Estudo do equilíbrio líquido-vapor do sistema água+etanol+líquido iônico visando a separação do álcool anidro

Anhydrous ethanol is used in chemical, pharmaceutical and fuel industries. However, current processes for obtaining it involve high cost, high energy demand and use of toxic and pollutant solvents. This problem occurs due to the formation of an azeotropic mixture of ethanol + water, which does not allow the complete separation by conventional methods such as simple distillation. As an alternative to currently used processes, this study proposes the use of ionic liquids as solvents in extractive distillation. These are organic salts which are liquids at low temperatures (under 373,15 K). They exhibit characteristics such as low volatility (almost zero/ low vapor ), thermal stability and low corrosiveness, which make them interesting for applications such as catalysts and as entrainers. In this work, experimental data for the vapor pressure of pure ethanol and water in the pressure range of 20 to 101 kPa were obtained as well as for vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) of the system ethanol + water at atmospheric pressure; and equilibrium data of ethanol + water + 2-HDEAA (2- hydroxydiethanolamine acetate) at strategic points in the diagram. The device used for these experiments was the Fischer ebulliometer, together with density measurements to determine phase compositions. The experimental data were consistent with literature data and presented thermodynamic consistency, thus the methodology was properly validated. The results were favorable, with the increase of ethanol concentration in the vapor phase, but the increase was not shown to be pronounced. The predictive model COSMO-SAC (COnductor-like Screening MOdels Segment Activity Coefficient) proposed by Lin & Sandler (2002) was studied for calculations to predict vapor-liquid equilibrium of systems ethanol + water + ionic liquids at atmospheric pressure. This is an alternative for predicting phase equilibrium, especially for substances of recent interest, such as ionic liquids. This is so because no experimental data nor any parameters of functional groups (as in the UNIFAC method) are needed

Inferência filogenética revela a complexa etiologia das manchas areolada e foliar em seringueira e em outras espécies cultivadas na Amazônia

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

O Brasil no contexto de controle de qualidade de plantas medicinais

Atualmente, as plantas medicinais movem altos valores financeiros em todo o mundo e representam o tipo de tratamento mais acessível para cerca de 80% da população, principalmente entre os países em desenvolvimento. Entretanto, existe ainda uma falta de conhecimento sobre propriedades químicas, farmacológicas e toxicológicas a fim de assegurar a eficácia e segurança das plantas medicinais. Os critérios de eficácia e segurança de plantas medicinais estão relacionados a qualidade, isto é, as plantas necessitam ser corretamente identificadas, cultivadas e coletadas, devem estar livres de material estranho, partes de outras plantas e contaminações inorgânicas e/ou microbianas. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de elucidar os diferentes processos e padronizações sobre o controle de drogas vegetais, principalmente no Brasil.

Prevalência e susceptibilidade de leveduras vaginais

Entre as vulvovaginites, a candidíase é apontada como a causa mais freqüente em mulheres na idade fértil. Atualmente, várias pesquisas mostram aumento na freqüência das espécies não-albicans e grande preocupação com episódios de repetição, assim como sua relação com a resistência ao tratamento. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar a distribuição de gêneros e espécies de leveduras causadoras de vaginite e analisar o perfil de sensibilidade das leveduras frente às drogas antifúngicas. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram colhidas amostras de fluido vaginal de 250 pacientes para cultura, realizados identificação e antifungigrama dos isolados. RESULTADOS: Leveduras do gênero Candida estavam presentes em 27,6% das amostras. Candida albicans foi a levedura mais isolada em 74% dos casos, seguida de Candida glabrata, em 14,5%; Candida tropicalis, em 7,3%; e Candida parapsilosis, em 4,3%. Todos os isolados Candida albicans foram sensíveis à anfotericina B, e apenas um isolado da espécie não-albicans apresentou concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) mais elevada (2µg/ml). em Candida albicans, 5,9% das amostras mostraram-se sensíveis, dependendo da dose de fluconazol, e 9,8%, resistentes. Apenas um isolado mostrou-se resistente, com CIM de 8µg/ml, para itraconazol. Nas espécies não-albicans, 11,7% dos isolados foram considerados resistentes ao fluconazol e 23,5, ao itraconazol. CONCLUSÃO: Candida albicans foi a espécie mais freqüentemente encontrada na microbiota vaginal; no entanto, outras espécies foram também comuns nessa população. Porcentual importante de isolados de Candida albicans e não-albicans foi resistente a fluconazol e itraconazol, mostrando a importância de realização de testes de identificação e antifungigrama para os episódios de candidíase vaginal.

