Avaliação do potencial de uso da hidroxiapatita para fertilização de solos

Plants absorb phosphorus from the soil, which has low levels of this element due to the poor solubility of these compounds in soil and high adsorption capacity of the element by soil particles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess, using hydroxyapatite nanoparticles synthesized in the laboratory, the amount of phosphorus available under different conditions. The results showed that the phosphorus compound had highest solubility in hydroxyapatite sintered at 300°C in an oven for 2h and diluted to 0.05M with MilliQ water, corroborating the theory that the stronger the agglomeration of the nanoparticles, the fewer the pores and the poorer their solubility

O DESAFIO DO ENSINO DA LITERATURA: O PAPEL DA MÚSICA COMO ESTRATÉGIA PEDAGÓGICA

Esse artigo objetiva revelar a literatura como fonte de prazer ao leitor, e, que além da leitura e análise teórico/semântica dos textos de literatura, quando em união com a música, pode potencializar o ensino daquela, visando torná-lo mais significativo. Para tanto, é necessário contextualizar o ensino de literatura e discutir a importância da música no contexto escolar; apresentando propostas para este ensino dialogado e intertextual. Foram utilizados os textos poéticos “O velho do Restelo “ – Luís Vaz de Camões, “ Fala do Velho do Restelo ao astronauta” – José Saramago “ e “ Astronauta” – Gabriel Pensador. Realizou-se uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo, com um apoio bibliográfico elaborado a partir de materiais já publicados. Os estilos literários e a canção popular tratam de composições diferentes, mas possuidores de uma relação íntima, quase complementar. A intertextualidade entre as poesias e a letra da música ficam confirmadas, numa condição paródica. Conclui-se que, pode ser muito fácil gostar de música e, dificilmente será encontrado alguém que não aprecie uma canção. Depois destes estudos mais verticalizados, pode-se afirmar que a literatura x música trazem um bem-estar inestimável, despertando a sensibilidade e criatividade dos alunos. Em sala de aula, esta aproximação pode ser muito benéfica e conduzir à aprendizagem de forma mais sensível, fluida e eficaz

Photolumiscent properties of nanorods and nanoplates Y2O3:Eu3+

Nanorods and nanoplates of Y2O3:Eu3+ powders were synthesized through the thermal decomposition of the Y(OH)3 precursors using a microwave-hydrothermal method in a very short reaction time. These powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourrier transform Raman, as well as photoluminescence measurements. Based on these results, these materials presented nanoplates and nanorods morphologies. The broad emission band between 300 and 440 nm ascribed to the photoluminescence of Y2O3 matrix shifts as the procedure used in the microwave-hydrothermal assisted method changes in the Y2O3:Eu3+ samples. The presence of Eu3+ and the hydrothermal treatment time are responsible for the band shifts in Y2O3:Eu3+ powders, since in the pure Y2O3 matrix this behavior was not observed. Y2O3:Eu3+ powders also show the characteristic Eu3+ emission lines at 580, 591, 610, 651 and 695 nm, when excited at 393 nm. The most intense band at 610 nm is responsible for the Eu3+ red emission in these materials, and the Eu3+ lifetime for this transition presented a slight increase as the time used in the microwave-hydrothermal assisted method increases

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

31st Annual Meeting and Associated Programs of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC 2016) : part two

