Castor-oil biobased foam: the effect of the composition on the physical and mechanical properties via a statistical mixture design.

PU foams are versatile materials that find applications in a wide range of products, from upholstery to packaging and construction. These foams consist primarily of two components, polyol and prepolymer, and their concentrations play a crucial role in determining their physical and mechanical properties. A second-order mixture design approach is used in this work to identify the significant components and their contributions on the physical-mechanical properties of biodegradable castor oil-based foams. The experimental design includes three components: two types of polyols and one prepolymer. These components are varied in nine distinct conditions to evaluate their effects on properties such as expansion rate, bulk density, compressive strength, and tensile strength. The Scheffé's quadratic model coefficients exhibit R-squared values higher than 0.84 in most cases. Chemical analysis using infrared spectroscopy confirms the successful formation of the urethane bond during the manufacturing process. The biobased foams developed in this work have densities ranging between 61 and 100 kg m-3, compressive modulus of 11-15 MPa and compressive strength between 273 and 429 kPa. The tensile modulus varies between 3.2 and 4.9 MPa, with a tensile strength in the range of 370-500 kPa. These results highlight the potential of biodegradable castor oil-based foams as promising alternative materials to traditional synthetic foams.

Metabolic disease and the liver: A review.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of 31% in Latin America. The presence of metabolic comorbidities coexisting with liver disease varies substantially among populations. It is acknowledged that obesity is boosting the type 2 diabetes mellitus "epidemic," and both conditions are significant contributors to the increasing number of patients with MASLD. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis represents a condition of chronic liver inflammation and is considered the most severe form of MASLD. MASLD diagnosis is based on the presence of steatosis, noninvasive scores and altered liver tests. Noninvasive scores of liver fibrosis, such as serum biomarkers, which should be used in primary care to rule out advanced fibrosis, are simple, inexpensive, and widely available. Currently, guidelines from international hepatology societies recommend using noninvasive strategies to simplify case finding and management of high-risk patients with MASLD in clinical practice. Unfortunately, there is no definite pharmacological treatment for the condition. Creating public health policies to treat patients with risk factors for MASLD prevention is essential.

Heart failure secondary to myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 reinfection: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac involvement in COVID-19 can range from mild damage to severe myocarditis. The precise mechanism by which COVID-19 causes myocardial injury is still unknown. Myocarditis following administration of COVID-19 vaccines, especially those based on mRNA, has also been described. However, no reports of heart failure following reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 in patients immunized with an inactivated vaccine have been identified. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 47-year-old male construction worker of African descent, with type II diabetes and a history of infection by SARS-CoV-2 in December 2020 and May 2021, confirmed by RT-PCR. He received two doses of an inactivated vaccine against COVID-19. Between the two COVID-19 episodes with positive RT-PCR, he had two episodes of bacterial lung infection. After the second episode of SARS-CoV-2 infection, he was diagnosed with severe heart failure as a sequela of myocarditis. CONCLUSION: It is essential to perform a thorough follow-up after infection with SARS-CoV-2 since, even with proper immunization, it is possible that the patient was reinfected and suffered severe cardiac sequelae as a consequence. The hypothesis of an etiology associated with the use of an inactivated vaccine against COVID-19, with a potential immune enhancement mechanism following reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, cannot be rejected.

Influence of Contact Plateaus Characteristics Formed on the Surface of Brake Friction Materials in Braking Performance through Experimental Tests.

This work applies a procedure for analysis and characterization of the surface of brake friction materials, correlating them with the tribological and thermal properties achieved in different vehicle braking conditions. Experiments were performed in a vehicle under two real conditions of braking operation, simulated flat track descent and emergency braking. Characteristics of the plates formed on the surfaces of the friction materials were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and correlated with the performance during braking, as measured by the coefficient of friction at the interface of the friction pair and temperature. As a result, the formation of the primary and secondary plateaus in these two different braking operating conditions was observed, and the relationship between the characteristics of the plateaus formed on the surface and the surface roughness parameters and performance measurements during braking.

