Abstract Background: Many Mexican Ternstroemia species mainly inhabit the tropical montane cloud forest. These species have been misidentified in herbaria due to their morphological resemblance. Question: Are there foliar anatomical and micromorphological characters with diagnostic value that allow discriminating between the Mexican species of Ternstroemia? Study species: Ternstroemia sylvatica Schltdl. & Cham. and T. lineata DC. subsp. lineata (Pentaphylacaceae Engl.), 2018-2019. Study site and date: Tropical montane cloud forests at the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and Sierra Madre Oriental. Methods: Botanical specimens were collected and removed from herbarium sheets. The leaves were prepared through cleared, dehydration and paraffin inclusion techniques to observe and describe them. Results: The Ternstroemia species showed specific features of plants in humid environments, such as thin cuticle, mesophyll with scarce parenchyma palisade, and abundant intercellular spaces in the spongy parenchyma, and specific pigments that help to capture light and serve as protection. The species share a festooned broquidodromous venation pattern, anomocytic stomata, and closed collateral vascular bundle surrounded by perivascular fibers. Both species are differentiated by leaf shape, abundance of collenchyma layers, lenght of palisade parenchyma, and number of stomata per square millimeter on the abaxial surface. Conclusions: We support and validate some features recorded for Ternstroemia species and reject some previous generalizations made worldwide to the genus. This research is the first attempt to study anatomy, architecture, and foliar micromorphology of Mexican Pentaphylacaceae.

Resumen Antecedentes: Las especies mexicanas del género Ternstroemia habitan principalmente el bosque templado húmedo de montaña y han sido confundidas en los herbarios por su gran parecido morfológico. Pregunta: ¿Existen caracteres foliares, anatómicos y micromorfológicos, con valor diagnóstico que permitan separar a dos de las especies mexicanas de Ternstroemia? Especies de estudio: Ternstroemia sylvatica Schltdl. & Cham. y T. lineata DC. subsp. lineata (Pentaphylacaceae Engl.). Sitio de estudio y fecha: Bosques templado húmedos de montaña de la Faja Volcánica Transmexicana y Sierra Madre Oriental, 2018-2019. Métodos: Se recolectaron en campo y removieron de ejemplares de herbario hojas de las dos especies. Las hojas se prepararon con técnicas de diafanizacion, deshidratación e inclusión en parafina para su observación y análisis. Resultados: Ambas especies de Ternstroemia mostraron características propias de las plantas de ambientes húmedos, como una cutícula delgada, escaso parénquima de empalizada, parénquima esponjoso laxo, esclereidas y pigmentos específicos que ayudan a captar la luz y sirven de protección. Las especies comparten un patrón de venación broquidódromo festoneado, estomas anomocíticos y haz vascular colateral cerrado rodeado por fibras perivasculares. Se diferencian por la forma de la hoja, abundancia en capas de colénquima, largo del parénquima en empalizada y número de estomas por milímetro cuadrado en la superficie abaxial. Conclusiones: Apoyamos y validamos algunas características registradas en el pasado para las especies de Ternstroemia a nivel mundial y rechazamos algunas generalizaciones previas hechas al género. Esta investigación es el primer estudio de la anatomía, arquitectura y micromorfología foliar de Pentaphylacaceae mexicanas.

ABSTRACT In Cuba, newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF) was introduced in January 2019. The results from the first three years of the CF NBS program are presented. An IRT/IRT protocol was followed using a cut-off value of 50 ng/mL. In this period 281,717 neonates were screened, 2,197 samples had increased IRT values, and a second sample was necessary (recall rate=0.78%). In 686 (0.24%) neonates, IRT was still elevated, and they were referred for clinical evaluation. Twenty-one children were confirmed by sweat test and molecular biology. Eighteen newborns presented variant F508del. A false negative case was reported. Demographic data of 32,764 neonates were collected. The average age of sampling was six days with results available at 11 days of life, but 1.7% of the samples were collected 20 days after birth. The mean IRT value was 12.7±11.7 ng/mL (ranging 0-283 ng/mL) with a calculated 98.5 percentile value of 42.4 ng/mL. On average, the samples were processed five days after collection and two days after they were received at the laboratory. Although CF NBS program in Cuba is just beginning, it can be predicted that CF will be one of the most frequent inherited-metabolic diseases in the Cuban population.