Background The immunological escape of tumors represents one of the main ob- stacles to the treatment of malignancies. The blockade of PD-1 or CTLA-4 receptors represented a milestone in the history of immunotherapy. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors seem to be effective in specific cohorts of patients. It has been proposed that their efficacy relies on the presence of an immunological response. Thus, we hypothesized that disruption of the PD-L1/PD-1 axis would synergize with our oncolytic vaccine platform PeptiCRAd. Methods We used murine B16OVA in vivo tumor models and flow cytometry analysis to investigate the immunological background. Results First, we found that high-burden B16OVA tumors were refractory to combination immunotherapy. However, with a more aggressive schedule, tumors with a lower burden were more susceptible to the combination of PeptiCRAd and PD-L1 blockade. The therapy signifi- cantly increased the median survival of mice (Fig. 7). Interestingly, the reduced growth of contralaterally injected B16F10 cells sug- gested the presence of a long lasting immunological memory also against non-targeted antigens. Concerning the functional state of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), we found that all the immune therapies would enhance the percentage of activated (PD-1pos TIM- 3neg) T lymphocytes and reduce the amount of exhausted (PD-1pos TIM-3pos) cells compared to placebo. As expected, we found that PeptiCRAd monotherapy could increase the number of antigen spe- cific CD8+ T cells compared to other treatments. However, only the combination with PD-L1 blockade could significantly increase the ra- tio between activated and exhausted pentamer positive cells (p= 0.0058), suggesting that by disrupting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis we could decrease the amount of dysfunctional antigen specific T cells. We ob- served that the anatomical location deeply influenced the state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In fact, TIM-3 expression was in- creased by 2 fold on TILs compared to splenic and lymphoid T cells. In the CD8+ compartment, the expression of PD-1 on the surface seemed to be restricted to the tumor micro-environment, while CD4 + T cells had a high expression of PD-1 also in lymphoid organs. Interestingly, we found that the levels of PD-1 were significantly higher on CD8+ T cells than on CD4+ T cells into the tumor micro- environment (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrated that the efficacy of immune check- point inhibitors might be strongly enhanced by their combination with cancer vaccines. PeptiCRAd was able to increase the number of antigen-specific T cells and PD-L1 blockade prevented their exhaus- tion, resulting in long-lasting immunological memory and increased median survival

Study of influence of Sm and Er on PbTiO3 ceramics.

