490 research outputs found
Polymer-Assisted Graphite Exfoliation: Advancing Nanostructure Preparation and Multifunctional Composites
Exfoliated graphite (ExG) embedded in a polymeric matrix represents an accessible, cost-effective, and sustainable method for generating nanosized graphite-based polymer composites with multifunctional properties. This review article analyzes diverse methods currently used to exfoliate graphite into graphite nanoplatelets, few-layer graphene, and polymer-assisted graphene. It also explores engineered methods for small-scale pilot production of polymer nanocomposites. It highlights the chemistry involved during the graphite intercalation and exfoliation process, particularly emphasizing the interfacial interactions related to steric repulsion forces, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, π-π stacking, and covalent bonds. These interactions promote the dispersion and stabilization of the graphite derivative structures in polymeric matrices. Finally, it compares the enhanced properties of nanocomposites, such as increased thermal and electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications, with those of neat polymer materials
Monitoring of the Canales Dam and Its Control During Construction Period
This paper presents a study of the stress-deformation behaviour of the Canales Dam (Granada) during construction. The basis for this study has been the three dimensional (3D) finite elements method with hyperbolic material response. The analytical procedure used is presented and the study concludes with a comparative study of the results obtained from the calculation programme used and monitoring system\u27s measurements
Factores que influyen en la realizaciĂłn del Examen de Papanicolaou en mujeres de 18 a 64 años consultantes de la ClĂnica Municipal de Villarrica
La polĂtica de salud en nuestro paĂs pone Ă©nfasis en la equidad, universalidad y la diversidad, por ello, desde un enfoque de gĂ©nero, los posibles resultados obtenidos en el proyecto beneficiarán de forma directa a las mujeres del distrito de Villarrica y de forma indirecta, a las mujeres del paĂs, ya que los resultados podrán ser comparados con situaciones dadas en otras regiones sanitarias.CONACYT - Consejo Nacional de Ciencias y TecnologĂaPROCIENCI
Anthropozoonotic parasites circulating in synanthropic and pacific colonies of South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens): non-invasive techniques data and a review of the literature
Since late 1970s, the southern Chilean city Valdivia constitutes home for a unique bachelor group of South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), initially descendant from colonies at the Pacific coast, but now directly living in a freshwater habitat in close proximity to human population and a vast amount of wild and domestic animal species. In the framework of a parasitological monitoring program, 115 individual fecal samples were collected from synanthropic South American sea lions between March and May 2018. For comparative reasons, 79 individual fecal samples from two free-living O. flavescens colonies at the Pacific coast were also sampled. Coproscopical analyses revealed the presence of nine different parasite taxa in individual fecal samples, including two protozoan (Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp.) and seven metazoan parasites (Anisakidae gen. spp., Diphyllobothriidae gen. spp., Ogmogaster heptalineatus, Trematoda indet. type 1, Trematoda indet. type 2, Otostrongylus circumlitus, and Parafilaroides spp.), and morphological and molecular characterizations of adult helminths confirmed identification of following species: Anisakis simplex/A. pegreffi, Pseudoterranova cattani, Contracaecum ogmorhini, and Adenocephalus pacificus. For the first time, the results of the current study show the presence of zoonotic relevant Giardia- and Cryptosporidium-infections in two free-ranging colonies of South American sea lions apart from human settlement. Furthermore, a detailed literature search of previous publications on the endoparasite fauna of South American sea lions was conducted, revealing reports of at least 50 protozoan and metazoan parasite taxa including findings of the current study. Thereby, at least 25 of reported taxa (50%) have been recorded to bear zoonotic potential. The present study illustrates a successful application of non-invasive screening methods and their applicability in the field of marine mammal parasitology, bringing new insights into the endogenous parasite fauna of South American sea lions in Southern Chile, including anthropozoonotic protozoan and metazoan taxa
Tailor-made poly(vinylidene sulfide)s by Rh(I)–NHC catalyzed regioselective thiol-yne click polymerization
