PET Foams Surface Treated with Graphene Nanoplatelets: Evaluation of Thermal Resistance and Flame Retardancy

In this work, fire-retardant systems consisting of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and dispersant agents were designed and applied on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foam. Manual deposition from three different liquid solutions was performed in order to create a protective coating on the specimen’s surface. A very low amount of coating, between 1.5 and 3.5 wt%, was chosen for the preparation of coated samples. Flammability, flame penetration, and combustion tests demonstrated the improvement provided to the foam via coating. In particular, specimens with PSS/GNPs coating, compared to neat foam, were able to interrupt the flame during horizontal and vertical flammability tests and led to longer endurance times during the flame penetration test. Furthermore, during cone calorimetry tests, the time to ignition (TTI) increased and the peak of heat release rate (pHRR) was drastically reduced by up to 60% compared to that of the uncoated PET foam. Finally, ageing for 48 and 115 h at 160 °C was performed on coated specimens to evaluate the effect on flammability and combustion behavior. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images proved the morphological effect of the heat treatment on the surface, showing that the coating was uniformly distributed. In this case, fire-retardant properties were enhanced, even if fewer GNPs were used

RPGs digitais educativos produzidos pelo grupo de pesquisa REDE-EDUCA: Uma breve descrição de suas metodologias e aplicabilidades

This article deals with the methodology, the applicability and the relevance of the digital RPG games produced by the research group REDE-EDUCA from the University of the State of Bahia (UNEB). It aims to describe these digital educational resources in a pedagogical and critical manner, analyzing their evolution since the creation of RPGs. The differential of these educational games is based on Vygotskian theories and on the methodological approaches of Design-Based Research (DBR), which enables the construction of playful instruments that allow for problem resolution by means of action planning and decision making. Furthermore, this study lists some of the RPGs developed by the group, highlighting their contexts and purposes; each one presents different scenarios, but all share the same goal: to develop the players's ability to reflect critically about the topic in question.Este artigo trata a metodologia, a aplicabilidade e a relevância dos jogos de RPG digitais produzidos pelo grupo de pesquisa REDE-EDUCA da Universidade do Estado da Bahia (UNEB). O seu objetivo é compreender estes recursos digitais educativos de maneira pedagógica e crítica, analisando-os desde a época em que o RPG foi criado. O diferencial desses jogos educativos está baseado nas teorias vigotskianas e nas abordagens metodológicas Design-Based Research (DBR) que possibilitam a formação de instrumentos lúdicos que mediam a resolução de problemas por intermédio de planejamento de ações e tomadas de decisões. Além disso, este estudo lista alguns dos RPGs desenvolvidos pelo grupo, trazendo à tona seus contextos e suas finalidades, na qual cada um traz enredos diferentes, mas com um mesmo propósito: desenvolver nos jogadores a reflexão e a criticidade sobre o tema abordado

No regrets: Acting in anticipation of flooding in Somaliland

The Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action funded this researchFrom July 2021 to June 2024 Save the Children implemented a research programme in Somaliland and Kenya to generate evidence on how to make anticipatory more effective and impactful in mitigating the impact of shocks and food crises. While acceptance and use of anticipatory action have grown, there are still knowledge gaps about how to implement it effectively and about its impact – particularly in protracted-crises contexts such as Somaliland. There is a major evidence gap relating to the costs of inclusion and exclusion errors in contexts of high uncertainty. For example, flash flooding is difficult to forecast with high levels of accuracy, meaning that prediction errors are relatively likely compared to other contexts. In Somaliland, therefore, the project was implemented in a context in which the benefits to acting early may be large, but where assistance may be delivered to households who end up not being affected by the predicted shock. Understanding this trade-off is an important element in assessing the overall benefits of real-world implementation of anticipatory action

Caracterización e inmovilización de pectinasa comercial

A través de los avances de la biotecnología se han estudiado las enzimas, las cuales pueden acelerar procesos químicos generando así ahorro de tiempo, dinero y esfuerzo a nivel productivo. En el presente trabajo, se caracterizó una pectinasa comercial y a su vez se evaluó la encapsulación por atrapamiento en alginato. El método de inmovilización por alginato de sodio al 2% donde se atrapó la enzima en pequeñas cápsulas; para evaluar la variación de azúcares reductores por método DNS que es un indicador del rompimiento de los enlaces glucosídicos, lo cual es fundamental en la clarificación de jugos o vinos. La inmovilización por medio de alginato de sodio generó un aumento en los azúcares reductores de la matriz alimentaria. Estos resultados permiten la utilización y la incorporación de la enzima a diversos procesos e industrias como la de clarificación

Role of interferon lambda 4 and ALT levels in optimising treatment of HCV for patients with low-stage fibrosis

