This work aims to investigate the slow pyrolysis of sunflower seed residues using thermogravimetric tests carried out at five heating rates: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 K min
−1
. The kinetic triplet for ...global reaction, represented by activation energy (
E
a
), Arrhenius pre-exponential factor (
A
), and reaction mechanism (
f
α
)
, and the kinetic parameters for pseudo-components were determined. Thermodynamic activation parameters as enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, and entropy were calculated by using the transition state theory. The
E
a
values determined by isoconversional methods varied between 79.11 and 162.57 kJ mol
−1
, and the master plots methodology indicated the reaction mechanism of sunflower seed residues as the three-dimensional Jader equation, resulting in global parameters of 102.51 kJ mol
−1
and 8.96 × 10
5
s
−1
for
E
a
and
A
, respectively. The presence of three pseudo-components (hemicelluloses, cellulose, and lignin) was considered for the modeling of independent parallel reactions, which resulted in
E
a
values ranging from 72.4 to 170.2 kJ mol
−1
and the
A
values ranging from 1.31×10
4
mol
−2
s
−1
to 1.21×10
13
mol
−1
s
−1
, with reaction orders varying between 1 and 3. The values of thermodynamic parameters indicated that the pyrolysis of sunflower residues tends to remain continuous once the necessary energy is supplied and that the activated state presented a higher degree of organization than the reactants. This present work is the first one to investigate the kinetic triplet and the independent parallel reaction model for sunflower residue pyrolysis. The results were useful for biomass management, indicating the kinetic and thermodynamic values for pyrolysis optimization.
The 2021 re-emergence of yellow fever in non-human primates in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southernmost Brazil, resulted in the death of many howler monkeys (genus
) and led the state to ...declare a Public Health Emergency of State Importance, despite no human cases reported. In this study, near-complete genomes of yellow fever virus (YFV) recovered from the outbreak were sequenced and examined aiming at a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and the spatio-temporal dynamics of the virus distribution. Our results suggest that the most likely sequence of events involved the reintroduction of YFV from the state of São Paulo to RS through the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, by the end of 2020. These findings reinforce the role of genomic surveillance in determining the pathways of distribution of the virus and in providing references for the implementation of preventive measures for populations in high risk areas.
This study investigated whether homosexually identified males in a small Brazilian fishing community are similar to homosexually identified males described in the international literature. In ...addition, it attempted to distinguish heterosexuals who have sex with homosexuals from other heterosexuals. A total of 41 men were classified into three sexual categories: paneleiros ("pan cabinets"), who have sex only with men, and invariably so in a bottom position; persistent heterosexuals, who have sex only with women; and paneleiro lovers, who have sex with women and with paneleiros, but invariably in a top position. There were significant differences in childhood play activities, sexual inclinations, and sports preferences between paneleiros and non-paneleiros; however, paneleiro lovers and persistent heterosexuals were not significantly different with regard to these variables or with regard to access to women. These findings add to the cross-cultural literature on childhood cross-gender behavior and homoerotic activities among non-homosexually identified males.
Aims
Metallothioneins (MTs) are proteins associated with the carcinogenesis and prognosis of various tumours. Previous studies have shown their potential as biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma ...(OSCC). Aiming to understand more clearly the function of MTs in OSCC we evaluated, for the first time, the gene expression profile of MTs in this neoplasm.
Materials and results
Tissue samples from 35 cases of tongue and/or floor of mouth OSCC, paired with their corresponding non‐neoplastic oral mucosa (NNOM), were retrieved (2007–09). All tissues were analysed for the following genes using TaqMan® reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR) assays: MT1A, MT1B, MT1E, MT1F, MT1G, MT1H, MT1X, MT2A, MT3 and MT4. The expression of MT1B and MT1H was seldom detected in both OSCC and NNOM. A significant loss of MT1A, MT1X, MT3 and MT4 expression and gain of MT1F expression was observed in OSCC, compared to NNOM. Cases with MT1G down‐regulation exhibited the worst prognoses. The up‐regulation of MT1X was restricted to non‐metastatic cases, whereas up‐regulation of MT3 was related to cases with lymph node metastasis.
Conclusions
Metallothionein mRNA expression is altered significantly in oral squamous cell carcinomas. The expression of MT1G, MT1X and MT3 may aid in the prognostic discrimination of OSCC cases.
Information on the biology of metastasis development in salivary gland tumors is scarce. Since angiogenesis seems associated with this phenomenon in other tumors, we sought to compare salivary gland ...tumors with diverse metastatic behavior in order to improve the knowledge and management of these lesions.