Aspectos dinâmicos da água versus álcool e acetona por técnicas de congelamento

Water still represents, on its critical properties and phase transitions, a problem of current scientific interest, as a consequence of the countless open questions and of the inadequacy of the existent theoretical models, mainly related to the different solid and liquid phases that this substance possesses. For example, there are 13 known crystalline forms of water, and also amorphous phases. One of them, the amorphous ice of very high density (VHDA), was just recently observed. Other example is the anomalous behavior in the macroscopic density, which presents a maximum at the temperature of 277 K. In order to experimentally investigate the behavior of one of the liquid-solid phase transitions, the anomaly in its density and also the metastability, we used three different cooling techniques and, as comparison systems, we made use of the solvents: acetone and ethyl alcohol. The first studied cooling system employ a Peltier plate, a device recently developed, which makes use of small cubes made up of semiconductors to change heat among two surfaces; the second system is a commercial refrigerator, similar to the residential ones. Finally, the liquid nitrogen technique, which is used to refrigerate the samples in a container, in two ways: a very fast and other one, almost static. In those three systems, three Beckers of aluminum were used (with a volume of 80 ml, each), containing water, alcohol and acetone. They were closed and maintained at atmospheric pressure. Inside of each Becker were installed three thermocouples, disposed along the vertical axis of the Beckers, one close to the inferior surface, other to the medium level and the last one close the superior surface. A system of data acquisition was built via virtual instrumentation using as a central equipment a Data-Acquisition board. The temperature data were collected by the three thermocouples in the three Beckers, simultaneously, in function of freezing time. We will present the behavior of temperature versus freezing time for the three substances. The results show the characterization of the transitions of the liquid

Efeito do tratamento com as drogas antipsicóticas haloperidol e clozapina sobre a infecção de toxoplasma gondii em cultura de células retinianas embrionárias

T. gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan and the main cause of retinochoroiditis in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the antipsychotic drugs haloperidol and clozapine on the course of infection by T. gondii of cultured embryonic retinal cells. Embryo retinas of Gallus gallus domesticus (E12) were used for the preparation of mixed monolayer cultures of retinal cells. Cultures were maintained on plates of 96 and 24 wells by 37°C in DMEM medium supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum for 2 days. After this period, cultures were simultaneously infected with tachyzoites of T. gondii and treated with the antipsychotics haloperidol and clozapine for 48 hours. Treatment effects were determined by both assessing cell viability with the MTT method and evaluating infection outcomes in slides stained with Giemsa. The treatment with haloperidol and clozapine cells infected with T. gondii resulted in higher viability of these cells, suggesting a possible prevention of neuronal degeneration induced by T. gondii. Additionally, intracellular replication of this protozoan in cells treated with haloperidol and clozapine were significantly reduced, possibly by modulation of the parasite s intracellular calcium concentration

Álcool e comportamento: efeitos na aprendizagem e memória

Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for many harmful effects on individuals and society. Despite years of research, the mechanisms by which alcohol affects neurological functions and the exact causes of cognitive impairment related to long-term use are unknown. In this sense, this master study proposed to observe how different doses of alcohol affect the addiction response and the learning ability of two fish species: Betta splendens and Danio rerio, the latter a commonly model due to organizational and functional characteristics shared with mammals. For this, different concentrations of ethanol (0%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 1% and 1.5%) were used in acute, chronic and withdrawal treatments. We tested the fish in three experimental protocols: 1) alcohol addiction potential using conditioned place preference, 2) associative conditioning using light as unconditioned stimulus and food as conditioned stimulus and 3) spatial learning using a maze without cues. For the alcohol addiction potential, preference between two different places in a shuttle box was tested before and after alcohol exposure (chronic and acute). In this test, the animals intoxicated by 0.1% did not change behavior, while animals receiving 1% and 1.5% alcohol changed the initial preference to the side where they received alcohol For the associative conditioning, the results show that the groups undergoing low dose (0.1%), both in chronic and withdrawal treatment, learned the task faster than control; groups under 0.25 and 1% alcohol withdrawal learned the task after control; groups chronically intoxicated with these doses did not learn the task. For the spatial learning test, fish submitted to acute and chronic treatments decreased the time to exit the maze; there were significant differences in the animal s performance in a dose-dependent pattern. This difference was not observed for the withdrawal treatment. Given these results, we conclude that the effects of alcohol on learning are dependent on the dosage. Furthermore, low doses of alcohol seem to maximize animal performance on learning tasks and do not alter their seeking behavior, while higher doses induced addition and hinder learning

