The Cobalt Oxide-Based Composite Nanomaterial Synthesis and Its Biomedical and Engineering Applications

The magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are offering a wide range of applications in medical and engineering fields. Among all the magnetic nanoparticles, cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles and its composite-based nanoparticles are attracting more interest from researchers because of its unique mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties. The aim of this book is to bring together a number of recent contributions regarding the cobalt oxide-based composite nanoparticles from several researchers all over the world. The latest research results, innovations, and methodologies are reported in the book in order to support the discussion and to circulate ideas and knowledge about the applications of these materials in medical and engineering applications. This chapter presents the methodology for the synthesis and characterization and applications of cobalt oxide-based composite nanoparticles. The detailed analysis related to toxicity of these nanocomposite materials is also included in this book chapter

Phylogenetic Evidence for the Existence of Multiple Strains of Rickettsia parkeri in the New World

Free PMC Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5881050/The bacterium Rickettsia parkeri has been reported to infect ticks of the "Amblyomma maculatum species complex" in the New World, where it causes spotted fever illness in humans. In South America, three additional rickettsial strains, namely, Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum, have been isolated from the ticks Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma nodosum, and Amblyomma parvitarsum, respectively. These three strains are phylogenetically closely related to R. parkeri, Rickettsia africae, and Rickettsia sibirica Herein, we performed a robust phylogenetic analysis encompassing 5 genes (gltA, ompA, virB4, dnaA, and dnaK) and 3 intergenic spacers (mppE-pur, rrl-rrf-ITS, and rpmE-tRNAfMet) from 41 rickettsial isolates, including different isolates of R. parkeri, R. africae, R. sibirica, Rickettsia conorii, and strains Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum. In our phylogenetic analyses, all New World isolates grouped in a major clade distinct from the Old World Rickettsia species (R. conorii, R. sibirica, and R. africae). This New World clade was subdivided into the following 4 clades: the R. parkerisensu stricto clade, comprising the type strain Maculatum 20 and all other isolates of R. parkeri from North and South America, associated with ticks of the A. maculatum species complex; the strain NOD clade, comprising two South American isolates from A. nodosum ticks; the Parvitarsum clade, comprising two South American isolates from A. parvitarsum ticks; and the strain Atlantic rainforest clade, comprising six South American isolates from the A. ovale species complex (A. ovale or Amblyomma aureolatum). Under such evidences, we propose that strains Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum are South American strains of R. parkeriIMPORTANCE Since the description of Rickettsia parkeri infecting ticks of the "Amblyomma maculatum species complex" and humans in the New World, three novel phylogenetic close-related rickettsial isolates were reported in South America. Herein, we provide genetic evidence that these novel isolates, namely, strains Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum, are South American strains of R. parkeri. Interestingly, each of these R. parkeri strains seems to be primarily associated with a tick species group, namely, R. parkerisensu stricto with the "Amblyomma maculatum species group," R. parkeri strain NOD with Amblyomma nodosum, R. parkeri strain Parvitarsum with Amblyomma parvitarsum, and R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest with the "Amblyomma ovale species group." Such rickettsial strain-tick species specificity suggests a coevolution of each tick-strain association. Finally, because R. parkerisensu stricto and R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest are human pathogens, the potential of R. parkeri strains NOD and Parvitarsum to be human pathogens cannot be discarded.This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (grant 2011/51979-1 to F.A.N.-B.) and by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior CAPES/PROEX 1841/2016.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Flora Fanerogâmica E Vegetação Do Parque Estadual Do Itacolomi, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Located in the municipalities of Ouro Preto and Mariana, in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero (QF) of Minas Gerais, the Itacolomi State Park (ISP) shelters more than 7,000 ha of remnants of Atlantic Forest and campos rupestres. The QF region has high biodiversity and is being highly impacted, mainly by mining activities. Aiming to organize the available floristic information and to support related research, this study presents the list of phanerogamic species of the ISP and the major vegetation types. This survey was carried out from October/1992 to July/2006, by monthly field trips. Besides authors’ personal collections, other records were assembled from herbarium databank. A total of 1623 taxons belonging to 122 families were listed. The families with higher species richness were Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Melastomataceae, Poaceae and Orchidaceae. The vegetation is represented by campos rupestres (51% of the total area), followed by montane forests (40%) and anthropogenic disturbed areas (9%). The greatest species richness occurs in campos rupestres. Several species are threatened and/or endemic. The knowledge of phanerogamic flora of ISP can help the Management Plan of this Unit of Conservation. It is also a contribution for future-related studies of the flora of ISP, Minas Gerais and Brazil. © 2017, Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP. All rights reserved.171FAPEMIG, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerai

Efficiency, energy and economic analysis of twisted tape inserts in a thermosyphon solar flat plate collector with Cu nanofluids

Heat transfer, friction factor and efficiency of a thermosyphon type flat plate collector with and without twisted tape inserts were analyzed experimentally. Water based Cu nanofluids were used as the absorber fluid to receive the heat from solar radiation into the flat plate collector. The experiments were conducted for volume concentrations of 0.1% and 0.3% and twist ratios of H/D = 5, 10 and 15. Results reveal that the heat transfer rate and efficiency of nanofluids increase with the increase of particle volume concentrations. The Nusselt number of 0.3% nanofluid is enhanced up to 20.46%, and it is further enhanced up to 46.90% with twisted tape insert of H/D = 5 with a maximum friction factor penalty of 1.477-times compared to plain collector. The efficiency of the solar collector with water is 52% and it is enhanced to 58% for 0.3% nanofluid, whereas it is further enhanced to 64% for 0.3% nanofluid with twisted tape insert of H/D = 5. Empirical correlations are proposed based on the experimental data for the friction factor and Nusselt number with a standard deviation of less than ±6.5%. The study indicates that for 100 units of solar flat plate collector the use of 0.1% and 0.3% Cu nanofluids leads to weight savings of 284 kg and 567 kg, respectively. The total weight of 100 units of solar flat plate collector is further saved by 767 kg, 1050 kg and 1250 kg for 0.3% nanofluid with twisted tape inserts of H/D = 15, H/D = 10 and H/D = 5, respectively. The collector cost is reduced by 5.66% and 11.33% for 0.1% and 0.3% nanofluids, and it is further reduced to 25% for 0.3% nanofluid with a twisted tape insert of H/D = 5.publishe

WHO ARE THE TOURISTS SHARING CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA? BEHAVIOUR AND CHARACTERISTICS

Increasingly, tourist information on the Internet comes from the content generated by users, being no longer limited to the communications of tourism professionals and government entities. At the same time, the comments, opinions and reviews made by consumers are the type of information which tourists value the most. This reality means that the Internet has become an extremely valuable source of information for prospective travelers. This study aims to identify and characterize the behavior patterns of tourists on social media during and after their travels, specifically: who are the tourists who create content, what leads them to have this initiative, and what behaviors stand out on each of these platforms. The methodology is based on a questionnaire survey, which was applied to tourists. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, cluster analysis and principal component analysis. It is possible to categorize tourists according to three perspectives regarding use of social media during and after the trip: those who prefer review websites, those who prefer social networks and those who don’t particularly use social media in general

Seasonality of the secretory ducts and essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare Mill. (Apiaceae)

This work aimed to analyze the secretory ducts and the essential oil of the leaves of Foeniculum vulgare in different periods of the year. For this purpose, the anatomic characterization, and histochemical tests of the leaves were performed as well as the comparative anatomy of the secretory ducts. The essential oil was obtained from the leaves and fruits by hidrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer, each analysis was repeated three times for leaves collected during the winter and spring, and for fruits collected in the Summer. The results obtained for the secretory ducts, corresponded to the yield reduction of essential oil in the leaves collected in the end of the spring. The major substance of the essential oil of the leaves and fruits, in all seasons of the year was trans-anetol. Therefore, it was evidenced that the secretory ducts and yield of essential oils are related, and also that the substances are subject to the seasonality, according to the phenologic stage of the plant.Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os ductos secretores e o óleo essencial das folhas de Foeniculum vulgare em diferentes épocas do ano. Para esta finalidade, foram realizados estudos de caracterização anatômica, bem como anatomia comparada dos ductos secretores e testes histoquímicos das folhas. O óleo essencial foi obtido de folhas e frutos, por hidrodestilação em aparelho de Clevenger e analisados quantitativamente e qualitativamente por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massa, realizando-se análises seguidas de três réplicas para folhas coletadas durante o inverno e primavera, e frutos no verão. Os resultados encontrados para os ductos secretores de óleo corresponderam à redução do teor de óleo essencial nas folhas coletadas no final da primavera. O componente majoritário do óleo essencial de folhas e frutos foi o trans-anetol, durante todas as estações do ano. Portanto, evidenciou-se que os ductos secretores e teor de óleo essencial estão relacionados, bem como os constituintes químicos também estão sujeitos a sazonalidade, conforme o estágio fenológico da planta