Reduction in COVID-19 prevalence in healthcare workers in a university hospital in southern Brazil after the start of vaccination.

INTRODUCTION: The quick spread of SARS-CoV-2 led to the development of vaccines that are capable of reducing infection and the number of more severe COVID-19 cases. AIM: To assess COVID-19 prevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs) after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on the prevalence of COVID-19 diagnosis among 7523 HCWs vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 with CoronaVac and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in a university hospital, in southern Brazil, between January 18 and March 18, 2021.The variables evaluated were: sex, age, work area, role, source of infection, previous diagnosis of COVID-19, date of vaccine administration, type of vaccine, and need for hospitalization. The statistical analysis used Poisson regression and Fisher's exact test with SPSS software version 25, and a level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: 813 vaccinated HCWs showed symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, of whom 35.4% (288) had a detectable result after undergoing RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. There was a reduction of 62% in new cases of COVID-19 among HCWs in the institution 7 weeks after the start of vaccine rollout. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the vaccines used by the institution reduced the number of COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers, demonstrating the effectiveness of the vaccines.

Treatment, reuse, leaching characteristics and genotoxicity evaluation of electroplating sludge.

Electroplating sludge (ES) is a waste that is generated by the galvanization industry and is highly toxic because it contains heavy metals. This study examined the physiochemical properties of ES residue, the recovery of the present metals, and the reuse of these metals to add value to this residue and avoid environmental contamination through its inadequate disposal. The potential for leaching of ES was investigated using various tests, and a decrease in the germination speed of Lactuca sativa seeds and the appearance of chromosomal aberrations in the cytotoxicity tests were observed. The reduction of the pH and dynamic leaching conditions favor the leaching of ES heavy metals. An increase in the ES concentration in soil decreases the speed of germination and increases the number of chromosomal aberrations that are related to aneugenic phenomena that promote tumor development. Metals were recovered through solubilization, followed by selective precipitation. The recovery of heavy metals from ES decreased its toxicity by eliminating toxic components. The reuse of the metals in the electroplating process may reduce the cost of disposal of ES, thereby rendering it an economically and environmentally friendly alternative. The products that were galvanized using the recovered solution showed the best results in the corrosion test, thereby demonstrating the viability of the use of this solution in industrial galvanization.

A Comissão Rondon no noroeste do Brasil e sua atuação médico-militar: trabalhadores, malária e propaganda (1907-1915) / The Rondon Commission in northwest Brazil and its medical-military activities: workers, malaria and propaganda (1907-1915)

Aborda um dos problemas que afetaram o andamento dos trabalhos da comissão, que foram as desfavoráveis condições nosológicas da região noroeste para o desenvolvimento do empreendimento, marcada principalmente pela incidência endêmica da malária e de outras doenças tropicais, causando significativo percentual de óbitos e incapacitando cerca de um quarto dos soldados e regionais. Nesse quadro, a presença de oficiais médicos-militares tornou-se fundamental, principalmente na última fase, quando se instalou um serviço sanitário para a profilaxia da malária e melhoria da infraestrutura médico-hospitalar da Comissão. A despeito da efetividade de tais medidas, analisa-se o contraste existente entre as condições reais da região noroeste e a posição oficial da comissão que escamoteava essas adversidades através de recursos propagandísticos como filmes e fotografias que procuram estimular a colonização e a integração daquela porção do território nacional.(AU)

Imagem e espelhos na mostração do corpo a partir de "um método perigoso" / Image and mirrors in the display of the body from "a dangerous method"

O presente ensaio tem como objetivo mostrar o quanto o discurso cinematográfico, associado ao olhar/leitura do psicanalista pode servir de ferramenta para pensar os conceitos e a prática de sua ética. (AU)

This essay try to demonstrate how the cinematographic discourse can be a precious tool to the psychoanalysis. The film, seeing and read by the regard of the psychoanalysts could be a useful element to their formation and their practice. (AU)

Produção e qualidade de frutos de mirtileiros sob diferentes intensidades de poda / Production and fruit quality of blueberries under different pruning intensities

