Search

The phase angle of bioimpedance is an important prognostic tool in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between phase angle and cardiovascular diseases. Electronic searches were carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, SCIELO, LILACS, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Web of Science. The PECO was "P" adults over 18 years of age, "E" the presence of cardiovascular disease, "C" absence of cardiovascular disease, and "O" phase angle values. The phase-angle means difference (MD) was analyzed separately by sex. Subgroup metanalysis with age, body mass index, and heart failure disease and meta-regressions were analyzed with random-effects models. Sensitivity analysis was performed considering only studies with high quality. The heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the Q-Cochran test and I² statistics. Four-hundred-thirty-nine articles were identified, and 22 studies were included in this systematic review, totaling 10.010 participants. Eight studies met the criteria for the meta-analysis, involving 2164 participants. The phase angle (PA) was measured at 50 kHz frequency in all studies. Individuals with cardiovascular disease had a smaller PA compared to the control group, for both males (MD -0.70; 95% CI -1.01 to -0.39) and females (MD -0.76; 95% CI -1.39 to -0.13). In the sensitivity analysis, in men, the quality of studies (P lt; 0.01), and in women, heart failure (P lt; 0.01) was significantly different between groups.The values of the phase angle were lower in individuals with cardiovascular disease than in control subjects. This result reinforces the importance of this tool in clinical practice, highlighting its potential to assess health status. Registration: The systematic review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database as CRD42020164178.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:52:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-01-01 The use of non-enzymatic material for the electrooxidation reaction of glucose is still a challenge to be overcome since these materials must have high sensitivity to glucose, high chemical stability and, if possible, be obtained quickly and with a low-cost process. In this context, iron vanadate (Fe2V4O13) was successfully synthesized using the easy and low-cost Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction process and used as an interesting non-enzymatic photoanode material approach for the photoelectrochemical oxidation reaction of glucose. From the X-ray diffraction and Raman measurements, it was possible to observe that the monoclinic crystalline phase Fe2V4O13 was formed at 500 °C, without any secondary phases. The electrochemical characterization, performed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques, under light condition, showed the remarkable photoelectrochemical activity of the FTO/Fe2V4O13 electrode, such as a high photocurrent density at + 0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl (0.2 mA cm−2); good reproducibility under transient light condition; low charge transfer resistance; and flat band potential consistent with the LSV and typical value of this material (+ 0.45 V). The performance of the electrode as non-enzymatic glucose interaction, carried out by chronoamperometry technique, showed a remarkable performance in the photoelectrooxidation reaction of glucose, with linear behavior (R2 = 0.9975) of the analytical curve (glucose concentration from 0 to 10 mmol L−1), excellent reproducibility, a slight loss in photoelectrochemical signal after five successive reading cycles, good sensitivity (0.370 μA mM−1 cm−2) and limit of detection (52 µmol L–1). Besides, the analysis of interference species showed good electrode selectivity. Graphical abstract: Fe2V2O13 photoelectrode obtained by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) process, and its use for glucose photoelectrocatalytic oxidation reaction [Figure not available: see fulltext.] Faculdade de Engenharia CTI UNESP – Universidade Estadual Paulista, SP Departamento de Química/CCE/UEL UEL – Universidade Estadual de Londrina, CP 10.011, PR Departamento de Física UEL – Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR Faculdade de Engenharia CTI UNESP – Universidade Estadual Paulista, SP

Incineration and landfilling offer possibilities for addressing high-rate management of COVID-waste streams. However, they can be costly and environmentally unsustainable. In addition, they do not allow to convert them to fuels and chemicals as waste-to-energy and waste-to-product technologies. Therefore, we analyzed whether integrating hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and pelletization can allow converting the surgical face mask (SFM) and biomass to composite plastic-fiber fuel (CPFF). We blended the plastic material and corncob, peanut shell, or sugarcane bagasse at the proportion of 50:50 (%, dry mass basis) for HTC. We performed the thermal pretreatment of blends in an autoclaving reactor at 180 °C and 1.5 MPa. Then we pelletized the hydrochars in a presser machine at 200 MPa and 125 °C. By analyzing the evidence from our study, we recognized the viability of combining the SFM and agricultural residues for CPFF from comparable technical features of our products to standards for premium-grade wood pellets. For instance, the elemental composition of their low-meltable ash was not stoichiometrically sufficient to severely produce slagging and fouling in the equipment for thermal conversion. Although they contained synthetic polymers in their structures, such as polyethylene from filter layers and nylon from the earloop, they emitted CO and NOThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13399-022-03285-4.

