Effects of silylated starch structure on hydrophobization and mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch foams made from potato starch

Non-biodegradable single use packaging are a serious environmental problem as it generates large amounts of waste and is generally not recycled. These packages, especially those made of expanded polystyrene, can be replaced by thermoplastic starch foams. These foams have the advantage of being from renewable sources and biodegradable. However, this material is hydrophilic and becomes unusable when it is exposed to water. Hydrophobizing starch comes as an alternative to make the foams more resistant to contact with water. The purpose of the modification is to exchange starch hydroxyl groups for less polar groups such as silane groups. In this work, two silanes were used for starch silylation: 3-chloropropyl trimethoxysilane and Methyltrimethoxysilane. The foams were made using four materials: modified starch, gelatinized starch, polyvinyl alcohol and water. Results from water absorption tests and mechanical tests show that foams absorb less water and become more resistant with the addition of silylated starch

Editorial

Editorial do Volume Especial EDEQ, 2017

Comparative Analysis of Viperidae Venoms Antibacterial Profile: a Short Communication for Proteomics

Bacterial infections involving multidrug-resistant strains are one of the ten leading causes of death and an important health problem in need for new antibacterial sources and agents. Herein, we tested and compared four snake venoms (Agkistrodon rhodostoma, Bothrops jararaca, B. atrox and Lachesis muta) against 10 Gram-positive and Gram-negative drug-resistant clinical bacteria strains to identify them as new sources of potential antibacterial molecules. Our data revealed that, as efficient as some antibiotics currently on the market (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 1–32 μg mL−1), A. rhodostoma and B. atrox venoms were active against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis (MIC = 4.5 μg mL−1), while B. jararaca inhibited S. aureus growth (MIC = 13 μg ml−1). As genomic and proteomic technologies are improving and developing rapidly, our results suggested that A. rhodostoma, B. atrox and B. jararaca venoms and glands are feasible sources for searching antimicrobial prototypes for future design new antibiotics against drug-resistant clinical bacteria. They also point to an additional perspective to fully identify the pharmacological potential of these venoms by using different techniques

PROFISSÃO CONTÁBIL EM TEMPOS DE MUDANÇA: IMPLICAÇÕES DO AVANÇO TECNOLÓGICO NAS ATIVIDADES EM UM ESCRITÓRIO DE CONTABILIDADE

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os avanços tecnológicos e seus efeitos em um escritório de contabilidade. O intuito foi descrever mudanças ocorridas desde o início de suas atividades do escritório buscando compreender o processo de incorporação tecnológica na atividade contábil. Em termos metodológicos a investigação que originou o artigo é caracterizada como um estudo de caso, de abordagem qualitativa que utilizou a entrevista semiestruturada como forma de coleta de dados. Como resultados pôde-se apresentar e discutir efeitos dos avanços tecnológicos na contabilidade, tais como, geração de informações com qualidade, agilidade e segurança, diminuição da complexidade das tarefas, redução do número de funcionários, mudança no perfil do profissional contábil, e aumento dos custos com a TI, em contrapartida também dos lucros do escritório. A principal conclusão do estudo foi a de que o avanço tecnológico implicou em adaptação dos processos e dos profissionais no escritório pesquisado com efeitos diretos nas informações geradas, gestão do escritório e da equipe de trabalho

Caracterização Situacional da Pobreza na Amazônia Legal: uma Análise a partir da Decomposição dos Indicadores da Classe Foster-Greer-Thorbecke

A partir dos dados de renda das famílias brasileiras obtidas junto a Pesquisa Nacional de Amostra por Domicílios (PNAD) para o ano de 2011, este trabalho teve como objetivo principal verificar o impactos daquela fonte de renda na conformação de indicadores de pobreza na Amazônia Legal. Para tanto se fez necessário a divisão daquele objetivo em um específico: verificar a participação e o impacto, de cada sub-grupo (estado) na formação dos indicadores de pobreza. A metodologia utilizada neste trabalho foi a decomposição dos indicadores de pobreza da classe Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT). Os resultados mostraram que com base na renda familiar total, no que tange aos indicadores de pobreza da classe FGT, a Amazônia Legal apresentou valores decrescentes para as medidas FGT (0, 1 e 2), conforme tendência verificada nos últimos anos. Os estados de Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, Maranhão e Mato Grosso apresentaram valores abaixo da Amazônia Legal. Já os estados do Amapá, Amazonas, Acre e Pará apresentaram valores acima da Amazônia Legal