O sistema de poda do mirtileiro (Vaccinium ashei Read) utilizado no país se fundamenta em estudos realizados em locais com condições edafoclimáticas distintas da nossa realidade. Assim, foram avaliadas diferentes intensidades de poda de frutificação em dois genótipos de mirtileiro, e seus efeitos na produção e na qualidade dos frutos. O experimento foi conduzido em pomar comercial, localizado em Pelotas-RS. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados completos, em esquema fatorial (2x4), com quatro repetições. Plantas de sete anos de idade, do grupo Rabbiteye, cultivares 'Briteblue' e 'Woodard', foram submetidas às intensidades de poda leve, moderada, drástica e sem poda (testemunha) nos anos de 2010 e 2011, no período de repouso hibernal (primeira quinzena de agosto). Foram avaliadas a produção média por planta, sendo estimada a produtividade por área, peso fresco, diâmetro, teor de sólidos solúveis, pH e acidez titulável dos frutos. De acordo com os resultados, a intensidade de poda tem efeito sobre a antecipação da colheita. Com a decorrência de uma maior intensidade de poda, houve uma tendência de aumento do tamanho dos frutos. Para mirtileiros Briteblue, há decréscimo de produtividade, conforme se aumenta a intensidade de poda. Mirtileiros Briteblue são mais produtivos e apresentam maior matéria fresca de fruto do que Woodard.

The blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Read) pruning system currently used is based on studies performed at edaphoclimatic conditions different of our reality. Thus, it was assessed the effects of different fructification pruning intensities on production and fruit quality of two blueberry genotypes. The trial was performed in a commercial orchard in Pelotas - RS. The experimental design was a complete randomized block, in a factorial design (2x4) with four replications. Seven year old plant of Rabbiteye group, cultivars 'Briteblue' e 'Woodard', were undergone to the pruning intensities light, moderate drastic and no pruning (control) during the winter of 2010 and 2011 (first two weeks of august). The parameters assessed were average plant yield, estimated yield per area, fruit fresh weight, fruit diameter, soluble solids, pH and titratable acidity. According to the results, pruning intensity affects harvest anticipation. As the pruning intensity increased, there was a trend of increased fruit size. The productivity of Briteblue blueberries decreases as pruning intensity increases. Briteblue are more productive and show greater fresh fruit weight than Woodard blueberries.

High prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization among HIV-positive patients in southern Brazil.

A high prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization was observed in patients positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) admitted to a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil between August 2012 and December 2012. Amplification of the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA gene in oropharyngeal samples through nested polymerase chain reaction identified P. jirovecii colonization in 26 of 58 (44.8%) HIV-positive patients admitted for causes other than Pneumocystis pneumonia. Colonization was more frequent among patients with an absolute CD4 count ≤200 cells/µl. These findings suggest that the HIV-infected population is a major reservoir and source of P. jirovecii infection and that identification of such individuals may contribute to future strategies for improving management of HIV-infected patients.

Imagens, apesar da catástrofe / Image despite the catastrophe

O presente ensaio reafirma a validade da heterogeneidade de suportes nas intervenções sociais, principalmente nos casos considerados graves. Defende o conceito de que a dimensão do imaginário, na psicanálise, não se resume ao virtual; é uma das dimensões da linguagem, equivalente ao simbólico e ao real, articula a eles diversamente, porém não de qualquer maneira. Toma o exemplo dos campos de extermínio nazista, de onde foram extraídas quatro fotografias, tiradas pelos próprios prisioneiros, integrantes dos sonderkomman¬do. Uma forma de argumentar o quanto uma imagem pode contribuir para uma função simbólica. (AU)

This essay try to reaffirm the importance of using differents ways in a clinical and social work, mainly when the difficults circunstances are extremely. This position is based in the psychoanalytical concept that the imaginary di¬mension is not completly defined by a virtual dimension. To the psychoanalysis, imaginary is one of the dimensions of the language and it’s articulated with the simbolic and the real. This articulation has diferents manners to occurs but not in every way. An example is taken from the nazi champs of extermination. Four photographs, the only that has taken by the prisionners themselves, formers members of the “sonderkommando” from auschwitz/birkenau. It’s a importante way to show how one image can have a simbolic function. (AU)

CFC: uma alternativa para as infecções endodônticas resistentes? / CFC: an alternative to endodontic refractory infecctions?

