Resumen El uso de fibras de origen natural como refuerzo en Materiales Compuestos (MC), ha venido tomando fuerza en los últimos años. En este caso se tiene un MC con matriz de polipropileno (PP) reciclado, proveniente de tapas de diferentes envases de productos de consumo diario. Para el refuerzo se eligió usar fibra natural de Guadua Angustifolia y polvo de cerámica tenaz. La fibra de Guadua se obtuvo en condiciones de secado e inmunizado con el fin de reducir su humedad y evitar la aparición de hongos y líquenes. El polvo de cerámica tenaz también es un material reciclado, obtenido de pisos de cerámica que se trituraron y pulverizaron previo a la inserción al MC. Las proporciones usadas para fabricar las probetas del MC fueron: una con 100% de PP y otras con diferente composición del MC, donde la matriz de PP se mantuvo con el 60%, y se combinaron los materiales de refuerzo, para obtener los siguientes grupos de especímenes, uno con 30% fibra y 10% cerámica, otro con 33% fibra y 7% cerámica y un último con 35% fibra y 5% cerámica. Una vez obtenidas las probetas del MC, se realizaron los ensayos mecánicos, de tensión según la norma ASTM 638D para polímeros, y de flexión con la norma ASTM 970D para plásticos reforzados. Se analizaron los resultados obtenidos, mediante análisis de varianza (ANOVA), usando un nivel de significancia de α = 0.05 y un enfoque de valor P para la verificación de la hipótesis nula. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante el software Minitab 18, encontrando como resultado más importante, que el módulo de elasticidad a tensión del PP aumentó en un 53,49%, al adicionarle Guadua en un 35% y cerámica en un 5%.

Abstract The use of natural fibers as a reinforcement in Compound Materials (CM) has been grew up in recent years. In this case, it is a CM with matrix of recycled polypropylene (PP), coming from lids of different packaging using in products of daily consume, for the reinforcement, natural Angustifolia Guadua fibers and tenacious ceramic powder was chosen. The Guadua fiber was obtained under drying and immunized conditions, according to the process of "Guadua Factoria Company". The drying is made to reduce the moisture on the Guadua and for prevent formation of fungi and lichens, the process allows a correct adhesion with the matrix too. The powder of tenacious ceramic is also a recycled material; it was obtained from ceramic floors that were pulverized before insertion into the CM. The proportions used to manufacture the MC specimens were a group of 100% PP and other groups with different proportions of materials, in that groups, PP matrix was remained in 60%, and the reinforcement materials were combined in the following proportions, one with 30% Guadua fiber and 10% ceramic powder, other with 33% Guadua fiber and 7% ceramic powder and the last one with 35% Guadua fiber and 5% ceramic powder. Once the CM specimens were obtained, mechanical tensile tests, according to the norm ASTM 638D for polymers, were performed, flexion tests, according to the norm ASTM 790D for reinforced plastics, were carried out too. Results obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance ANOVA, finding as more important result, that the PP tensile elastic modulus increased by 53.49% when 35% of Guadua and 5% of ceramic were added.

ABSTRACT Pentavalent antimonials and amphotericin B remain as the main drugs to treat human leishmaniasis. However, the high toxicity and variable efficacy of treatment have stimulated the search for novel drug candidates. Naturally occurring alkaloids have a long history of antileishmanial activity. Here, we investigate the effects of the β-carboline-1-propionic acid alkaloid isolated from Quassia amara L., Simaroubaceae, against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania infatum. The alkaloid was isolated after liquid-liquid fractionation followed by chromatographic purification of the Q. amara methanol extract. The antileishmanial activity was evaluated by the microdilution method, using resazurin as the viability indicator. In addition, annexin and propidium iodide were used to detect parasites undergoing apoptosis. The anti-amastigote activity of the β-carboline-1-propionic acid alkaloid was determined by the infection of RAW 264.7 macrophages. The alkaloid displayed leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania amazonensis and L. infantum promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes with 50% inhibitory concentration ranging from 2.7 ± 0.82 to 9.4 ± 0.5 µg/ml and selectivity indexes >10. Moreover, apoptotic Leishmania amazonensis (19.5%) and L. infantum (40.4%) promastigotes were detected after 5 h incubation with the alkaloid. Finally, the β-carboline-1-propionic acid alkaloid inhibited the production of NO of infected macrophages, suggesting that the intracellular amastigote elimination occurs in a nitrosative stress-independent way. The results shown here suggest that the β-carboline-1-propionic acid alkaloid has potential as an antileishmanial agent.