Conductive polymers are versatile materials that can be applied in many different technology fields, especially green energy. They have several advantages, such as easy synthesis, low density, and cost. However, its electric conduction property is also related to material aging with great loss of their characteristics, limiting their applicability. The in-depth study of electrochemical aging can provide useful information for new strategies to overcome this problem. Thus, this work describes the use of factorial design to evaluate the influence of some synthesis variables on the aging of poly(3-hexylthiophene): electrolyte and monomer concentration and water in the synthesis of non-aqueous solution. For this, the properties of the films were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The accelerated electrochemical aging was performed by applying a potential higher than the superoxidation potential for 20 min steps. It was possible to identify two extreme cases, the conventionally synthesized polymer aged more, while the polymer obtained with the three altered parameters suffered fewer aging effects. It was possible to identify a range of different aging pathways among these. The mechanical stress caused by the several oxidation/reduction cycles of the material aligned to the increasing loss of polymer properties, potentiates aging.

Abstract Despite the postmodern image of a smooth and borderless world, physical barriers currently represent one of the most important instruments of political articulation of the statal space. However, several ethical and political problems arise from it. This paper presents a philosophical critique of teichopolitical rationalities, namely, the politics of walls. The first section analyses two ancient teichopolitical paradigms. The second section analyses the wall as an element that nullifies the image of a global borderless world. The third section deals with the wall as a protective instrument of the statal body. The fourth section highlights the ethical and political problems produced by walls. In the fifth section we argue that walls represent a spectacularized form of sovereignty. In the conclusions I summarize the results and suggest that teichopolitical logics foment a feeling of paranoia on a global level.

Riassunto Nonostante l’immagine postmoderna di un mondo liscio e senza confini, nell’epoca contemporanea le barriere fisiche rappresentano lo strumento fondamentale dell’articolazione politica dello spazio statale. Tuttavia, esse sollevano numerosi problemi etici e politici. Quest’articolo presenta una critica filosofica della razionalità teicopolitica, ossia della politica dei muri. Nella prima sezione si tratteggia la razionalità delle teicopolitiche contemporanee partendo da due paradigmi teicopolitici antichi. Nella seconda sezione si individua nel muro l’elemento che invalida l’immagine di un mondo globale privo di confini. Nella terza sezione si analizza il muro in quanto strumento di protezione del corpo statale. Nella quarta sezione si evidenziano le problematiche etiche e politiche prodotte dai muri. Nella quinta sezione sosteniamo che i muri rappresentino forme spettacolarizzate di sovranità. Nella conclusione si riassumono i risultati e si suggerisce che, in ultima istanza, le logiche teicopolitiche fomentino un sentimento paranoico a livello globale.

ANALYTICAL EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL FUEL ANALYZER IN GASOLINE AND ETHANOL FUEL QUALITY CONTROL. Brazilian news media is full of examples about fuels out of the compliances and needs to control fuel quality. This work proposed an analytical validation of a commercial near infrared photometer (Xerloq, Tech Chrom Analytical Instruments, Brazil) able to identify percentage of ethanol in fuels comparing with NBR standards. Four procedures were selected: analysis of ethanol percentage in gasoline type C samples comparing with standard method ABNT 13992; analysis of ethanol percentage in fuel ethanol samples comparing with standard method ABNT 5992; linearity correlation and selectivity of standard solution analysis. Comparisons between the photometer and standards measurements were to determine the accuracy and precision of the device which presented a little variation from the norm (ER < 1.3%, sR < 0.4%). With regard to the test for linearity, Ethanol:water mixtures was analyzed with R-squared larger than 0.999 with RMSEV less than 1%. On selectivity tests, Gasoline:Ethanol:water and Methanol:Ethanol:water mixtures were measured with bias error not exceeding 5% for regulated samples. In conclusion, this fuel analyzer can be used to analyze ethanol content in Brazilian fuels with similar results comparing with classical standard volumetric and glass densimeter analysis and may indicate adulteration gasoline and ethanol samples by anomalous data.