The [Rh(μ-Cl)(IPr)(η2-coe)]2/pyridine system efficiently catalyzes the polyhydrothiolation of a series of dialkynes with dithiols, producing sulfur-rich poly(vinylidene sulfide)s with a typical Mw in the range 20.000–124.000 and vinylidene content of 75–87%. A combination of flexible aliphatic dithiols, including 1,6-hexanedithiol and 2,2′-(ethylendioxy)diethanethiol, and the rigid aromatic dithiol 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol, with rigid aromatic dialkynes, 1,3-diethynylbenzene and 1,4-diethynylbenzene, and flexible dialkynes, including propargyl ether and 1,7-octadiyne, have been used to prepare poly(vinylidene sulfide)s. The copolymerization of flexible dithiols with rigid aromatic dialkynes or vice versa results in high molecular weight polymers, Mw up to 259.000, with low polydispersities. However, polyhidrothiolation of flexible dialkynes with flexible dithiols is much less efficient and usually results in the formation of oligomers. The interplay of the IPr and pyridine ligands on the RhCl(IPr)(py)(η2-coe) catalyst, which controls the regioselectivity of the alkyne insertion step towards the branched vinyl sulfide, is key in the preparation of these poly(vinylidene sulfide)s
Analysis of Implementation the Evaluation of Guidance and Counseling Program at Senior High Schools of Singkawang
Focus of this study are (1) describe and analyze the implementation of the guidance and counseling program, (2) find some factors inhibiting the implementation of the guidance and counseling program. This study uses qualitative methods; using interview data collecting technique, tested its validity through triangulation. Subjects in this study are all teachers of guidance and counseling in the Senior High School of Singkawang as many as 10 people as well as principals and supervisors as the informants with the total of 11 people. Results (1) the implementation of evaluation of guidance and counseling program by the teachers still has many weaknesses on each phase of the evaluation, such as not understanding the evaluation models of the guidance and counseling program, how to apply them, and monitoring process that is not done in deeply and in detail, (2) Some factors inhibiting the implementation of the evaluation of guidance and counseling program are lack of knowledge and understanding of the evaluation of guidance and counseling program in the schools, lack of interest in developing professional competencies, and lack of guidance to the teachers in implementing the guidance and counseling evaluation program
Nationwide Seroprevalence Survey of Angiostrongylus vasorum-Derived Antigens and Specific Antibodies in Dogs from Colombia
Angiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiopulmonary nematode, causing several clinical manifestations in dogs, e.g., severe respiratory signs, coagulopathy, and gastrointestinal or neurological signs. In the last decades, this parasite has been described to spread and emerge in Europe and North America. Scant studies on A. vasorum occurrence in South America exist. Recently, A. vasorum was detected in gastropod intermediate hosts in Colombia, where data on definitive host prevalence, e.g., dogs and wild canids, are still limited. Therefore, the sera of 955 dogs, varying in age and breed from seven different departments all over Colombia, were collected and analysed for A. vasorum antigens and parasite-specific antibodies by ELISA. In total, 1.05 % (n = 10; 95 % CI 0.40–1.69) of the samples were antigen-positive and 2.62 % (n = 25; 95 % CI 1.61–3.63) were antibody-positive. These results confirm the presence of A. vasorum in Colombia, although positive results in antigen and antibody reactions in the same dog were not detected. This study is the first large-scale survey on A. vasorum seroprevalences in dogs from Colombia
Prevalence and molecular identification of zoonotic Anisakis and Pseudoterranova species in fish destined to human consumption in Chile
Zoonotic larvae of the family Anisakidae found in several fish species represent a serious risk in public health since they may cause food-borne anisakidosis in humans. Chile has culinary preferences including eating raw fish in many traditional preparations. In the present study, a total of 180 fish specimens representing three different fish species, i.e., Chilean hake (Merluccius gayi), snoek (Thyrsites atun), and sea bream (Brama australis), were caught at central coast of Chile. Parasitological examination was performed on musculature and abdominal cavity for subsequent extraction and quantification of anisakid larvae. Estimation of infection parameters, such as prevalence, was performed indicating 100% (CI: 0.94-1.0) prevalence of anisakid L3 in Chilean hakes and snoeks. Moreover, sea breams reached a prevalence of 35% (CI: 0.23-0.48). Prevalence of anisakid larvae in muscle was also analyzed showing values of 18.6% (CI: 0.097-0.309) in Chilean hakes, 15% (CI: 0.07-0.26) in snoeks, and 1.7% (CI: 0-0.089) in sea breams. Meanwhile, prevalence of anisakid larvae in internal organs showed highest values for peritoneum (100% and 83.3%) for snoeks and Chilean hakes, respectively, for liver (96.7%) and gonads (86.6%) in Chilean hakes, and for intestine (98.3%) in snoeks. Molecular analysis of collected anisakid L3 unveiled presence of two potentially zoonotic nematode species, i.e., Pseudoterranova cattani and Anisakis pegreffii. P. cattani was found in Chilean hakes and snoeks being the first molecular host species report for Chilean snoeks. Besides, A. pegreffii was also identified in these species being the first molecular report on this regard. These findings are relevant for better understanding of epidemiology of anisakiasis in Chilean coasts and for public health issues considering potential risk of human population due to its culinary preferences in eating raw fish
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