Samples from the most important salivary gland tumors were segregated according to its metastatic behavior and submitted to routine immunohistochemistry to identify vessels positive for CD105 expression. Frequency of positive cases and intratumoral microvessel density (IMD) was compared among the group of lesions.
CD105 positive vessels were absent in normal salivary gland tissue, were rare in pleomorphic adenomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC), more common in polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinomas and highest in mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Only ACC with such feature were metastatic. IMD was higher in malignant rather than benign tumors.
Immunostaining of CD105 in salivary gland tumors implies participation of angiogenesis in the development of malignant lesions, as well as some role for myoepithelial cells in the control of new vessel formation. In addition, suggest that ACC with positive CD105 vessels are at higher risk for metastasis.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, comfort and attitudes of physiotherapy students towards human sexuality. An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in four ...universities. Physiotherapy students (n = 248) enrolled in an undergraduate degree program were invited to participate and 203 (82%) were included. Students were enrolled in the first (29%), second (22%), third (33%) and fourth (16%) years of the undergraduate degree program. The instrument used was the Scale of Knowledge, Comfort and Attitudes of Physiotherapy Students towards Human Sexuality. Results indicated that students enrolled in the first year of the program reported less knowledge then students in the third (
p
≤ 0.001) and fourth years (
p
≤ 0.001). Students enrolled in the second year reported less knowledge than the students in the third (
p
= 0.007) and fourth years (
p
= 0.002). Students enrolled in the fourth year of the program reported more discomfort compared with students enrolled in the first year (
p
= 0.049). Additionally, female students showed more discomfort, especially when issues are related to male patients. These findings highlight the importance of a change in the physiotherapy curriculum to better prepare future physiotherapists in delivering holistic treatment.
A multi-national working group on antibiotic stewardship, from the International Society of Chemotherapy, put together ten recommendations to physicians prescribing antibiotics to outpatients. These ...recommendations are: (1) use antibiotics only when needed; teach the patient how to manage symptoms of non-bacterial infections; (2) select the adequate ATB; precise targeting is better than shotgun therapy; (3) consider pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics when selecting an ATB; use the shortest ATB course that has proven clinical efficacy; (4) encourage patients' compliance; (5) use antibiotic combinations only in specific situations; (6) avoid low quality and sub-standard drugs; prevent prescription changes at the drugstore; (7) discourage self-prescription; (8) follow only evidence-based guidelines; beware those sponsored by drug companies; (9) rely (rationally) upon the clinical microbiology lab; and (10) prescribe ATB empirically - but intelligently; know local susceptibility trends, and also surveillance limitations.
Summary
The use of lignocellulosic fibers as reinforcement in polymer composites has increased worldwide recently. Vegetal fibers have low cost and they are commonly available in Brazil. The curaua ...fibers in particular are of great importance for the development of the Amazon region. The mechanical behavior of the composites reinforced with fibers depends on the effectiveness of the transfer of the applied load by the matrix to the fibers, which is determined by the magnitude of the interfacial bonding between fiber/matrix phases. In this paper, curaua fibers were treated with 0.25–2% (w/v) NaOH solution under tensile loading to improve fiber‐matrix adhesion in curaua fibers/epoxy laminates. Composites with 40 vol.% curaua fibers were obtained. Maximum improvement in the composite properties was observed for those containing curaua fibers treated with 0.5% NaOH under tensile loading. Composites with good bending properties were obtained by using a simple, low cost and environmental friendly method for curaua treatment. This method employed low concentration of chemical solutions, which are neutralized during the process, and no need of heating.
Self-efficacy has been shown to be a predictor of many health-related behaviors, including the practice of pelvic floor exercises with a focus on prevention or cure.
To describe the process of ...construction and the psychometric properties of the scale of self-efficacy for the practice of pelvic floor exercises (EAPEAP).
A cross-sectional study of validation was carried out with 81 from community and 96 postpartum women, 54.8% of them complained of urinary leakage. An exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency analysis was performed. To check predictive capacity, we analyzed the adherence at 3 months post - intervention and compared the scores of self-efficacy between adherent and non-adherent women. Reliability was analyzed by split half procedure.
The instrument showed α=0.923, and revealed three factors: performance expectation considering the action, performance expectation considering the preparation for action and outcome expectations. These factors accounted for 65.32% of the total variance. The instrument was able to differentiate between women who adhere and have not adhered to the exercises (U=352, p=0.013) and there was strong correlation between the two halves of the instrument (rho=0.889, p<0.001).
The scale is a valid and reliable tool to measure self-efficacy to practice pelvic floor exercises.
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