Optimisation of the green synthesis of Cu/Cu2O particles for maximum yield production and reduced oxidation for electronic applications

Taguchi method with an L8 orthogonal array and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the effect of pH, amount of Cynara scolymus L.(artichoke) extract (AE), copper salt concentration (SC) and temperature (T) on the optimization of green synthesis of copper microparticles with respect to the maximization of the yield production and, for the first time, with respect to the minimization of the oxidation degree of the copper microparticles. Results indicate that pH and AE have greater influence on the Cu/Cu2O microparticles yield. While the pH, AE and T have greater influence on the oxidation degree of the Cu/Cu2O microparticles. XRD confirmed the minimization of Cu2O phase over Cu/Cu2O mixture, reducing Cu2O from 83% to 31%. Spherical particles of 324–711 nm were observed and the electrical resistivity of Cu/Cu2O (69/31 wt%) was 1.52 × 10 −3 Ω.cm.This work was supported by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreements [project TSSiPRO - TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AND SMART INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS, N◦ NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000015]

Probing the relationship between late endogenous ERP components with fluid intelligence in healthy older adults

The world population is rapidly aging, bringing together the necessity to better understand the advancing age. This characterization may be used to aid early diagnosis and to guide individually-tailored interventions. While some event-related potential (ERP) components, such as the P300 and late positive complex (LPC), have been associated with fluid intelligence (Gf) in young population; little is known whether these associations hold for older people. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to assess whether these ERP components are associated with Gf in the elderly. Fifty-seven older adults performed a continuous performance task (CPT) and a visual oddball paradigm while EEG was recorded. Participants were divided into two groups, according to their performance in the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices test: high-performance (HP) and low-performance (LP). Results showed that the HP group, compared to the LP group, had higher LPC amplitudes in the CPT and shorter P300 latencies in the oddball task, highlighting the role of ERP components as a potential electrophysiological proxy of Gf abilities in the elderly.We thank Camara Municipal de Vila Nova de Famalicao (Dr. Rui Baptista and Bruno Gomes), Associacao Geracoes (Dr. Cristiana Oliveira, Clara and Daniela Silva), Santa Casa da Misericordia de Barcelos (Dr. Ricardo Vieira and Dr. Helder Longras), and Fundacao Bomfim (Dr. Raquel Polonia) for hosting the study; all the volunteers for their participation, as well as, Silvia Alves, Carla Barros, Anabela Fernandes and our colleagues from the Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory for all the help during data collection and recruitment. This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [Doctoral Grants No. SFRH/BD/80965/2011 (awarded to ACT) and No. PD/BD/105964/2014 (awarded to DRP)] and by the Bial Foundation (Grant Number #286/16). It was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (Grant Number UID/PSI/01662/2019), through the national funds (PIDDAC). DP was supported by FCT (Grant Number SFRH/BPD/120111/2016). SC was funded by the FCT (Grant Number IF/00091/2015) and COMPETE 2020 (Grant Number PTDC/PSI-ESP/29701/2017)

Characterization of functional single jersey knitted fabrics using non-conventional yarns for sportswear

Eight functional single jersey plain knitted fabrics have been developed in order to assess a quantitative analysis of various comfort-related properties in terms of thermal control, air and water vapor permeability, wickability, coefficient of kinetic friction and antimicrobial efficiency, using eight different commercially available functional yarns: Polyester Craque and viscose Craque conventional yarns as controls; Finecool and Coolmax polyester yarns for moisture management and quick drying; Holofiber polyester yarns containing an optical responsive material that the producer claims to improve body oxygenation; Airclo polyester hollow yarns for efficient control of body temperature; and, finally, polyester Trevira and viscose Seacell for antimicrobial activity. According to the results, Coolmax for moisture management, Airclo for thermal control and Seacell for antimicrobial activity present the best performances as technical textiles for sportswear for the respective specific functional property.The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Jefferson M Souza acknowledges CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil (Proc. n 8976/13-9). Andrea Zille acknowledges FCT funding from Programa Compromisso para a Ciência 2008, Portugal, FEDER funding from the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade-COMPETE and national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136 and UID/CTM/00264

