Modelagem termodinâmica de uma planta heliotérmica de calhas parabólicas utilizando sais fundidos como fluido de transferência de calor

CIES2020 - XVII Congresso Ibérico e XIII Congresso Ibero-americano de Energia SolarRESUMO: O presente trabalho tem por foco a modelagem termodinâmica de uma planta heliotérmica de calhas parabólicas, com capacidade de 30 MWe, que utiliza sais fundidos como fluido de transferência de calor e armazenamento térmico. O modelo desenvolvido abarcou o funcionamento do campo solar, dos tanques de armazenamento direto e do bloco de potência. O desempenho da planta termossolar foi avaliado a partir da energia elétrica acumulada produzida, do fator de capacidade e da eficiência solar-elétrica mensal e anual. Os resultados obtidos mostram uma geração acumulada anual de 124 GWh, fator de capacidade anual de 47% e eficiência solar-elétrica anual de 20%. Os resultados foram também calculados através do software System Advisor Model (SAM) com diferenças inferiores a 2%, indicando a boa aderência dos resultados de simulação.ABSTRACT: The present work focuses on the thermodynamic modeling of a CSP plant of parabolic troughs, with a capacity of 30 MWe, which uses molten salts as heat transfer fluid and thermal storage. The model developed covered the operation of the solar field, the direct storage tanks and the power block. The performance of the thermosolar plant was evaluated based on the accumulated electric energy produced, the capacity factor and the monthly and annual solar-electric efficiency. The results obtained show an annual accumulated generation of about 124 GWh, annual capacity factor of 47% and annual solar-electric efficiency of 20%. The results were also calculated through the System Advisor Model (SAM) software with differences lower than 2%, thus indicating the proper compliance of the simulation results.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Immunopathogenesis of Chronic Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by destruction of non-mineralized and mineralized connective tissues. The pathogenesis of periodontitis involves a complex interplay between periodontopathogens and the host immunity, greatly influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Failure in the inflammation resolving mechanism leads to establishment of a chronic inflammatory process, resulting in the progressive destruction of bone and soft tissue. The aim of this chapter is to summarize the role of innate and specific immune response involved in pathogenesis of periodontitis. Cells and inflammatory mediators, those participating in inflammatory process of the ligamentous supporting structure and in resorption of alveolar bone, will be presented

Micronutrientes no solo sob diferentes fitofisionomias no Pantanal da Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul.

A paisagem do Pantanal é composta por um mosaico de formações vegetais de aspectos diversos, que compreendem campos inundáveis, cerrado, cerradões e florestas. Aliado ao regime de inundação, os solos têm um papel primordial na diferenciação das comunidades vegetais. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o teor de micronutrientes no solo, nas camadas superficiais, sob diferentes fitofisionomias no Pantanal da Nhecolândia, visando contribuir com elementos para a caracterização dos ambientes do Pantanal. The landscape of the Pantanal is composed of a mosaic of vegetation of different aspects, which include flooded fields, arboreal savannah, forested savannah and forests. Coupled with the system of flood, the soils have a greater role in the differentiation of plant communities. This study aimed to evaluate the content of micronutrients in soil under different vegetation types in the Nhecolandia, aiming to contribute elements to characterize the environments of the Pantanal

Effect of preparation conditions on morphology, drug content and release profiles of poly(hydroxybutyrate) microparticles containing piroxicam

In this study, poly(hydroxybutyrate) microparticles containing piroxicam were prepared by the oil-in-water emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The effects of some process conditions on drug content were determined using a 2³ factorial design. The piroxicam loading efficiency varied from 5.5 to 89.8 %. Hollow and irregular microparticles with drug crystals on their surfaces were obtained when 5 mL of chloroform was used as the internal phase. In the release study, all of the piroxicam was released to the dissolution medium (phosphate buffer pH 7.4) after 8 h. Small spherical microspheres with a rough and porous polymeric matrix were obtained when 20 mL of dichloromethane was used as the internal phase and isopropanol was added to the external aqueous phase. These microspheres controlled the piroxicam release for approximately 50 h. The results demonstrated that it is possible to obtain microparticles with specific characteristics by the optimization of the process conditions.No presente estudo foram preparadas micropartículas de poli(hidroxibutirato) contendo piroxicam pela técnica de emulsão-evaporação do solvente. A influência de alguns parâmetros do processo sobre a eficiência de encapsulação do fármaco foi avaliada por meio de um planejamento fatorial do tipo 2³. A eficiência de encapsulação do piroxicam variou de 5,5 a 89,8%. Micropartículas ocas e irregulares, contendo cristais de fármaco na superfície, foram obtidas quando se utilizou 5 mL de clorofórmio como fase interna da emulsão. Com o ensaio de liberação in vitro evidenciou-se que, após 8 h, todo o fármaco havia sido liberado para o meio. Micropartículas esféricas com superfície externa rugosa e porosa foram obtidas quando se utilizou 20 mL de diclorometano como fase interna e adicionou-se isopropanol à fase externa da emulsão. Essas microesferas foram capazes de controlar a liberação do piroxicam durante 50 h. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que é possível obter micropartículas com características específicas pela otimização das condições empregadas no processo de encapsulação.91492

Vigor de sementes e adubação nitrogenada na produtividade e qualidade fisiológica de sementes de trigo.

