Temperature and atmospheric pressure may be considered as predictors for the occurrence of bacillary dysentery in Guangzhou, Southern China

Introduction The control of bacillary dysentery (BD) remains a big challenge for China. Methods Negative binomial multivariable regression was used to study relationships between meteorological variables and the occurrence of BD during the period of 2006-2012. Results Each 1°C rise of temperature corresponded to an increase of 3.60% (95%CI, 3.03% to 4.18%) in the monthly number of BD cases, whereas a 1 hPa rise in atmospheric pressure corresponded to a decrease in the number of BD cases by 2.85% (95%CI = 3.34% to 2.37% decrease). Conclusions Temperature and atmospheric pressure may be considered as predictors for the occurrence of BD in Guangzhou.

Venomous and poisonous arthropods: identification, clinical manifestations of envenomation, and treatments used in human injuries

Abstract This review presents the main species of venomous and poisonous arthropods, with commentary on the clinical manifestations provoked by the toxins and therapeutic measures used to treat human envenomations. The groups of arthopods discussed include the class Arachnida (spiders and scorpions, which are responsible for many injuries reported worldwide, including Brazil); the subphylum Myriapoda, with the classes Chilopoda and Diplopoda (centipedes and millipedes); and the subphylum Hexapoda, with the class Insecta and the orders Coleoptera (beetles), Hemiptera (stink bugs, giant water bugs, and cicadas), Hymenoptera (ants, wasps, and bees), and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).

Relationship between plasma creatinine concentration and glomerular filtration in preterm newborn infants

Fluid management and dosage regimens of drugs in preterm infants should be based on the glomerular filtration rate. The current methods to determine glomerular flitration rate are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive. In contrast, creatinine clearance can be easy obtained and quickly determined. The purpose of this study was to compare plasma creatinine on the third and seventh day of life in preterm newborn infants, to evaluate the influence of maternal creatinine, and to demonstrate creatinine clearance can be used as a reliable indicator of glomerular filtration rate. We developed a prospective study (1994) including 40 preterm newborns (gestational age < 37 weeks), average = 34 weeks; birth weight (average) = 1840 g, in the first week of life. Inclusion criteria consisted of: absence of renal and urinary tract anomalies; O2 saturation 3 92%; adequate urine output (>1ml/kg/hr); normal blood pressure; absence of infections and no sympathomimetic amines in use. A blood sample was collected to determine plasma creatinine (enzymatic method) on the third and seventh day of life and creatinine clearance (CrCl) was obtained using the following equation: , k = 0.33 in preterm infant All plasma creatinine determinations showed normal values [third day: 0.78 mg/dl ± 0.24 (mean ± SD)and seventh day: 0.67 mg/dl ± 0.31 - (p>0.05)]. Also all creatinine clearance at third and seventh day of life were normal [third day: 19.5 ml/min ± 5.2 (mean ± SD) and seventh day: 23.8 ml/min ± 7.3 - (p>0,05)]. All preterm infants developed adequate renal function for their respective gestational age. In summary, our results indicate that, for clinical practice, the creatinine clearance, using newborn length, can be used to estimate glomerular filtration rate in preterm newborn infants.

Plasma nitriding of AA2011 alloy and surface characterization by NDT techniques

Al-Cu alloys are widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their high specific strength in some tempered conditions. However, due to poor corrosion and wear resistance, they are often anodized and/or painted. Plasma nitriding has been proposed as an alternative, though the developments in this technique are still in a recent stage for Al alloys. Electrical characterization techniques are well implemented NDTs in the industry because of good accuracy associated with lower cost, compared to other methods. Some, like eddy currents and 4-point probe techniques, are often used in coating inspection. The objective of this study was to perform Al nitriding at low temperatures to minimize the tempering initial condition damage and to assess the feasibility of eddy currents technique as a method for evaluating surface properties. The work developed can be divided in two stages. The first one was the process tuning, done at the Shibaura Institute of Technology, in Tokyo; and the second was the electrical characterization done in Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNL. Low temperature nitriding of AA2011 alloy specimens was successfully achieved. Electrical conductivity results show that lift-off measurements by eddy currents testing can be related to surface properties.