This study describes the application of new and low cost biosorbent, shells of urucum (Bixa Orellana), for removal of lead ions (Pb(II)) from water solution. The urucum shells were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Batch adsorption experiments were performed in order to evaluate the effect of pH, agitation speed, adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature, presence of interfering ions and matrix effect on the adsorption of process. The kinetics of biosorption followed pseudo-second-order model. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to describe the biosorption of Pb(II) by urucum shells. The Langmuir model showed better fit and the estimated biosorption capacity was 43.6 mg g-1. The negative Gibbs free energy, ΔG°, confirms the spontaneous nature and positive value of enthalpy, ΔH°, the endothermic character of the process. Furthermore, we also performed an evaluation of matrix and others ions effect on the biosorption process.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the unusual clustering of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a family from the Cayman Islands. Method: An observational retrospective study of SLE was done following an index case of mixed connective tissue disease in a 51-year old West Indian woman of African descent. Her two daughters of the same father, who is of Cayman Islands origin, were also diagnosed with SLE. A family tree was subsequently drawn up to 1890 to identify other cases in the same family. Results: There were 13 cases identified and all occurred between the 6th and the 8th generation. A family tree linked all cases to a man from the Cayman Islands who died in 1890. The nine cases with full medical records showed eight females and one male (8:1). The mean age at diagnosis was 29 years; polyarthritis occurred in all nine patients (100%), kidney involvement in 6/9 (66.6%), skin rash in 6/9 (66.6%), pleuritis and pericarditis in 6/9 (66.6%) and anaemia in 6/9 (66.6%). The autoantibodies were mainly ANA in all patients (100%) and anti-dsDNA in 8/9 (88.8%). Conclusion: The unusual extensive familial clustering in this study represents the first to be described in a West Indian population where SLE is most prevalent, and may suggest a genetic predisposition.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir la agregación inusual de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) en una familia de las Islas Caimán. Método de estudio: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo observacional de LES a raíz de un caso índice de enfermedad mixta del tejido conectivo en una mujer antillana de 51 años de edad. Sus dos hijas – las dos del mismo padre de origen caimanés – también fueron diagnosticadas con LES. Posteriormente se trazó un árbol genealógico hasta 1890 para identificar otros casos en la misma familia. Resultados: Se identificaron 13 casos y todos ocurrieron entre la sexta y la octava generación. Un árbol de familia vinculó todos los casos a un hombre de las Islas Caimán que murió en 1890 (Fig. 1). Los nueve casos con historias médicas completas mostraron ocho hembras y un varón (8:1). La edad promedio de diagnóstico fue 29 años. Los nueve pacientes padecían de poliartritis (100%). Asimismo hubo compromiso del riñón 6/9 (66.6%), erupción cutánea en 6/9 (66.6%), pleuritis y pericarditis en 6/9 (66.6%) y anemia en 6 (66.6%). Los autoanticuerpos fueron principalmente ANA en todos los pacientes (100%) y anti-dsDNA en 8/9 (88.8%). Conclusión: La inusual agregación familiar extensa en este estudio es la primera que se describe en una población antillana donde LES es más frecuente, y puede sugerir una predisposición genética.

A recente crise cria uma demanda por modelos de regulação e restrições de liquidez que sejam explícitos sobre efeitos de bem-estar. Neste artigo, nós revisamos as recomendações de política originárias em dois modelos canônicos, mostrando suas diferentes prescrições para taxas de intertem-porais de retorno financeiro. No primeiro, uma versão do modelo de en-contros aleatórios de Cavalcanti e Wallace (1999), agentes monitorados são levados a promover uma emissão inflacionária de moeda bancária. No segundo, uma versão sequencial do modelo de Diamond e Dybvig (1983) com insolvencia, aumentos nos retornos de longo prazo podem prevenir corridas bancárias através da contenção da liquidez.

The recent financial crisis creates a demand for welfare-based models of financial regulation and liquidity shortages. In this paper, we review policy implications from two cornerstone models and show that they imply different responses in terms of intertemporal returns of financial liabilities. In the first case, a version of the Cavalcanti and Wallace (1999), random-matching model, monitored agents are led to promote inflation in bank-issued money. In the second case, a sequential-service version of the Diamond and Dybvig (1983) model of bank runs with insolvency, increases in long-run returns can prevent bank runs by reducing the provision of liquidity.

The 2009 Pandemic Novel Influenza A [H1N1] resulted in mild disease mostly but severe cases and death were associated with pneumonia, respiratory failure and multi-organ failure. We present a case of severe disease with acute heart failure and arrhythmia due to fulminant myocarditis in a 50-year old obese man with diabetes mellitus.

La nueva gripe A [H1N1] pandémica resultó ser una enfermedad leve en su mayor parte, pero se produjeron casos graves y muertes asociadas con neumonía, insuficiencia respiratoria y fallo multiorgánico. Presentamos un caso de enfermedad severa con insuficiencia cardíaca aguda y arritmia debido a miocarditis fulminante en un hombre obeso de 50 años de edad con diabetes mellitus.

This first survey of the ant fauna in a children's hospital in the city of Palmas, state of Tocantins, compares species composition, abundance and infestation rate of ants between rainy and dry seasons, day and night periods, and among 15 hospital sectors. Forty-eight collections, being 12 diurnal and 12 nocturnal in each season using five attractive baits distributed per sector, maintained for 3h per sampling. A total of 34,309 ants were collected, distributed in 12 species: Acromyrmex sp., Brachymyrmex sp., Camponotus spp. (four morphospecies), Dorymyrmex sp., Tetramorium sp., Solenopsis globularia (Creighton), Solenopsis saevissima Smith, Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) and Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille). The hospital presented an average building infestation rate (40.3%), when compared with hospitals from other Brazilian regions. In general, there was no difference in the species composition between seasons and the period of the day, although abundance of ants was higher at night. The dry season and the nocturnal period showed the highest infestation rate, mainly by T.melanocephalum and S.globularia. Gynecologic ward, lactation unit, preconception and pediatric ward access ramp showed higher infestation rate, although these varied between seasons. The significant infestation levels by the three species above, especially in sectors with restricted access such as lactation unit, laboratory, Intensive Care Unit e surgery center, indicate potential risks for contamination of patients by multi resistant pathogens possibly present in ants' bodies, as verified in others studies.