Direct determination of Cu, Cr, and Ni in river sediments using double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: Ecological risk and pollution level assessment.

Double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (DP LIBS) has attracted much attention for analyzing trace elements due to its higher sensitivity when compared to single pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SP LIBS). However, the development of quantitative methods in LIBS for the analysis of complex samples, such as sediments, is a great challenge due to the matrix effects that are very accentuated in this technique. In this study, different spectral treatments and calibration strategies were investigated to obtain calibration models that allow determinations with satisfactory accuracy and precision of Cr, Cu, and Ni in river sediments from different hydrographic basins. The best model developed for Cr was using MMC without spectral normalization and for Cu and Ni it was using MMC with spectral normalization, and using inverse regression, an increase in the accuracy of the determinations of all analytes was obtained. These models showed limit of quantification (LOQ) of 7.87 mg kg-1, 1.62 mg kg-1, and 2.21 mg kg-1 and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 7.54 mg kg-1, 14.53 mg kg-1, and 8.29 mg kg-1 for Cr, Cu, and Ni, respectively. Therefore, the models have adequate sensitivity and precision for the quantification of the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) evaluated, since, according to Brazilian legislation, the lower concentration of threshold effect level (TEL) for Cr, Cu, and Ni is <37.3 mg kg-1, <35.7 mg kg-1, and <18 mg kg-1, respectively. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Ni determined by DP LIBS allowed to obtain a partial ecological risk assessment of the studied sediments. Also, the chemometric tool Kohonen self-organizing map (KSOM) were used for data interpretation.

Non-invasive quantification of vitamin C, citric acid, and sugar in 'Valência' oranges using infrared spectroscopies.

Near (NIR) and mid (MIR) infrared spectroscopies have been studied as potential methods for non-destructive analyses of the fresh fruits quality. In this study, vitamin C, citric acid, total and reducing sugar content in 'Valência' oranges were evaluated using NIR and MIR spectroscopy with multivariate analysis. The spectral data were used to build up prediction models based on PLS (Partial Least Squares) regression. For vitamin C and citric acid, both NIR (r = 0.72 and 0.77, respectively) and MIR (0.81 and 0.91, respectively) resulted in feasible models. For sugars determination the two techniques presented a strong correlation between the reference values and analytical signals, with low RMSEP and r > 0.70 (NIR: sucrose RMSEP = 12.2 and r = 0.75; glucose RMSEP = 6.77 and r = 0.82; fructose RMSEP = 5.07 and r = 0.81; total sugar RMSEP = 12.1 and r = 0.80; reducing sugar RMSEP = 20.32 and r = 0.82; MIR: sucrose RMSEP = 9.47 and r = 0.80; glucose RMSEP = 6.70 and r = 0.82; fructose RMSEP = 5.20 and r = 0.81; total sugar RMSEP = 11.72 and r = 0.81; reducing sugar RMSEP = 20.42 and r = 0.81). The models developed with MIR presented lower prediction error rates than those made with NIR. Therefore, infrared techniques show applicability to determine of orange quality parameters in a non-destructive way.

Corn and cassava starch with carboxymethyl cellulose films and its mechanical and hydrophobic properties.

The amylose and amylopectin content of starch influences its functional characteristics and its interaction with other materials. Thus, it is important to study the mechanical strength and hydrophilicity of starch films of different botanical origins to elucidate the influence of their constituents in the interaction with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The objective of this work was to evaluate the mechanical and physico-chemical properties of corn and cassava starch films and their blends with CMC by casting. The addition of CMC improved the tensile, increasing the strength at 206% for its blends with corn starch and 51% for its blends with cassava starch, the rupture stress at 89% and 74%, respectively, and the rupture strain at 381% and 57%, respectively. The elastic modulus presented increase of 20% for corn starch/CMC and 18% for cassava starch/CMC and the water vapor permeability at 48 and 40%, respectively. The corn starch film was more hydrophobic due to its higher amylose content, which contributed to the interaction between starch and glycerol OH groups and CMC COOH groups. This interaction was evidenced by FTIR and contact angle analysis, turning corn starch/CMC films into less hydrophilic material and reducing its water vapor permeability rate, which made this material promising for several applications, including food packaging.

Cuidar e ser cuidado pelo grupo de apoio protege / Caring and being cared by the protege support group / Cuidado y ser el grupo de apoyo para el cuidado protege

Sabendo-se da importância do cuidador e dos cuidados que este necessita, foi criado, na Unidade de Cuidados Paliativos Oncológicos de Barretos, o Grupo de Apoio aos Cuidadores PROTEGE. Essa pesquisa tem por fim descrever a experiência e importância desse grupo a partir dos relatos dos cuidadores. Utilizou-se o método descritivo-qualitativo na coleta e análise dos dados. Os sujeitos foram 18 cuidadores de pacientes internados na Unidade de Cuidados Paliativos/Dor do Hospital de Câncer de Barretos que compareceram no grupo durante o período de internação do paciente. Os dados foram coletados em abril e junho de 2008, utilizando-se uma pergunta aberta. O grupo foi importante para os cuidadores, os quais se sentiram acolhidos e puderam adotar estratégias para prevenir estresses e desgastes. Visualizamos as dificuldades, rupturas e transformações pelas quais passam os cuidadores e que poderiam ser amenizadas quando acolhidas, compreendidas e ajustadas.

