Migration of Tinuvin P, a UV stabilizer, from PET bottles into fatty-food simulants

Tinuvin P migration from Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) bottles was investigated using several fatty-food simulants such as olive oil, soybean oil, n-heptane and iso-octane, at exposure conditions of 2-10 days at 40 degrees C (total immersion). The stability of several UV stabilizers (BHT, Cyasorb UV 5411, Tinuvin P, Tinuvin 326 and Tinuvin 327) in n-heptane and iso-octane was also studied. After 10 days at 40 degrees C, losses of 6% and 20% in iso-octane and n-heptane respectively, were verified for Tinuvin P. Other UV stabilizers at the same experimental conditions showed higher losses (up to 30% for Tinuvin 327). These results confirm that, when carrying out specific migration studies, the stability of the substance of interest should be established in the food simulant to avoid underestimating the real migration behaviour. In order to quantify UV stabilizer migration, n-heptane and iso-octane solutions were concentrated and directly analysed by SIM mode GC-MS. For olive and soybean oils, Tinuvin P was isolated using size-exclusion chromatography and quantified by SIM mode GC-MS. Iso-octane proved to be a move suitable fatty-food simulant than n-heptane for the migration study of Tinuvin P from PET. Higher levels of Tinuvin P migrated to olive and soybean oils rather than to n-heptane. These results suggest that the MERCOSUL recommended official methods for specific migration studies should be revised since the migration levels using n-heptane as a fatty-food simulant could be underestimated when compared to edible oils. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Efeitos da história térmica nas propriedades do polímero pet: um experimento para ensino de análise térmica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

PET containers in Brazil: Opportunities and challenges of a logistics model for post-consumer waste recycling

The use of post-consumer materials is directly related to reducing the cost of production and extraction of natural resources. Non-recyclable materials are randomly disposed in the environment. Brazil is one of the largest consumers of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles. The purpose of this paper is to describe the opportunities and challenges of the logistics model for post-consumer PET bottle recycling in Brazil, while providing knowledge of its practices along the recycling chain. The results describe the need to educate those directly and indirectly involved in the process: to reduce consumption in order to reduce the amount of waste generated: to structure the post-consumer reverse chain and engage industrial sectors and government, through public policies, to support cleaner technologies along the PET bottle production chain. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Treatment of PET and PU polymers by atmospheric pressure plasma generated in dielectric barrier discharge in air

Plasma treatments are frequently employed to modify surface properties of materials such as adhesivity, hydrophobicity, oleophobicity etc. Present work deals with surface modification of common commercial polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane (PU) by an air dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure. The DBD treatment was performed in a plain reactor in wire-duct geometry (non-uniform field reactor), which was driven by a 60 Hz power supply. Material characterization was carried out by water contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The plasma-induced modifications are associated with incorporation of polar oxygen and nitrogen containing groups on the polymer surface. The AFM analysis reveals that the plasma treatment roughens the material surface. Due to these structural and morphological changes the surface of DBD-treated polymers becomes more hydrophilic resulting in enhanced adhesion properties. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Image analysis of modified cellulose fibers from sugarcane bagasse by zirconium oxychloride

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut husk fibers: Effect of preparation conditions on their thermal and morphological behavior

Cellulose nanowhiskers were prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis from coconut husk fibers which had previously been submitted to a delignification process. The effects of preparation conditions on the thermal and morphological behavior of the nanocrystals were investigated. Cellulose nanowhisker suspensions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that it was possible to obtain ultrathin cellulose nanowhiskers with diameters as low as 5 nm and aspect ratio of up to 60. A possible correlation between preparation conditions and particle size was not observed. Higher residual lignin content was found to increase thermal stability indicating that by controlling reaction conditions one can tailor the thermal properties of the nanowhiskers. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

PET-saúde na percepção de estudantes: contribuições para a formação na área de saúde

This dissertation aimed to analyze the perception of students about (EPW Health) Education Program at Work for Health Training in the area of Health. It discusses the proposed theme from the perception of students graduating from the EPW- Health courses participants (dentistry, medicine, physiotherapy, nursing, nutrition, physical education) who have developed their school activities in family health units in the city of João Pessoa between 2009/2011.The program aims policies curricular changes as a potential route of contributions to training in healthcare. Attention is drawn to the new possibilities of working health training contextualized, ethically grounded, socially endorsed. It is pointed out in this process the need to adapt to the demands of professional profiles of SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde). This is an exploratory, descriptive study within a qualitative approach, conducted in the city of João Pessoa in the context of health care courses at the Federal University of Paraiba. The empirical material of this study was treated by the use of technical analysis "Categorical Content Theme" by Bardin. The results indicate prospects for promoting new practices and curricular changes, which highlights the EPW- Health, which has been presenting important experiences in teaching -community -service- with the inclusion of students in the municipal health network. We conclude that the path from collection to data analysis, corroborated with the literature to reaffirm the importance and urgency of change in educational processes with a view to greater proximity to the health needs and the SUS. The EPW- Health project is incipient and requires further investigation in terms of effective interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary character of its proposal

THE EFFECT of E-GLASS FIBERS and ACRYLIC RESIN THICKNESS on FRACTURE LOAD IN A SIMULATED IMPLANT-SUPPORTED OVERDENTURE PROSTHESIS