This analytical, cross-sectional, observational study aimed to evaluate the perception of dentists working at the public system of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, regarding academic training to treat oral lesions, adoption of preventive measures for oral cancer, and attitude toward the need to perform oral biopsies. The sample consisted of questionnaires filled out by 192 dentists (153 women and 39 men) working in primary health care who participated in training activities on oral cancer diagnosis in July 2016. To enroll in the training activities, the professionals completed an online questionnaire to evaluate their perceptions regarding oral cancer issues. With respect to preventive measures, 96.88% of dentists reported performing full mouth examination, 87.50% reported providing tobacco cessation counseling, and 51.04% reported giving advice on excessive alcohol consumption. In addition, 72.40% and 44.79% of dentists considered, respectively, clinical training and theory instruction in oral medicine to be insufficient during undergraduate school. Only 8.33% reported performing biopsies in daily clinical routine, and almost 90% reported referring the patient to a specialist from the public system or universities. Lack of experience was the main reason not to perform a biopsy. The dentists in our sample recognize the importance of preventive measures for oral cancer, but few of them perform biopsies regularly. Therefore, there is a need for continuing education actions including practical training.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the quality of ophthalmic images acquired by a nurse technician trained in teleophthalmology as compared with images acquired by an ophthalmologist, in order to provide a better understanding of the workforce necessary to operate remote care programs. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on 2044 images obtained from 118 participants of the TeleOftalmo project, in Brazil. Fundus and slit-lamp photography were performed on site by an ophthalmologist and by a nurse technician under the supervision of a remote ophthalmologist. Image quality was then evaluated by masked ophthalmologists. Proportion of suitable images in each group was compared. RESULTS: The proportion of concordant classification regarding quality was 94.8%, with a corrected kappa agreement of 0.94. When analyzing each type of photo separately, there was no significant difference in the proportion of suitable images between on-site ophthalmologist and nurse technician with remote ophthalmologist assistance for the following: slit-lamp views of the anterior segment and anterior chamber periphery, and fundus photographs centered on the macula and on the optic disc (P = 0.825, P = 0.997, P = 0.194, and P = 0.449, respectively). For slit-lamp views of the lens, the proportion of suitable images was higher among those obtained by an ophthalmologist (99.6%) than by a technician (93.8%, P 90% adequacy for remote reading. Compared with ophthalmologist-acquired photos, the proportion of images deemed suitable achieved a high overall agreement. These findings provide favorable evidence of the adequacy of teleophthalmological imaging by nurse technicians.