It has been recurring adulterations in fuels (such as gasoline, ethanol and diesel), being necessary the exploration of the use of more modern analytical techniques capable of controlling the quality of these fuels, since some regulated tests may be inefficient to detect the adulteration. Among them, it is highlighted proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, and portable near infrared spectroscopy (microNIR). In this work, it was studied the conformities of 115 samples of seized fuels (76 of gasoline, 23 of ethanol, and 16 of diesel) by means of standardized techniques with parameters established by the ANP. Results obtained were compared to photometer, MicroNIR and 1H NMR analyzes. The analyzes carried out by ANP showed four nonconforming samples (one of gasoline and three of ethanol). By the photometric technique, only 14 gasoline samples had ethanol content permitted by legislation (i.e ≈ 27 %v/v). By 1H NMR analysis, it was possible to verify nonconformities by presence of aromatics and olefins compounds in the gasoline and diesel samples as well as of methanol in fuel ethanol samples. It is also worth noting the efficiency of MicroNIR when combined with unsupervised chemometric methods to indicate nonconformities presented by 1H NMR and photometry techniques.

Abstract Research and development of new processes is a fundamental part of any innovative industry. For process engineers, finding optimal operating conditions for new processes from the early stages is a main issue, since it improves economic viability, helps others areas of R&D by avoiding product bottlenecks and shortens the time-to-market period. Model-based optimization strategies are helpful in doing so, but imperfect models with parametric or structural errors can lead to suboptimal operating conditions. In this work, a methodology that uses probabilistic tendency models that are constantly updated through experimental feedback is proposed in order to rapidly and efficiently find improved operating conditions. Characterization of the uncertainty is used to make safe predictions even with scarce data, which is typical in this early stage of process development. The methodology is tested with an example from the traditional innovative pharmaceutical industry.

Resumo O estuário do Rio Capibaribe é um corpo de água que atravessa a Região Metropolitana de Recife (RMR), um dos maiores centros populacionais do Brasil, o que causa grande quantidade de carga de poluentes e baixa qualidade da água. A entrada de água doce a partir das águas residuais da RMR pode contabilizar mais de três vezes a contribuição fluvial durante o período de baixa descarga. Este artigo investiga a hidrodinâmica e o potencial transporte de escalares particulados e dissolvidos neste estuário. Um experimento de campo foi realizado para registrar nível da água, velocidade de corrente, salinidade, temperatura e material particulado em suspensão (MPS) durante um ciclo de maré semidiurno completo. O experimento foi realizado em condições de baixa descarga e em condições de maré de sizígia. O estuário apresentou padrão de circulação parcialmente estratificado. O transporte residual de água e sal foi estuário acima, enquanto que o transporte residual de MPS foi estuário abaixo. Os primeiros são entendidos como o efeito da complexa circulação ao redor das ilhas que formam o baixo estuário, enquanto que o último foi interpretado como devido a efeitos morfológicos que induzem à ressuspensão durante a vazante, a despeito da simetria entre correntes de enchente e vazante. Este mecanismo pode produzir transporte para a plataforma adjacente, mesmo durante períodos dominados pela maré, quando o oposto seria esperado.