O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar a efetividade antimicrobiana do hidróxido de cálcio, metronidazol e ciprofloxacina, quando utilizados isolados ou em associações sobre o Enterococcus faecalis. Uma colônia de Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 foi cultivada e, após o desenvolvimento, os microrganismos foram removidos e inoculados em infusão de Mueller-Hinton. As placas foram divididas em quatro partes e ao centro de cada divisão foi realizado um poço para a colocação das medicações. A ciprofloxacina isolada foi a medicação mais efetiva. Considerando as associações, todas promoveram inibição, sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas. O hidróxido de cálcio e metronidazol isolados.

Tabou: notas sobre um suicídio documentado

Filme: Tabou, direção de Orane Burri, 2008. Algumas observações iniciais Não se pode comentar este documentário sem reconhecer o impacto do tema. É impossível debater aspectos conceituais, sejam eles psicanalíticos– ou de outras tantas disciplinas que se ocuparam deste evento na condiçãohumana – estéticos, filmográficos e mesmo existenciais, sem reconhecer osefeitos desse ato que pode parecer tão absurdo e brutal

Actualidade da angústica / Actuality of anguish notes on transfer and the desire of the analist

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Fluorescence modulation of acridine and coumarin dyes by silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction of silver ions by sodium borohydride in the presence of poly-(N)-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone in solution of short chain alcohols. The nanoparticles are stable in 2-propanol, and the average diameter of the Ag colloid obtained in this solvent is about 6 nm. The photophysical properties of acridinium and coumarin dyes in 2-propanol are affected by the presence of silver nanoparticles. The interaction of silver nanoparticles with acridinium derivative leads to a spectral change of its intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) absorption band. The dye emission increases suddenly with the initial addition of the Ag metal nanoparticles, but at a high concentration of the colloid, static fluorescence quenching occurs with a progressive decrease of the fluorescence efficiency. Amino coumarin fluorescence is only quenched by the silver nanoparticles in solution.

O afeto que se encerra / The closing affect

O autor examina a angústia a partir de três perspectivas: política, clínica e conceitual. Tal articulação é feita a partir da relação do sujeito ao Outro, sua demanda e a posição do objeto. O artigo indica o momento político do movimento psicanalítico a partir das posições de Jacques Lacan, a evolução conceitual por ele proposta e suas decorrentes incidências clínicas. Enfatiza o lugar do corte e o desejo do analista como o direcionador da cura(AU)

The author approaches anguish in three different perspectives: political, clinical end conceptual. Such articulation is made through the relation of the subject and the Other, its demand and the position of the object. The article indicates the political moment of the psychoanalytical movement in which Lacan proposed a conceptual evolution of anguish and its clinical impacts. Also, it underlines the importance of the desire of the analyst in the direction of cure(AU)

Inconsciente e desejo do psicanalista / Unconscious and desire of the analyst

a

Antiinflammatory effects of Tacrolimus in a mouse model of pleurisy.

