The knowledge of pediatricians in Salvador, Brazil about measles vaccine

The success of international initiatives for the eradication of measles depends in large part on knowledge about vaccination. In 1992, a cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate knowledge about measles vaccine among pediatricians in the Brazilian city of Salvador, Bahia. Of the 506 pediatricians residing in the city, 299 (59%) could be located and responded to a questionnaire containing 15 questions that posed hypothetical situations regarding indications and contraindications for this vaccine. The average number of correct responses was 9.3 out of 15, which illustrates the pediatricians' poor knowledge of measles vaccine. Conditions commonly seen in pediatric practice in Brazil--malnutrition, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and prematurity--were often erroneously considered contraindications for immunization. More than half (62%) of the pediatricians did not know the correct way to administer the vaccine. Knowledge about the vaccine did not differ according to the length of time that had elapsed since the physicians' university training in pediatrics or as a result of working in health centers operated by the State Health Secretariat. University professors, pediatricians with a postgraduate degree, and those pursuing postgraduate studies scored slightly higher than the rest. These results point to the need to strengthen training on measles vaccination in medical schools and programs of continuing education for pediatricians.     

Photolabile glutamate protecting group with high one- and two-photon uncaging efficiencies

A pi-extended [2-(2-nitrophenyl)propoxy]carbonyl (NPPOC) derivative has been prepared as an efficient UV and near-IR photolabile protecting group for glutamate. This glutamate cage compound exhibits efficient photorelease upon one-photon excitation (epsilonPhi=990 M(-1) cm(-1) at 315 nm). In addition, it also shows efficient photorelease in activation of glutamate receptors in electrophysiological recordings. Combined with a high two-photon uncaging cross-section (deltaPhi=0.45 GM at 800 nm), its overall properties make this new cage-3-(2-propyl)-4'-methoxy-4-nitrobiphenyl (PMNB)-for glutamate a very promising tool for two-photon neuronal studies.     

Comparative study of the estrogenic responses of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to treated municipal sewage effluent (Lisbon) during two periods in different seasons

To assess the estrogenic potency of the treated domestic sewage effluent from a sewage treatment plant (STP) located in Lisbon (Chelas), 60 mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed to different concentrations of the sewage effluent (0%, 25%, 50% and 100%) for two periods of 28 days in two different seasons (winter/spring). Vitellogenin induction in males was used as a biomarker of exposure to xenoestrogens. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken for vitellogenin analysis and the fish were sacrificed and dissected. Gonad samples were taken for histological evaluation of the sewage effects. The results showed an increase in vitellogenin induction in exposed fish, both males and females, depending on the different dilutions of the sewage effluent. In comparison with controls, the gonadosomatic index decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in fish exposed to 100% treated effluent. Although statistically not significant, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was high in all exposed fish. Histological abnormalities in fish gonads were evaluated and related to the different percentages of sewage effluent. Seasonal variations found in estrogenic responses were attributed to weather influences on sewage dilution.     

GIS-based scenario calculations for a nationwide German hydrogen pipeline infrastructure

This study assumes a high penetration of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles for Germany in 2050 and investigates the structure of a potential pipeline network for hydrogen transmission and distribution under different scenarios for H₂ production and demand. All data are georeferenced for their computation and displayed within a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment.     

Encapsulation of magnetic nickel nanoparticles via inverse miniemulsion polymerization

In this work, the encapsulation of magnetic nickel nanoparticles in polyacrylamide particles was performed via inverse miniemulsion polymerization. The dispersion of nickel nanoparticles was characterized in polar solvents including water, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide using different stabilizers. The best results were obtained when the nonionic stabilizer poly(ethylene glycol) octadecyl ether (Brij 76) was used to stabilize the nickel nanoparticles in dimethyl sulfoxide. In addition, the block copolymer poly(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) was used as a surfactant to create inverse miniemulsions while minimizing the coalescence of the miniemulsion droplets. Different types of salts such as zinc, nickel, and sodium nitrates were tested as lipophobes to retard Ostwald ripening. Transmission electron microscopy images of polyacrylamide/nickel particles synthesized with zinc and nickel salts as lipophobes indicate that nickel nanoparticles are embedded in the polyacrylamide matrix. Magnetization curves show that the saturation magnetization of polyacrylamide/nickel particles is only slightly below that of the pure nickel nanoparticles. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Photoluminescence of nc-Si:Er thin films obtained by physical and chemical vapour deposition techniques: The effects of microstructure and chemical composition

Erbium doped nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:Er) thin films were produced by reactive magnetron rf sputtering and by Er ion implantation into chemical vapor deposited Si films. The structure and chemical composition of films obtained by the two approaches were studied by micro-Raman scattering, spectroscopic ellipsometry and Rutherford backscattering techniques. Variation of deposition parameters was used to deposit films with different crystalline fraction and crystallite size. Photoluminescence measurements revealed a correlation between film microstructure and the Er³⁺ photoluminescence efficiency.     

UPGRADING OF SUGAR CANE BAGASSE BY THERMAL PROCESSES. 7. CATALYTIC LIQUEFACTION IN MONOETHANOLAMINE (MEA) AND PRELIMINARY FRACTIONATION OF THE OBTAINED PRODUCTS

ABSTRACT

The liquefaction of sugar cane bagasse in monoethanolamine (MEA) in the presence of catalysts (zeolite A, non-zeolitic aluminosilicate and zinc chloride) as well as in the absence of catalysts is described in this paper. The influence of the catalysts on the yield of the generated products is verified through a fractionation method based on relative solubility parameters. The influence of the catalysts on the conversion yield was also verified. The catalysts that yields the greater quantity of oils is the non-zeolitic aluminosilicate. However, in the overall conversion process of sugar cane bagasse, the most efficient catalyst was found to be zeolite A.