Psicose e toxicomanias: um estudo psicanalítico

This paper is a case study that aims to discuss the effects of drug abuse by a person with psychotic structure from a psychoanalytical perspective. The interest in this subject was born from an internship experience in the Mental Health area in which a psychotic patient had a drug abuse problem and the service treating him had difficulties dealing with this. In order to accomplish the objective of this work four theoretical chapters were written and the case is discussed throughout them articulating the theoretical issues with clinical practice. A literature review revealed that Freud and Lacan did not dedicate themselves to the study of the effect of drug use by psychotic patients but they made important contributions unfolding the theoretical and clinical psychoanalytical practice. Contemporary psychoanalytic authors suggest that the drug use made by psychotics differs from the use by neurotics, because of the particularity of the psychotic structure. It was found that drug use in psychosis can operate in three different ways: the first refers to drug use as substitute of a missing signifier helping the psychotic patient building a social bond. The second function is to intensify psychotic phenomena and the third function is to operate as an attempt to diminish those same phenomena. We conclude that, while the use of drugs in neurosis provides an individualist way of satisfaction, that excludes social aspects. For psychosis such use may operate differently and may play a role in social integration, among others effects. Such discussion can help move forward the direction of treatment of psychosis when the case involves drug use

Álcool e sociabilidade: a farra das adolescentes

The experience as a school psychologist allowed me to notice that expressions like I was like trash in the gang s barbecue , and we chatted away, only the girls, and we all got drunk , are very common in conversations between Elementary and High School students, pointing out to a concerning incidence of alcohol consumption among female adolescents. However, studies about this theme haven t gone deep in the nowadays reality these girls are living in. This study aimed at comprehending the aspects of the relation between girls and alcohol, starting from the point that exaggerated consumption indicates introductory rituals for some groups, making social relations easier and becoming a sociability factor. To give this study some support, a questionnaire was applied to 1028 female teenagers, between 12 and 18 years old, students in private schools in Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte. The context chosen for the development of the study - private schools -, arose from the notion that the majority of the data collection carried out about alcohol and other psychotropic drugs aim at public school students. The instrument used was divided in two parts, one that treated about the first contact with alcohol (experimentation), and other that points to the current relation with alcoholic beverages, with 27 closed questions but nevertheless with available space for manifestation like if other; which?, applied collectively in classrooms. The data received a statistic treatment from SPSS and showed that the first contact with alcoholic beverage happens in domestic environment, having parents and friends as companions, very precociously, around 10 years of age, as curiosity. At this moment, Ice drink is the most consumed beverage. The main reason that leads them to drink is to pass the time in parties, and they don t drink alone (93% of students researched), what gives alcohol this recreational and socializing characteristic. They do consider alcohol a kind of drug, but are not afraid of getting addicted. People that drink usually show to be extroverted, they get happier (40,3%) and are not shy at all (29,4%), have attitudes of moral character, like to get involved with unknown boys (18,5%), get numb (9,9%), or get sad (1,9%). They label as vulgar the girls that drink, depending on the amount, and to be stimulated by the boys to drink. The study shows that systematic interventions of the school are necessary, once it is an institution that should care about education and personality traits of children and adolescents, as well as the important role of the psychologist in this context. Besides, it claims the society to get effectively involved with the public policies that already exist

Prevalência e fatores associados à testagem para HIV em homens que fazem sexo com homens