Sodium chloride added to transport water and physiological responses of Matrinxã Brycon amazonicus (Teleost: Characidae)

The addition of salt to the water has been used to mitigate stress and improve survival in fishes. This study investigated the effects of sodium chloride (0.0, 1.0, 3.0 and 6.0 g/l) on levels of plasma cortisol, glucose, tryacilglycerol, total protein, hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocyte number, liver glycogen and lipid, and muscle lipid in adult matrinxã(Brycon amazonicum) after a 4-h transport and during a 96-h recovery period. Fish were sampled before and after transport, and 24 and 96 h of the recovery period. Plasma cortisol was higher than initial condition immediately after transportation, except in fish transported in 3.0 and 6.0 g/l of salt. A similar pattern was observed for blood glucose but fish transported in water with 0.0, 1.0 and 3.0 g/l of salt needed more than 24 h to return to the initial condition. Liver glycogen was lower after transport in fish not exposed to salt. Hemoglobin, erythrocyte number, total plasma protein and liver lipid did not change during the experiment but hematocrit was lower after transport in all treatments and returned to pre-transport values in 24 h. Reductions of muscle lipid and plasma tryacilglycerol were observed during the recovery period in fish from all treatments. The results show that 6.0 g/l NaCl added to the transport water reduce the stress responses and a 96-h recovery period is needed if no salt is used to mitigate the stress.

Degradation of all-inkjet-printed organic thin-film transistors with TIPS-pentacene under processes applied in textile manufacturing

Printed electronics represent an alternative solution for the manufacturing of low-temperature and large area flexible electronics. The use of inkjet printing is showing major advantages when compared to other established printing technologies such as, gravure, screen or offset printing, allowing the reduction of manufacturing costs due to its efficient material usage and the direct-writing approach without requirement of any masks. However, several technological restrictions for printed electronics can hinder its application potential, e.g. the device stability under atmospheric or even more stringent conditions. Here, we study the influence of specific mechanical, chemical, and temperature treatments usually appearing in manufacturing processes for textiles on the electrical performance of all-inkjet-printed organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). Therefore, OTFTs where manufactured with silver electrodes, a UV curable dielectric, and 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentance (TIPS-pentacene) as the active semiconductor layer. All the layers were deposited using inkjet printing. After electrical characterization of the printed OTFTs, a simple encapsulation method was applied followed by the degradation study allowing a comparison of the electrical performance of treated and not treated OTFTs. Industrial calendering, dyeing, washing and stentering were selected as typical textile processes and treatment methods for the printed OTFTs. It is shown that the all-inkjet-printed OTFTs fabricated in this work are functional after their submission to the textiles processes but with degradation in the electrical performance, exhibiting higher degradation in the OTFTs with shorter channel lengths (L=10 μm).

Influence of oxygen plasma treatment parameters on poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun fiber mats wettability

Electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) fiber mats find applications in an increasing number of areas, such as battery separators, filtration and detection membranes, due to their excellent properties. However, there are limitations due to the hydrophobic nature and low surface energy of PVDF. In this work, oxygen plasma treatment has been applied in order to modify the surface wettability of PVDF fiber mats and superhydrophilic PVDF electrospun membranes have been obtained. Further, plasma treatment does not significantly influences fiber average size (~400 ± 200 nm), morphology, electroactive -phase content (~80-85%) or the degree of crystallinity (Xc of 42 ± 2%), allowing to maintain the excellent physical-chemical characteristics of PVDF. Plasma treatment mainly induces surface chemistry modifications, such as the introduction of oxygen and release of fluorine atoms that significantly changes polymer membrane wettability by a reduction of the contact angle of the polymer fibers and an overall decrease of the surface tension of the membranes.

Erratum: Influence of oxygen plasma treatment parameters on poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun fiber mats wettability

Electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) fiber mats find applications in an increasing number of areas, such as battery separators, filtration and detection membranes, due to their excellent properties. However, there are limitations due to the hydrophobic nature and low surface energy of PVDF. In this work, oxygen plasma treatment has been applied in order to modify the surface wettability of PVDF fiber mats and superhydrophilic PVDF electrospun membranes have been obtained. Further, plasma treatment does not significantly influences fiber average size (~400 ± 200 nm), morphology, electroactive -phase content (~80-85%) or the degree of crystallinity (Xc of 42 ± 2%), allowing to maintain the excellent physical-chemical characteristics of PVDF. Plasma treatment mainly induces surface chemistry modifications, such as the introduction of oxygen and release of fluorine atoms that significantly changes polymer membrane wettability by a reduction of the contact angle of the polymer fibers and an overall decrease of the surface tension of the membranes.

