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Tensile tests were assessed to evaluate the ageing effects on carbon fiber/epoxy resin laminates exposed to ozone and water immersion. Laminates with distinct fiber arrangements (unidirectional - UD and plain weave - PW) were tested under transversal and longitudinal tensile strength at room (22°C) and high (88°C) temperatures after conditioning. The transversal tensile strength tests of UD laminates performed at room temperature show that the water immersion decreased this property in 28% when compared to non-conditioned samples. Ozone atmosphere also deteriorates the tensile strength considerably, drop of 27%. It was expected a higher drop in water immersion conditioning than in ozone atmosphere due to this conditioning attacks preferentially the external surface of specimen contrariwise the water immersion has diffusion inside the epoxy matrix. Tensile strength at high temperature shows more accentuated degradation for UD specimens exposed to water immersion (50% drop) than ozone (25%). Higher temperatures favor the degradation of the polymeric matrix and fibers/matrix interface. Tensile strength of PW laminates non-conditioned and conditioned with ozone, tested at room temperature, presented tensile strength results slightly different, 17% lower. When submitted to water immersion the results have dropped 26%, which are similar to unidirectional composite. At high temperature, PW laminate attacked with ozone had tensile strength reduced in 7%, while after water immersion the drop achieved 18%. These results show that water immersion affected the composite much more than ozone. Fractographic analyses confirmed that the combination between high temperature and conditioning promoted the degradation of matrix and fiber/matrix interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of the N-(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)- 2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium perchlorate and of its deprotonated betaine 4-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinio)-2,6-dichlorophenolate (Wolfbeis's E T (33) dye) were recorded in various solvents and analyzed in search of solvent-dependent shifts that characterize their solvatomagnetism, which was compared with the well-known UV-vis spectral behavior of this important solvatochromic dye. Although the NMR spectra of E T (33) and its phenolic precursor in different solvents correlated only poorly with their UV-vis spectral responses, they provided valuable information on specific structural features and solute-solvent interactions that are not available from their UV-vis spectra., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Polymer-blend-based nanocomposites incorporating carbon nanomaterials hold significant potential for microwave absorption materials (MAM) applications. This study investigates the microwave absorption response of hybrid nanocomposites composed of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and nanographite, prepared using industrial-like melt-mixing masterbatch strategies in a polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (PC/ABS) blend matrix with varying blend ratios (100/0, 80/20, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 20/80, and 0/100) and a constant filler content (2 wt % MWCNT and 2 wt % nanographite). Furthermore, the PC/ABS (40/60) blend-based nanocomposite was prepared with the addition of a compatibilizer, 5 wt % of maleic anhydride grafted ABS (ABS- g -MAH), to verify possible changes in morphology. Morphology, rheology, mechanical, electrical, and electromagnetic properties were correlated. From a morphological perspective, a preferential distribution of MWCNTs within the PC phase was observed, with the different blend ratios leading to a transition from a dispersed matrix morphology in 80/20 and 20/80 (PC/ABS) to cocontinuous morphologies in the intermediate blends (60/40, 50/50, and 40/60). The addition of ABS- g -MAH as a compatibilizer resulted in significant morphological refinement. Electromagnetic properties, evaluated using both X-band rectangular waveguide and broadband coaxial airline techniques, as well as electrical conductivity, were found to be strongly influenced by the varying morphologies. The nanocomposite PC/ABS/ABS- g -MAH with a thickness of 3.0 mm presented a Reflection Loss (RL) of -29.4 dB at 9.44 GHz, with a bandwidth of 3 GHz. Across the broadband spectrum, RL values below -10 dB were observed, including at lower frequencies around 3.70 GHz. These findings suggest that morphological tuning of the polymer matrix offers a promising pathway for optimizing microwave absorption in hybrid nanocomposites., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Polarizable continuum methods (PCM) have been widely employed for simulating solvent effects, in spite of the fact that they either ignore specific interactions in solution or only partially reproduce non-specific contributions. Examples of three solvatochromic dyes with a negative, a positive and a reverse behavior illustrate the achievements and shortcomings of PCM calculations and the causes for their variable success. Even when qualitatively mimicking non-specific solvent effects, departures of calculated values from experimental data may be significant (20-30%). In addition, they can utterly fail to reproduce an inverted behavior that is caused by significant specific contributions by the solvent. As shown through a theoretical model that rationalizes and predicts the solvatochromism of phenolate merocyanines based on DFT (Density Functional Theory) descriptors in the gas phase, PCM shortcomings are to be held responsible for its eventual failure to reproduce experimental data in solution.

The ability of polarizable continuum models (PCM) to simulate nonspecific solvent effects (dipolarity and polarizability) was evaluated by calculating the transition energies of 1,1,10,10-tetrabutyldecanonaene (ttbp9) and 2- N , N -dimethylamino-7-nitrofluorene (DMANF), basis of Catalán's polarizability ( SP ) and dipolarity ( SdP ) solvent scales, respectively. Time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were performed at different levels of theory, employing four basis sets in 10 different solvents, covering the full range of the normalized SP and SdP scales. Transition energies were calculated using linear response (LR) and corrected linear response (cLR 2 ) schemes. Although these methods yielded variable mean absolute errors, the LR-PCM calculations reproduced medium polarizability and dipolarity trends. While calculated ttbp9 transition energies correlated with SP and Laurence's dispersion-induced ( DI ) scales, the DMANF transition energies correlated poorly with SdP or Laurence's ES dipolarity scales. This result agrees with the fact that DMANF solvatochromism is "contaminated" by solvent polarizability and HB acidity. The incorporation of SP or DI contributions led to much better ( r 2 > 0.95) correlations with the DMANF-calculated transitions. The results offer a clearer picture of the limitations of continuum models in simulating the behavior of solvatochromic dyes in solution by pointing out their poor performance when specific solvent effects, such as hydrogen-bond interactions, play a significant role in their solvatochromism.