Aroma precursors of grapes: contribution of variety and vineyard traning system to port wine aroma

In order to evaluate the influence of the vine training system in the composition in terpenes, norisoprenoids and their precursors (carotenoids and glycosidic molecules), these compounds were quantified in grapes and Port wines belonging to two varieties: Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca from Douro Region. The double cordon LYS 2/3 system was compared with the traditional method, the vertical shoot positioning VSP system. Touriga Nacional grapes and wines have higher contents in carotenoids, free and glycosylated fractions of terpenic and norisoprenoids compounds than Touriga Franca. In general, LYS 2/3 training system produced grapes and wines with high content in glycosylated fractions of terpenes and nor-isoprenoids, being more appropriate to the production of Port wines, which are submitted to an aging process

Changes In Sexual Behavior Following A Sex Education Program In Brazilian Public Schoolsm [mudanças No Comportamento Sexual De Adolescentes De Escolas Públicas No Brasil Após Um Programa De Educação Sexual]

This paper describes an evaluation of possible changes in sexual behavior in adolescents who participated in a school-based sex education program in selected public schools in four municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The program is inserted within the context of reproductive rights, deals with risks involved in unsafe sexual practices and focuses on the positive aspects of sexuality. A quasi-experimental design with pre and post-tests and a non-equivalent control group was used to evaluate the intervention. A total of 4,795 questionnaires were included in this analysis. The program succeeded in more than doubling consistent condom use with casual partners and in increasing the use of modern contraceptives during last intercourse by 68%. The intervention had no effect on age at first intercourse or on adolescents' engagement in sexual activities. The sex education program was effective in generating positive changes in the sexual behavior of adolescents, while not stimulating participation in sexual activities.25511681176(2006) Promoting and Safeguarding the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents, , World Health Organization, Geneva: World Health Organization, (Policy Brief, 4. Implementing the Global Reproductive Health Strategy)Ross, J., Godeau, E., Dias, S., Sexual health (2004) Young People's Health In Context: Health Behaviour In School-aged Children (hbsc) Study. International Report From the 2001/2002 Survey, pp. 153-60. , In: Currie C, Roberts C, Morgan A, Smith R, Settertobulte W, Samdal O, et al., editors, Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, (Health Policy for Children and Adolescents, 4)Kirby, D.B., Laris, B.A., Rolleri, L.A., Sex and HIV education programs: Their impact on sexual behaviors of young people throughout the world (2007) J Adolesc Health, 40, pp. 206-17Figueiró, N.M.D., A produção teórica no Brasil sobre educação sexual (1996) Cad Pesqui, (98), pp. 50-63Figueiró, N.M.D., Revendo a história da educação sexual no Brasil: Ponto de partida para construção de um novo rumo (1998) Nuances, 4, pp. 123-33(1998) Temas Transversais: Orientação Sexual, , Secretaria de Educação Fundamental, Ministério da Educação. Parâmetros curriculares nacionais, Brasília: Secretaria de Educação Fundamental, Ministério da EducaçãoPaiva, V., Pupo, L.R., Barboza, R., O direito à prevenção e os desafios da redução da vulnerabilidade ao HIV no Brasil (2006) Rev Saúde Pública, 40 (SUPPL.), pp. 109-19Hughes, J., McCauley, A.P., Improving the fit: Adolescents' needs and future programs for sexual and reproductive health in developing countries (1998) Stud Fam Plann, 29, pp. 233-45Díaz, M., Mello, M.B., Sousa, M.H., Cabral, F., Silva, R.C., Campos, M., Et al., Outcomes of three different models for sex education and citizenship