Abstract The Capibaribe Estuary is a water body that crosses the Recife Metropolitan Area (RMA), one of the largest population centers in Brazil, and causes large pollutant loads and poor water quality. The fresh water inflow of wastewater from the RMA can account for three times the volume of the river discharge during the low discharge period. This article assesses the hydrodynamics and potential transport of particulate and dissolved scalars in this estuary. A field experiment was conducted to record the water level, current velocity, salinity, temperature and suspended particulate matter (SPM) contents during a full semi-diurnal tidal cycle. This experiment was performed during low river discharge and spring tide conditions. The estuary showed a partially mixed circulation pattern. The residual transport of water and salt were up estuary, while the SPM residual transport was down estuary. The former were understood as the effect of the residual circulation around the islands, while the latter was interpreted as a morphological factor inducing greater resuspension during the ebb, despite the symmetrical ebb and flood currents. This mechanism may transport SPM to the inner shelf, even under tide-dominated conditions when the opposite would be expected.

<p>This work reports the building of a low-cost experimental setup for high temporal resolution data acquisition. The setup is useful for different applications, especially for voltage data acquisition during electrochemical experiments. The proposed setup performed two hundred thousand measurements per second (5 µs time resolution) and revealed unknown curve characteristics during chronopotentiometry of the anodization of valve metals. This information can serve as a starting point for further investigations on the nature of voltage oscillations in the breakdown region during valve metal anodization.</p>

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common preventable causes of mental retardation. Newborn screening and thyroid therapy started within 2 weeks of age can normalize the cognitive and motor impairment caused by lack of thyroid hormone during the early postnatal phase of brain development. The availability of assays to determine thyroxin (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone has allowed the establishment of newborn screening programs for CH. The Immunoassay Center (Cuba) developed the T4 Neonatal UMELISA(r) to determine neonatal T4 levels in dried blood on filter paper using 5 mm discs of samples, standards and controls. The number of diseases which can be diagnosed in Neonatal Screening Programs has increased, so it is necessary to make the maximum use of blood samples collected on filter paper. This work shows the standardization of the T4 Neonatal UMELISA(r) modified in order to use 3 mm discs. The assay was completed in 3 1/2 hours, with a measuring range of 25-400 nmol/L. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were 6-10 % and 7-12 % respectively, depending on the T4 concentrations. The recovery ranged from 91.8-115.1 %. The modified assay showed high Pearson correlation (r = 0.877) and concordance correlation (?c = 0.867) with the T4 Neonatal UMELISA(r). The performed modifications do not affect the sensitivity, precision and accuracy of the assay, permitting a more rational use of newborn blood samples and the possibility to increase the number of diseases included in the newborn screening programs.

El hipotiroidismo congénito (HC) es una de las causas más frecuentes de retraso mental prevenible en la infancia. La pesquisa neonatal (PN), su diagnóstico y tratamiento, podrían normalizar la discapacidad cognitiva y motora por la falta de hormonas tiroideas durante la etapa temprana de desarrollo del cerebro. Los ensayos para determinar la tiroxina total (T4) y la hormona estimulante del tiroides han permitido establecer programas de PN del HC. El Centro de Inmunoensayo, de La Habana, desarrolló el ensayo inmunoenzimático competitivo UMELISA T4 Neonatal(r) para determinar los niveles de T4 en neonatos, utilizando discos de 5 mm de muestras, calibradores y controles de sangre seca sobre papel de filtro. Las enfermedades que se pueden diagnosticar mediante esos programas han aumentado, por lo que se deben optimizar los estudios con las muestras de sangre de recién nacidos tomadas en papel de filtro. Este trabajo consistió en la estandarización de un UMELISA T4 Neonatal(r) modificado para emplear discos de 3 mm. El ensayo dura 3 1/2 h, y el análisis abarca entre 25 y 400 nmol/L. Los coeficientes de variación intra e interensayo estuvieron en los rangos 6-10 % y 7-12 %, respectivamente. La recuperación fue de 91.8 y 115.1 %. La correlación de Pearson fue elevada (r = 0.877) y hubo concordancia de la correlación (?c = 0. 867) con el UMELISA T4 Neonatal.