The use of new anti-HCV drugs is currently limited by high costs and dual therapy; pegylated interferon and ribavirin (peg-IFN+RBV) still represents the only affordable treatment in patients with low-stage fibrosis. We evaluated the role of Interferon lambda4 (IFNL4) polymorphisms and its combination with on-treatment alanine transaminase (ALT) modification in predicting sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV genotype 1 and 4 patients with low-stage fibrosis. We retrospectively analysed 124 patients with Metavir ≤F2, who received dual therapy at our centre. Genotyping for IFNL4 polymorphisms was assessed at baseline, as well as ALT levels (baseline and week 2, 4, 12 and 24 of therapy). Thirty patients (24%) were TT/TT, 74 (60%) TT/DG and 20 (16%) DG/DG. The SVR rate was significantly higher in TT/TT genotype compare to TT/DG and DG/DG (97% vs. 53% and 50%, respectively, p=0.001). Patients that achieved a 60% reduction of ALT baseline value after 4 weeks of therapy had a significantly higher SVR rate (94% vs. 52%, p<0.001). Factors significantly associated with SVR were TT/TT genotype (p=0.029), RVR (p=0.019) and 60% ALT reduction at 4 week of therapy (p=0.005). The absence of both TT/TT genotype and 60% ALT reduction were negative predictors of SVR (p<0.001). In conclusion, the combined use of IFNL4 polymorphisms and ALT reduction at 4 week of treatment is able to optimize candidates’ selection for peg-IFN+RBV, discriminating those that could still benefit from dual therapy from the ones that need the new regimen

Antifungal drug susceptibility profile of Pichia anomala isolates from patients presenting with nosocomial fungemia

In vitro susceptibility of 58 isolates of Pichia anomala to five antifungal drugs using two broth microdilution methods (CLSI and EUCAST) was analyzed. Low susceptibility to itraconazole was observed. Fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, and caspofungin showed good antifungal activity, although relatively high drug concentrations were necessary to inhibit the isolates.Inst Adolfo Lutz Registro, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Fac Med Sci, Div Infect Dis, Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Catolica Argentina, Fac Med, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv São Paulo, Hosp Clin, Lab Clin Micorbiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Hosp Clin, Hosp Infect Control Dept, LIM 54, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Sirio Libanes, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Dept Internal Med, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Hosp Clin, Dept Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Heterogeneity in Genetic Admixture across Different Regions of Argentina

The population of Argentina is the result of the intermixing between several groups, including Indigenous American, European and African populations. Despite the commonly held idea that the population of Argentina is of mostly European origin, multiple studies have shown that this process of admixture had an impact in the entire Argentine population. In the present study we characterized the distribution of Indigenous American, European and African ancestry among individuals from different regions of Argentina and evaluated the level of discrepancy between self-reported grandparental origin and genetic ancestry estimates. A set of 99 autosomal ancestry informative markers (AIMs) was genotyped in a sample of 441 Argentine individuals to estimate genetic ancestry. We used non-parametric tests to evaluate statistical significance. The average ancestry for the Argentine sample overall was 65% European (95%CI: 63–68%), 31% Indigenous American (28–33%) and 4% African (3–4%). We observed statistically significant differences in European ancestry across Argentine regions [Buenos Aires province (BA) 76%, 95%CI: 73–79%; Northeast (NEA) 54%, 95%CI: 49–58%; Northwest (NWA) 33%, 95%CI: 21–41%; South 54%, 95%CI: 49–59%; p<0.0001] as well as between the capital and immediate suburbs of Buenos Aires city compared to more distant suburbs [80% (95%CI: 75–86%) versus 68% (95%CI: 58–77%), p = 0.01]. European ancestry among individuals that declared all grandparents born in Europe was 91% (95%CI: 88–94%) compared to 54% (95%CI: 51–57%) among those with no European grandparents (p<0.001). Our results demonstrate the range of variation in genetic ancestry among Argentine individuals from different regions in the country, highlighting the importance of taking this variation into account in genetic association and admixture mapping studies in this population

Caracterización psicosocial de deportistas y reconocimiento de la importancia del psicólogo deportivo

