Influência da substituição parcial de cimento por cinza ultrafina da casca de arroz com elevado teor de carbono nas propriedades do concreto

Este trabalho descreve o emprego de cinza ultrafina da casca de arroz com elevado teor de carbono em concretos de resistência convencional e de alta resistência. Estudou-se a influência do emprego da cinza ultrafina (10%, 15% e 20% de substituição de cimento, em massa) nas propriedades reológicas (tensão de escoamento e viscosidade plástica), na resistência à compressão (7, 28, 90 e 180 dias) e na penetração acelerada de íons cloreto. Além disso, a elevação adiabática da temperatura de um concreto convencional com 15% de cinza ultrafina foi comparada com a elevação de um concreto de referência. Os resultados indicaram que a cinza ultrafina produz melhorias significativas nas propriedades dos concretos para ambas as classes de resistência

Production of silica gel from residual rice husk ash

This paper presents a study on the production of silica gel in hydrothermal process using residual rice husk ash. Measurements of the chemical composition, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, particle size distribution, and pozzolanic activity were carried out in order to characterize the obtained material, and the optimal silica gel was selected for use as a mineral additive in cement pastes. The compressive strengths were determined for cement pastes containing silica gel (0.0, 2.5 or 5% by mass) in different times. The results indicate that the mixtures containing silica gel showed improved mechanical behavior over all time periods evaluated.FAPEAMCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CNP

Análise comparativa das abordagens cirúrgicas no tratamento de cardiopatias

Em análise a evolução histórica e as inovações na cirurgia cardíaca, este estudo objetiva analisar comparativamente as abordagens cirúrgicas no tratamento de cardiopatias, destacando a transição das técnicas tradicionais de cirurgia aberta para métodos minimamente invasivos como a videolaparoscopia e a cirurgia robótica. Para tanto, procede-se à uma revisão narrativa da literatura, explorando uma gama extensiva de estudos e relatos científicos que ilustram os avanços tecnológicos e seus impactos nos resultados clínicos. Desse modo, observa-se que as técnicas minimamente invasivas oferecem benefícios substanciais, como redução no tempo de recuperação, diminuição do trauma cirúrgico, e menores taxas de complicações e mortalidade perioperatória em comparação com a cirurgia aberta. Estes resultados permitem concluir que a cirurgia minimamente invasiva representa um avanço significativo na prática cardiológica, proporcionando procedimentos mais seguros e eficazes, com menor impacto para os pacientes e melhores prognósticos a longo prazo. Para futuras pesquisas, sugere-se o aprofundamento na análise dos resultados a longo prazo e na integração de novas tecnologias, como inteligência artificial e realidade aumentada, para otimizar ainda mais as práticas cirúrgicas e expandir as possibilidades de tratamento das cardiopatias

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Potential of kaolinitic clay from Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, in the production of pozzolan for high-strength concrete

Este trabalho descreve as etapas de produção e caracterização de uma pozolana a partir de uma argila do município de Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ. A influência de diferentes temperaturas de queima em forno resistivo na atividade pozolânica da argila calcinada foi avaliada no intuito de obter uma pozolana de elevado desempenho. Além disso, quatro concretos foram confeccionados com 0, 5, 10 e 15% de substituição (em massa) de cimento Portland por uma argila calcinada selecionada (produzida a 650 °C). Para essas misturas, ensaios de resistência à compressão foram realizados. Os resultados indicaram que argilas calcinadas pozolânicas podem ser produzidas com a argila estudada. Para todos os teores de substituição, especialmente 15%, a resistência à compressão dos concretos com a argila calcinada a 650 °C alcançou um desempenho superior ao observado para o concreto de referência.This work describes the process of production and characterization of a pozzolan from a clay of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. The influence of different calcination temperatures in an aired electric oven on the pozzolanic activity of the calcined clay was studied, in order to improve the calcined clay’s performance. Moreover, four concretes were produced with 0, 5, 10 e 15% of the Portland cement (in mass) replaced by a selected calcined clay, produced at 650 °C. For these mixtures, compressive strength tests were performed. The results indicated that pozzolanic calcined clays can be produced from the used clay. For all levels of cement replacement, especially for the 15% replacement level, the concretes containing 650 °C calcined clay achieved superior performance in the compressive strength tests compared with the reference mixture