In view of the limitations of bone reconstruction surgeries using autologous grafts as a gold standard, tissue engineering is emerging as an alternative, which permits the fabrication and improvement of scaffolds to stimulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis, processes that are essential for bone repair. Polymers are used to mimic the extracellular bone matrix and support cell growth. In addition, bone neoformation can be induced by external factors such as laser irradiation, which stimulates bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to evaluate the regeneration of bone defects using collagen and elastin membranes derived from intestinal serosa and bovine auricular cartilage combined with low-level laser application. Thirty-six Wistar rats were operated to create a 3-mm defect in the distal metaphysis of the left femur and divided into six groups: G1 (control, no treatment); G2 (laser); G3 (elastin graft), G4 (elastin+laser); G5 (collagen graft); G6 (collagen+laser). The animals were sacrificed 6 weeks after surgery and the femurs were removed for analysis of bone repair. Macroscopic and radiological results showed the absence of an infectious process in the surgical area. This was confirmed by histological analysis, which revealed no inflammatory infiltrate. Histomorphometry showed that the formation of new bone started from the margins of the bone defect and its volume was greater in elastin+laser and collagen+laser. We conclude that newly formed bone in the graft area was higher in the groups that received the biomaterials and laser. The collagen and elastin matrices showed biocompatibility.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T15:43:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-04-01 The present paper describes the use of electrodeposited Co(OH)2 on transparent conducting fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode (FTO) as functional material for ascorbic acid electrooxidation in different electrolyte solutions. The structure, composition, and morphology of film were investigated through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrochemical characterization in different electrolyte solutions was carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The voltammetric profile showed the presence of two possible reactions involving almost reversible redox processes during sweeping potential in KOH solution and a single redox process in KCl solution. The Co(OH)2 film presented electrocatalytic activity in ascorbic acid electrooxidation, being the sensitivity values found were 182.3 mA L mol−1 cm−2 and 119.4 mA L mol−1 cm−2 in KOH and KCl solutions, respectively. The results showed that the electrolytic solution strongly influenced the sensitivity of the FTO/Co(OH)2 film in ascorbic acid electrooxidation reaction. Kinetic studies showed that the electrode process was controlled by mass diffusion. In addition, chronoamperometric technique was carried out to verify the stability of the electrode. The obtained results reveal a good stability of electrode in the KCl solution; once in current density terms, the results are quite similar. Engineering College Industrial Technical College/CTI UNESP–São Paulo State University Department of Chemistry UEL–State University of Londrina Engineering College Industrial Technical College/CTI UNESP–São Paulo State University

Since wind is an important source of renewable energy, it has attracted attention worldwide. Several studies have been developed in order to know favorable areas where wind farms can be implemented. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to project changes in wind intensity and in wind power density (PD), at 100 m high, over South America and adjacent oceans, by downscaling and ensemble techniques. Regional climate model version 4 (RegCM4) was nested in the output of three global climate models, considering the RCP8.5 scenario. RegCM4 ensemble in the present climate (1979–2005) was validated through comparisons with ERA-Interim reanalysis. The ensemble represents well the spatial pattern of the winds, but there are some differences in relation to the wind intensity registered by ERA-Interim, mainly in center-east Brazil and Patagonia. The comparison between the future climate (2020–2050 and 2070–2098) and the present one shows that there is an increase in wind intensity and PD on the north of SA, center-east Brazil (except in summer) and latitudes higher than 50°S. Such increase is more intense in the period 2070–2098.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:12:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-01-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) The aim of this work was to evaluate the thermal and kinetic behavior of white lupin (Lupinus albus) oil obtained from its seeds. White lupin is a seed from the Lupinus albus species, and it presents physicochemical and physiological functional properties and is rich in fiber, protein, and lipids with a great application potential. Oil was extracted from the seeds, and its fatty acid profile indicates predominantly monounsaturated fatty acids (~65%). Thermo-gravimetry, derivative thermo-gravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the thermal behavior of the oil fraction at high temperatures, showing a good thermal stability between 222 and 230 °C and a large heat delivery at T = 400 °C. Additionally, DSC was performed from 25 to −60 °C, in which the crystallization behavior was verified. The kinetic behavior of the thermal decomposition was evaluated from several β values and mass samples (5 and 20 mg) under nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres to comparisons of the data. Departamento de Nutrição Faculdade de Saúde Pública Universidade de São Paulo (FSP/USP) Centro Universitário do Norte Paulista (UNORP) Departamento de Química Analítica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Departamento de Química e Ciências Ambientais Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas Universidade Estadual Paulista (Ibilce/Unesp) Departamento de Química Analítica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Departamento de Química e Ciências Ambientais Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas Universidade Estadual Paulista (Ibilce/Unesp) FAPESP: 2010/18914-0