INTRODUCTION: Tacrolimus is an antibiotic macrolide with immunosuppressant properties isolated from Streptomyces tsukubaensis. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether the acute and systemic administration of Tacrolimus significantly interfered in leukocyte migration, exudation, myeloperoxidase and adenosine-deaminase and nitric oxide levels, as well as Interleukin-1 (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) levels in a mouse model of pleurisy in comparison to those obtained with dexamethasone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pleurisy was induced by carrageenan (Cg, 1%), bradykinin (BK, 10 nmol), histamine (HIS, 1 micromol) or substance P (PS, 20 nmol) administered by intrapleural route (ipl.) and the inflammatory parameters (cell migration and exudation) were analyzed 4 h after. In the model of pleurisy induced by carrageenan, other markers in the pleural fluid, such as cytokines (TNFalpha and Il-1beta), nitrite/nitrate (NOx), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and adenosine-deaminase (ADA) levels, were also studied. Dexamethaseone (0.5 mg/kg, i.p., 0.5 h before) was also analyzed in all protocols. RESULTS: In the pleurisy induced by carrageenan, Tacrolimus (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) administered 0.5 h before caused a significant decrease in leukocytes, neutrophils and exudation (P < 0.01). Under the same conditions, Tacrolimus and dexamethasone did not modify the blood's white or red cells (P > 0.05). Tacrolimus showed a long lasting antiinflammatory effect, inhibiting leukocytes and neutrophils for up to 24 h (P < 0.01), whereas the inhibition of exudation was less marked (up to 2 h) (P < 0.01). These drugs caused a marked reduction in MPO activity, as well as IL-1beta and TNFalpha levels (P < 0.01), but only Tacrolimus inhibited ADA activity (P < 0.01). On the other hand, dexamethasone, but not Tacrolimus, inhibited NOx levels (P < 0.01). In the same conditions, Tacrolimus significantly inhibited cell migration induced by either bradykinin, histamine or substance P (P < 0.05). In a similar manner, dexamethasone inhibited leukocyte influx induced by bradykinin and histamine (P < 0.05). Regarding exudation effects, dexamethasone markedly inhibited this parameter induced by BK, HIS or SP, whereas Tacrolimus only inhibited exudation caused by HIS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present work indicate that Tacrolimus showed important antiinflammatory properties against pleurisy in mice that are different from those caused by dexamethasone. The inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine (TNFalpha, IL-1beta), enzyme (myeloperoxidase, adenosine-deaminase) and mediator (bradykinin, histamine, substance P) release and/or action appears to account for Tacrolimus's actions.

Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in 9-aminoacridinium derivatives assisted by intramolecular H-bond.

Fluorochromic dyes derived from 9-aminoacridinium containing a vinylene function with electron withdrawing groups such as diethyl [(acridinium-9-ylamino)methylene]malonate (I), ethyl [(acridinium-9-ylamino)methylene]cyanoacetate (II), [(acridinium-9-ylamino)methylene]malononitrile (III), are prepared and studied in their monoprotonated form. Absorption spectra of the new dyes are red shifted compared to that of the precursor dye. The observed dual fluorescence and multiexponential decay are ascribed to normal emission from the acridinium chromophore in addition to excited-state intramolecular charge transfer (ESICT) process. However, biexponential decay character is observed only for the dicyano derivative (compound III), whereas for the two other systems, more complex kinetics and a three-component decay is recovered. The analysis of the fluorescence decays in different solvents for the first two compounds reveals two short-lived components in the range of 160-350 ps and 1.1-3.0 ns, related to formation and decay of the ESICT state, plus a third one with decay time of about 9 ns, which is ascribed to the normal emission from the acridinium chromophore as an enol tautomer or as an intramolecular H-bond conformer (closed form tautomer). For the dicyano derivative, in which the absence of carbonyl group precludes the H-bond interaction, the biexponential fitting reveals a slightly fast formation rate of the ESICT state with values on the order of 10(10) s(-1), whereas its decay time is between 0.6 and 3.2 ns, depending on the solvent used.

Litoral, sintoma, encontro - quase ensaio

Este texto é resultado de um encontro. No sentido de que, procurando uma coisa, nos surpreendemos com outra. Ao trabalhar as relações entre psicanálise e literatura, nos deparamos com as possibilidades de o enseio servir como maneira de escrever a elaboração da prática psicanálitica. Por suas características, tanto a ficção, quanto a filosofia estão sendo valorizadas na elaboração do tema. Acrescente-se o fato primordial da inclusãoo do analista na transferência. Estes elementos nos fazem propor a dimensão de um quase ensaio para o relato a partir da experiência analítica