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as principais questões com relação às estabilidades oxidativa e de armazenamento de biodiesel e como elas afetam diferentes materiais metálicos e poliméricos presentes em peças de automóvel e em estruturas de armazenamento de biodiesel. Adicionalmente, este trabalho apresenta uma revisão das técnicas para a medição da estabilidade oxidativa e para avaliação da degradação de materiais metálicos e poliméricos. Quando biodiesel é oxidado, ocorre uma série de mudanças nas suas propriedades, tais mudanças afetam não só a qualidade do biodiesel, mas também as propriedades dos materiais que estão em contato com o biodiesel. Com a oxidação, propriedades do biodiesel como o índice de acidez, índice de peróxidos e viscosidade aumentam, entretanto os índices de iodo e teor de ésteres metílicos diminuem. As alterações das propriedades químicas e físicas do biodiesel podem afetar a integridade e a estabilidade dos materiais que estão em contato com o combustível. A atual situação relacionada com a estabilidade dos materiais revistos neste artigo poderia limitar o uso extensivo de biodiesel, como tem sido proposto em vários países, e deveria ser considerada como um fenômeno de grande importância na tecnologia de biodiesel.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main issues concerned with the oxidative and storage stabilities of biodiesel and how they affect different metallic and polymeric materials present in automotive parts and in biodiesel storage structures. In addition, this work presents a review of the techniques used for measuring the oxidative stability and for evaluating the degradation of metallic and polymeric materials. When biodiesel is oxidized, a series of changes in its properties occurs. These changes not only affect biodiesel quality, but also the properties of the materials that are in contact with it. Upon oxidation, biodiesel properties like the acid value, peroxide value and viscosity increase, while the iodine value and the content of methyl esters decrease. The changes in the chemical and physical properties of biodiesel can affect the integrity and stability of the material. The situation reviewed in this paper, which talks about the stability of materials, could limit the extensive use of biodiesel. Such measures have been proposed in several countries, and it is a topic of great importance for biodiesel technology.

En el presente trabajo se evaluó la estabilidad oxidativa del biodiésel de palma africana bajo condiciones de almacenamiento prolongado, y en presencia de materiales metálicos y poliméricos que se encuentran tanto en los sistemas de almacenamiento y transporte de combustible, así como en los automotores. La estabilidad se evaluó mediante el tiempo de inducción, el índice de acidez y el índice de peróxido. Los dos primeros parámetros son regulados por las normas nacionales e internacionales que rigen la calidad del biodiésel. Al final de los 360 días de evaluación, se encontró que el biodiésel expuesto a cobre presenta el mayor cambio en los parámetros evaluados. A los 20 días de almacenamiento, el biodiésel expuesto a cobre presentó un tiempo de inducción de 2.63 horas, muy por debajo del valor para los biodiéseles expuesto a los otros materiales (18 horas en promedio) y del valor límite requerido por las normas internacionales (3 horas en EEUU y 6 horas en Colombia y la Unión Europea)

In the present study, the oxidative stability of palm oil biodiesel was evaluated under prolonged storage conditions, and in the presence of metallic and polymeric materials which are common both in storage and transportation of fuel, as well as motor vehicles. The stability was evaluated through the induction time, the acid value and the peroxide value. The first two parameters are regulated by national and international standards which regulate the quality of biodiesel. At the end of the 360 days of evaluation, it was found that the biodiesel exposed to copper had the greatest change in the parameters. At 20 days of storage, the biodiesel with copper presented an induction time of 2.63 hours, well below the biodiesel exposed to other materials (18 hours on average) and also below the limit value required by international standards (3 hours in the U.S. and 6 hours in Colombia and the European Union)