In this work, it was obtained powders and thin films of (Pb1-xLnx)TiO3, Ln = Sm and Er, using a chemical method of synthesis, polymeric precursor method (Pechini). In this way, the synthesis conditions were optimized in order to minimize the formation of secondary phases. (Pb1-xSmx)TiO3, PST and (Pb1-xErx)TiO3, PET powders, with x varying from 0.01 to 0.1, were obtained in pH 7 and calcined at 600°C for 2 and 8 hours in oxygen atmosphere. There was not formation of secondary phase (pyrochlore) up to 4 mol% of Sm. On the other hand, the solubility limit was already reached at the PbTiO3 (PT) lattice, when doped with 4 mol% of Er. The increase of the percentage of dopants favors the beginning of the tetragonal to cubic phase transition. In this transition, up to 2 mol% of dopants, Er is more efficient than Sm and for above that, an inversion of this behavior occurs. It was observed by micro-Raman spectroscopy and DSC that the addition of Sm or Er to the PT causes a decrease of Curie temperature of the material in relation to the pure PT (~ 490°C). PST and PET thin films were obtained by spin coating on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate and heat treated at 600°C for 2 hours for the crystallization of the films. It was observed for both PST and PET films are occurring the beginning of the tetragonal to cubic phase transition, resulting in PT with low tetragonality, with the increase of the dopants concentration. It was also verified that these films are textured in the (001) and (100) family plans with both dopants, being a axis direction favored. The obtained films presented nanometric grain sizes and the addition of dopants (Sm or Er) in the PT lattice resulted in a decrease of the average grain size. In order to improving the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the PST and PET films, it was varied: Sm or Er concentration, number of layers, viscosity of the precursor solution, deposition speed, heat treatment, the bottom electrode and the organic precursor concentration. In the results of electric measurements, it was verified that the Er addition is more efficient than Sm in the increase of the dielectric constant and improvement of ferroelectric properties of the films. It was also observed that the decrease of the tetragonality of the films, with the consequent beginning of the tetragonal to cubic phase transition of the material, there is a reduction of the dielectric constant values and of the remanent polarization for the samples. Using the LaNiO3 like bottom electrode in substitution to the Pt, it was obtained approximated values of dielectric constant, however this substitution resulted in better ferroelectric properties of the films. In spite of obtaining smaller dielectric constant values than those found in the literature, it could be observed that the decrease of the concentration of organic precursors improved the electric properties of the PST and PET films, indicating a dependence relationship of the amount of organic material present in the precursor solution in function of obtaining thin films with satisfactory dielectric and ferroelectric properties.Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisNeste trabalho, realizou-se a obtenção de pós e filmes finos de (Pb1-xLnx)TiO3, com Ln = Sm e Er, utilizando-se um método de síntese química, o método dos precursores poliméricos (método Pechini). Para isto, otimizou-se as condições de síntese de modo a minimizar a presença de fases secundárias. Obteve-se pós de (Pb1- xSmx)TiO3, PST e (Pb1-xErx)TiO3, PET, com x variando de 0,01 a 0,1, em pH 7 e verificou-se, para estes pós calcinados a 600°C por 2 e 8 horas em fluxo de oxigênio, que não houve a presença de fase secundária (pirocloro) até 4% em molde Sm, sendo que para o Er nesta adição, já é atingido o limite de solubilidade na matriz do PbTiO3 (PT). Verificou-se também, por difração de raios X (DRX) e espectroscopia Raman que o aumento da porcentagem dos aditivos, favorece o início da transição de fase tetragonal para cúbica do PT, sendo que até 2% em mol do aditivo, o Er é mais eficiente que o Sm neste processo e que para as adições superiores, há uma inversão de comportamento. Verificou-se por micro-Raman e por calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), que a adição de Sm ou Er ao PT causa uma diminuição da temperatura de Curie do material em relação ao PT puro que é de 490°C. Foram obtidos filmes finos de PST e PET, depositados por spin coating sobre substratos de Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si e tratados termicamente a 600°C por 2 horas para a cristalização. De maneira análoga aos pós, observou-se tanto para os filmes de PST como para os de PET, que está havendo o início da transição de fase tetragonal para cúbica, resultando em PT com baixa tetragonalidade, com o aumento da concentração de dopantes. Verificou-se também, que houve texturização dos filmes nas famílias de planos (001) e (100), para ambos os dopantes. Sendo que, a texturização na direção do eixo a é mais favorecida. Pôdese verificar por microscopia de força atômica, que foram obtidos filmes com tamanhos de grão nanométricos e que a introdução do dopante (Sm ou Er) na matriz do PT resulta em uma diminuição do tamanho médio de grãos dos filmes obtidos. No intuito de melhorar as propriedades dielétricas e ferrelétricas dos filmes de PST e PET, foram variadas: a concentração de Sm ou Er, o número de camadas dos filmes, a viscosidade da solução, a elocidade de deposição, o tratamento térmico, o eletrodo de base e a concentração de precursores orgânicos. Nos resultados de medidas elétricas, verificou-se que a adição de Er é mais eficiente que a de Sm no aumento da constante dielétrica e na melhora das propriedades ferrelétricas dos filmes. Observou-se também, que a diminuição da tetragonalidade dos filmes, com o conseqüente início da transição de fase tetragonal para cúbica do material, diminui os valores de constante dielétrica e de polarização remanescente para os mesmos. Verificou-se que a utilização do eletrodo base de LaNiO3 em substituição ao de Pt forneceu valores próximos de constante dielétrica, porém resultou em melhores propriedades ferrelétricas dos filmes. Apesar de terem sido obtidos valores de constante dielétrica inferiores aos da literatura, pôde-se observar que a diminuição da concentração de precursores orgânicos melhorou as propriedades elétricas dos filmes de PST e PET obtidos, indicando uma relação de dependência da quantidade de matéria orgânica presente na solução precursora, com a obtenção de filmes finos com propriedades dielétricas e ferrelétricas satisfatórias

Study of PbTiO3 (PT) ceramic powers using the polymeric precursor method.

