This work investigated the viability of the portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) technique as a means of measuring iron levels in patients suffering from thalassemia major (beta-thalassemia) and hereditary hemochromatosis (HH or Haemochromatosis) or other iron-overload conditions. Measurements were conducted at the University Hospital Blood Center and in the Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Physics at the State University of Londrina, Brazil. One thalassemia major patient and four healthy people were grouped. A PXRF system consisting of a Pu x-ray source and a SiPIN diode detector was used for measurements in vivo on the hand of each patient. The measuring system was calibrated with phantoms of aqueous solution doped with 15 to 150 ppm of iron. The duration of each measurement was 50 s. The detection limit (LLD) reached for iron was 13 ppm. The radiation dose on the skin was 10 mSv. The thalassemia patient presented 74 ± 6 ppm of iron, whereas the healthy people presented an average of 53 ± 5 ppm of iron. The results are in accord with the literature, which shows iron levels in the skin to be between 15 - 60 ppm for healthy people and between 70 - 150 ppm for thalassemia major patients. This work concluded that it is viable to apply the XRF methodology to follow thalassemia major and HH patients.

Uso da fluorescência de raios X portátil (XRF) in vivo como técnica alternativa para acompanhamento dos níveis de ferro em pacientes com sobrecarga de ferro The in vivo use of portable X-ray fluorescence as an alternative technique for the accompaniment of iron levels in patients with iron loading

Assessment of water quality is extreme importance for the health of animals, especially humans. The physical paraments (electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, apparent color, taste, smell, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids), in water indicate the quality, including that used for human consumption. Therefore, a water inspection at the entrance and exit of an agroindustrial cutting system in the city of Maringa (Brazil), between the years 2014 and 2017, is important for a relaxation of water standards. The results were published and published based on the environmental legislation showed that the quality of the water used in the agroindustry, regarding the physical parameters, respects as current environmental regulations, not causing damage to the environment and demonstrating that the process used in the agroindustrial system is efficient from an environmental standpoint.

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The objective of this study was to investigate the reproducibility of the International System for the Detection and Evaluation of Caries (ICDAS) for the diagnosis of caries by students of the Master's Degree in Dentistry (n = 25). The occlusal surfaces of human third molars (n = 14) were evaluated by twenty-five (n = 25) students using the ICDAS index and later a questionnaire was applied on demographic and professional context data. The dental crowns were sectioned in mesial to distal direction to obtain slices of 1mm in thickness which were observed in a stereomicroscope (40X) to identify the greatest extension of caries lesion. Data were analyzed by the Chi-Square, Fisher's Exact and Spearman's Correlation Coefficient at a significance level of 5%. There was an influence in the diagnosis of caries among students and teeth, where the majority of those who declared themselves to be safe missed the diagnosis. There was variability between the diagnosis and the proposed treatment for caries, with a better diagnosis for tooth VII and less for X; greater fit for treatment of teeth XIII, XIV and lower for IV, VI. The histological cut showed that the teeth were more affected by caries than the ICDAS. It was concluded that the ICDAS reproducibility was partially satisfactory when the occlusal surface was evaluated by the master’s degree students. Keywords: Dental Caries. Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures. Therapeutics. ResumoEste trabalho teve o objetivo de investigar a reprodutibilidade do Sistema Internacional de Detecção e Avaliação de Cárie (ICDAS) para o diagnóstico da cárie, por estudantes de curso de Mestrado em Odontologia (n=25). As superfícies oclusais de terceiros molares humanos (n=14) foram avaliadas por vinte e cinco (n=25) estudantes, utilizando o índice ICDAS, e posteriormente foi aplicado questionário sobre dados demográficos e de contexto profissional. As coroas dentárias foram seccionadas no sentido mésio distal para obter fatias de 1 mm de espessura, que foram observadas em estereomicroscópio (40X) para identificar a maior extensão da lesão de cárie. Os dados foram analisados pelos Testes Qui-Quadrado, Exato de Fisher e Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman, em nível de significância de 5%. Houve influência do grau de instrução dos estudantes no diagnóstico da cárie em relação ao dente avaliado e a maioria que se declarou segura errou o diagnóstico. Houve variabilidade entre o diagnóstico e o tratamento proposto para a cárie, com maior acerto para diagnóstico do dente VII e menor para o X; maior acerto para tratamento dos dentes XIII, XIV e menor para IV, VI. O corte histológico mostrou que os dentes estavam mais comprometidos pela cárie que o ICDAS. Concluiu-se que a reprodutibilidade do ICDAS foi satisfatória quando a superfície oclusal foi avaliada pelos mestrandos. Palavras-chave: Cárie Dentária. Técnicas e Procedimentos Diagnósticos. Terapêutica.