Quality of the sample and phenylalanine and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels in neonatal screening. In the programs for neonatal screening many different analytes are quantified from dried blood on filter paper cards. Several factors affect the quality of the samples invalidating their employment in the laboratory: inadequate collection procedures, quality of the filter paper, the drying, storage and transportation under extreme environmental conditions. This article aims to show how the quality of the sample collection influences the phenylalanine (Phe) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels. As such, samples of newborns on filter paper from Ramon Gonzalez Coro Hospital were collected and analyzed.The blood spots from a sample were classified according to their appearance, satisfactory spot (MV) or unsatisfactory spot (MNV). Phe and 17OHP levels were determinated by UMTEST PKU and UMELISA 17OH Progesterone NEONATAL, respectively. 19.5% of 3043 newborns samples exhibited unsatisfactory spots. Concordance correlations studies between MV y MNV showed the precision and accuracy were affected by quality of the samples. False positive and negative values (with concerning control sample) were detected from samples with MNV. The correct application of collection procedures for samples is essential in obtaining reliable results in screening neonatal laboratories.

En los programas de pesquisa neonatal, diferentes analitos son cuantificados en muestras de sangre de recién nacidos, impregnadas sobre papel de filtro. Varios factores pueden afectar la calidad de las muestras e invalidar su empleo en el laboratorio: procedimientos inadecuados en la colecta, calidad del papel de filtro y procesos de secado, almacenamiento y transportación bajo condiciones ambientales extremas. Para documentar la influencia de la calidad de la muestra sobre los niveles de fenilalanina y 17-hidroxiprogesterona en manchas de sangre seca sobre papel de filtro, se analizaron muestras de recién nacidos provenientes del Hospital Materno-Infantil "Ramón González Coro". Las manchas provenientes de una misma muestra se clasificaron según su apariencia, en válidas o "no válidas". Los niveles de fenilalanina y 17- hidroxiprogesterona se determinaron mediante el empleo de UMTEST PKU y UMELISA 17OH Progesterona NEONATAL, respectivamente. De 3 043 muestras analizadas, el 19.5% presentó manchas con características "no válidas". Los estudios de concordancia de la correlación entre ellas, mostraron que la calidad de la muestra afectó la precisión y la exactitud de los niveles de fenilalanina y 17-hidroxiprogesterona en sangre seca. En las muestras con características "no válidas" fueron detectados resultados discordantes, con valores falsos positivos o negativos con respecto a la muestra control. La aplicación correcta de los procedimientos de colecta de las muestras de pesquisa neonatal es esencial para la obtención de resultados confiables en los laboratorios.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a influência dos grupos substituintes na fotoestabilidade de oito derivados de boldina, incluindo alguns derivados de oxazol e oxazinona, com o propósito de aumentar as propriedades de proteção solar previamente demonstradas para boldina. Tais derivados apresentaram bandas similares à boldina nos espectros de absorção e emissão. As propriedades espectroscópicas são dependentes do pH. A fotoestabilidade dos derivados foi maior que a da boldina, em conformidade com o baixo valor obtido para o rendimento de fotoconsumo quântico. Os baixos valores de rendimento quântico de fluorescência observados para a boldina 1 e 4, tanto na sua forma de base como hidrocloreto, possibilitam postular que esses compostos são desativados por um mecanismo diferente ao da fluorescência, provavelmente devido ao efeito retirador de elétron do grupo NO para a boldina 1 e ao aumento da aromaticidade para a boldina 4.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the substituent groups on the photostability of eight boldine derivatives, including some oxazole and oxazinone derivatives, in order to increase the sunscreen protection properties previously demonstrated for boldine. Such derivatives showed bands similar to those of boldine in the absorption and emission spectrum. The spectroscopic properties are pH dependent. The photostability of the derivative compounds was higher than that of boldine, in accordance with the low value of the photoconsumption quantum yield determined. The low fluorescence quantum yield values observed for boldine 1 and 4 as both base and hydrochloride derivative compounds led us to postulate that these compounds are deactivated by a mechanism different to the fluorescence pathway, probably due to the electron-withdrawing inductive effect of NO for boldine 1, and to the increase of the aromatic framework for boldine 4.