Intestinal schistosomiasis is a chronic and debilitating disease that affects public health systems worldwide. Control interventions to reduce morbidity primarily involve the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals. However, the recommended Kato-Katz (KK) parasitological method shows low sensitivity in individuals with low parasite loads and is not useful for monitoring elimination of parasite transmission at later stages. In the current study, we evaluated the accuracy of serum reactivity levels of different immunoglobulin isotypes in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), utilizing Schistosoma mansoni crude extracts, with the aim to improve the diagnosis of infected individuals with low parasite loads. The serum reactivity of IgM and IgG subclass antibodies (IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4) against soluble adult worm and egg antigen preparations was evaluated in residents from a schistosomiasis-endemic area in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The parasitological status of the study population was determined through fecal examination with multiple parasitological tests to create a consolidated reference standard (CRS) plus a fecal DNA detection test (q-PCR). Twelve months after praziquantel treatment, a second serum sample was obtained from the population for reexamination. A two-graph receiver operating characteristic curve (TG-ROC) analysis was performed using the serum reactivity of non-infected endemic controls and egg-positive individuals, and the cut-off value was established based on the intersection point of the sensibility and specificity curves in TG-ROC analyses. The diagnostic accuracy of each serological test was evaluated in relation to the parasitological CRS and to the combination of CRS plus qPCR results. The data revealed that serum reactivity of IgM and IgG3 against S. mansoni antigens did not allow identification of infected individuals from the endemic area. In contrast, serum IgG1 and IgG4-reactivity against schistosome antigens could distinguish between infected and non-infected individuals, with AUC values ranging between 0.728-0.925. The reactivity of IgG4 anti-soluble egg antigen - SEA (sensitivity 79 %, specificity 69 %, kappa = 0.49) had the best diagnostic accuracy, showing positive reactivity in more than 75 % of the infected individuals who eliminated less than 12 eggs per gram of feces. Moreover, serum IgG4 reactivity against SEA and against soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) was significantly reduced in the serum of infected individuals after 12 months of confirmed parasitological cure and in the absence of re-infection. These results reinforce that the described IgG4 anti-SEA ELISA assay is a sensitive alternative for the diagnosis of active intestinal schistosomiasis in individuals from endemic areas, including in those with a very low parasite load., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cryptococcosis is a systemic mycosis that causes pneumonia and meningoencephalitis. Strongyloidiasis is a chronic gastrointestinal infection caused by parasites of the genus Strongyloides. Cryptococcosis and strongyloidiasis affect the lungs and are more prevalent in the same world regions, i.e., Africa and tropical countries such as Brazil. It is undeniable that those coincidences may lead to the occurrence of coinfections. However, there are no studies focused on the interaction between Cryptococcus spp. and Strongyloides spp. In this work, we aimed to investigate the interaction between Strongyloides venezuelensis (Sv) and Cryptococcus gattii (Cg) in a murine coinfection model. Murine macrophage exposure to Sv antigens reduced their ability to engulf Cg and produce reactive oxygen species, increasing the ability of fungal growth intracellularly. We then infected mice with both pathogens. Sv infection skewed the host's response to fungal infection, increasing lethality in a murine coinfection model. In addition to increased NO levels and arginase activity, coinfected mice presented a classic Th2 anti-Sv response: eosinophilia, higher levels of alternate activated macrophages (M2), increased concentrations of CCL24 and IL-4, and lower levels of IL-1β. This milieu favored fungal growth in the lungs with prominent translocation to the brain, increasing the host's tissue damage. In conclusion, our data shows that primary Sv infection promotes Th2 bias of the pulmonary response to Cg-infection and worsens its pathological outcomes.

Wild mammals, especially rodents, can participate in the life cycle of Schistosoma mansoni ; however, the impact of these parasite strains on the severity of schistosomiasis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the parasitological and immunopathological alterations induced by an S. mansoni strain isolated from the wild rodent Holochilus sciureus (HS strain) and a parasite strain isolated from a human (LE strain) in experimentally infected mice. Male BALB/c mice were subcutaneously infected with 50 cercariae/mouse of either the HS or the LE strain and were evaluated for 12 weeks. In the experimental groups, the parasite burden was estimated by worm and egg (feces and tissues) count, and immunopathological alterations were evaluated in the liver and intestines. Compared to experimental infection with the LE parasite strain, HS-infected mice showed reduced number of parasite worms but higher fecundity rate, significant reduction in IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13 concentrations, lower EPO-activity in liver homogenate and higher concentrations of TNF- α , IFN- γ , IL-12 and IL-17 in the small intestine homogenate. Moreover, HS infection resulted in higher concentrations of NO end-products in both the liver and intestine, suggesting a predominance of the Th1/Th17 immune response. HS-infected mice also showed higher plasma transaminase levels, formed larger granulomas, and had a higher mortality rate in comparison with LE-infected mice. Data indicate that BALB/c mice infected with the HS strain of S. mansoni showed reduced susceptibility to the parasite but stronger tissue inflammation and high disease severity.