Antibacterial properties of fibrous stents coated with silver oxide nanocoatings

Stents are rigid and perforated tubular structures, which are inserted into blood vessels in order to prevent or inhibit the constriction of blood flow, restoring the normal blood flow, when blood vessels are clogged, being used in 70% of angioplasties. These medical devices assume great importance in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) which are the leading cause of death worldwide. In the European Union CVD account for 40% of deaths and assume an estimated annual cost of 196 billion euros[1]. Stents must possess certain requirements, in order to, adequately, perform its function, such as biocompatibility (so that its use does not c ause damage on the health of its user), mechanical strength, radiopacity (so that it is easy to view), longitudinal flexibility, ease of handling, corrosion resistance and having high strength and high radial expansion ability to recover. Stents can be made of different materials, but metals, particularly stainless steel, are the most common. However, metallic stents present several dRawbacks such as corrosion and restenosis, leading to health complications for the patient, or even death. In order to minimize these disadvantages, new materials, like fibrous materials, have been used [2]. Monofilaments present high potential for stents development because, in addition to its biocompatibility, these materials allow the application of various surface treatments, such as antibacterial coatings. Furthermore, monofilament exhibit excellent mechanical properties, like greater stiffness and good results when subjected to compression, tensile and bending forces, since these forces will be directly supported by the monofilament [3]. To minimize the reaction of the human body and Limit the adhesion of microorganisms to the stent surface, some coatings have been developed, including the use of novel metals with antimicrobial properties, like silver. The main objective of this study was the development of fibrous stents, incorporation of silver oxide nanocoating. For the development of the stent, polyester monofilaments with 0.27mm of diameter were used in braiding technology, with a mandrel diameter of 6mm and a braiding angle of 35⁰. The mechanical behaviour of the stent were evaluated by mechanical testing under longitudinal and radial compression, bending. The results of compressive strength tests are according with value from literature: 1.13 to 2.9 N for radial compression and 0. 16-5.28N to longitudinal compression. From literature is also possible to verify that stents must present 75% of unchanged diameter during the bending test and must possess a porosity between 70% and 80% [4]. The produced polyester stent presents values of 1.29N for radial compression, 0.23N for longitudinal compression, 80% of porosity and 85.5% of unchanged diameter, during bending tests. For the antibacterial functionalization, silver oxide nanocoatings were prepared, through reactive magnetron g, with an Ag target in an Ar +O2 atmosphere. In order to evaluate the nanostructure and morphology of the coatings, d ifferent technique s like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and and X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS were used. From the analyses of XRD it is possible to verify that the peaks corresponds to planes of Ag2 O and MATERIAIS 2015 Porto, 21-23 June, 2015 characterize a cubic phase. The presence of Ag2 O is corroborated by XPS spectrum, where it is possible to observe silver, not only, in oxide state, but a lso in mettalic state, and it is possible to verify the presence of silver clusters, confirmed by SEM analysis. Films’ roughness and topography, parameters influencing the wettability of the surface and microorganism adhesion, were measured by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and it was observed that the roughness is very low (under 10 nm). Coatings’ hydrophobicity and surface tension parameters were determined by contact angle measurement, and it was verified the hydrophobic behavior of the coatings. For antibacterial tests were used Staphylococcus epidermidis strain (IE186) and Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 6538), and halo inhibition zone tests were realized. Ag+release rates were studied by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP -MS). The obtained results suggest that silver oxide coatings do not modify significantly surface properties of the substrate, like hydrophobicity and roughness, and present antimicrobial properties for both bacteria used.

The mediator role of psychological morbidity in patients with chronic low back pain in differentiated treatments

This study analyzed the mediating role of psychological morbidity and the variables that discriminated low versus high disability, in patients receiving physiotherapy and acupuncture. A total of 203 patients answered measures of illness and medication representations, coping, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and functional disability. Morbidity was a mediator between functional disability and quality of life. Treatment consequences and quality of life, in the acupuncture group, and emotional representations, quality of life, depression, anxiety, and active strategies for pain relief, in the physiotherapy group, discriminated patients with low versus high disability. These results have important implications for identifying high-risk patients.

