Application of modified membranes in drinking water treatment

This paper presents filtration results obtained with commercial acetate membrane with a pore diameter of 0.45 μm, unmodified and modified with TiO2, bearing in mind drinking water treatment. The experimental filtration set-up that was used consisted in the gravitational filtration system, whereas the accomplished tests that were endured consisted of hydraulic permeability of the modified and unmodified membranes, treatment of polluted water with E. coli bacterium, color removal, turbidity and free chlorine. The results of hydraulic permeability showed similar flux for all membranes at the end of the experiments, between 25 and 30 kg·m-2· h-1. The retention results for color, turbidity and E.coli bacteria are comparable.Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

Effects of coconut granular activated carbon pretreatment on membrane filtration in a gravitational driven process to improve drinking water quality

This study evaluates the performance of a polymeric microfiltration membrane, as well as its combination with a coconut granular activated carbon (GAC) pretreatment, in a gravitational filtration module, to improve the quality of water destined to human consumption. The proposed membrane and adsorbent were thoroughly characterized using instrumental techniques, such as contact angle, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The applied processes (membrane and GAC + membrane) were evaluated regarding permeate flux, fouling percentage, pH and removal of Escherichia coli, colour, turbidity and free chlorine. The obtained results for filtrations with and without GAC pretreatment were similar in terms of water quality. GAC pretreatment ensured higher chlorine removals, as well as higher initial permeate fluxes. This system, applying GAC as a pretreatment and a gravitational driven membrane filtration, could be considered as an alternative point-of-use treatment for water destined for human consumption.Fundação Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Filiação multiparental: Multiparental parenthood

O presente artigo tem como objetivo geral apresentar aspectos gerais da socioafetividade, princípio da afetividade e filiação multiparental. Esta pesquisa parte da análise do reconhecimento jurídico da possibilita que um indivíduo tenha dupla maternidade  ou paternidade, visando legitimar a relação entre pais e filhos que       não são consanguíneos, mas fundado na convivência consagrada pelas ligações afetivas. A metodologia utilizada é de pesquisa qualitativa, através da revisão bibliográfica e mapeamento documental, seguida da abordagem descritiva analítica que traçará a evolução histórico-jurídica de filiação, sendo apontados os principais avanços legislativos e jurisprudenciais alcançados. Por fim, conclui-se que o artigo alcançou o objetivo geral, tendo discorrido sobre o reconhecimento da filiação multiparental, o instituto da socioafetividade e o valor jurídico do princípio da afetivade no direito de família contemporâneo