Solutions of a pure organic solvent acidified with 1% sulfuric acid, and some of their aqueous mixtures were used for lignin extraction in the Pinus radiata sawdust delignification. Organic acid solvents including acetic, lactic and citric acids as well as non-acidic compounds such as γ-valerolactone, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, glycerol and ethylene glycol were studied. Crude lignin extractions yields (%) ranging between ca. 5-50% were obtained, from which ethylene glycol (33%), γ-valerolactone (48%) and propylene carbonate (52%) showed the greatest effectiveness. The effect of added water on the lignin extraction was investigated in mixtures of an organic solvent with a variable water content (75%w/w, 50% w/w, 25%w/w and 10% w/w) where it was observed that the yield of extraction decreased with the increased water content. Moreover, the purity of extracted lignins were analyzed by spectroscopic methods (UV and IR). Kamlet-Taft solvent polarity parameters, were determined with the solvatochromic probes 4-nitroaniline, N,N-diethyl-4-nitroaniline, Nile Red and 6-propionyl-2-N,N-dimethylaminonaphthalene (PRODAN), and then correlated to lignin extraction yields to explain the influence of the solute-solvent interactions on biomass delignification. A reasonable correlation was found between the medium polarizability-dipolarity π* and the effectiveness of the solvent mixture on the extraction of lignin wood., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three photobicyclized benzodithienoquinolizinium tetrafluoroborates (BPDTQBF4) were prepared and evaluated by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectral, electrochemical analysis, and by theoretical calculations as possible organic n-type semiconductors. Evaluation and comparison of their LUMO levels, HOMO-LUMO energy gaps as monomeric and π-stacked dimers with those of other materials, suggest their potential as organic n-type semiconductors. Calculations of their relative charge carrier mobilities confirmed this potential for one derivative with a long (C-14) alkyl chain appended to the polycyclic planar π-system.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic health problems of difficult management and treatment. Epidemiological studies indicate an inverse association between helminth infections and IBD, and experimental data confirm that helminth infections modulate the severity of experimental acute colitis in mice. However, the effects of helminth infections on chronic colitis, which is clinically more relevant, have been poorly explored. Herein, we investigated whether Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in BALB/c mice can ameliorate chronic colitis induced by the ingestion of water containing 2.5% Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) over three seven-day treatment cycles, with an interval of fourteen days between cycles. Infected-only, DSS-exposed-only, and non-exposed/uninfected experimental groups served as controls for comparing the severity of colitis and intestinal inflammation among different groups. Our data showed that S. venezuelensis infection in mice with DSS-induced chronic colitis reduced clinical signs, attenuated colon shortening and inflammation, and prevented mucus ablation. The modulatory effect was accompanied by a low concentration of IFN-γ, high concentrations of TGF-β, IL-22, and IL-33 in the colon, and a significant increase of the percentage of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells in the mesenteric lymph node (MLN). In conclusion, S. venezuelensis infection can reduce the severity of DSS-induced chronic colitis in mice possibly through the stimulation of Treg cells and modulatory cytokines, and induction of mucosal repair mechanisms., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Two parameters are introduced, a nonideality index (NII) and a nonideality area (NIA), for the analysis of the variations of thermodynamic properties of binary mixtures. Their calculation is based, for the NII, on experimental plots of the variation of a given property (density, refractive index, viscosity, etc.), and for the NIA, on experimental plots of its excess value (excess enthalpies, molar volumes, viscosities, refractive indices, isentropic compressibilities, etc.) with the mixture composition. Both nonideality parameters are therefore not based on any theoretical model or on its derived parameters, being applicable with any fitting equation. The NII or NIA values for a thermodynamic property of a series of related binary mixtures reveal interesting trends, which are not evident in most analyses of such systems. Besides their predictive value, these trends provide information on the relevance of solvent characteristics of the binary mixture, thus supporting new insights or interpretations of the experimental data., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Evidence suggests that biological mechanisms involved in helminth infections and vitamin deficiencies increase susceptibility to other infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of helminth co-infection and select micronutrient deficiencies with leprosy using a case-control design., Methods: From 2016 to 2018, individuals aged ≥3 years were recruited at clinics in and around Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil in three groups: cases of leprosy, household contacts and community-matched (non-contact) controls. Helminths were diagnosed through stool Kato Katz examination and serum reactivity to anti-soluble adult worm antigen preparation IgG4. Serum ferritin, 25-OH vitamin D and retinol concentrations were measured. Multi-variate logistic regression was conducted to identify associations with active leprosy., Results: Seventy-nine cases of leprosy, 96 household contacts and 81 non-contact controls were recruited; 48.1% of participants were male with a median age of 40 years. Helminths were found in 7.1% of participants on Kato Katz test, all but one of which were Schistosoma mansoni, and 32.3% of participants were positive for S. mansoni serology. On multi-variate analysis, cases were more likely to be infected with helminths (diagnosed by stool) than household contacts [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-50.51]. Vitamin D deficiency was common, and was more likely in cases compared with non-contact controls (aOR 4.66, 95% CI 1.42,-15.33). Iron deficiency was not associated with leprosy, and vitamin A deficiency was not detected., Conclusion: These associations suggest that the immune consequences of schistosomiasis and vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of active leprosy. Comorbid conditions of poverty deserve further study as addressing co-infections and nutritional deficiencies could be incorporated into programmes to improve leprosy control., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Folk medicine reports have described the use of Chenopodium ambrosioides as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anthelmintic herb. These effects, including its activity against intestinal worms, are already scientifically observed. However, the immunological mechanisms of this species in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infection are unknown., Aim of the Study: To evaluate the immunological and anti-Schistosoma mansoni effects of a crude Chenopodium ambrosioides hydro-alcoholic extract (HCE)., Materials and Methods: For the in vitro analysis, cercariae and adult worms were exposed to different concentrations (0 to 10,000 μg/mL) of the HCE. For the in vivo evaluation, Swiss mice were infected with 50 cercariae of S. mansoni and separated into groups according to treatment as follows: a negative control (without treatment), a positive control (treated with Praziquantel®), HCE1 Group (treated with HCE during the cutaneous phase), HCE2 Group (treated with HCE during the lung phase), HCE3 Group (treated with HCE during the young worm phase), and HCE4 Group (treated with HCE during the adult worm phase). The animals treated with HCE received daily doses of 50 mg/kg, by gavage, for seven days, corresponding to the different developmental stages of S. mansoni. For comparison, a clean control group (uninfected and untreated) was also included. All animals were euthanized 60 days post-infection to allow the following assessments to be performed: a complete blood cells count, counts of eggs in the feces and liver, the quantification of cytokines and IgE levels, histopathological evaluations of the livers, and the analysis of inflammatory mediators., Results: HCE treatment increased the mortality of cercariae and adult worms in vitro. The HCE treatment in vivo reduced the eggs in feces and liver. The number and area of liver granulomas, independent of the phase of treatment, were also reduced. The treatment with HCE reduced the percentage of circulating eosinophils, IgE, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-4. In contrast, the treatment with the HCE, dependent on the phase, increased IL-10 levels and the number of peritoneal and bone marrow cells, mainly of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and macrophages. This effect could be due to secondary compounds presents in this extract, such as kaempferol, quercetin and derivatives., Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Chenopodium ambrosioides has antiparasitic and immunomodulatory activity against the different phases of schistosomiasis, reducing the granulomatous inflammatory profile caused by the infection and, consequently, improving the disease prognosis., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The positive solvatochromism of three dyes, with a spectral behavior strongly dependents on the medium dipolarity/polarizability, was studied theoretically. Both a polarizable continuum-solvent model (CSM) and explicit solvent molecules were employed to model solvent effects. The CSM approach, coupled with ten different TDDFT methods, yielded unsatisfactory results in eleven solvents. The explicit-solvation calculations, thought of much higher computational cost, yielded excellent results. As CSM schemes are known correctly model non-specific electrostatic effects, our results indicate that the traditionally considered non-specific nature of solvent dipolarity needs to be reconsidered, requiring the explicit consideration of the solute-solvent interactions for their accurate theoretical description., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Human co-infection by helminth species is frequent, but their consequences are mostly unknown. Here, we investigate the impact of Strongyloides venezuelensis co-infection on the immune response, schistosome burden, and the associated pathology of schistosomiasis in mice. Co-infection did not alter the schistosome parasite burden, but reduced the IL-4/IL-10 ratio during acute schistosomiasis, indicating induction of modulatory mechanisms. Simultaneous infection with S. venezuelensis and S. mansoni increased the liver concentration of IFN-γ and altered the Th2/Th1 balance, leading to great infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, which resulted in larger liver inflammation and increased serum transaminase activity in comparison with mono-infected mice. Mice infected with S. venezuelensis at two and four weeks after S. mansoni infection showed significant increase of Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg cytokines and strong cellular infiltration in the liver in comparison with mono-infected mice. However, only in mice co-infected after two weeks of schistosomiasis, the liver immune response leads to more intense Th2 polarization, increased liver inflammation, and transaminase serum activity. S. venezuelensis co-infection during chronic schistosomiasis did not significantly alter liver inflammation. Therefore, S. venezuelensis co-infection affects the host immune responses and morbidity of schistosomiasis, but the effects largely depend on the stage of the S. mansoni infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Species of Strongyloides infect a wide range of hosts worldwide. Due to their complex life cycle, it is hard to control the transmission of these parasites. Several species show evidence of vertical transmission; however, the impact of this transmission route on the susceptibility of the offspring has been poorly investigated. Herein, we used Strongyloides venezuelensis infected mice to evaluate transplacental and transmammary parasite transmission and their effect on the susceptibility of offspring. Swiss female mice were infected at the end of the gestation or during the breastfeeding period, and their offspring were examined for the presence of the parasite one week after infection of the mother. Our data showed that female mice infected with S. venezuelensis during gestation did not transmit the parasite to their offspring. On the other hand, all newborn mice breastfeeding in S. venezuelensis infected females got infected. To evaluate the effect of early exposure to the parasite on susceptibility and immune response of the hosts, the offspring of each experimental group (non-infected, gestation-infected, and breastfeeding-infected mothers) received anti-helminth treatment after parasite evaluation and were subcutaneously infected with S. venezuelensis upon reaching adulthood. Mice from the group of breastfeeding-infected mothers showed lower susceptibility to S. venezuelensis in adulthood in comparison with mice from non-infected mothers. The low parasite burden was accompanied by earlier eosinophil and neutrophil activation in the gut and higher serum levels of IgE. In contrast, S. venezuelensis infection in adult mice born from gestation-infected mothers presented with more worms in the intestine and lower levels of parasite-reactive IgM in serum in comparison with mice born from non-infected mothers, thus suggesting that early exposure to parasite antigens may modulate the protective immune response. Altogether, our data confirmed transmammary, but not transplacental, transmission of S. venezuelensis in mice and demonstrated that early exposure to the parasite and/or their antigens has an important effect on host susceptibility to a later infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: EpiFibro (Brazilian Epidemiological Study of Fibromyalgia) was created to study patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Patients were included since 2011 according to the classification criteria for FM of the American College of Rheumatology of 1990 (ACR1990)., Objective: To analyze the therapeutic measures prescribed by Brazilian physicians., Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study of a multicenter cohort. The therapeutic measures were described using descriptive statistics., Results: We analyzed 456 patients who had complete data in the registry. The mean age was 54.0 ± 11.9 years; 448 were women (98.2%). Almost all patients (98.4%) used medications, 62.7% received health education, and less than half reported practicing physical exercise; these modalities were often used in combination. Most patients who practiced exercises practiced aerobic exercise only, and a significant portion of patients combined it with flexibility exercises. The most commonly used medication was amitriptyline, followed by cyclobenzaprine, and a minority used medication specifically approved for FM, such as duloxetine and pregabalin, either alone or in combination. Combinations of two or three medications were observed, with the combination of fluoxetine and amitriptyline being the most frequent (18.8%)., Conclusion: In this evaluation of the care of patients with FM in Brazil, it was found that the majority of patients are treated with a combination of pharmacological measures. Non-pharmacological methods are underused, with aerobic exercise being the most commonly practiced exercise type. The most commonly prescribed single drug was amitriptyline, and the most commonly prescribed combination was fluoxetine and amitriptyline. Drugs specifically approved for FM are seldom prescribed.

The positive halochromism of the solvatochromic 4-nitro-4'-(N,N-dimethylamino)-2,2'-bithiophene in acetone and 1-butanol was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanics calculations. Interactions of the dye with the solvated sodium cation were found to have only a minor effect on the observed halochromism, which was ultimately ascribed to a predominant interaction between iodide anions and the N,N-dimethylamino group of the dye., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A protocol for determining the location of antioxidants (AOs) in a micro-heterogeneous medium was applied to three series of AOs with increasing hydrophobicities: chromancarboxylic acid ("Trolox") esters, caffeic acid and its esters, and gallic acid and its esters. The observed paradoxical behaviour of these and other commonly encountered antioxidants was rationalized with the aid of a pictorial simile, the "diving-swan" analogy, that explains the orientation and location of an amphiphobic AO when it reacts with a radical probe in the micellar interface., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was solubilized in N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and the electrospinning process has been employed to obtain PAN nanofibers (PF). Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were dispersed with the aid of Triton X-100 surfactant and subsequently centrifugated. Buckypapers (BP/PF) were prepared by vacuum filtration procedure of MWCNT suspension supernatant stacking four PF layers over a nylon membrane. The PF removal was carried out by immersing the BP/PF system in DMF and removal periods of 10 and 30 min were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has not shown any PAN residue in the MWCNT network resulting in highly porous BP. However, by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) a PAN band was found around of 2243 cm -1 corresponding to nitrile group (C≡N). Besides, PAN leftover was evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), electrical characterization through four-point probe, nitrogen adsorption at 77 K, and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Helminth infection can reduce the severity of inflammatory bowel disease. However, the modulatory mechanisms elicited by helminth infection are not yet fully understood and vary depending on the experimental model. Herein we evaluated the effect of acute infection of BALB/c mice with Strongyloides venezuelensis on the clinical course of ulcerative colitis induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) treatment of these animals. For the experiments, S. venezuelensis-infected BALB/c mice were treated orally with 4% DSS solution for seven days. As controls, we used untreated S. venezuelensis infected, DSS-treated uninfected, and untreated/uninfected BALB/c mice. During DSS treatment, mice from the different groups were compared with regards to the clinical signs related to the severity of colitis and intestinal inflammation. Mice acutely infected with S. venezulensis and treated with DSS had reduced clinical score, shortening of the colon, and tissue inflammation. Moreover, DSS-treated and infected mice showed reduced IL-4, INF-γ, and IL-17 levels and increase of IL-10 production in the colon and/or in the supernatant of mesenteric lymph nodes cell cultures that resulted in lower eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidase activity in colon homogenates, when compared with DSS-treated uninfected mice. DSS-treated infected mice also preserved the intestine architecture and had normal differentiation of goblet cells and mucus production in the colon mucosa. In conclusion, the data indicate that the clinical improvement reported in DSS-treated infected mice was accompanied by the lower production of Th1/Th2/Th17 pro-inflammatory cytokines, stimulation of IL-10, and induction of mucosal repair mechanisms., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Seven new 2,4,6-triarylpyrimidines were synthesized and their solvatofluorochromism investigated in 12 solvents and in an aqueous micellar solution of reduced Triton X-100. A multiparametric analysis of their emission band showed that the solvent dipolarity and basicity were mainly responsible for their solvatofluorochromism, which arose from an internal charge-transfer from a donor fragment to the pyrimidine acceptor, confirmed by theoretical calculations. In the micellar system, quenching of their fluorescence by addition of derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TEMPO) radical was investigated and the results were consistent with the spectral changes brought about by the micro-heterogeneous system., (© 2018 The American Society of Photobiology.)