Body wasting is a serious complication that affects a large proportion of patients with heart failure. Muscle wasting, also known as sarcopenia, is the loss of muscle mass and strength, whereas cachexia describes loss of weight. After reaching guideline-recommended doses of heart failure therapies, the most promising approach to treating body wasting seems to be combined therapy that includes exercise, nutritional counselling, and drug treatment. Nutritional considerations include avoiding excessive salt and fluid intake, and replenishment of deficiencies in trace elements. Administration of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is beneficial in selected patients. High-calorific nutritional supplements can also be useful. The prescription of aerobic exercise training that provokes mild or moderate breathlessness has good scientific support. Drugs with potential benefit in the treatment of body wasting that have been tested in clinical studies in patients with heart failure include testosterone, ghrelin, recombinant human growth hormone, essential amino acids, and β2-adrenergic receptor agonists. In this Review, we summarize the pathophysiological mechanisms of muscle wasting and cachexia in heart failure, and highlight the potential treatment strategies. We aim to provide clinicians with the relevant information on body wasting to understand and treat these conditions in patients with heart failure.

Background Biological adhesion (bioadhesion), enables organisms to attach to surfaces as well as to a range of other targets. Bioadhesion evolved numerous times independently and is ubiquitous throughout the kingdoms of life. To date, investigations have focussed on various taxa of animals, plants and bacteria, but the fundamental processes underlying bioadhesion and the degree of conservation in different biological systems remain poorly understood. This study had two aims: 1) To characterise tissue-specific gene regulation in the pedal disc of the model cnidarian Exaiptasia pallida, and 2) to elucidate putative genes involved in pedal disc adhesion. Results Five hundred and forty-seven genes were differentially expressed in the pedal disc compared to the rest of the animal. Four hundred and twenty-seven genes were significantly upregulated and 120 genes were significantly downregulated. Forty-one condensed gene ontology terms and 19 protein superfamily classifications were enriched in the pedal disc. Eight condensed gene ontology terms and 11 protein superfamily classifications were depleted. Enriched superfamilies were consistent with classifications identified previously as important for the bioadhesion of unrelated marine invertebrates. A host of genes involved in regulation of extracellular matrix generation and degradation were identified, as well as others related to development and immunity. Ab initio prediction identified 173 upregulated genes that putatively code for extracellularly secreted proteins. Conclusion The analytical workflow facilitated identification of genes putatively involved in adhesion, immunity, defence and development of the E. pallida pedal disc. When defence, immunity and development-related genes were identified, those remaining corresponded most closely to formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), implicating ECM in the adhesion of anemones to surfaces. This study therefore provides a valuable high-throughput resource for the bioadhesion community and lays a foundation for further targeted research to elucidate bioadhesion in the Cnidaria. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5917-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Inadequate nutritional status has been linked to poor outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Skeletal muscle wasting affects about 20% of ambulatory patients with HF. The impact of nutritional intake and appetite on skeletal muscle wasting has not been investigated so far. We sought to investigate the impact of nutritional status on muscle wasting and mortality in ambulatory patients with HF. We studied 130 ambulatory patients with HF who were recruited as a part of the Studies Investigating Co-morbidities Aggravating Heart Failure (SICA-HF) program. Muscle wasting was defined according to criteria of sarcopenia, i.e., appendicular skeletal muscle mass two standard deviations below the mean of a healthy reference group aged 18–40 years. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment—Short Form (MNA-SF). Functional capacity was assessed as peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) by cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 6‑minute walk testing, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). At baseline, 19 patients (15%) presented with muscle wasting. Patients with muscle wasting had significantly lower values of peak VO2, 6‑minute walk distance, SPPB, and MNA-SF score than patients without (all p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, MNA-SF remained an independent predictor of muscle wasting after adjustment for age and New York Heart Association class (odds ratio [OR] 0.66; confidence interval [CI] 0.50–0.88; p < 0.01). A total of 16 (12%) patients died during a mean follow-up of 21 months. In Cox regression analysis, MNA-SF (OR 0.80, CI 0.64–0.99, p = 0.04), left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.93, CI 0.86–0.99, p = 0.05), and peak VO2 (OR 0.78, CI 0.65–0.94, p = 0.008) were predictors of death. MNA-SF is an independent predictor of muscle wasting and mortality in ambulatory patients with HF. Nutritional screening should be included as a fundamental part of the overall assessment of these patients.