Association of Rush Pin and Intramedular Pin Techniques for the Stabilization of Salter Harris Type I Fracture in Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Background: In domestic rabbits, fractures are usually the result of household accidents. Fractures of the distal femoral physis are frequently observed in animals with immature skeletons and may cause future orthopedic problems. With this type of fracture, early reduction and stabilization are necessary to prevent additional damage to the physis and to preserve the growth potential of the bone. This report aims to describe the clinical and radiographic findings, as well as the surgical method used that combined Rush pins with an intramedullary pin, associated with a Salter Harris type I fracture of the right distal femur in a rabbit.Case: A 4-month male domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) weighing 1.2 kg, was referred to the Veterinary Hospital with a right pelvic limb lameness after an episode of trauma. Orthopedic examination revealed swelling, instability, crepitation, and increased pain sensitivity in the distal aspect of the right femur. Following physical and radiographic examination,a Salter Harris type I fracture of the right distal femur was diagnosed. The patient was premedicated with a combination of xylazine (2 mg/kg IM) and ketamine (10 mg/kg IM), which allowed placement of an IV catheter for the administration of fluids and intubation using an endotracheal tube with an internal diameter of 2 mm. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane, and an epidural was performed with a combination of lidocaine (2 mg/kg) and bupivacaine (0.75 mg/kg). Osteosynthesis was performed with two Rush pins and an intramedullary pin. Radiographic examination 110 and 330 days after the surgical procedure showed good alignment of the bone and adequate healing of the fracture. The combination of techniques used in this case report proved to be effective, resulting in functional recovery of the limb and rapid bone healing.Discussion: Preoperative planning for orthopedic surgery in rabbits is different from that of dogs and cats, due to the particularities of the species. Familiarity with the regional anatomy, patient preparation, and appropriate instrumentation are necessary when contemplating osteosynthesis in a rabbit. Salter Harris fractures affect young animals, where the physis is considered an area of fragility in the bone. Surgical planning should take into account the function of the growth plates.It is recommended that implants passing through the physis do so perpendicularly, since angulation greater than 45° may predispose the bone to premature closure of the growth plate. Another important consideration involves the choice of implants, since the use of trocar-tipped pins facilitates their precise placement in the bone. The use of threaded pins should be avoided due to their weakness at the thread-shaft interface, and the risk of impaired longitudinal bone growth and thedifficulty of removal if necessary. Steinman pins and Kirschner wires can be used to stabilize a variety of different fractures. In Salter-Harris type I and II fractures, the use of pins neutralizes bending forces but not rotational or compressive forces. In contrast, Rush pinning and cross-pinning techniques are effective in neutralizing the forces acting on the physis, and are frequently used for the fixation of fractures in this region. Complications, often associated with poor reduction and alignment, can result in varus or valgus deviation and are associated with a high risk of implant failure or migration, malunion, and patellar luxation. It was concluded that the combination of Rush pins and an intramedullary pin resulted in adequate stabilization of the Salter Harris type I fracture of the distal femur in this rabbit.Keywords: Orthopedic implants, osteosynthesis, trauma, bone repairing, lagomorph

Prostate telocytes change their phenotype in response to castration or testosterone replacement

Telocytes are CD34-positive cells with a fusiform cell body and long, thin cytoplasmic projections called telopodes. These cells were detected in the stroma of various organs, including the prostate. The prostate is a complex gland capable of undergoing involution due to low testosterone levels; and this condition can be reversed with testosterone replacement. Telocyte function in the mature prostate remains to be dermined, and it is not known whether telocytes can take place in tissue remodeling during prostate involution and regrowth. The present study employed structural, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical methods to investigate the telocyte's phenotypes in the ventral prostate (VP) from control (CT), castrated (CS) and testosterone replacement (TR) groups of adult male Wistar rats. Telocytes were found in the subepithelial, perimuscular and interstitical regions around glandular acini. Telocytes from CT animals have condensed chromatin and long and thin telopodes. In CS group, telocytes appeared quiescent and exhibited layers of folded up telopodes. After TR, telocytes presented loose chromatin, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and enlarged telopodes, closely associated with bundles of collagen fibrils. We called these cells "telocytes with a synthetic phenotype". As testosterone levels and glandular morphology returned toward to the CT group parameters, after 10 days ofTR, these telocytes progressively switched to the normal phenotype. Our results demonstrate that telocytes exhibit phenotypic plasticity upon androgen manipulation and interact with fibroblast and smooth muscle cells to maintain glandular architecture in control animals and during tissue remodeling after hormonal manipulation9CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP305391/2014-3; 306900/2016-5; 305840/2015-0; 310663/2018-02002/11102-4; 2014/26660-0; 2017/01063-

THEORETICAL BASIS, HYPOTHESIS AND CONSTRUCT IN ACCOUNTING STUDIES

The present study aims at contributing to the understanding of distinct concepts about theoretical basis, hypothesis and construct by presenting, discussing, explaining and exemplifying the meanings of such concepts, their conceptual definitions, operational definitions and constructs in studies carried out in the Accounting area. Theory plays a relevant role in developing scientific knowledge since it represents the highest level of science epistemology. Hypotheses are a powerful tool for advancing knowledge since they can be tested. However, to be able to empirically explore a theoretical concept, one needs to translate the concept statement into a relation with the real world, based on variables, and on observable and measurable phenomena, in other words, one needs to elaborate a construct and operationalize it. Therefore, it is possible that the ones who are interested in the findings of a specific study share the same understandings about the concepts, definitions, possible constructs and variables included in the study, thus, comprehending findings, conclusions and limitations of the study in a similar manner. The present study contributes to the area by highlighting the intention of correct understanding and usage of these essential categories of the scientific and professional discourse, according to the theoretical background.