Cellulose nanoparticles (CNs) were prepared by acid hydrolysis of the cellulose pulp extracted from the Brazilian satintail (Imperata Brasiliensis) plant using a conventional and a total chlorine free method. Initially, a statistical design of experiment was carried out using Taguchi orthogonal array to study the hydrolysis parameters, and the main properties (crystallinity, thermal stability, morphology, and sizes) of the nanocellulose. X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out to characterize the physical-chemical properties of the CNs obtained. Cellulose nanoparticles with diameter ranging from 10 to 60 nm and length between 150 and 250 nm were successfully obtained at sulfuric acid concentration of 64% (m/m), temperature 35 °C, reaction time 75 min, and a 1:20 (g/mL) pulp-to-solution ratio. Under this condition, the Imperata Brasiliensis CNs showed good stability in suspension, crystallinity index of 65%, and a cellulose degradation temperature of about 117 °C. Considering that these properties are similar to those of nanocelluloses from other lignocellulosics feedstocks, Imperata grass seems also to be a suitable source for nanocellulose production., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Eight compounds with phenols as electron-donating groups and 5-nitrothiophen-2-yl or 5-nitrofuran-2-yl acceptor moieties in their molecular structures were synthesized. The crystalline structures of six compounds were obtained. Their corresponding phenolate dyes were studied in 29 solvents and the data showed that in all cases a reverse solvatochromism occurred. The results are explained in terms of the ability of the medium to stabilize the electronic ground and excited states of the probes to different extents. The frontier molecular orbitals were analyzed for the protonated and deprotonated forms of the compounds. The calculated geometries are in agreement with the X-ray structures determined for the compounds and it was verified that after their deprotonation an increase in the electron delocalization occurs. Radial distribution functions were calculated for the dyes in water and n-hexane to analyze different solvation patterns resulting from the interaction of the solvents with the dyes. Data obtained by using the Catalán multiparameter equation revealed that the medium acidity is responsible for hypsochromic shifts, whereas the solvent basicity, polarizability, and dipolarity contributed to bathochromic shifts of the solvatochromic band of these dyes. Two model "hybrid cyanine" dyes were used in the design of simple experiments to demonstrate that the solvatochromic behavior of these dyes in solution can be tuned with careful consideration of the properties of the medium., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A simple protocol is described for locating the site of action of an antioxidant (AO) in a micro-heterogeneous mixture, based on the pattern of the reactivity curve towards the AO of a series of 4-alkanoyl TEMPO radicals. The resulting cut-off curves yield information regarding the hydrophobic microenvironment surrounding the reactive AO group, and its accessibility by the probe. Convex curves are an indication of an AO located in a more hydrophilic environment, while concave plots originate from AOs in a more hydrophobic location in the micro-heterogeneous system., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Three oil-in-water emulsions were prepared from mixtures of olive oil and Tween 20 in water. The effectiveness of a series of radical 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TEMPO) derivatives of variable lipophilicity in reactions with antioxidant Trolox, and as pyrene-fluorescence quenchers, was compared in the three emulsions. A "cut-off" effect was observed for the pyrene quenching by the probes, but not for their reaction with Trolox. The results were rationalized in terms of the amphiphobic nature of the probes, and the different locations of probe, pyrene and Trolox in the three-phase microheterogeneous systems., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which shows extreme heterogeneity in its clinical presentation and that follows a variable and unpredictable course. Although some discrepancies in the incidence and prevalence rates between geographical regions may reflect methodological differences in the definition and verification of cases, they may also reflect true local differences., Objectives: To determine the prevalence and incidence of systemic sclerosis in the city of Campo Grande, state capital of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil, during the period from January to December 2014., Methods: All health care services of the city of Campo Grande - MS with attending in the specialty of Rheumatology were invited to participate in the study through a standardized form of clinical and socio-demographic assessment. Physicians of any specialty could report a suspected case of systemic sclerosis, but necessarily the definitive diagnosis should be established by a rheumatologist, in order to warrant the standardization of diagnostic criteria and exclusion of other diseases resembling systemic sclerosis. At the end of the study, 15 rheumatologists reported that they attended patients with systemic sclerosis and sent the completed forms containing epidemiological data of patients., Results: The incidence rate of systemic sclerosis in Campo Grande for the year 2014 was 11.9 per million inhabitants and the prevalence rate was 105.6 per million inhabitants. Systemic sclerosis patients were mostly women, white, with a mean age of 50.58 years, showing the limited form of the disease with a mean duration of the disease of 8.19 years. Regarding laboratory tests, 94.4% were positive for antinuclear antibody, 41.6% for anti-centromere antibody and 19.1% for anti-Scl70; anti-RNA Polymerase III was performed in 37 patients, with 16.2% positive., Conclusions: The city of Campo Grande, the state capital of MS, presented a lower incidence/prevalence of systemic sclerosis in comparison with those numbers found in US studies and close to European studies' data., (Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

