INFLUÊNCIA DA QUANTIDADE DE FIBRAS NA DUREZA E RESISTÊNCIA AO IMPACTO DE COMPÓSITOS HIPS/BAGAÇO DE CANA PARA APLICAÇÃO NA INDÚSTRIA DE PET SHOP

Nos últimos anos houve um grande avanço tecnológico no desenvolvimento de materiais compósitos reforçados com fibras naturais. Esse aumento do interesse das indústrias e grupos de pesquisa em desenvolver e utilizar materiais feitos a partir de matérias primas renováveis se deu principalmente pelo grande apelo mundial para a utilização de produtos naturais e pela preservação do meio ambiente. O presente trabalho visou a caracterização de compósitos reforçados com bagaço de cana em matriz de poliestireno de alto impacto (HIPS), tendo como objetivo uma possível substituição dos materiais utilizados atualmente na indústria de produtos para pet shop. Foram caracterizadas três famílias de compósitos, nas proporções de 10, 20 e 30% (m/m). Os resultados da dureza Shore A indicaram que a adição da fibra de bagaço ao HIPS não acarretou alterações nos valores da dureza nos compósitos quando comparados ao HIPS puro. E os resultados de resistência ao impacto foi possível constatar que a adição da fibra de bagaço ao HIPS acarretou uma diminuição na resistência ao impacto, quando comparados ao HIPS puro

INFLUÊNCIA DO TEOR DE FIBRAS NA RESISTÊNCIA AO IMPACTO DE COMPÓSITOS HIPS/FIBRAS DE COCO VERDE APLICADOS PARA POSSÍVEL APLICAÇÃO NA INDÚSTRIA AUTOMOBILÍSTICA

Existe uma tendência mundial em buscar recursos naturais alternativos em substituição às fibras sintéticas. Diante deste cenário, as fibras naturais vegetais, como por exemplo, a fibra da casca do coco verde, é uma excelente alternativa por possuírem boas propriedades mecânicas e térmicas. Essas fibras, além de seu baixo custo, são biodegradáveis e de fonte renovável. No presente trabalho foram caracterizados compósitos poliméricos de HIPS reforçados com fibras naturais provenientes da casca do coco verde. Foram caracterizadas três famílias de compósitos, nas proporções de 10, 20 e 30% (m/m). Foi possível constatar que a adição da fibra de coco ao HIPS acarretou uma diminuição na resistência ao impacto, quando comparados ao HIPS puro. Dessa forma, com a adição de fibras de coco verde no HIPS obteve-se um material com até 30% menos polímero e com propriedades mecânicas viáveis para determinadas aplicações do HIPS

Featuring High Impact Polystyrene Composites Strengthened with Green Coconut Fiber Developed for Automotive Industry Application

Studies focused on generating products able to reduce environmental impact have been put in place, and those aiming at finding polymeric composites strengthened with natural fibers stand out among them. A composite was strengthened with coconut fibers in the present study, since the generation of coconut residues has increased in Brazil due to coconut water industrialization. The aim of the present study is to process a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) composite strengthened with coconut fiber and to verify its possible application in the automotive industry. Strengthened samples were prepared using coconut fibers in the proportions 10, 20 and 30% fiber to develop such HIPS composite. Analyses were performed in order to set the density, Shore A hardness and impact resistance of the processed composites. It was found that the density and Shore A hardness results in the HIPS did not change due to the addition of coconut fibers. However, it was observed that the impact resistance was reduced because of it. It was noteworthy that the decreased impact resistance did not preclude the use of the HIPS/coconut fiber composite, since it showed that such material can be used in parts free from strong mechanical stress such as those inside the automobiles. The use of coir HIPS also aimed at reducing costs related to the polymer’s consumption and at reusing the waste (coconut husk) from coconut water industries

INFLUÊNCIA DA QUANTIDADE DE CAULIM E DE AGENTE COMPATIBILIZANTE NO ÍNDICE DE FLUIDEZ DE COMPÓSITOS PEAD/CAULIM

Na maioria das vezes os polímeros puros não apresentam as propriedades para atendimento das especificações técnicas, as quais a aplicação final requer. Tais propriedades podem ser aprimoradas através do emprego de cargas minerais e agentes compatibilizantes no processamento de compósitos de matrizes poliméricas reforçados com cargas minerais. O Caulim é um mineral global usado principalmente como pigmento para melhoria da aparência e funcionalidade do papel e tintas, como material de reforço para plásticos, como matéria-prima de cerâmica, como componente de tijolos refratários e produtos de fibra de vidro. No presente trabalho foram caracterizados compósitos poliméricos de PEAD reforçados com Caulim. Foram caracterizadas 4 famílias de compósitos onde foram variadas as proporções de carga mineral e agente compatibilizante. Foi possível constatar que o índice de fluidez apresentou uma pequena redução na maioria dos experimentos em relação ao PEAD puro. Pode-se constatar também a importância do agente compatibilizante na propriedade de índice de fluidez

High anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion rates before the second wave in Manaus, Brazil, and the protective effect of social behaviour measures: results from the prospective DETECTCoV-19 cohort

Background: The city of Manaus, Brazil, has seen two collapses of the health system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We report anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibody seroconversion rates and associated risk factors in Manaus residents before the second wave of the epidemic in Brazil. Methods: A convenience sample of adult (aged ≥18 years) residents of Manaus was recruited through online and university website advertising into the DETECTCoV-19 study cohort. The current analysis of seroconversion included a subgroup of DETECTCoV-19 participants who had at least two serum sample collections separated by at least 4 weeks between Aug 19 and Oct 2, 2020 (visit 1), and Oct 19 and Nov 27, 2020 (visit 2). Those who reported (or had no data on) having a COVID-19 diagnosis before visit 1, and who were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at visit 1 were excluded. Using an in-house ELISA, the reactivity index (RI; calculated as the optical density ratio of the sample to the negative control) for serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies was measured at both visits. We calculated the incidence of seroconversion (defined as RI values ≤1·5 at visit 1 and ≥1·5 at visit 2, and a ratio >2 between the visit 2 and visit 1 RI values) during the study period, as well as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) through cluster-corrected and adjusted Poisson regression models to analyse associations between seroconversion and variables related to sociodemographic characteristics, health access, comorbidities, COVID-19 exposure, protective behaviours, and symptoms. Findings: 2496 DETECTCoV-19 cohort participants returned for a follow-up visit between Oct 19 and Nov 27, 2020, of whom 204 reported having COVID-19 before the first visit and 24 had no data regarding previous disease status. 559 participants were seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at baseline. Of the remaining 1709 participants who were seronegative at baseline, 71 did not meet the criteria for seroconversion and were excluded from the analyses. Among the remaining 1638 participants who were seronegative at baseline, 214 showed seroconversion at visit 2. The seroconversion incidence was 13·06% (95% CI 11·52–14·79) overall and 6·78% (5·61–8·10) for symptomatic seroconversion, over a median follow-up period of 57 days (IQR 54–61). 48·1% of seroconversion events were estimated to be asymptomatic. The sample had higher proportions of affluent and higher-educated people than those reported for the Manaus city population. In the fully adjusted and corrected model, risk factors for seroconversion before visit 2 were having a COVID-19 case in the household (IRR 1·49 [95% CI 1·21–1·83]), not wearing a mask during contact with a person with COVID-19 (1·25 [1·09–1·45]), relaxation of physical distancing (1·31 [1·05–1·64]), and having flu-like symptoms (1·79 [1·23–2·59]) or a COVID-19 diagnosis (3·57 [2·27–5·63]) between the first and second visits, whereas working remotely was associated with lower incidence (0·74 [0·56–0·97]). Interpretation: An intense infection transmission period preceded the second wave of COVID-19 in Manaus. Several modifiable behaviours increased the risk of seroconversion, including non-compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions measures such as not wearing a mask during contact, relaxation of protective measures, and non-remote working. Increased testing in high-transmission areas is needed to provide timely information about ongoing transmission and aid appropriate implementation of transmission mitigation measures. Funding: Ministry of Education, Brazil; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas; Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO.World Health OrganizationRevisión por pare

Hippocampal biomarkers of fear memory in an animal model of generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is highly prevalent and incapacitating. Here we used the Carioca High-Conditioned Freezing (CHF) rats, a previously validated animal model for GAD, to identify biomarkers and structural changes in the hippocampus that could be part of the underlying mechanisms of their high-anxiety profile. Spatial and fear memory was assessed in the Morris water maze and passive avoidance test. Serum corticosterone levels, immunofluorescence for glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the dentate gyrus (DG), and western blotting for hippocampal brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were performed. Immunohistochemistry for markers of cell proliferation (bromodeoxiuridine/Ki-67), neuroblasts (doublecortin), and cell survival were undertaken in the DG, along with spine staining (Golgi) and dendritic arborization tracing. Hippocampal GABA release was assessed by neurochemical assay. Fear memory was higher among CHF rats whilst spatial learning was preserved. Serum corticosterone levels were increased, with decreased GR expression. No differences were observed in hippocampal cell proliferation/survival, but the number of newborn neurons was decreased, along with their number and length of tertiary dendrites. Increased expression of proBDNF and dendritic spines was observed; lower ratio of GABA release in the hippocampus was also verified. These findings suggest that generalized anxiety/fear could be associated with different hippocampal biomarkers, such as increased spine density, possibly as a compensatory mechanism for the decreased hippocampal number of neuroblasts and dendritic arborization triggered by high corticosterone. Disruption of GABAergic signaling and BDNF impairment are also proposed as part of the hippocampal mechanisms possibly underlying the anxious phenotype of this model