Objective. To develop a psychosocial characterization of a group of athletes from the department of Huila-Colombia, and toidentify their perception of the work of sports psychologists. Method. A descriptive, transversal research was conducted, in which817 athletes (72.3% men, average age 17.26 years, [SD = 4.28]) participated. e information was obtained through an ad hocinstrument of self-reporting, validated by experts, keeping the ethical considerations of the case. Results. Signicant associations(p &lt; 0.05) exist between the psychological and emotional factors (mainly anxiety and stress) and cognitive factors (attention,concentration, cohesion, motivation, self-condence and cohesion), with sex, surgery, current job, sports club association,participation in competitions and accompaniment with a sports psychologist as variables; even when many of the respondentsdo not have access to professional sports psychologists, they highlight the importance of their actions to improve performance.Conclusion. e study allows us to have a general overview of the sociodemographic conditions of athletes, as well as theirpsychosocial needs to be strengthened; nevertheless, more rigorous exercises must be carried out that allow establishing, not onlystatistical relationships between the variables reported, but also effective interventions.Objetivo. Desarrollar la caracterización psicosocial de un grupo de deportistas del departamento del Huila (Colombia), e identicarsu percepción acerca de la labor del psicólogo deportivo. Método. Investigación descriptiva, transversal, en la que participaron 817deportistas (72.3% hombres, edad promedio 17.26 años [DE = 4.28]). La información fue obtenida mediante un instrumento adhoc de autorreporte, validado por expertos, guardando las consideraciones éticas del caso. Resultados. Se evidenciaron asociacionessignicativas (p &lt; 0.05) entre los factores psicológicos emocionales (principalmente ansiedad y estrés) y cognitivos (atención,concentración, cohesión, motivación, autoconanza y cohesión), con las variables sexo, sometimiento a cirugías, trabajo actual,asociación a club deportivo, participación en competencias y acompañamiento con psicólogo deportivo. Muchos de los encuestadosno tenían acceso a los profesionales en psicología deportiva, pero resaltaron su importancia para el mejoramiento del rendimientodeportivo. Conclusión. El estudio permitió tener una panorámica general de las condiciones sociodemográcas de los deportistas y de sus necesidades psicosociales. No obstante, se deben llevar a cabo ejercicios más rigurosos que permitan no solo establecerrelaciones estadísticas entre las variables reportadas, sino también realizar intervenciones efectivas

Caracterización psicosocial de deportistas y reconocimiento de la importancia del psicólogo deportivo

Objective: To develop a psychosocial characterization of a group of athletes from the department of Huila-Colombia, and to identify their perception of the work of the sports psychologist. &nbsp;Method: Descriptive, transversal research, in which 817 athletes (72.3% men, average age 17.26 years) participated. The information was obtained through an ad hoc instrument of self-report, validated by experts, keeping the ethical considerations of the case. Results: The respondents show the importance of the management of emotional states (mainly anxiety and stress) and the strengthening of psychological factors (attention, concentration, cohesion, motivation, self-confidence and cohesion), and while is true that even many of them do not have access to professionals in sports psychology, they highlight the importance of their actions for the improvement of sports performance. Conclusion: The study allows us to have a general overview of the sociodemographic conditions of athletes, as well as their psychosocial needs to be strengthened; nevertheless, more rigorous exercises must be carried out that allow not only to establish statistical relationships between the variables reported, but also to carry out convincing interventional exercises.Objetivo. Desarrollar la caracterización psicosocial de un grupo de deportistas del departamento del Huila (Colombia), e identificar su percepción acerca de la labor del psicólogo deportivo. Método. Investigación descriptiva, transversal, en la que participaron 817 deportistas (72.3% hombres, edad promedio 17.26 años [DE = 4.28]). La información fue obtenida mediante un instrumento ad hoc de autorreporte, validado por expertos, guardando las consideraciones éticas del caso. Resultados. Se evidenciaron asociaciones significativas (p &lt; 0.05) entre los factores psicológicos emocionales (principalmente ansiedad y estrés) y cognitivos (atención, concentración, cohesión, motivación, autoconfianza y cohesión), con las variables sexo, sometimiento a cirugías, trabajo actual, asociación a club deportivo, participación en competencias y acompañamiento con psicólogo deportivo. Muchos de los encuestados no tenían acceso a los profesionales en psicología deportiva, pero resaltaron su importancia para el mejoramiento del rendimiento deportivo. Conclusión. El estudio permitió tener una panorámica general de las condiciones sociodemográficas de los deportistas y de sus necesidades psicosociales. No obstante, se deben llevar a cabo ejercicios más rigurosos que permitan no solo establecer relaciones estadísticas entre las variables reportadas, sino también realizar intervenciones efectivas

Exploring the Role of Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors and Their HLA Class I Ligands in Autoimmune Hepatitis

Background Natural killer cells are involved in the complex mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases but few studies have investigated their role in autoimmune hepatitis. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors are key regulators of natural killer cell-mediated immune responses. Methods and Findings KIR gene frequencies, KIR haplotypes, KIR ligands and combinations of KIRs and their HLA Class I ligands were investigated in 114 patients diagnosed with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis and compared with a group of 221 healthy controls. HLA Class I and Class II antigen frequencies were compared to those of 551 healthy unrelated families representative of the Sardinian population. In our cohort, type 1 autoimmune hepatitis was strongly associated with the HLA-B18, Cw5, DR3 haplotype. The KIR2DS1 activating KIR gene and the high affinity HLA-C2 ligands were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. Patients also had a reduced frequency of HLA-Bw4 ligands for KIR3DL1 and HLA-C1 ligands for KIR2DL3. Age at onset was significantly associated with the KIR2DS1 activating gene but not with HLA-C1 or HLA-C2 ligand groups. Conclusions The activating KIR gene KIR2DS1 resulted to have an important predictive potential for early onset of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. Additionally, the low frequency of the KIR-ligand combinations KIR3DL1/HLA-Bw4 and KIR2DL3/HLA-C1 coupled to the high frequency of the HLA-C2 high affinity ligands for KIR2DS1 could contribute to unwanted NK cell autoreactivity in AIH-1