A infecção por HIV/Aids (vírus da imunodeficiência humana/síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida) constitui um importante problema mundial de Saúde Pública. Dados do último boletim apresentado pela UNAIDS (Organização das Nações Unidas para Aids) em 2013, apontam que mais de 35 milhões de pessoas vivem com HIV em todo mundo. No Brasil, a epidemia é concentrada, com prevalência de infecção menor que 1% na população de 15 a 49 anos, porém chegando a 10,5% entre homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH). O diagnóstico precoce do HIV se associa a uma redução da morbidade, mortalidade e também da transmissão desta infecção. O presente estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar a prevalência e fatores associados à testagem prévia para HIV na população de HSH dos municípios de Natal/RN e Parnamirim/RN. Os participantes respondiam a um questionário contendo perguntas referentes a dados sociodemográficos, padrões de relacionamento sexual, conhecimentos sobre HIV/Aids, uso de preservativo, consumo de álcool, drogas e busca de testagem para HIV e sífilis. Em seguida, os que desejassem poderiam realizar teste rápido para HIV e sífilis. No total, foram pesquisados 101 sujeitos, destes, 70 foram recrutados com a utilização da técnica Respondent Driving Sample, e 31 com uma amostra de conveniência. O teste de HIV havia sido realizado por 63,3% dos homens pelo menos uma vez na vida. A testagem prévia para HIV foi associada à idade (27 anos ou mais), realização prévia do teste para sífilis, conhecimento sobre locais onde o teste de HIV é feito gratuitamente e resultado positivo para sífilis no momento da pesquisa. A prevalência de testagem para HIV na amostra foi baixa, semelhante ao verificado em outros estudos com a população HSH. Ações que priorizem a divulgação de locais onde o anti-HIV pode ser realizado gratuitamente e direcionadas para o público jovem parecem ser as mais adequadas para a ampliação da testagem entre os HSH na nossa realidade

Outras verdades, muito extraordinárias, do grande sertão

This study explores the symbolism of evil way in the novel Grande sertão: veredas, by Guimarães Rosa, regarding faustian pact by Goethe, and so tries to understand how the rosiana language are present to the strategies which put in suspense the effectiveness of the demonic agreement and enable, with poetic intensity, different interpretations, especially as regards the anguish of the human condition. This research thus has drawn upon the Mythical Symbolism, in Literary Criticism and aspects of Metaphysics, in addition to analyzing classic literary essays in approaching of Rosa s masterpiece structure. It has also demonstrated that the incorporation of the Faust legend in Grande sertão reflects the same desire for happiness that is not done completely, and in this manner, instigates a discussion about the limits to the satisfaction of being human. Therefore, it has observed that epic narrative of ex-gangster Riobaldo to the doctor of city speculates on human man, in the continuous learning of his passing

Expectativas positivas com o uso de álcool e o beber se embriagando: diferenças de gênero em estudo do Projeto GENACIS, São Paulo, Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar as expectativas de homens e mulheres com relação ao uso do álcool e a associação dessas com o comportamento de beber com embriaguez. Foi realizado inquérito epidemiológico, domiciliar, transversal, de base populacional, com amostra probabilística estratificada por conglomerados, na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram entrevistadas 2.083 pessoas de ambos os sexos utilizando-se o questionário GENACIS (Gender, Alcohol and Culture: An International Study). Beber com embriaguez foi considerada variável dependente, e foram construídos modelos de regressão logística para cada sexo, ajustando-se os modelos para idade, escolaridade e renda. Todas as expectativas, exceto achar mais fácil falar com companheiro, associaram-se ao comportamento de beber com embriaguez. Nosso estudo mostrou que beber com embriaguez pode estar associado a expectativas com uso do álcool. Compreender essas expectativas pode contribuir para elaboração de estratégias mais efetivas de prevenção do beber excessivo.