Muscle wasting and malnutrition are common complications in patients with advanced heart failure (HF); however, both remain underdiagnosed and undertreated although they both play relevant roles in the progression of HF. The risk of muscle wasting in patients with HF increases in those patients with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition. Muscle wasting and malnutrition are thought to be positively influenced by adequate therapeutic interventions such as physical activity and nutritional support. Consequently, early detection of malnutrition in patients with HF is recommended. This review discusses muscle wasting and nutritional status, describing the effects of malnutrition on muscle wasting in patients with HF. We review specific issues related to muscle wasting and nutritional status in patients with HF; however, no established strategies currently exist to focus on patients suffering from muscle wasting with malnutrition.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently complicates chronic kidney disease (CKD). AF treatment is challenging and requires complete pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Recently, renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) has been reported to reduce AF recurrence when performed alongside PVI. A prospective therapeutic study of patients with controlled hypertension and paroxysmal AF was undertaken. Renal function was evaluated using estimated glomerular filtration rate. Outcomes for patients with normal renal function who underwent PVI (n = 101) were compared with those for CKD patients who underwent either PVI alone (n = 96) or PVI + RSD (n = 39). The primary endpoint was recurrence of AF recorded by 24-h Holter monitoring. During the 22.4 ± 12.1 months following intervention, the incidence of AF recurrence was higher in CKD patients treated with PVI alone (61.5 %) than in CKD patients treated with PVI + RSD (38.5 %; HR 1.86, 95 % CI 1.14–3.03, P = 0.0251) or patients without CKD subjected to PVI (35.6 %; hazard ratio (HR) 2.27, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.51–3.42, P

Polymorphic premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are very common, appearing most frequently in patients with hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, and structural heart disease. Sympathetic hyperactivity plays a critical role in the development, maintenance, and aggravation of ventricular arrhythmias. Recently, the relevance of sympathetic activation in patients with ventricular arrhythmias was reported, and this finding suggested a potential role for catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation in reducing the arrhythmic burden.We evaluated the effectiveness of the renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) in comparison to antiarrhythmic pharmacologic therapy in reducing polymorphic PVCs refractory to medication therapy and cardiac parameters assessed by 24-h Holter monitoring and cardiac magnetic resonance (CRM), respectively, in patients with structurally normal heart.Thirty-four patients were included in this study, 14 served as control, and 20 were treated with an ablation cardiac catheter with open irrigated tip. RSD was performed by a single operator following the standard technique. All the patients included had polymorphic PVCs and structurally normal heart. Data were obtained at baseline at the 12th month of follow-up (sixth month after RSD or adjustment of antiarrhythmic dosage). In RSD group, we observed a significant decrease in the number of polymorphic PVCs from baseline 36,091 ± 3327 to 3, 6, 7 (first month after RSD, without drugs), and 12 months (sixth month after RSD, without drugs) of follow-up, 31,009 ± 3251, 20,411 ± 3820, 7701 ± 1549, and 1274 ± 749, respectively, in all patients, P 0.0001 to all the comparisons between the mean of each time point with the mean of every other time point. No changes in mean 24-h ABPM and renal function in both groups were observed at 12th month of follow-up. However, 24-h Holter mean heart rate decreased in control group at 12th month of follow-up, which did not happen with the RSD group. At the sixth month post-RSD in comparison to baseline, a significant reduction in the number of polymorphic PVCs (∆ = -34,817 ± 3590, P 0.0001) was observed, as well as, in CRM parameters such as left ventricular mass/body surface area (∆ = -5.4 ± 2.1 g/mPolymorphic PVCs refractory to medication therapy may be modifiable by RSD in patients without structural heart disease. Although encouraging, our data are preliminary and need to be validated in a large population and in long term.