Introduction: EpiFibro (Brazilian Epidemiological Study of Fibromyalgia) was created to study Fibromyalgia patients. Patients were included since 2011 according to the 1990 American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Fibromyalgia (ACR1990)., Objectives: To determine how many patients still fulfill the ACR1990 and the ACR2010 criteria in 2014; to determine the correlation between the impact of FM and to describe data on the follow-up evaluation., Methods: This is a cross sectional study in a multicenter cohort of patients. The data was collected between 2013 and 2015. Physician included patients that fulfilled the ACR1990 criteria on the date of entry. The follow-up data were considered only for patients with at least two evaluations. A minimally significant change was considered to be a 30% variation of parameters scores., Results: 810 patients' data were analyzed. Patients presented a mean age of 51.8±11.5 years old. There were 786 female. Most patients met both criteria. There was a greater fulfilling of the ACR2010. There was a moderate correlation between Polysymptomatic Distress Scale and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Three hundred fourteen patients with more than one assessment were found, but 88 patients were excluded. Thus, 226 patients with one follow-up monitoring parameter were considered (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire: 222; Polysymptomatic Distress Scale: 199; both: 195). The mean follow-up time was 9.1±7.5 months (1-44). Most patients became stable., Conclusion: InEpiFibro, most patients fulfill simultaneously the ACR1990 and ACR2010. A larger number of patients fulfill the ACR2010 at the time of the evaluation. There was a moderate correlation between the Polysymptomatic Distress Scale and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Most patients remained stable over time., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

The cationic halochromism and thermohalochromism of four phenolate dyes conjugated with aryl moieties substituted with one or two nitro groups were investigated in the presence of organic (tetra-n-butylammonium bromide and benzyltriethylammonium chloride) and inorganic (sodium perchlorate) salts, in hydrogen-bond donating (water, 1-propanol, 1-butanol and 2-propanol) and hydrogen-bond accepting (acetonitrile and dimethylsulfoxide) solvents. Although a positive halochromic response was observed in water for tetraalkylammonium salts, their thermohalochromic behavior was negligible. A negative halochromic behavior was observed for the dyes in all solvents, when the added cation was Na + . Plots of Δλ max vs. c (Na + ) allowed the apparent association constants for the solvated phenolate-cation pair to be estimated. In most cases, a positive thermohalochromism was observed in the range of 25-50°C, exceptions being the more sterically hindered phenolate dyes in the less polar solvents 2-propanol and acetonitrile. The observed variations were rationalized by invoking the effect of temperature on the phenolate-cation, phenolate-solvent and cation-solvent interactions., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To establish guidelines based on scientific evidence for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia., Material and Methods: Evidence collection was performed based on 9 questions regarding the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, structured using the Patient, Intervention or Indicator, Comparison and Outcome (P.I.C.O.), with searches in the main, primary databases of scientific information. After defining the potential studies to support the recommendations, they were graded according to evidence and degree of recommendation., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

The inverted solvatochromism of twenty dyes containing an electron-donor phenolate conjugated with an electron-withdrawing nitro-substituted phenyl ring was analyzed in terms of the dye structure and substituents. Structural factors that increased the difference between the electrophilicities of the donor and acceptor moieties, or the donor-acceptor strength of the phenolate dyes, also increased the sensitivity of the dyes to solvent-polarity changes and red-shifted their solvatochromic absorption bands.