Violência entre parceiros íntimos e álcool: prevalência e fatores associados

Objective. To estimate physical violence between intimate partners and to examine the association between violence and sociodemographic variables, use of alcohol, and other related factors.Method. This epidemiologic survey included a stratified probabilistic sample representative of the population from the city of São Paulo in economic and educational terms. The Gender, Alcohol and Culture: An International Study (GENACIS) questionnaire was employed. The sampling unit was the home, where all individuals older than 18 years were candidates for interview. The final sample included 1 631 people. Statistical analysis employed the Rao Scott test and logistic regression.Results. The response rate was 74.5%. Most participants were female (58.8%), younger than 40 years of age (52%), or had 5 to 12 years of schooling. of the overall group, 5.4% reported having been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner and 5.4% declared having been aggressors of intimate partners in the past 2 years. Most men declared that none of those involved had ingested alcohol at the moment of aggression. Most women reported that nobody or only the man had drunk. Being a victim or an aggressor was associated with younger age and having a heavy-drinking partner. Women suffered more serious aggression, requiring medical care, and expressed more anger and disgust at aggression than men.Conclusions. The results underscore the importance of the association between alcohol use and risk of aggression between intimate partners, and may contribute to the design of public policies aimed to control this situation.

Análise morfométrica e ultra-estrutural do nervo óptico de ratos induzidos a ingestão de álcool

OBJETIVO: Analisar os efeitos da ingestão crônica de álcool sobre o nervo óptico em um modelo murino adulto. MÉTODOS: Doze ratos machos da raça Wistar, de 30 dias de idade, foram divididos por sorteio em 2 grupos experimentais: tratado (TG), com 8 animais, alimentados com ração-padrão para roedores de laboratório e uma mistura de água de torneira e etanol ad libitum; controle (CG), com 4 animais, alimentados com a mesma ração e água de torneira pura ad libitum. Após 40 semanas todos os ratos foram sacrificados, sendo os nervos ópticos de ambos os olhos preparados para microscopia óptica e eletrônica. A área de secção transversal de cada nervo a aumento de 500´, assim como número de fibras axonais dentro de 5 campos aleatoriamente selecionados a aumento de 2000´ foram medidos com auxílio de digitalizador de imagens acoplado ao microscópio óptico. Foram realizadas fotomicrografias de 10 campos aleatoriamente selecionados de cada nervo (5 centrais e 5 periféricos) a aumento de 4200´ em microscópio eletrônico de transmissão. RESULTADOS: A análise morfométrica não mostrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os 2 grupos estudados. em contraste com o CG, o exame ultra-estrutural dos nervos ópticos do TG mostrou um intenso desarranjo das bainhas de mielina, que se tornaram espessadas, com separação de suas lamelas, apresentando, por vezes, degenerações interlamelares elétron-densas, além da presença de muitas organelas degeneradas. CONCLUSÃO: Os achados desse estudo mostram alterações ultra-estruturais no nervo óptico de ratos adultos após ingestão crônica de álcool, sem modificações morfométricas significativas.

Lung morphology and growth of rats exposed to tobacco smoke and alcohol

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos morfológicos da exposição crônica à inalação de fumaça do tabaco e o do consumo de álcool nos pulmões e no crescimento de ratos. MÉTODOS: Sessenta ratos Wistar machos foram distribuídos em quatro grupos: controle, tabaco, álcool e tabaco + álcool, e acompanhados por um período de 260 dias. No final do periodo foi realizada análise morfológica dos pulmões por microscopia óptica e eletrônica. O crescimento dos ratos foi investigado através da medição do comprimento focinho-ânus, peso corporal e índice de massa corporal. RESULTADOS: Os três grupos expostos às drogas apresentaram peso e comprimento significativamente menores que os do grupo controle. As percentagens de bronquiolite e alveolite, e o diâmetro alveolar médio foram maiores nos grupos expostos à fumaça do tabaco, mas sem significancia estatística quando comparadas ao grupo controle. A microscopia eletrônica revelou apoptose mais intensa e lesões degenerativas no grupo de fumantes, enquanto lesões degenerativas nos corpos lamelares foram mais intensas com a associação de ambas as drogas. CONCLUSÕES: Este modelo experimental mostrou alterações morfológicas observadas por microscopia eletrônica, principalmente devido à exposição ao tabaco. Tanto o alcool como o tabaco prejudicaram o crescimento dos animais, o tabaco mostrando um efeito maior sobre o comprimento e o álcool sobre o peso corporal.