Study on the use of Typha spp. for the phytotreatment of water contaminated with ibuprofen

Several studies on phytotoxic effects caused by organic xenobiotics and their removal from water by macrophytes have already been performed to evaluate the usefulness of these plants for phytoremediation technologies. In this context, a study was conducted to assess Typha spp.’s ability to withstand and remove, from water, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen. For an initial ibuprofen concentration of 20 mgL 1, Typha removed nearly 60% of it within the first 24 h, attaining over 99% removal by the end of the assay (21 days). Exposure to higher ibuprofen concentrations did affect Typha’s growth but, by the end of the assays, plants’ growth as well as photosynthetic pigments approached normal values. An alteration in antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase) indicated that both roots and leaves were affected by the xenobiotic. Eventually, Typha seemed able to cope with ibuprofen’s induced oxidative damage suggesting its ability for phytotreatment of waters contaminated with ibuprofen

Zika virus infections imported from Brazil to Portugal, 2015

Zika virus is an emerging arbovirus transmitted by Aedes sp. mosquitoes like the Dengue and Chikungunya viruses. Zika virus was until recently considered a mild pathogenic mosquito-borne flavivirus with very few reported benign human infections. In 2007, an epidemic in Micronesia initiated the turnover in the epidemiological history of Zika virus and more recently, the potential association with congenital microcephaly cases in Brazil 2015, still under investigation, led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on February 1, 2016. Here, we present the clinical and laboratory aspects related to the first four imported human cases of Zika virus in Portugal from Brazil, and alert, regarding the high level of traveling between Portugal and Brazil, and the ongoing expansion of this virus in the Americas, for the threat for Zika virus introduction in Europe and the possible introduction to Madeira Island where Aedes aegypti is present.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Environment and harvest time affects the combustion qualities of Miscanthus genotypes

Miscanthus spp. are high-yielding perennial C4 grasses, native to Asia, that are being investigated in Europe as potential biofuels. Production of economically viable solid biofuel must combine high biomass yields with good combustion qualities. Good biomass combustion quality depends on minimizing moisture, ash, K, chloride, N, and S. To this end, field trials at five sites in Europe from Sweden to Portugal were planted with 15 different genotypes including M. x giganteus, M. sacchariflorus, M. sinensis, and newly bred M. sinensis hybrids. Yield and combustion quality at an autumn and a late winter/ early spring harvest were determined in the third year after planting when the stands had reached maturity. As expected, delaying the harvest by three to four months improved the combustion quality of all genotypes by reducing ash (from 40 to 25 g kg-1 dry matter), K (from 9 to 4 g kg-1 dry matter), chloride (from 4 to 1 g kg-1 dry matter), N (from 5 to 4 g kg-1 dry matter), and moisture (from 564 to 291 g kg-1 fresh matter). However, the delayed harvest also decreased mean biomass yields from 17 to 14 t ha-1. There is a strong interaction among yield, quality, and site growing conditions. Results show that in northern regions of Europe, M. sinensis hybrids can be recommended for high yields (yielding up to 25 t ha-1), but M. sinensis (nonhybrid) genotypes have higher combustion qualities. In mid- and south Europe, M. giganteus (yielding up to 38 t ha-1) or specific high-yielding M. sinensis hybrids (yielding up to 41 t ha-1) are more suitable for biofuel production

Thermal analysis in oxidative and pyrolysis conditions of alkaline earth metals picolinates using the techniques:TG-DSC, DSC, MWTA, HSM and EGA (TG-DSC-FTIR and HSM-MS)

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T15:58:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-10-01Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)University of HuddersfieldSynthesis, characterization, thermal stability and pyrolysis of some alkaline earth picolinates M(C6H5NO2)2⋅nH2O (where M = Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II) and Ba(II) and n = di (Mg), mono (Ca), hemi three (Sr) hydrated) were investigated using a range of techniques including simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC), evolved gas analysis (EGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Hot-Stage microscopy (HSM), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), complexometry with EDTA and elemental analysis (EA). The TG-DSC curves show that the hydrated compounds dehydrate in a single step of mass loss and the thermal stability of the anhydrous compound is little influenced from the atmosphere used. On the other hand, the mechanisms of thermal decomposition are profoundly influenced by the atmosphere used, as can also be observed in the EGA data. In addition, a comparison between two calorimetric techniques, Microwave Thermal Analysis (MWTA) and DSC, was made which showed similar profiles. Two evolved gas analysis (EGA) techniques: TG-DSC coupled to FTIR and HSM coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) were also used to provide additional information about the pyrolysis mechanism.Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de QuímicaThermal Methods Research Unit Department of Chemistry University of Huddersfield, HuddersfieldInstituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Paraná (IFPR)Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia de Rondônia (IFRO)Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Faculdade de Ciências Departamento de QuímicaUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de QuímicaUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Faculdade de Ciências Departamento de Químic

Hermetic carbon coatings for electro-thermal all-fiber phase modulators

Joule effect and thermal response of several carbon-coated fibers are modelled and analysed. An electro-thermally driven all-fiber phase modulator based on these principles is proposed and a proof of concept of it is characterized. This kind of fibers could be the basis for developing all-fiber components aimed to operate in environments where the strength increase and impermeability to hydrogen diffusion guaranteed by the carbon coating is crucial.European CommissionMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadComunidad de Madri

Hermetic All-Fiber Phase Modulators Using Joule Heating in Carbon-Coated Fibers

26ª edición del congreso internacional Optical Fiber Sensors (OFS26), 24/09/2018-28/09/2018, Lausanne, Suiza.Certain applications of fiber sensors (e.g. avionics, oil industry) imply extreme operating conditions spurring the development of hermetic all-fiber devices. We present a hermetic all-fiber phase modulator based on Joule heating in a carbon-coated fiber.European CommissionMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadComunidad de Madri

Operacionalização do conceito de classe social em estudos epidemiológicos

Procura-se demonstrar que é possível operacionalizar o conceito de classe social de forma a utilizá-lo em estudos epidemiológicos. Foi adaptado às características da formação social de Pelotas, RS (Brasil), modelo de classificação desenvolvido para o México e comparado com o desenvolvido para Ribeirão Preto, SP (Brasil). Mediu-se o poder discriminatório das duas classificações em termos do processo saúde-doença, tendo como variável dependente o crescimento de 5.384 crianças nascidas em 1982. As duas classificações estão associadas com diferenças significativas (PThe development of an operational classification of the Marxist concept of social class that could be used in epidemiological studies is attempted. Although such a classification will necessarily be restricted to the economic dimension of the concept, and leave aside its ideological and legal-political components, it is believed that it may lead to a better understanding of the distribution of ill-health in a given population. Two classifications are described - that developed in Ribeirão Preto, S. Paulo (Brazil), and a new classification based on work done in Mexico. These are compared in terms of how closely associated they are with the patterns of growth of 5,384 young children in the city of Pelotas in Southern Brazil. It is concluded that the proposed classification has greater power of discrimination in terms of child growth than that previously proposed

Spontaneous CP Violation in Non-Minimal Supersymmetric Models

We study the possibilities of spontaneous CP violation in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with an extra singlet tadpole term in the scalar potential. We calculate the Higgs boson masses and couplings with radiative corrections including dominant two loop terms. We show that it is possible to satisfy the LEP constraints on the Higgs boson spectrum with non-trivial spontaneous CP violating phases. We also show that these phases could account for the observed value of epsilonK.Comment: 21 pages, 7 Figures in Encapsulated Postscrip