O estudo da aplicação de acabamentos funcionais de barreira UV em fibras previamente ativadas por plasma

Tese de Doutoramento Engenharia Têxtil

Enzymatic treatments to improve mechanical properties and surface hydrophobicity of jute fiber membranes

Fiber membranes prepared from jute fragments can be valuable, low cost, and renewable. They have broad application prospects in packing bags, geotextiles, filters, and composite reinforcements. Traditionally, chemical adhesives have been used to improve the properties of jute fiber membranes. A series of new laccase, laccase/mediator systems, and multi-enzyme synergisms were attempted. After the laccase treatment of jute fragments, the mechanical properties and surface hydrophobicity of the produced fiber membranes increased because of the cross-coupling of lignins with ether bonds mediated by laccase. The optimum conditions were a buffer pH of 4.5 and an incubation temperature of 60 °C with 0.92 U/mL laccase for 3 h. Laccase/guaiacol and laccase/alkali lignin treatments resulted in remarkable increases in the mechanical properties; in contrast, the laccase/2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and laccase/2,6-dimethoxyphenol treatments led to a decrease. The laccase/ guaiacol system was favorable to the surface hydrophobicity of jute fiber membranes. However, the laccase/alkali lignin system had the opposite effect. Xylanase/laccase and cellulase/laccase combined treatments were able to enhance both the mechanical properties and the surface hydrophobicity of jute fiber membranes. Among these, cellulase/laccase treatment performed better; compared to mechanical properties, the surface hydrophobicity of the jute fiber membranes showed only a slight increase after the enzymatic multi-step processes.

Analytical evaluation of fining treatments for white wines contaminated by Ochratoxin A

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain molds. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most relevant. Its chemical structure is a dihydro-isocoumarin connected at the 7-carboxy group to a molecule of L--phenylalanine via an amide bond. OTA in wine is a risk to consumer health [1]. According to the Regulation No. 123/2005 of the European Commission, the maximum limit for OTA in wine is 2 µg/kg [2]. Then, it is important to control its occurrence. So, the aim of this work was to know the effect of different fining agents on OTA removal from white wine.

Plasma levels of immunoinflammatory markers in De Novo coronary atherosclerosis and coronary restenosis postangioplasty

OBJECTIVE: To compare circulating plasma levels of immunoinflammatory markers in patients with known de novo coronary artery disease and patients with postangioplasty restenosis. METHODS: Using enzymatic immunoabsorbent assay, we measured plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptosr, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and soluble tumor necrosis alpha receptors I and II in 11 patients with restenosis postcoronary angioplasty (restenosis group), in 10 patients with primary atherosclerosis (de novo group) who were referred for coronary angiography because of stable or unstable angina, and in 9 healthy volunteers (control group). Levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors were significantly higher in the de novo group compared with that in the restenosis and control groups. Levels were also higher in the restenosis group compared with that in the control group. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis alpha and receptor levels were significantly higher in the de novo group compared to with that in the restenosis and control groups, but levels in the restenosis group were not different from that in the controls. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery disease, either primary or secondary to restenosis, is associated with significant immunoinflammatory activity, which can be assessed by examining the extent of circulating plasma levels of inflammatory markers. Moreover, patients with de novo lesions appear to have increased inflammatory activity compared with patients with restenosis.

Analysis of Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Patients with Unstable Angina

OBJECTIVE - To determine the prevalence of hyperhomocystinemia in patients with acute ischemic syndrome of the unstable angina type. METHODS - We prospectively studied 46 patients (24 females) with unstable angina and 46 control patients (19 males), paired by sex and age, blinded to the laboratory data. Details of diets, smoking habits, medication used, body mass index, and the presence of hypertension and diabetes were recorded, as were plasma lipid and glucose levels, C-reactive protein, and lipoperoxidation in all participants. Patients with renal disease were excluded. Plasma homocysteine was estimated using high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS - Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the group of patients with unstable angina (12.7±6.7 µmol/L) than in the control group (8.7±4.4 µmol/L) (p<0.05). Among males, homocystinemia was higher in the group with unstable angina than in the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (14.1±5.9 µmol/L versus 11.9±4.2 µmol/L). Among females, however, a statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups: 11.0±7.4 µmol/L versus 6.4±2.9 µmol/L (p<0.05) in the unstable angina and control groups, respectively. Approximately 24% of the patients had unstable angina at homocysteine levels above 15 µmol/L. CONCLUSION - High homocysteine levels seem to be a relevant prevalent factor in the population with unstable angina, particularly among females.