Although several proposals for an infrageneric classification of Epidendrum have been proposed, none is congruent with the most recent molecular analysis. One of the known informal groups proposed in the genus, the “Arbuscula group,” is characterized by an upright sympodial habit in which successive new stems emerge internodally from the leaf sheath and a few (2–4) leaves are aggregated at the apex of each stem. Four species from this group have been recorded in Brazil; these could be called the “E. proligerum complex”, which is characterized by an inflated cuniculus, forming a vesicle in the ventral portion of the pedicellate ovary. A fifth species from this group with whitish flowers, herein described as E. niveum, was found in the Atlantic Forest of Sao Paulo state, Brazil. It is similar to E. proligerum but differs by its thinner stems; whitish flowers; 7–veined sepals; patent petals, that are 5-veined and laterally strongly revolute lip. It is illustrated and its affinities with allied species are discussed.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T15:29:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-04-01 Fundacao Araucaria Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) In this paper, we report the oxidation kinetics of the Direct Red 23 diazo dye through the UV irradiation of an aqueous suspension of zinc/cobalt mixed oxide semiconductor at 30 A degrees C. The zinc and cobalt mixed oxide was prepared by the thermal decomposition of their oxalates, containing 5, 10, and 20 % (w/v) cobalt and calcined at 400 A degrees C for 12 h. The characterization of these oxides was performed by X-ray diffraction, thermal and thermo-gravimetric analysis, X-ray dispersive energy spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and textural analysis to understand the physical and chemical behavior of these materials. The suspension, formed by synthesized oxide and the Direct Red 23 diazo dye, was kept for 60 min in the dark and, subsequently irradiated during 210 min. The decolorization rate constant, k (obs) , was determined under pseudo-first order conditions, maintaining the semiconductor concentration much larger than the diazo dye concentration, using the maximum Direct Red 23 absorbance at 503 nm, and plotting the natural logarithm as a function of irradiation time at 30 A degrees C. All the synthesized mixed oxides displayed higher photocatalytic activity in comparison to commercial zinc oxide. From these, the oxide containing 5 % cobalt showed the highest photocatalytic activity, resulting in a rate constant for the Direct Red 23 diazo dye equivalent to 14.0 x 10(-3) min(-1) or 93 % decolorization at 30 A degrees C. Univ Estadual Londrina, Dept Chem, Lab Proc Oxida, Caixa Postal 10011, BR-86057970 Londrina, Parana, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Engn, Sao Paulo, Bauru, Brazil Univ Estadual Centro Oeste, Dept Chem, Guarapuava, Parana, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Engn, Sao Paulo, Bauru, Brazil Fundacao Araucaria: 22850/2011

This study aimed to optimize and validate an analytical method for extraction, detection, and quantification of haloxyfop-methyl, procymidone, and linuron pesticides in carrot samples using solid–liquid extraction methods and low temperature partition (SLE-LTP), accompanied by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For SLE-LTP technical optimization, we utilized a complete factorial planning, which had as its variables, agitation time, freezing time, and the correct sample mass/extracting solution volume ratio. The organic extract obtained was analyzed by GC-MS. To test the performance of this procedure, the method was validated and applied to the monitoring of pesticide residues in 20 samples of carrot produced in Alto Paranaíba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The proposed method showed linearity between 0.5 and 3.5 mg·kg^−1 with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. The quantification limits were 0.48 mg·kg^−1 for haloxyfop-methyl, 0.69 mg·kg^−1 for linuron, and 0.65 mg·kg^−1 for procymidone, values below the maximum residue limit provided by international legislation of 1.0 mg·kg^−1 for linuron and procymidone. The use of haloxyfop-methyl is not approved in the cultivation of carrot. The recovery percentages were between 90 and 110 %, with a coefficient of variation of less than 12 %. Ten percent of the carrot samples monitored showed residues of linuron and procymidone in concentrations exceeding those permitted by Brazilian law.