Incidência e preditores de gestação em mulheres com HIV/Aids no Rio de Janeiro

OBJETIVO: Identificar incidencia y predictores de la primera gestación entre mujeres con VIH/Sida. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo de cohorte conducido en Rio de Janeiro, Sureste de Brasil, entre 1996 y 2003. El estudio incluyó 225 mujeres acompañadas hasta la primera gestación o hasta el primer evento considerado censura (histerectomía, ligadura tubárica, menopausia, 50 años de edad, pérdida de acompañamiento, óbito o final de diciembre de 2003). Se estimaron las tasas de incidencia de gestación y de aborto, y se usaron modelos de riesgos proporcionales de Cox para identificar las características de la visita de inclusión asociadas con el riesgo de gestación. RESULTADOS: Las mujeres fueron acompañadas por 565 persona/años, con promedio de acompañamiento de 3 años por mujer. La edad promedio fue de 32 años (DP:7), y 54,7% eran blancas. Sesenta gestaciones fueron observadas en 39 mujeres y 18 resultaron en abortos inducidos (tasas de incidencia de 6,9% y 2,1% mujeres/año, respectivamente). Las gestaciones repetidas ocurrieron en 33,3% de las mujeres (13/39). Fue observado el mayor riesgo de gestación entre mujeres jóvenes (HR=3,42; IC 95%:1,69;6,95) y entre aquellas que vivían con sus parejas (HR=1,89; IC 95%: 1,00;3,57). El menor riesgo de gestación estuvo asociado a la mayor escolaridad (HR=0,43; IC95%:0,19;0,99) y al uso de terapia antirretroviral (HR=0,61; IC95%:0,31;1,17). CONCLUSIONES: La incidencia de gestación en la cohorte fue menor al compararse con aquella observada en la población general. Características sociodemográficas deben ser consideradas en el manejo de los deseos reproductivos de mujeres VIH-positivas en edad reproductiva. Los programas de VIH/SIDA deben incluir consejos reproductivos y contraceptivos para prevenir la transmisión del VIH para sus parejas y prole.OBJETIVO: Identificar incidência e preditores incidência da primeira gestação entre mulheres com HIV/Aids. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de coorte conduzido entre 1996 e 2003 no Rio de Janeiro, RJ, com 225 mulheres acompanhadas até a primeira gestação ou até o primeiro evento considerado censura (histerectomia, ligadura tubárea, menopausa, 50 anos de idade, perda de acompanhamento, óbito ou final de dezembro de 2003). Taxas de incidência de gestação e de aborto foram estimadas e modelos de riscos proporcionais de Cox foram usados para identificar as características da visita de inclusão associadas com o risco de gestação. RESULTADOS: As mulheres foram acompanhadas por 565 pessoas/ano, com média de acompanhamento de 3 anos por mulher. A idade média foi de 32 anos (DP: 7) e 54,7% eram brancas. Sessenta gestações foram observadas em 39 mulheres e 18 resultaram em abortos induzidos (taxas de incidência de 6,9% e 2,1% mulheres/ano, respectivamente). Gestações repetidas ocorreram em 33,3% das mulheres (13/39). Maior risco de gestação foi observado entre mulheres jovens (HR = 3,42; IC95%:1,69;6,95) e entre aquelas vivendo com seus parceiros (HR = 1,89; IC95%:1,00;3,57). Menor risco de gestação esteve associado à maior escolaridade (HR = 0,43; IC95%:0,19;0,99) e ao uso de terapia anti-retroviral (HR = 0,61; IC95%:0,31;1,17). CONCLUSÕES: A incidência de gestação na coorte foi menor se comparada àquela observada na população geral. Características sociodemográficas devem ser consideradas no manejo dos desejos reprodutivos de mulheres HIV-positivas em idade reprodutiva. Os programas de HIV/Aids devem incluir aconselhamento reprodutivo e contraceptivo para prevenir a transmissão do HIV para seus parceiros e prole.OBJECTIVE: To assess incidence and predictors of first pregnancy among women with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: Prospective cohort study was conducted in Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, between 1996 and 2003. This study comprised 225 women with HIV/AIDS followed up until their first pregnancy or first censored event (hysterectomy, tubal ligation, menopause, 50 years of age, loss to follow-up, death or the end of December 2003). Pregnancy and abortion rates were estimated, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify baseline characteristics associated with pregnancy risk. RESULTS: The women were followed up for 565 person/years with a median follow-up of 3 years per women. The mean age was 32 years (SD: 7), and 54.7% were white. There were 60 pregnancies in 39 women, and 18 were terminated (induced abortions), accounting for a rate of 6.9% and 2.1% women/year, respectively. Repeated pregnancies occurred in 33.3% of the women (13/39). Higher pregnancy risk was seen among younger women (HR=3.42; 95%CI: 1.69;6.95) and those living with their partners (HR=1.89; 95%CI: 1.00;3.57). Lower pregnancy risk was associated with higher education level (HR=0.43; 95%CI: 0.19;0.99) and use of antiretroviral therapy (HR=061; 95%CI: 0.31;1.17). CONCLUSIONS: Lower pregnancy rates were found in our cohort than in the general population. Sociodemographic characteristics should be taken into consideration in the management of reproductive health in HIV-positive childbearing age women. Reproductive and family planning counseling must be incorporated into HIV/AIDS programs for women to help preventing HIV transmission to their partners and offspring