A RELAÇÃO ENTRE A ENDOMETRIOSE E A INFERTILIDADE FEMININA

  Endometriosis and female infertility are interconnected in complex ways. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after twelve months of regular sexual intercourse, and endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent condition, has a well-established association with difficulty conceiving. Although the exact cause and cause-and-effect relationship remain controversial, endometriosis affects fertility in several ways. Peritoneal lesions, ovarian endometrioma and deep endometriosis negatively influence reproductive health, which can lead to anatomical distortions, endocrine and immunological dysfunctions. Identify the factors of endometriosis that affect female infertility. Data collection was conducted through the following databases: Nursing Database (BDENF), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), PubMed, Latin American Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS). Various types of publications were consulted, including scientific articles, monographs and magazines, with the aim of obtaining relevant information on the topic. The results revealed a substantial correlation between the severity of endometriosis and infertility rates, highlighting the importance of early detection and appropriate management. Additionally, therapeutic interventions such as laparoscopic surgeries and IVF treatments have been associated with improvements in conception rates. The discussion emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary approaches, integrating gynecology and assisted reproduction, to optimize reproductive results in women with endometriosis. In summary, endometriosis presents itself as a significant factor in the occurrence of female infertility, negatively impacting conception. Understanding this relationship is crucial to guide clinical approaches and treatment strategies, aiming to improve the chances of pregnancy in women affected by this condition.A endometriose e a infertilidade feminina estão interligadas de maneira complexa. A infertilidade é definida como a incapacidade de conceber após doze meses de relações sexuais regulares, e a endometriose, uma condição estrogênio-dependente, apresenta associação bem estabelecida com a dificuldade de engravidar. Embora a causa exata e a relação de causa e efeito permaneçam controversas, a endometriose afeta a fertilidade de várias maneiras. Lesões peritoneais, ovário endometrioma e endometriose profunda influenciam negativamente na saúde reprodutiva, podendo levar a distorções anatômicas, disfunções endócrinas e imunológica. Identificar os fatores da endometriose com o acometimento da infertilidade feminina. A coleta de dados, esta foi conduzida por meio dos bancos de dados: Base de Dados em Enfermagem (BDENF), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), PubMed, Literatura Latino-Americana do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS). Foram consultados diversos tipos de publicações, incluindo artigos científicos, monografias e revistas, com o objetivo de obter informações relevantes sobre o tema. Os resultados revelaram uma correlação substancial entre a gravidade da endometriose e as taxas de infertilidade, destacando a importância da detecção precoce e do manejo adequado. Além disso, intervenções terapêuticas, como cirurgias laparoscópicas e tratamentos de fertilização in vitro, foram associadas a melhorias nas taxas de concepção. A discussão enfatiza a necessidade de abordagens multidisciplinares, integrando a ginecologia e a reprodução assistida, para otimizar os resultados reprodutivos em mulheres com endometriose. Em síntese, a endometriose apresenta-se como um fator significativo na ocorrência de infertilidade feminina, impactando negativamente a concepção. A compreensão dessa relação é crucial para orientar abordagens clínicas e estratégias de tratamento, visando melhorar as chances de gestação em mulheres afetadas por essa condição

Spatial analysis of probable cases of dengue fever, chikungunya fever and zika virus infections in Maranhao State, Brazil

Dengue fever, chikungunya fever, and zika virus infections are increasing public health problems in the world, the last two diseases having recently emerged in Brazil. This ecological study employed spatial analysis of probable cases of dengue fever, chikungunya fever, and zika virus infections reported to the National Mandatory Reporting System (SINAN) in Maranhao State from 2015 to 2016. The software GeoDa version 1.10 was used for calculating global and local Moran indices. The global Moran index identified a significant autocorrelation of incidence rates of dengue (I=0.10; p=0.009) and zika (I=0.07; p=0.03). The study found a positive spatial correlation between dengue and the population density (I=0.31; p<0.001) and a negative correlation with the Performance Index of Unified Health System (PIUHS) by basic care coverage (I=-0.08; p=0.01). Regarding chikungunya fever, there were positive spatial correlations with the population density (I=0.06; p=0.03) and the Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) (I=0.10; p=0.002), and a negative correlation with the Gini index (I=-0.01; p<0.001) and the PIUHS by basic care coverage (I=-0.18; p<0.001). Lastly, we found positive spatial correlations between Zika virus infections and the population density (I=0.13; p=0.005) and the MHDI (I=0.12; p<0.001), as well as a negative correlation with the Gini index (I=-0.11; p<0.001) and the PIUHS by basic care coverage (I=-0.05; p=0.03). Our results suggest that several socio-demographic factors influenced the occurrence of dengue fever, chikungunya fever, and zika virus infections in Maranhao State

A list of land plants of Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil, highlights the presence of sampling gaps within this protected area

Brazilian protected areas are essential for plant conservation in the Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. A major challenge for improving conservation actions is to know the plant richness, protected by these areas. Online databases offer an accessible way to build plant species lists and to provide relevant information about biodiversity. A list of land plants of “Parque Nacional do Caparaó” (PNC) was previously built using online databases and published on the website "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil." Here, we provide and discuss additional information about plant species richness, endemism and conservation in the PNC that could not be included in the List. We documented 1,791 species of land plants as occurring in PNC, of which 63 are cited as threatened (CR, EN or VU) by the Brazilian National Red List, seven as data deficient (DD) and five as priorities for conservation. Fifity-one species were possible new ocurrences for ES and MG states

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio