Past Issue

The branches of forensic botany

Forensic botany refers to the application of plant sciences to the legal process. Hence, forensic botany involves gathering clues from plants to piece together evidence that will assist to solve serious crimes like the cause of death, kidnapping, and murder. There are several branches of forensic botany. Palynology refers to the study of pollen grains, spores, and microscopic plant bodies resistant to acidity to prove or disprove a connection between people, places, and objects that are under investigation in criminal and civil cases.

Maintenance of totally implantable central venous catheter access port (port-a-cath) in oncology: integrating literature review

Introduction: The totally implantable central venous catheter access port (TICVAP), known as Port-a-cath, is the most suitable access to prolonged antineoplastic chemotherapy, whose handling and prevention of catheter occlusion are under the responsibility of the nurse. Objective: To analyze the available evidence on the maintenance TICVAP in oncology in the literature.

Methods of evaluation of posture in elderly: A bibliometric study of the scientific production of the bvs database

With the advancement of the years, it is observed the reduction of the tissues’ function that covers the joints, resulting in decreased range of motion and joint flexibility. These changes are perceptible in the curvatures of the spine, and as a consequence may limit the elderly. This study aims to identify the methods used to analyze the posture in elderly. To perform this analysis, the use of bibliometrics was used as a methodology, by inserting the keywords spine, curvatures and elderly in the Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde (BVS) database.

Effect of green banana flour on the metabolic profile of wistar rats

Changes in diet and physical activity practice lead to a reduction in chronic-degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular complications. The intake of green banana flour may result in health benefits. Some authors have shown it can reduce appetite and weight loss, and may improve glycemia, lipids, intestinal function, aging process, may reduce the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of green banana flour on the anthropometric and biochemical parameters of Wistar rats.

Aluminum oxide blasting as surface treatment of titanium and zirconium oxide

Aim: In this study we assess the shear bond strength of two resin cements to Grade 5 Titanium (Ti) surface and yttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide ceramic (Zr) surface, with and without surface treatment. Cements tested are RelyX U200 (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) and MultilinkSistem Pack (IvoclarVivadent, Schann, Lichenstein). Materials and methods: We tested eight groups (n = 10): G 1= Zr treated U200; G 2= Zr untreated U200; G 3= Zr treated Multilink; G 4= Zr untreated Multilink; G 5= Ti treated U200; G 6= Ti untreated U200; G 7= Ti treated Multilink; G 8= Ti untreated Multilink.

Chitosan films doped with nanoparticles of metallic gold, silver, copper and silver-palladium alloy a skin substitute

The antibiotic resistance increasing and the high rates of cutaneous bacterial infections on wounds and burns have attracted the development of new technologies. This study aimed to designing and evaluation of a medical dressing to use in skin infections and/or burns, from substances that have antibacterial activity such as chitosan and metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) of gold, silver, copper and silver/palladium alloy.

Bacteria and fungi contaminating water and hemodialysis fluids: a review

Hemodialysis is a clinical procedure in which aqueous solutions are used for the purification of blood. Contamination of water or hemodialysis fluids may expose the patient to the risk of infections caused mainly by bacteria or fungi. In this review we examine literature about microbial contamination of water and hemodialysis fluids, relating most bacteria and fungi commonly implicated in infections.

Total maxillectomy patient treated with a custom made orthodontic appliance: case report

Prosthetic rehabilitation with surgical obturator for total maxillectomy patients is a challenging job because of the lack of normal hard and soft tissue support. In such cases the obturator can be retained with a spring-retained appliance if mandibular dentition is normal. A patient (treated with total maxillectomy) was rehabilitated with a new spring-retained surgical obturator. The spring used in this type of appliance is made up of 23-gauge stainless steel orthodontic wire which incorporates four coils.

A panoramic view of nuclear science and technology education worldwide

Nuclear energy has been used as a source of clean energy with many benefits. Nevertheless, it is still addressed with prejudice. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II (1945), the Three Mile Island accident (1979), Chernobyl accident (1986), the crash of the cesium-137 in Goiânia, Brazil (1987), and the accident in Fukushima (2011) may have been responsible for the negative image of nuclear energy. Researches on education have been conducted with students concerning the conceptual and practical issues of nuclear energy.

Improving manufacturing performance through implementing cycle-time reduction: a study of lean plastic bags enterprise

Lean manufacturing is concerned with the implementation of several tools and methodologies that aim for the continuous elimination of waste throughout manufacturing process flow in the production system. Lean manufacturing also focuses on company’s goals of improving quality, reducing inventory and becoming more competitive. This research addresses the implementation of lean principles and tools in a small-medium size plastic industry, and focuses on a manufacturing enterprise producing “Fused” plastic bags products.