programs concerning knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Brazilian adolescents (2005) Cad Saúde Pública, 21, pp. 589-97(1999) Projeto Educação Afetivo-sexual: Sucessos E Desafios Na Educação Sexual De Adolescentes Da Rede Pública Estadual De Ensino De Belo Horizonte - Relatório Da Avaliação Externa, , Centro de Pesquisas em Saúde Reprodutiva de Campinas/Fundação Odebrecht, Campinas: Centro de Pesquisas em Saúde Reprodutiva de Campinas/Salvador: Fundação OdebrechtCosta, A.C.G., (2000) Protagonismo Juvenil: Adolescência, Educação E Participação Democrática, , Salvador: Fundação OdebrechtAndrade, H.H.S.M., Marques, C.M., Gouveia, M.C., Gregório, Y.M., Atendimento ambulatorial de adolescentes: A experiência do PAIA/ABEB (1996) J Pediatr (rio J), 72, pp. 319-23Cronbach, L.J., Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests (1951) Psychometrika, 16, pp. 297-334Mello, M.B., Fruet, M.S.B., Diaz, M., Silva, R.C., Paiva, V., Avaliação preliminar de impactos de um programa de orientação sexual de longa duração (1999) Anais Do Vii Congresso Brasileiro De Sexualidade Humana, p. 74. , Rio de Janeiro: Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos em Sexualidade HumanaFleiss, J.L., (1981) Statistical Methods For Rates and Proportions, , 2nd Ed. New York: John Wiley and SonsBertrand, J.T., Magnani, R.J., Rutenberg, N., (1996) Evaluating Family Planning Programs: With Adaptations For Reproductive Health, , Chapel Hill: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillHosmer, D.W., Lemeshow, S., (1989) Applied Logistic Regression, , New York: John Wiley and SonsGrunseit, A., Kippax, S., (1997) Impact of Hiv and Sexual Health Education On the Sexual Behaviour of Young People: A Review Update, , Geneva: United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDSKirby, D., (1995) A Review of Educational Programs to Designed to Reduce Sexual Risk-taking Behaviors Among School-aged Youth In the United States, , Santa Cruz: ETR AssociatesKirby, D., (2001) Emerging Answers: Research Findings On Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy, , Washington DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen PregnancyAntunes, M.C., Peres, C.A., Paiva, V., Stall, R., Hearst, N., Diferenças na prevenção da AIDS entre homens e mulheres jovens de escolas públicas em São Paulo, SP (2002) Rev Saúde Pública, 36 (4 SUPPL.), pp. 88-95Magnani, R.J., Gaffikin, L., Aquino, E.M.L., Seiber, E.E., Almeida, M.C.C., Lipovsek, V., Impact of an integrated adolescent reproductive health program in Brazil (2001) Stud Fam Plann, 32, pp. 230-43Taquette, S.R., Vilhena, M.M., Paula, M.C., Doenças sexualmente transmissíveis e gênero: Um estudo transversal com adolescentes no Rio de Janeiro (2004) Cad Saúde Pública, 20, pp. 282-90Oliveira, F.A., Pfleger, V., Lang, K., Heukelbach, J., Miralles, I., Fraga, F., Sexually transmitted infections, bacterial vaginosis, and candidiasis in women of reproductive age in rural Northeast Brazil: A population-based study (2007) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 102, pp. 751-6(1999) Adolescentes, Jovens E a Pesquisa Nacional Sobre Demografia E Saúde: Um Estudo Sobre Fecundidade, Comportamento Sexual E Saúde Reprodutiva, , Bem-Estar Familiar no Brasil, Rio de Janeiro: Bem-Estar Familiar no BrasilAlmeida, M.C., Aquino, E.M., Barros, A.P., School trajectory and teenage pregnancy in three Brazilian state capitals (2006) Cad Saúde Pública, 22, pp. 1397-409Chalem, E., Mitsuhiro, S.S., Ferri, C.P., Barros, M.C.M., Guinsburg, R., Laranjeira, R., Gravidez na adolescência: Perfil sócio-demográfico e comportamental de uma população da periferia de São Paulo (2007) Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública, 23, pp. 177-86Baraldi, A.C.P., Daud, Z.P., Almeida, A.M., Gomes, F.A., Nakano, A.M.S., Adolescent pregnancy: A comparative study between mothers who use public and private health systems (2007) Rev Latinoam Enferm, 15, pp. 799-805. , (Spe