Statement of problem. Implant overdenture prostheses are prone to acrylic resin fracture because of space limitations around the implant overdenture components.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of E-glass fibers and acrylic resin thickness in resisting acrylic resin fracture around a simulated overdenture abutment.Material and methods. A model was developed to simulate the clinical situation of an implant overdenture abutment with varying acrylic resin thickness (1.5 or 3.0 mm) with or without E-glass fiber reinforcement. Forty-eight specimens with an underlying simulated abutment were divided into 4 groups (n=12): 1.5 mm acrylic resin without E-glass fibers identified as thin with no E-glass fiber mesh (TN-N); 1.5 mm acrylic resin with E-glass fibers identified as thin with E-glass fiber mesh (TN-F); 3.0 mm acrylic resin without E-glass fibers identified as thick without E-glass fiber mesh (TK-N); and 3.0 mm acrylic resin with E-glass fibers identified as thick with E-glass fiber mesh (TK-F). All specimens were submitted to a 3-point bending test and fracture loads (N) were analyzed with a 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (alpha=.05).Results. The results revealed significant differences in fracture load among the 4 groups, with significant effects from both thickness (P<.001) and inclusion of the mesh (P<.001). Results demonstrated no interaction between mesh and thickness (P=.690). The TN-N: 39 +/- 5 N; TN-F: 50 +/- 6.9 N; TK-N: 162 +/- 13 N; and TK-F: 193 +/- 21 N groups were all statistically different (P<.001).Conclusions. The fracture load of a processed, acrylic resin implant-supported overdenture can be significantly increased by the addition of E-glass fibers even when using thin acrylic resin sections. on a relative basis, the increase in fracture load was similar when adding E-glass fibers or increasing acrylic resin thickness. (J Prosthet Dent 2011;106:373-377)

EFFECTS of CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING RESISTANCE TRAINING on MYOSIN HEAVY CHAIN (MHC) EXPRESSION IN RAT SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Doxazosin Treatment Alters Stromal Cell Behavior and Increases Elastic System Fibers Deposition in Rat Prostate

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The influence of UV-C irradiation on the properties of thermoplastic starch and polycaprolactone biocomposite with sisal bleached fibers

The effect of UV-C irradiation of the TPS and PCL biocomposites with sisal bleached fibers was investigated. The biocomposite was UV-C irradiated at room temperature under air atmosphere. The structural and morphological changes produced when the films were exposed to UV irradiation for 142 h, were monitored using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Mechanical Tensile Tests, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infra-red analysis (FTIR). Addition of 5-10% fibers in composites exhibited improved mechanical and thermal properties attributed to more efficient dispersibility of fiber in the matrix and good compatibility between fibers and the matrix polymer, however, after irradiated, the tensile properties decreased due to chain scission. The samples of irradiated PCL and IFS showed crystallinity increase, whereas the blend and composites showed a decrease in crystallinity. The DSC and X-ray diffraction studies suggested interaction between polymers in the blend via carboxyl groups in thermoplastic starch-PCL and hydroxyl groups in fibers. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Carbon dioxide formation during initial stages of photodegradation of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) films

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphological changes in distant muscle fibers following thermal injury in Wistar rats

Purpose: Thermal injury causes catabolic processes as the body attempts to repair the damaged area. This study evaluated the effects of a scald injury on the morphology of muscle fibers belonging to a muscle distant from the lesion. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into control (C) and scalded (S) groups. Group S was scalded over 45% of the body surface, standardized by body weight. Rats in both groups were euthanized at four, seven and 14 days following the injury. The middle portions of the medial gastrocnemius muscles were sectioned, stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Picrosirius, and submitted to histological analysis. Results: Control group sections exhibited equidistantly distributed polygonal muscle fibers with peripheral nuclei, characteristic of normal muscle. The injured group sections did not consistently show these characteristics; many fibers in these sections exhibited a rounded contour, variable stain intensities, and greater interfiber distances. A substantially increased amount of connective tissue was also observed on the injured group sections. Conclusion: This experimental model found a morphological change in muscle distant from the site of thermal injury covering 45% of the body surface.

Differential distribution of some extracellular matrix fibers in an experimentally denervated rat megaileum

Absence of enteric neurons is associated with thickening of the intestinal muscularis externa in Chagas' disease. The thickening is due to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells and increased extracellular matrix components. The influence of the nervous system on the structure of the smooth muscle cells and its associated matrix has been poorly investigated. An experimental model of denervation of the ileum in rats was performed by application of the surfactant agent benzalkonium chloride that selectively destroys the myenteric plexus. Three months later, ileal tissue samples were obtained and studied by histochemistry and transmission electron microsocopy. Sham operated rats were used as controls. The diameter of collagen fibrils was evaluated in electron micrographs. The histopathological analysis showed thickening of the muscular layer. The thin and weakly arranged collagen and reticulin fibers surrounding the smooth muscle cells, observed in control cases by Picrosirius polarization (PSP) stain method, corresponded to a population of loosely packed thin collagen fibrils of uniform diameters (mean = 29.16 nm) at the ultrastructural level. In contrast, the thick and strongly birefringent fibers around the muscle cells, observed in the treated group, stained by PSP, corresponded to densely packed thicker fibrils with large variation in diameter (mean = 39.41 nm). Comparison of the data demonstrated statistically significant difference between the groups suggesting that the replacement of loosely arranged reticulin fibers by fibrous tissue (with typical collagen fiber), may alter the biomechanical function resulting in impairment of muscular contraction. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.