Knowing the importance of the caregivers and the care they need, the Support Group for Caregivers PROTEGE was created in the Oncological Palliative Care Unit of Barretos. This research aims to describe the experience and importance of this group from caregivers’ reports. We made use of the descriptive-qualitative method for collecting and analyzing data. The subjects were 18 caregivers of patients admitted to the Palliative Care/Pain Unit in Barretos. Those subjects attended the group during the hospitalization of the patients. The data was collected in April and June 2008, using an open question. The group was important for caregivers, since they felt welcomed and were able to adopt strategies to prevent stress and distress. We visualized the difficulties and transformations which the caregivers go through and situations that could be soothed when they are accepted, understood and adjusted.

Conocer la importancia del cuidador y el cuidado que necesitan, se creó en la Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos de Oncología Barretos, el Grupo de Apoyo a los Cuidadores PROTEGE. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo describir la experiencia y la importancia de este grupo de los informes de los cuidadores. Se utilizó el método descriptivo-cualitativo para la recogida y análisis de datos. Los sujetos fueron 18 cuidadores de pacientes ingresados en Cuidados Paliativos del Dolor del Hospital del Cáncer de Barretos, quien asistió al grupo durante la hospitalización del paciente. Los datos fueron recolectados en abril y junio de 2008, mediante una pregunta abierta. El grupo fue importante para los cuidadores, ya que se sienten acogidos y fueron capaces de adoptar estrategias para evitar tensiones y deformaciones. Visualizar las dificultades, trastornos y transformaciones que a los médicos que podría atenuarse cuando se reciben, comprendido y ajustado.

Cuidar e ser cuidado pelo grupo de apoio protege / Caring and being cared by the protege support group / Cuidado y ser el grupo de apoyo para el cuidado protege

Sabendo-se da importância do cuidador e dos cuidados que este necessita, foi criado, na Unidade de Cuidados Paliativos Oncológicos de Barretos, o Grupo de Apoio aos Cuidadores PROTEGE. Essa pesquisa tem por fim descrever a experiência e importância desse grupo a partir dos relatos dos cuidadores. Utilizou-se o método descritivo-qualitativo na coleta e análise dos dados. Os sujeitos foram 18 cuidadores de pacientes internados na Unidade de Cuidados Paliativos/Dor do Hospital de Câncer de Barretos que compareceram no grupo durante o período de internação do paciente. Os dados foram coletados em abril e junho de 2008, utilizando-se uma pergunta aberta. O grupo foi importante para os cuidadores, os quais se sentiram acolhidos e puderam adotar estratégias para prevenir estresses e desgastes. Visualizamos as dificuldades, rupturas e transformações pelas quais passam os cuidadores e que poderiam ser amenizadas quando acolhidas, compreendidas e ajustadas.(AU)

Knowing the importance of the caregivers and the care they need, the Support Group for Caregivers PROTEGE was created in the Oncological Palliative Care Unit of Barretos. This research aims to describe the experience and importance of this group from caregivers’ reports. We made use of the descriptive-qualitative method for collecting and analyzing data. The subjects were 18 caregivers of patients admitted to the Palliative Care/Pain Unit in Barretos. Those subjects attended the group during the hospitalization of the patients. The data was collected in April and June 2008, using an open question. The group was important for caregivers, since they felt welcomed and were able to adopt strategies to prevent stress and distress. We visualized the difficulties and transformations which the caregivers go through and situations that could be soothed when they are accepted, understood and adjusted.(AU)

Conocer la importancia del cuidador y el cuidado que necesitan, se creó en la Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos de Oncología Barretos, el Grupo de Apoyo a los Cuidadores PROTEGE. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo describir la experiencia y la importancia de este grupo de los informes de los cuidadores. Se utilizó el método descriptivo-cualitativo para la recogida y análisis de datos. Los sujetos fueron 18 cuidadores de pacientes ingresados en Cuidados Paliativos del Dolor del Hospital del Cáncer de Barretos, quien asistió al grupo durante la hospitalización del paciente. Los datos fueron recolectados en abril y junio de 2008, mediante una pregunta abierta. El grupo fue importante para los cuidadores, ya que se sienten acogidos y fueron capaces de adoptar estrategias para evitar tensiones y deformaciones. Visualizar las dificultades, trastornos y transformaciones que a los médicos que podría atenuarse cuando se reciben, comprendido y ajustado.(AU)