A series of 4-alkanoyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl radicals was prepared, and their reactivity in water vis-à-vis antioxidant Trolox was compared. Spectral (electron paramagnetic resonance) and dynamic-light-scattering measurements suggested the formation of micelles for the more hydrophobic members of the series. The observed increase in reactivity for the micelle-forming radicals reflected the increased local concentration of the radical fragment on the micellar interface. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., (Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Context • The main feature of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) is the encouragement of present moment awareness and of self-regulation, which are associated with health benefits. Meditating with the body in movement has been referred to as one of the most accessible ways of reaching such awareness. An MBI program, Mindfulness and Movements of Integration (MMI), has the same structure as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) but puts more emphasis on the body and uses somatic education (SE) movements instead of yoga postures. Objectives • The study aimed to explore and describe the implementation of an MMI group and evaluate the effects on the main skills of mindfulness (ie, present moment awareness and acceptance). Design • The study used a pretest-posttest design. Setting • The study took place at the clinic of the Department of Psychiatry at the Federal University of São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil. Participants • Participants were individuals 18 y old or older living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Intervention • The intervention was structured to have 8 weekly sessions of 2.5 h each and a 1-d retreat. Participants were taught the formal meditation practices derived of MBSR: (1) the body scan and (2) awareness of different focuses-breathing, body sensations, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and open awareness. From the third session until the end of the study, 4 SE series of movements were added. Outcome Measures • The Brazilian adapted and validated versions of both the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS) were used to assess present moment awareness, and acceptance was assessed using only the latter scale. Results • Significant improvements were observed in the mean score on the MAAS for present moment awareness (Cohen's d = 1.58). The PHLMS mean scores also showed significant improvements related to the Awareness (Cohen's d = 0.85) and Acceptance (Cohen's d = 0.63) subscales. However, the correlation between the changes in scores in those subscales was not significant (r = .29; P = .29). Conclusions • The results point to the MMI program as a potentially acceptable and useful MBI by increasing awareness and acceptance through mindfulness and SE movements.

The solvation and the solvatochromic behavior of 5-(dimethylamino)-5'-nitro-2,2'-bithiophene 1, the basis of a π* scale of solvent polarities, was investigated theoretically in toluene, dichloromethane, methanol and formamide with a Monte Carlo and quantum mechanics (QM/MM) iterative approach. The calculated transition energies of the solvatochromic band of 1, obtained as averages of statistically uncorrelated configurations, including the solute and explicit solvent molecules of the first solvation layer, besides showing good agreement with the experimental transitions, reproduced very well the positive solvatochromism of this probe in various solvents.

The activities of two hydrophilic (ascorbic acid and Trolox) and two hydrophobic (α-tocopherol and BHT) antioxidants were measured by reaction with a series of 4-alkanoyloxyTEMPO radical probes 1 in buffered (pH 7), aqueous, micellar solutions of reduced Triton-X 100. In all cases, a cut-off effect was observed, in line with previous observations of the same effect for the partitioning of probe series 1 in this medium. These results support an interpretation of the cut-off effect in food emulsions, based on the "amphiphobic" nature of either the antioxidants or probes: competition between two molecular moieties, for the micellar hydrophobic core, tends to expose a reacting fragment differently to a more hydrophilic microenvironment, as the probe or antioxidant hydrophobicity increases., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Strongyloidiasis is a neglected chronic nematode infection, in which the control of autoinfection rate and severity of disease is dependent on type 2 immune responses. Strongyloides also causes Th2 responses in the lung of infected animals and changes in airway function, including airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Mechanisms of AHR during Strongyloides venezuelensis infection are not entirely known, and we investigate here the role of IL-4, eosinophils, and IL-33/ST2. AHR was evaluated in infected mice by determining changes in lung function after increasing doses of methacholine. Balb/C, but no C57Bl/6, mice developed AHR, tissue eosinophilia, and increased local IL-4 and IL-5 production. Functional changes peaked at day 4 and 7, after the larva had left the lungs. AHR was clearly dependent on IL-4 but not on eosinophils, as evaluated by experiments in IL-4 and Gata-1-deficient mice. Experiments in ST2-deficient mice showed that this pathway was not needed for induction of AHR but was necessary for the maintenance of AHR and for Th2 responses in the lung. These studies clearly show a crucial role for IL-4 in the induction of AHR following S. venezuelensis infection and for IL-33/ST2 in maintaining AHR and lung Th2 responses.

A 4-(nitrostyryl)phenolate was synthesized and its use in pure solvents revealed a reversion in solvatochromism. Solutions of a dye in binary solvent mixtures, using as components the solvents in the region of the occurrence of the reversion, provided the first case in the literature of reverse solvatochromism in a binary mixture.

Partition coefficients for six 4-substituted derivatives of the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) derivatives in aqueous solutions of reduced Triton X-100 (RTX-100) were determined by measurements of the probe EPR g-factor and of the fluorescence quenching of pyrene by the radical in the micelle. The partition constant attained a maximum value and then decreased with increasing probe hydrophobicity. Simulation of the probes inside the micelle showed that this trend could be rationalized by a change in the orientation of the 4-substituted TEMPO derivatives with the increasing substituent chain-length. The use of the EPR g-factor for the determination of partition constants of radicals in micellar systems was thus validated as a reliable and sensitive method, capable of describing the probe orientation in its microenvironment., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The affective burden of psychotic disorder has been increasingly recognised. However, subjective reports of distress and its covariates, especially those related to service use, remain under-investigated in patients with psychosis., Methods: This study investigated subjective distress and its covariates in a representative sample of 401 outpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of psychotic disorders in Brazil. Distress was assessed using the corresponding domain of a standardised measure of need - the Camberwell Assessment of Need., Results: Distress was reported as a need by 165 (41%) patients, being met in 78 (20%) and unmet in 87 (22%). Hierarchical logistic regression showed that the presence of distress as a need was predicted by attendance at psychotherapy (OR=3.49, CI=1.62-7.53), presence of suicidal ideation (OR=2.89, CI=1.75-4.79), non-attendance at psychosocial rehabilitation (OR=2.84, CI=1.31-6.19), and higher psychopathology (OR=1.09, CI=1.06-1.12). An unmet need was predicted by family not accompanying patients to treatment (OR=2.60, CI=1.05-6.44) and higher psychopathology (OR=1.05, CI=1.02-1.09)., Limitation: The use of a cross-sectional design and a single questionnaire domain to evaluate distress are the main limitations., Conclusions: Subjective distress is a common unmet need in psychosis, and can be treated. The main clinical implication is that subjective distress in psychosis may be impacted on by family engagement and psychosocial interventions., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Multiple schistosome and soil-transmitted nematode infections are frequently reported in human populations living in tropical areas of developing countries. In addition to exposure factors, the host immune response plays an important role in helminth control and morbidity in hosts with multiple infections; however, these aspects are difficult to evaluate in human populations. In the current study, female Swiss mice were simultaneously co-infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis and Schistosoma mansoni or infected with St. venezuelensis at 2, 4, or 14 weeks after Sc. mansoni infection. The simultaneously infected mice showed a similar parasite burden for St. venezuelensis compared with mono-infected mice. In contrast, there was a significant reduction of St. venezuelensis burden (primarily during the migration of the larvae) in mice that were previously infected with Sc. mansoni at the acute or chronic phase. Independent of the stage of Sc. mansoni infection, the St. venezuelensis co-infection was capable of inducing IL-4 production in the small intestine, increasing the IgE concentration in the serum and increasing eosinophilia in the lungs and intestine. This result suggests that the nematode infection stimulates local type 2 immune responses independently of the schistosomiasis stage. Moreover, previous Sc. mansoni infection stimulated early granulocyte infiltration in the lungs and trematode-specific IgM and IgG1 production that recognized antigens from St. venezuelensis infective larvae; these immune responses would act in the early control of St. venezuelensis larvae. Our data suggest that the effect of multiple helminth infections on host susceptibility and morbidity largely depends on the species of parasite and the immune response.