THE STUDY OF PbTiO3 (PT) CERAMIC POWDERS USING THE POLYMERIC PRECURSOR METHOD was started by the preparation of a precursor solution of metallic cations. Citric acid was used as quelation agent and ethylene glycol as esterification and polymerization agent. This solution was submitted to thermal treatment at temperatures about 300°C for the pyrolysis of the obtained polyester. PT crystalline powders were obtained starting from amorphous precursors, varying the calcination conditions as the temperature, the time and the furnace atmosphere. The evolution of the crystallization process of the PT was accompanied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was verified that the beginning of the crystallization of the PT occurs at a temperature below the Curie temperature of the material (~ 490°C). Heat treatments for one hour at 400°C yields PT crystalline and free of secondary phases. It was observed that the formation of the PT phase takes place without the formation of an intermediary carbonate phase that can occur in perovskites obtained by the polymeric precursor method. It was verified that there was no formation of pyrochlore or fluorite intermediary crystalline phase, and the only intermediary phase found was cubic PT in some calcination stages. This indicates that the polymeric precursor method provides the homogenization of the ions at the molecular level, during the synthesis process. Aiming at a better understanding of the crystallization process, a comparison was performed between the amorphous and crystalline powders by means of X-ray absorption, using EXAFS (Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure) and XANES (X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) spectra. It was thus verified that the amorphous powders present a short distance structure formed by sixfold oxygen titanium coordination coexisting with fivefold oxygen titanium coordination. Photoluminescent property at room temperature was detected in the amorphous powders. It was verified by reflectance spectra the presence of a tail and of optical exponential borders which are characteristic of amorphous semiconductors. It was also verified that these tail and borders are sensitive to the temperature and to the time of calcination. With the increase of the degree of crystallization of the material and the consequent ordering of the crystalline phase, this luminescent property disappears. By means of theoretical calculations it was possible to verify that the amorphous powder induces electronic levels in the area of the band gap of the material. This fact favors the recombination of the electron-hole pair, which is possibly the responsible for the photoluminescence.Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisNO ESTUDO DE PÓS CERÂMICOS DE PbTiO3 (PT) UTILIZANDO-SE O MÉTODO DOS PRECURSORES POLIMÉRICOS, foi preparada uma solução precursora de cátions métálicos, empregando-se ácido cítrico como agente quelante e etilenoglicol como agente esterificante e polimerizante. Esta solução, foi submetida ao tratamento térmico, à temperaturas ao redor de 300 C, para a pirólise do poliéster obtido. Os pós de PT cristalinos, foram obtidos a partir de precursores amorfos, variando-se as condições de calcinação como a temperatura, o tempo e a utilização ou não de fluxo de gases. A evolução do processo de cristalização do PT foi acompanhada por difração de raios X (DRX), espectroscopia Raman e espectrofotometria na região do infravermelho (FTIR). Verificou-se que o início da cristalização do PT ocorre a uma temperatura inferior à temperatura de Curie do material (~ 490 C). A partir de 400 C por uma hora de calcinação foi obtido PT cristalino e livre de fases secundárias. Observou-se que a formação da fase PT ocorre sem formação de fase intermediária de carbonato, que pode ser obtida na obtenção de perovisquitas pelo método dos precursores poliméricos. Verificou-se que não houve a formação de fase cristalina intermediária como pirocloro ou fluorita, sendo que só a fase PT cúbica foi encontrada como fase intermedária em alguns estágios de calcinação. Isto indica, que o método dos precursores poliméricos proporciona a homogenidade dos íons em nível molecular, durante o processo de síntese. Para uma compreensão de como ocorre o processo de cristalização, foi realizada uma comparação entre pós amorfos e cristalinos por absorção de raios X, por intermédio de espectros EXAFS (Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure) e XANES (X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure). Com isto, verificou-se que os pós amorfos apresentam uma estrutura à curta distância formada por titânio hexacoordenado por oxigênio coexistindo com titânio pentacoordenado. Foi detectada propriedade fotoluminescente para os pós amorfos à temperatura ambiente, em que se verificou por espectros de reflectância a presença de uma cauda e de bordas ópticas exponenciais características de semicondutores amorfos. Verificou-se que estas caudas e bordas são sensíveis à temperatura e ao tempo de calcinação. Com o aumento da cristalização do material, com a conseqüente ordenação da fase cristalina, esta propriedade luminescente desaparece. Utilizando-se cálculos teóricos foi possível verificar que o pó amorfo, induz a formação de níveis eletrônicos na região da banda gap do material. Fato, que favorece a recombinação do par elétron-buraco, que possivelmente é o responsável pela fotoluminescência

Insight into magnetite nanoparticle phase evolution in solvothermal synthesis through a simple method based on iron chloride and metallic iron.

