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Objectives The study compared the postoperative prognosis in patients with cervical cancer Ib1 (FIGO 1988) with more than 2 cm, operated by the Piver II and Piver III techniques in a hospital sample in Rio de Janeiro. Methods The method used consists of a historical analysis of a group of women with cervical cancer in the mentioned stage submitted to the two surgical techniques analyzed. The work seeks to compare them to find an outcome of interests, considering data related to the disease, treatment and post-treatment follow-up obtained in the medical records. Results Patients submitted to both surgical techniques did not have a significant difference in overall disease-free survival. Prognostic factors, such as lymphatic, parametrial impairment, surgical margins, deep invasion of miocervix and lymphovascular space were shown to be related to worse global and disease-free survival. Tables: Conclusions Although there was no difference in overall survival and disease free, the group submitted to type C showed more severe tumors, so it would not be possible through the study to suggest a change in technique.

This paper presents an analysis of the impact of induction generators on voltage sag in distribution systems caused by unbalanced faults. It was analyzed single line-to-ground faults (SLGF's) and line-to-line faults (LLF's). The analysis is conducted through electromagnetic transient simulations. Moreover, the impact of different connections of the transformer between the generator and the power system was also investigated. The results show that the voltage sags in different system buses are affected due to the presence of induction generators.

A multiple-beam ion source has been developed based on the same principle as the Kaufman type source, but equipped with a post-acceleration electrode, the voltage ranging from 1 to 10 kV. Several applications of this equipment have been considered, mainly low energy ion implantation which is difficult to achieve with conventional ion implantation equipment. In this paper, we will consider the application of hydrogen ion implantation in polysilicon in order to passivate the defects located within the grains as well as at grain boundaries.

Besides cheaper techniques of growing the starting silicon, the reduction of manufacturing costs of terrestrial solar cells needs new automated approaches for the preparation of the junction. The possibilities given by laser processing are considered for three different structures: diffused junctions, ion implanted and alloyed diodes prepared from layers of dopants just deposited on surface.

It has been demonstrated that hydrogen can be used to saturate dangling bonds in amorphous silicon, so this element has been chosen to passivate the defects present in polycrystalline materials. In recent years, it has been recognized that hydrogen ion implantation at low energy also results in a great improvement in the electrical properties of polycrystalline silicon solar cells. Technically, the best approach is to use a Kaufman-type ion source or similar equipment in order to reduce the processing time. We have used a multiple-beam ion source based on the same principle as the Kaufman-type source, but equipped with a post-acceleration electrode providing H+ ions with 0.5–10 keV energies. For this equipment, we have determined the following: (1) the effective distribution and concentration profiles of the introduced hydrogen and the modification of the optical properties; (2) the conditions under which two cast multicrystalline materials (Polyx and Silso) will give the greatest improvement in cell performance; (3) the long-term electrical stability of solar cells processed by the methods described. This work provides the first consistent picture of the relationship between hydrogen-ion-beam parameters and optimal and electrical properties.

Correct interpretation of the urinary sodium concentration (NaU) and its relation to renal function in critically ill patients is lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between simultaneous NaU value and serum creatinine (sCr). The hypothesis is that a NaU value greater than 140 mmol/l (normal equivalent value in plasma) is only found in patients with normal sCr. We made a retrospective analysis of 1153 simultaneous samples of NaU and sCr, divided according to diuretic use in the previous 24 hours and grouped in five distinct NaU ranges (< 20, 20 to 39, 40 to 139, 140 to 169, ≥ 170 mmol/l). NaU values below 140 mmol/l were found simultaneously with both normal and increased sCr. NaU values above 140 mmol/l were almost always found in patients with normal sCr, even if diuretics were used. Median sCr values in the NaU ranges above 140 mmol/l were significantly lower than in the other NaU ranges. Estimated glomerular filtration rates were lower and intensive care unit and hospital mortalities were higher in patients with NaU values lower than 140 mmol/l compared to patients with a NaU higher than 140 mmol/l. We concluded that a high natriuretic capacity reflects significant residual renal function in the critically ill. NaU greater than normal plasma sodium is a possible biomarker of normal/improving renal function and also of better outcome. Sole NaU values below 140 mmol/l are difficult to interpret but it is possible that very low NaU values may signify some threat to normal kidney function and worse prognosis even in the presence of normal sCr. Our way to interpret NaU values in critically ill patients needs further careful evaluation.

Deep‐level transient spectroscopy experiments, performed on 31P+‐implanted and laser‐annealed silicon, have shown that the defect concentration is considerably reduced when a conventional thermal annealing is performed before the laser treatment. A model is presented which explains the origin of the defects.