Immunomodulatory activity of Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom on human T lymphocytes

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud \ud Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom (TsV) contains toxins that act on K+ and Na+ channels and account for the venom’s toxic effects. TsV can activate murine peritoneal macrophages, but its effects on human lymphocytes have been poorly investigated. Considering that lymphocytes may play an important role in envenomation, we assessed whether TsV affects the expression of phenotypic (CD3, CD4, and CD8) and activation (CD69, CD25, and HLA-DR) markers, cell proliferation, and cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Cytotoxicity of TsV was evaluated via the MTT assay. Cell proliferation, expression of phenotypic and activation markers, and release of cytokines were assessed using flow cytometry, after treatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations of TsV. The combined use of carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester and monoclonal antibodies against phenotypic and activation markers enabled us to simultaneously assess cell proliferation extent and cell activation status, and to discriminate among cell subpopulations.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud TsV at concentrations of 25 to 100 μg/mL were not cytotoxic towards peripheral blood mononuclear cells. TsV did not induce significant changes in lymphocyte subpopulations or in the expression of activation markers on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. TsV inhibited the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, particularly in the CD8+ CD25+ T lymphocyte subset. TsV alone, at 50 and 100 μg/mL, did not induce peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation, but elicited the production and release of IL-6, a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in innate and adaptive immune responses.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud TsV is a potential source of molecules with immunomodulatory action on human T lymphocytes.The authors would like to thank the Nucleus for Research on Animal Toxins\ud (NAP-TOXAN-USP, grant n. 12–125432.1.3), the State of São Paulo Research\ud Foundation (FAPESP, grant n. 2011/23236-4), the Coordination for the\ud Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, ACM, JCP and SMB\ud grants) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological\ud Development (CNPq, SMB grant) for their funding of this research. We also\ud thanks to T. M. Casare-Ogasawara for the technical support. Thanks are also\ud due to the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP)\ud of UNESP for enabling the publication of this special collection (CNPq\ud process 469660/2014-7)

Primary healthcare and the construction of thematic health networks: what role can they play?