This was a socio-historical study that aimed to analyze the repercussions of the flexibilization of labor relationships within a University hospital (UH) using the thematic oral history method and triangulation of sources made up of workers' statements, institutional documents and relevant literature. It was observed that flexibilization, driven by state reform in the 1990s, had a structural impact on the trajectory of this institution, that, due to government downsizing policy, adopted outsourcing to maintain staff, leading to high staff turnover, various types of conflicts, and discontinuity and lack of organization of work processes. We conclude that the flexibilization of employment relationships became a handicap for this UH, disrupting services, negatively affecting students and service users, contributing to the deterioration of working conditions and lack of protection of workers.

Two variations of the polarized continuum model employing default ("PCM model") and SMD radii ("SMD model") were compared for the reproduction of the solvatochromic behavior of Reichardt's betaine dye, and of eight other phenolate betaines that exhibit a negative, positive or an inverted solvatochromic behavior. Molecules were optimized at the CAM B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, and transition energies were calculated with the TD-DFT method. The PCM model failed to reproduce the negative and the inverted solvachromism of these dyes in protic solvents. The SMD model, though not entirely accounting for hydrogen-bond effects in small, polar hydroxylic solvents, should be recommended as a better alternative for the theoretical simulation of the solvatochromism of phenolate betaines in medium to highly polar solvents. Graphical Abstract A comparison of two polarized continuum models ("default PCM" and "PCM/SMD") for reproducing the solvatochromism of phenolate betaines, with nine examples of negative, positive, and inverted behavior.

Relative to the corresponding value of phenol, the bond-dissociation energies (BDE) of substituted phenols correlate well with a single descriptor: the Mulliken charge on the oxygen atom of the phenoxyl radical. However, the correlation fails for phenols ortho-substituted with polar groups. Internal reaction coordinates (IRC) for the model reaction of hydrogen abstraction by the hydroperoxyl radical from various 2- and 4-substituted phenols were calculated in order to investigate the role of intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and steric effects on the process. Calculations yielded theoretical values in good agreement with experimental ΔBDE values. The hydrogen-abstraction process was further analyzed in terms of density functional theory (DFT)-based reactivity indices such as local electrophilicity, the Fukui function for nucleophilic attack, and dual descriptor values of the phenolic hydroxyl oxygen along the IRC.

In the last decades a new class of thermoset phenolic resin is emerging as a substitute of the traditional epoxy and phenolic resins in the aircraft industry. This new class is called polybenzoxazines and its associates the epoxy resin's mechanical properties and phenolic resin's thermal and flame retardant properties, resulting in a resin with superior properties when analyzed with the others singly. The introduction of carbon nanotubes in low concentration into polymeric matrices can produce nanostructured materials with good properties. Thus, in this study, nanostructured composites of benzoxazine resin were processed with different concentration of carbon nanotubes (0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0% w/w). In order to evaluate the thermostability of the benzoxazine resin and its nanostructured composites, it was performed a degradation kinetic study using the thermogravimetric technique. For that, the analysis have been done with the temperature ranging from 25 degrees C to 1000 degrees C at nitrogen atmosphere (100 mL x min(-1)) and in different heating rates (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 20 degrees C x min(-1)), in order to obtain the kinetic parameters (activation energy, E(a), and pre-exponential factor, A), based on Ozawa-Wall-Flynn model. The results showed excellent agreement between the thermogravimetric curves obtained and the Ozawa-Wall-Flynn method. The degradation kinetic study showed that the introduction of carbon nanotubes in the benzoxazine matrix does not change the thermostability of the resin, so that it does not have a significant influence in the shelf life of the material.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is a common painful condition of the musculoskeletal system that is typically accompanied by several symptoms in other systems. In Brazil, the prevalence of FS is estimated at 2.5%. Here, we present the initial data from Epi-Fibro, a nationwide databank of FS patients seen in public and private settings., Objective: The aims of this study were to assess how the diagnosis of FS was made, identify a set of clinical domains considered relevant by both clinicians and patients in cases of FS, analyse the impact of disease on patient quality of life, and compare the findings among patients of public and private services., Methods: Based on the results of questionnaires, we analysed data corresponding to the first 500 women in the database. Questionnaires pertaining to demographic and clinical data and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), which was translated and validated for Brazilian patients, were completed by the clinicians and/or patients., Results: Preliminary analysis of the EpiFibro databank revealed that female FS patients in Brazil reported a high impact of disease, as measured by the FIQ, a high prevalence of associated symptoms, and a low degree of education (consistent with the public health care in Brazil used mainly by the underserved). In addition, most patients perceived their pain as diffuse from the onset of disease., Conclusion: Depression and anxiety were seen as the main triggers of FM symptoms, but a significant proportion of the subjects perceived work strain as the initial trigger.We also observed a delay of a few years in seeking medical help and examination by a rheumatologist.