This paper presents the development and optimization of the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles composed of iron oxides by a solvothermal method with benzyl alcohol using iron(III) chloride hexahydrate as a metallic precursor in the substitution of iron(III) acetylacetonate. The synthesis parameters were studied and varied to obtain a high yield of magnetite. Metallic iron was evaluated as a reducing agent and iron source. Furthermore, the use of urea as a precipitation agent was crucial to increasing the yield of magnetite, at once reducing the acidity of the medium and inducing the precipitation of Fe2+ ions. Longer treatment times and no stirring led to an increase in the yield of magnetite, whose formation process followed the Ostwald step rule. The particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, M¨ossbauer spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, SEM-FEG and VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometry). The phases were quantified by the Rietveld method and M¨ossbauer spectroscopy, and a 97% maximum yield of magnetite was achieved. The polymerization of benzyl alcohol during the solvothermal treatment was shown to play an important role in the nanoparticle capping. The polymerized resin was characterized by FTIR and NMR-1H, and a mechanism for the polymerization reaction was proposed to elucidate the synthetic route and its relationship to particle formation and stability

Evaluation of the catalytic activity of oxide nanoparticles synthesized by the polymeric precursor method on biodiesel production

This paper shows a comparison between different nanostructured oxides, obtained by polymeric precursor method, regarding their activity for biodiesel conversion from oil–methanol mixtures. The basicity/acidity and surface area (SA) of the oxides were taken in account to analyze the catalytic activity in the transesterification reaction. The temperature dependence for the heterogeneous catalysts was analyzed, where only CaO showed activities at 70 °C (∼98% of conversion), while the other oxides, SnO2, ZnO, TiO2, CaTiO3, were observed active only at 150 °C for the reaction parameters adopted. The results revealed that the highest activity observed is not associated to SA only but mainly with the surface basicity. This suggest that, for oxides synthesized by the polymeric precursor method, the surface basicity surpasses the particle size effects in catalysis in a way to promote the transesterification reaction

Effect of tungsten doping on the structural, morphological and bactericidal properties of nanostructured CuO.

Copper oxide (CuO) has been broadly used in different technological and biological applications. However, based on the literature review, there are few reports describing the synthesis of tungsten doped copper oxide and its biological applications, although CuO and W (tungsten) based nanomaterials have been reportedly already synthesized. In this study we synthesized novel CuO and CuO/W (at.1%, 2% and 4%) nanoparticles and explored their tungsten content-dependent bactericide activity. In order to obtain the materials, was used a co-precipitation method which is of low cost. The synthesized materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD); XRD results indicated that only the sample with at.1% of W presented pure Tenorite phase. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) allowed to obtain the band gap energy values; CuO/W (at.2%) sample exhibited the minimum value of 2.62 eV. Grains sizes ranging from 39.78 to 53.47 nm were established through field emission-scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), and these sizes were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Doping with W also influenced the morphology obtained in all cases. BET (Brunauer, Emmett, Teller) analysis allowed to establish an increase in specific surface area and pore size with W doping. The particle size was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The bactericidal properties were tested using well diffusion method for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Bactericide response of CuO nanoparticles was improved by the inclusion of W dopant into the CuO structure, leading to an expansion in the inhibition zone for the CuO/W (at.1%) sample; inhibition halo diameters were 1.5 and 12 mm for CuO and CuO/W (at.1%), respectively. Hence, it was possible to infer the remarkable importance of the crystalline phase, morphology, particle size and specific superficial area of the CuO/W (at.1%) nanoparticles in its bactericide performance. WO3 secondary phase affected the bactericide response of the materials obtained at at.2% and at.4% of tungsten content