Photoelectrochemical properties of p-nickel oxide (NiO) thin film deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode, by combination of co-precipitation in aqueous media along with the dip-coating process, were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques in sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) electrolyte solution. The electrochemical characterization measurements have shown that the FTO/p-NiO electrode presents sensitivity to UV light, as observed by the increased photo-induced current, exposed to a more negative potential. The photoelectrochemical parameters obtained were photocurrent response time (∆t1), photocurrent decay time (∆t0), and photocurrent density stability (jph, jlight on − jlight off). Besides, this electrode shows excellent performance for methylene blue degradation under UV light irradiation condition, with estimated kobs value of 170 × 10−4 min−1, which is nine times higher than the dark condition and about three times higher than NiO powder catalyst. Results presented here allow concluding that the p-NiO thin film stands as an important electrode material with technological potential to be used directly in environmental preservation.

Cowpea Bean belongs to the Vigna unguiculata species and arouses interest because it has great climate adaptation and nutritional qualities. It is frequently found in the African continent and in Brazilian North and Northeast regions. It is a legume that needs to be cooked for its usual consumption. The main purpose of this study was the investigation of the lipid profile and thermal behavior of the oil from raw and cooked cowpea beans. The fatty acid composition of this oil indicates that there is a predominance of polyunsaturated fatty acids with ~37 % linoleic acid and 24 % α-linolenic acid, against ~25 % of saturated fatty acids (mostly palmitic). Details concerning the thermal behavior of these oils were evaluated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), under nitrogen and synthetic air atmospheres. The kinetic parameters were evaluated from several heating rates with sample mass of 5 and 20 mg in open crucibles under synthetic air and nitrogen atmospheres. The obtained data were evaluated with the iso-conversional kinetic method, where the values of activation energy (E a/kJ mol−1) were evaluated in function of the conversion degree (a). The results indicate that the kinetic behavior of the cooked oil under nitrogen and synthetic air atmospheres are different, which was attributed to the several sample masses used. In addition, this oil also was evaluated by DSC from 25 to −60 °C, where it was verified a phase transition behavior.

D-Dimer is a biomarker of fibrin formation and degradation. While a D-dimer within normal limits is used to rule out the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among patients with a low clinical probability of venous thromboembolism (VTE), the prognostic association of an elevated D-dimer with adverse outcomes has received far less emphasis. An elevated D-dimer is independently associated with an increased risk for incident VTE, recurrent VTE, and mortality. An elevated D-dimer is an independent correlate of increased mortality and subsequent VTE across a broad variety of disease states. Therefore, medically ill subjects in whom the D-dimer is elevated constitute a high risk subgroup in which the prospective evaluation of the efficacy and safety of antithrombotic therapy is warranted.

The calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is an ornamental plant with growing acceptance in the market place that shows thermal constraints during planting. This study aimed to analyse its biological cycle in growing degree days (GDD) to determine the best time for planting and production of flower stalks. Rhizomes were planted in pots during all four seasons, and the pots were kept in a greenhouse. Growth analysis and gas exchange measurements were performed every 30 days. Rhizomes planted in the fall and summer showed greater shoot growth, a larger root system and increased production of flower stalks, and they remained in the vegetative phase longer before the onset of flowering, attaining a lower GDD value. Rhizomes planted in winter and spring matured early, which resulted in a higher GDD value and a decrease or lack of flower stalk production during this period. Calla lily rhizomes planted in the fall and summer showed higher water-use efficiency, light-use efficiency and net photosynthesis. It is possible to characterise the stages of development according to gas exchange. The calla lily must be cultivated with an irradiance of 250–400 µmol m−2 s−1 in a temperature range of 25–28 °C during the initial growth phase (up to 1,000 GDD). Thereafter, the temperature range should be reduced to between 13 and 15 °C until 3,500 GDD are reached, which was found to enable increased flower stalk production.