A utilização de sementes de qualidade, associada à adubação nitrogenada aplicada em doses e momentos adequados, pode aumentar a produtividade e o potencial fisiológico das sementes produzidas. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do vigor de sementes utilizadas na semeadura associado a combinações de doses e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio sobre a produtividade e a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de trigo. O experimento foi conduzido com a cultivar BRS Gralha-Azul, sob delineamento de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2x7, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram em dois níveis de vigor de sementes (alto e baixo) associados a sete combinações de doses e aplicação da adução nitrogenada (N1- sem N; N2- 40 kg ha-1 de N no perfilhamento; N3- 80 kg ha-1 de N no perfilhamento; N4- 40 kg ha-1 de N na semeadura; N5- 80 kg ha-1 de N na semeadura; N6- 40 kg ha-1 de N na semeadura e 40 kg ha-1 de N no perfilhamento; N7- 20 kg ha-1 de N na semeadura e 60 kg ha-1 de N no perfilhamento). Foram avaliados: germinação, primeira contagem da germinação, comprimento e massa seca de plântulas, emergência de plântulas em areia, índice de velocidade e emergência, condutividade elétrica, massa de mil sementes e produtividade de sementes. A adubação com 20 kg ha-1 de N na semeadura e 60 kg ha-1 de N no início do perfilhamento foi o mais eficiente para a produção de sementes vigorosas da cultivar BRS Gralha-Azul. Sementes com alto vigor apresentam melhor potencial fisiológico. Os níveis de vigor de sementes e as combinações de épocas de aplicação e doses de nitrogênio não alteram a produtividade da cultura e a massa das sementes produzidas.Empregado da Embrapa Trigo na época da publicação

Malaria and other febrile diseases among travellers: the experience of a reference centre located outside the Brazilian Amazon Region

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Malaria is endemic in countries located in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The increasing flow of domestic and international travellers has made malaria a relevant health problem even in non-endemic regions. Malaria has been described as the main diagnosis among travellers presenting febrile diseases after returning from tropical countries. In Brazil, malaria transmission occurs mainly in the Amazon region. Outside this area, malaria transmission is of low magnitude.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the experience in the diagnosis of malaria in a reference centre located outside the Brazilian Amazon Region, emphasizing the differences in clinical and laboratory markers between cases of malaria and those of other febrile diseases (OFD). Medical charts from adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent a thick smear test (TST) for malaria, between January 2001 and December 2014, were retrospectively reviewed.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud A total of 458 cases referred to perform the TST were included. Malaria was diagnosed in 193 (42 %) episodes. The remaining 265 episodes (58 %) were grouped as OFD. The majority of malaria episodes were acquired in the Brazilian Amazon Region. The median time between the onset of symptoms and the TST was 7 days. Only 53 (11.5 %) episodes were tested within the first 48 h after symptom onset. Comparing malaria with OFD, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and reports of fever were more prevalent in the malaria group. Low platelet count and elevated bilirubin levels were also related to the diagnosis of malaria.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud The results indicate that outside the endemic area travellers presenting febrile disease suspected of being malaria underwent diagnostic test after considerable delay. The reporting of fever combined with a recent visit to an endemic area should promptly evoke the hypothesis of malaria. In these cases, specific diagnostic tests for malaria should be a priority. For cases that jump this step, the presence of elevated bilirubin or thrombocytopaenia should also indicate a diagnosis of malaria.This work was supported by the Grant # 2014/05337-6, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

Search for antimicrobial activity among fifty-two natural and synthetic compounds identifies anthraquinone and polyacetylene classes that inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Drug-resistant tuberculosis threatens to undermine global control programs by limiting treatment options. New antimicrobial drugs are required, derived from new chemical classes. Natural products offer extensive chemical diversity and inspiration for synthetic chemistry. Here, we isolate, synthesize and test a library of 52 natural and synthetic compounds for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We identify seven compounds as antimycobacterial, including the natural products isobavachalcone and isoneorautenol, and a synthetic chromene. The plant-derived secondary metabolite damnacanthal was the most active compound with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 13.07 μg/mL and a favorable selectivity index value. Three synthetic polyacetylene compounds demonstrated antimycobacterial activity, with the lowest MIC of 17.88 μg/mL. These results suggest new avenues for drug discovery, expanding antimicrobial compound chemistries to novel anthraquinone and polyacetylene scaffolds in the search for new drugs to treat drug-resistant bacterial diseases

Messages that increase women’s intentions to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy: results from quantitative testing of advertising concepts

Background: Public awareness-raising campaigns targeting alcohol use during pregnancy are an important part of preventing prenatal alcohol exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Despite this, there is little evidence on what specific elements contribute to campaign message effectiveness. This research evaluated three different advertising concepts addressing alcohol and pregnancy: a threat appeal, a positive appeal promoting a self-efficacy message, and a concept that combined the two appeals. The primary aim was to determine the effectiveness of these concepts in increasing women’s intentions to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.Methods: Women of childbearing age and pregnant women residing in Perth, Western Australia participated in a computer-based questionnaire where they viewed either a control or one of the three experimental concepts. Following exposure, participants’ intentions to abstain from and reduce alcohol intake during pregnancy were measured. Other measures assessed included perceived main message, message diagnostics, and potential to promote defensive responses or unintended consequences.Results: The concepts containing a threat appeal were significantly more effective at increasing women’s intentions to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy than the self-efficacy message and the control. The concept that combined threat and self-efficacy is recommended for development as part of a mass-media campaign as it has good persuasive potential, provides a balance of positive and negative emotional responses, and is unlikely to result in defensive or unintended consequences.Conclusions: This study provides important insights into the components that enhance the persuasiveness and effectiveness of messages aimed at preventing prenatal alcohol exposure. The recommended concept has good potential for use in a future campaign aimed at promoting women’s intentions to abstain from alcohol during pregnanc