.

Production of thermoplastic starch and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) films assisted by solid-state shear pulverization.

A novel processing technique involving Solid-State Shear Pulverization (SSSP) was used to produce thermoplastic starch (TPS) and Poly (Butylene Adipate-co-Terephthalate) (PBAT) films to improve processability and produce well-dispersed blends. Four different compositions (50-80 wt% TPS content) were processed using two different production routes. In one instance, the compositions were pre-treated by SSSP before melt extrusion (SSSPE). Secondly, starch was initially plasticized and thereafter blended with PBAT by melt extrusion (EXT) method. Flat films were produced using both routes and processability, visual and tactical aspects, mechanical and optical properties, crystallinity, and water absorption behavior were evaluated. High starch content films (70 and 80 wt%) prepared based on SSSP incorporation showed easier processability, and better visual aspect and mechanical integrity than EXT ones. However, EXT films with 50 and 60 wt% of starch presented higher elongation at break and lower water absorption due to finer dispersion of TPS and better starch plasticization.

Soft tissue myoepithelial carcinoma: is it a low-grade cancer? / Carcinoma mioepitelial de partes moles: um tumor de baixo grau de malignidade?

ABSTRACT Myoepithelial carcinoma is a rare neoplasm of very heterogeneous manifestation that represents a major challenge to the adoption of categorical prognostic criteria since, despite being classified as a low-grade cancer, it behaves very aggressively. While several studies have indicated complete surgical resection as the best treatment for myoepithelial carcinoma, adjuvant therapies have proven effective in preventing relapse. This study describes the case of a patient who developed myoepithelial carcinoma in the right thigh, affecting deep tissues, which were conducted as indicated in the current literature, however, presenting an unfavorable outcome. The available information comes from few studies; therefore, we emphasize the importance of gathering data on the subject, which are still scarce.

RESUMEN El carcinoma mioepitelial es una neoplasia rara, de manifestación muy heterogénea, que encierra un gran desafío para la adopción de criterios pronósticos categóricos, puesto que, a pesar de ser clasificado como tumor de bajo grado de malignidad, muestra comportamientos muy agresivos. Mientras varios estudios indican la resección quirúrgica completa como el mejor tratamiento para el carcinoma mioepitelial, terapias adyuvantes se han revelado efectivas para prevenir la recidiva. Este estudio describe el caso de una mujer que presentó carcinoma mioepitelial en muslo derecho, afectando partes profundas, lo cual fue conducido como indica la literatura actual, sin embargo, con un resultado desfavorable. Las informaciones disponibles son producto de pocos estudios, por ello, destacamos la importancia de reunir datos acerca del tema, que aún son escasos.

RESUMO O carcinoma mioepitelial é uma neoplasia rara, de manifestação muito heterogênea, que encerra um grande desafio na adoção de critérios prognósticos categóricos, uma vez que, apesar de ser classificado como tumor de baixo grau de malignidade, apresenta comportamentos muito agressivos. Enquanto vários estudos indicam a ressecção cirúrgica completa como o melhor tratamento para carcinoma mioepitelial, terapias adjuvantes têm-se revelado efetivas na prevenção da recidiva. Este estudo descreve o caso de uma paciente que desenvolveu carcinoma mioepitelial em coxa direita, acometendo partes profundas, o qual foi conduzido como indica a literatura atual, contudo, apresentando desfecho desfavorável. As informações disponíveis provêm de poucos estudos, logo, ressaltamos a importância de reunir dados a respeito do tema, que ainda são escassos.

Multiple excitation of Fuchs-Kliewer phonons by Ne⁺ ions back-scattered by the LiF(100) surface at grazing incidence.

An analytic model is developed to describe the inelastic processes occurring when keV Ne(+) ions are scattered at grazing incidence by the (100) surface of LiF. The large energy losses (up to 30 eV) of the reflected Ne(+) particles reported by Borisov et al (1999 Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 5378) are shown to arise specifically from the long-range coupling between the projectiles and the so-called Fuchs-Kliewer (FK) optical phonons of LiF whose fields extend far outside the surface. The strength of the coupling is estimated, allowing one to compute the average number of excited FK phonon quanta (hωS = 0.071 eV) and hence the mean energy losses. For emerging, neutralized Ne(0), a distinct energy loss mechanism is shown to occur, namely the excitation of FK phonons and other types of surface collective modes associated with the screening of the F(0) 'hole' left behind by the neutralization process. This mechanism contributes a large fraction of the loss, additional to that suffered by the incident Ne(+) ion. The model explains the experimental observations quantitatively (1999 Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 5378). The paper ends with a discussion of the large energy broadening of the observed loss peaks.

Plasmon tsunamis on metallic nanoclusters.

A model is constructed to describe inelastic scattering events accompanying electron capture by a highly charged ion flying by a metallic nanosphere. The electronic energy liberated by an electron leaving the Fermi level of the metal and dropping into a deep Rydberg state of the ion is used to increase the ion kinetic energy and, simultaneously, to excite multiple surface plasmons around the positively charged hole left behind on the metal sphere. This tsunami-like phenomenon manifests itself as periodic oscillations in the kinetic energy gain spectrum of the ion. The theory developed here extends our previous treatment (Lucas et al 2011 New J. Phys. 13 013034) of the Ar(q+)/C(60) charge exchange system. We provide an analysis of how the individual multipolar surface plasmons of the metallic sphere contribute to the formation of the oscillatory gain spectrum. Gain spectra showing characteristic, tsunami-like oscillations are simulated for Ar(15+) ions capturing one electron in distant collisions with Al and Na nanoclusters.

Bundles of identical double-walled carbon nanotubes.

In a sample produced by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD), the structure of the carbon nanotubes (diameter and helicity) which governs their electronic properties, is determined by electron diffraction. We found that most of the smallest bundles are constituted of identical double-walled carbon nanotubes.