The enhancement of primary healthcare has been a core strategy for the empowerment of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Recent guidelines issued by OPAS and the Ministry of Health highlight the role it has played as a thematic communication network center, a regulating agent for the access and use of services required for comprehensive healthcare. Sponsored by PPSUS/Fapesp, this study examines the possibilities of the primary healthcare network exercising such a strategic function. Life narratives involving 15 regular users were produced in two cities of ABC Paulista, which have adopted the Family Health Strategy for the organization of their primary healthcare networks. The study presents three main findings: the primary healthcare network serves as an outpost of SUS by producing user values even for high complexity service users; the primary network is perceived is a place for simple care needs; there is shared impotence between users and teams when it comes to the network functioning as the coordinator of care, indicating that it does not possess the technological, operational and organizational material conditions or symbolic conditions (values, meanings, and representations) to be in a central position in the coordination of thematic healthcare networks.O fortalecimento da atenção básica tem sido valorizado como estratégia central para a construção do SUS. Diretrizes recentes emanadas pela OPAS e pelo MS destacam seu papel como centro de comunicação de redes temáticas, como reguladora do acesso e utilização dos serviços necessários para a integralidade do cuidado. O presente estudo, financiado com recursos PPSUS/Fapesp, problematiza as possibilidades da rede básica exercer tal função estratégica. Foram produzidas narrativas de vida de 15 usuários altamente utilizadores de serviços de saúde em dois municípios do ABC paulista, que adotaram a Estratégia de Saúde da Família para organização de suas redes básicas. O estudo apresenta três achados principais: a rede básica funciona como posto avançado do SUS, produzindo valores de uso mesmo para os pacientes utilizadores de serviços de alta complexidade; a rede básica é vista como lugar de coisas simples; há uma impotência compartilhada entre usuários e equipes quando se trata da rede básica funcionar como coordenadora do cuidado, indicando como ela não reúne condições materiais (tecnológicas, operacionais, organizacionais) e simbólicas (valores, significados e representações) de deter a posição central da coordenação das redes temáticas de saúde.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Medicina PreventivaInstituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa Instituto Universitário de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Departamento de Saúde ColetivaUniversidade Estadual de Campinas Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Departamento de Saúde ColetivaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Medicina PreventivaSciEL

Low prevalence of renal, cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological extra-articular clinical manifestations in spondyloarthritis: analysis of the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To describe the extra-articular manifestations (cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and neurological), usually not related to spondyloarthritis (SpA), in a large cohort of Brazilian patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 1,472 patients diagnosed with SpA and cared for at 29 health care centers distributed in the five major geographic regions in the country, participating in the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis (BRS). All patients were assessed for the prevalence of major extra-articular manifestations (cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and neurological), classified according to the diagnosis [ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), reactive arthritis (ReA), arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA), and juvenile SpA], and according to the clinical presentation (axial, peripheral, mixed, and enthesitis). RESULTS: Of the patients with SpA assessed, 963 had AS, 271 PsA, 49 ReA, 48 arthritis associated with IBD, 98 uSpA, and 43 juvenile SpA. Cardiac involvement was reported in 44 patients (3.0%), pulmonary involvement in 19 (1.3%), renal involvement in 17 (1.2%), and neurological involvement in 13 patients (0.9%). Most patients with visceral involvement had AS or PsA, and the mixed (axial + peripheral) and/or predominantly axial clinical form. CONCLUSION: Cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and neurological extra-articular manifestations are quite infrequent in SpA, ranging from 0.9% to 3% in this large Brazilian cohort, and affected predominantly patients with AS and PsA.OBJETIVO: Descrever as manifestações extra-articulares (cardíacas, renais, pulmonares e neurológicas) geralmente não relacionadas às espondiloartrites (EpA) em uma grande coorte de pacientes brasileiros. MÉTODOS: Este estudo retrospectivo analisou 1.472 pacientes com o diagnóstico de EpA atendidos em 29 centros distribuídos pelas cinco principais regiões geográficas do Brasil, integrantes do Registro Brasileiro de Espondiloartrites. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados para a prevalência das principais manifestações extra-articulares (cardíacas, renais, pulmonares e neurológicas), divididas por diagnóstico [espondilite anquilosante (EA), artrite psoriásica (AP), artrite reativa (ARe), artrite associada a doença inflamatória intestinal (DII), EpA indiferenciada (EI) e EpA juvenil] e por forma clínica (axial, periférica, mista e entesítica). RESULTADOS: Dentre os pacientes avaliados com EpA, 963 apresentavam EA, 271 AP, 49 ARe, 48 artrite associada a DII, 98 EI e 43 EpA juvenil. Acometimento cardíaco foi observado em 44 pacientes (3,0%), seguido por acometimento pulmonar em 19 (1,3%), renal em 17 (1,2%) e neurológico em 13 pacientes (0,9%). A maioria dos casos de acometimento visceral ocorreu nos pacientes com EA ou AP e naqueles com forma clínica mista (axial e periférica) e/ou predominantemente axial. CONCLUSÃO: As manifestações extra-articulares cardíacas, renais, pulmonares e neurológicas são muito pouco frequentes nas EpA, variando de 0,9%-3% nesta grande coorte brasileira, estando mais associadas a EA e AP.37938