Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the concentrations of eicosanoids, cytokines, ... more Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the concentrations of eicosanoids, cytokines, chemokines, C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory mediators. To investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on circulating levels of inflammatory mediators and biochemical markers in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Experimental clinical study (clinical trial: NCT02524795); 49 women with SLE (ACR1982/1997) were randomized: 22 to the omega-3 group (daily intake of 1080mg EPA+200mg DHA, for 12 weeks) and 27 to the control group. The inflammatory mediators and biochemical markers at T0 and T1 in omega-3 group were compared using Wilcoxon test. U-Mann-Whitney test was used to compare variations of measured variables [ΔV=pre-treatment (T0) minus post-treatment (T1) concentrations] between groups. p<0.05 was considered significant. The median (interquartile range - IQR) of age was 37 (29-48) years old, of disease duration was 7 (4-13) years, and of SLEDAI-2K was 1 (0-2). The median (IQR) of variation in CRP levels between the two groups showed a decrease in omega-3 group while there was an increase in control group (p=0.008). The serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10, leptin and adiponectin did not change after a 12 week treatment. Supplementation with omega-3 had no impact on serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, leptin and adiponectin in women with SLE and low disease activity. There was a significant decrease of CRP levels as well as evidence that omega-3 may impact total and LDL-cholesterol.
ABSTRACT The fluid catalytic cracking process is responsible for about 30% of CO2 emission in a p... more ABSTRACT The fluid catalytic cracking process is responsible for about 30% of CO2 emission in a petroleum refinery. The possibility to react CO2 and coke (Reverse-Boudouard reaction - RB) during the spent catalyst regeneration in the presence of CO2 and O2 atmosphere, instead of air, can simultaneously mitigate CO2 emission and produce CO for sequential uses. This goal was achieved by using an alumina modified by vanadium and potassium. Catalysts composed of alumina modified by Li, Na, K, Mg and Ca were investigated. The modified alumina catalysts were active for RB reaction in the following order, K > Mg, Li > Ca, Na > pristine alumina. Alumina modified by vanadium and potassium was also studied and revealed itself a remarkably active catalyst under O2 atmosphere, as well as for RB reaction. For instance, at 720 °C 50% of CO2 was converted to CO, this value increases to 90% at 800 °C. Finally, insights into RB reaction were provided performing this reaction in the presence of 13CO2.
Report of a retrospective study to evaluate susceptibility of Escherichia coli to quinolones cove... more Report of a retrospective study to evaluate susceptibility of Escherichia coli to quinolones covering the March-December 1992 interval. During this time, intra and extra-hospital strains were indistinctly studied in patients with urinary infections seen in a health district serving a total of 200.000 inhabitants. Resistance to Pipemidic acid, Norfloxacin and Ciprofloxacin was evaluated. The values found were 14.8% resistance to Pipemidic acid, 11.1% to Norfloxacin and 8.5% to Ciprofloxacin. It seems necessary to develop and apply methods addressed to minimize the appearance of quinolone resistance, which should be implemented in order to preserve the usefulness of these drugs.
One important question that has been discussed in the literature about regional economics is the ... more One important question that has been discussed in the literature about regional economics is the relevance of local productive networks (clusters) for the regional development. It is possible to find a huge number of case studies that discuss many aspects of this kind of network: cooperation, specialization, governance, performance, etc. However, in most of these cases, the networks that have
ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective capacity of concretes produced... more ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective capacity of concretes produced with metakaolin in relation to the transportation and penetration of chlorides. Thus, from a commercial concrete of fck equal to 30 MPa, more two other concretes were produced by replacing 10% of cement by metakaolin, by weight. In one of them, it was kept the same water/binder of the initial reference mix design (w/b = 0.60), and in the other concrete the compressive strength remained fixed. In all three mixes, the same range of concrete consistency was maintained, with a slump equal to (100 + 10) mm. The front of chlorides in the cement matrix was evaluated by spraying a solution of silver nitrate, after an attack of 8 weekly cycles of wetting and drying using a solution containing chlorides. To obtain an indicative of the internal structure of the concretes, it was carried out the test of water absorption by immersion, which permitted an evaluation of the concrete open porosity, as well as it was performed the analysis of concrete samples by means of XRD and SEM. These studies aimed to verify the potential of metakaolin in fixing chlorides in the form of Friedel’s salt, besides providing microstructural analysis of the concretes. It was concluded with this work that the incorporation of metakaolin decreases the diffusivity of chlorides to the extent that this mineral addition produces refinement of the concrete pore structure and also because it induces the formation of Friedel’s salt, which becomes it an effective agent in preventing the corrosion of reinforcement in chloride-rich environments.
Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the concentrations of eicosanoids, cytokines, ... more Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the concentrations of eicosanoids, cytokines, chemokines, C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory mediators. To investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on circulating levels of inflammatory mediators and biochemical markers in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Experimental clinical study (clinical trial: NCT02524795); 49 women with SLE (ACR1982/1997) were randomized: 22 to the omega-3 group (daily intake of 1080mg EPA+200mg DHA, for 12 weeks) and 27 to the control group. The inflammatory mediators and biochemical markers at T0 and T1 in omega-3 group were compared using Wilcoxon test. U-Mann-Whitney test was used to compare variations of measured variables [ΔV=pre-treatment (T0) minus post-treatment (T1) concentrations] between groups. p<0.05 was considered significant. The median (interquartile range - IQR) of age was 37 (29-48) years old, of disease duration was 7 (4-13) years, and of SLEDAI-2K was 1 (0-2). The median (IQR) of variation in CRP levels between the two groups showed a decrease in omega-3 group while there was an increase in control group (p=0.008). The serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10, leptin and adiponectin did not change after a 12 week treatment. Supplementation with omega-3 had no impact on serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, leptin and adiponectin in women with SLE and low disease activity. There was a significant decrease of CRP levels as well as evidence that omega-3 may impact total and LDL-cholesterol.
ABSTRACT The fluid catalytic cracking process is responsible for about 30% of CO2 emission in a p... more ABSTRACT The fluid catalytic cracking process is responsible for about 30% of CO2 emission in a petroleum refinery. The possibility to react CO2 and coke (Reverse-Boudouard reaction - RB) during the spent catalyst regeneration in the presence of CO2 and O2 atmosphere, instead of air, can simultaneously mitigate CO2 emission and produce CO for sequential uses. This goal was achieved by using an alumina modified by vanadium and potassium. Catalysts composed of alumina modified by Li, Na, K, Mg and Ca were investigated. The modified alumina catalysts were active for RB reaction in the following order, K > Mg, Li > Ca, Na > pristine alumina. Alumina modified by vanadium and potassium was also studied and revealed itself a remarkably active catalyst under O2 atmosphere, as well as for RB reaction. For instance, at 720 °C 50% of CO2 was converted to CO, this value increases to 90% at 800 °C. Finally, insights into RB reaction were provided performing this reaction in the presence of 13CO2.
Report of a retrospective study to evaluate susceptibility of Escherichia coli to quinolones cove... more Report of a retrospective study to evaluate susceptibility of Escherichia coli to quinolones covering the March-December 1992 interval. During this time, intra and extra-hospital strains were indistinctly studied in patients with urinary infections seen in a health district serving a total of 200.000 inhabitants. Resistance to Pipemidic acid, Norfloxacin and Ciprofloxacin was evaluated. The values found were 14.8% resistance to Pipemidic acid, 11.1% to Norfloxacin and 8.5% to Ciprofloxacin. It seems necessary to develop and apply methods addressed to minimize the appearance of quinolone resistance, which should be implemented in order to preserve the usefulness of these drugs.
One important question that has been discussed in the literature about regional economics is the ... more One important question that has been discussed in the literature about regional economics is the relevance of local productive networks (clusters) for the regional development. It is possible to find a huge number of case studies that discuss many aspects of this kind of network: cooperation, specialization, governance, performance, etc. However, in most of these cases, the networks that have
ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective capacity of concretes produced... more ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective capacity of concretes produced with metakaolin in relation to the transportation and penetration of chlorides. Thus, from a commercial concrete of fck equal to 30 MPa, more two other concretes were produced by replacing 10% of cement by metakaolin, by weight. In one of them, it was kept the same water/binder of the initial reference mix design (w/b = 0.60), and in the other concrete the compressive strength remained fixed. In all three mixes, the same range of concrete consistency was maintained, with a slump equal to (100 + 10) mm. The front of chlorides in the cement matrix was evaluated by spraying a solution of silver nitrate, after an attack of 8 weekly cycles of wetting and drying using a solution containing chlorides. To obtain an indicative of the internal structure of the concretes, it was carried out the test of water absorption by immersion, which permitted an evaluation of the concrete open porosity, as well as it was performed the analysis of concrete samples by means of XRD and SEM. These studies aimed to verify the potential of metakaolin in fixing chlorides in the form of Friedel’s salt, besides providing microstructural analysis of the concretes. It was concluded with this work that the incorporation of metakaolin decreases the diffusivity of chlorides to the extent that this mineral addition produces refinement of the concrete pore structure and also because it induces the formation of Friedel’s salt, which becomes it an effective agent in preventing the corrosion of reinforcement in chloride-rich environments.
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