PVC containing silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties effective against SARS-CoV-2.

Poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) is commonly used to manufacture biomedical devices and hospital components, but it does not present antimicrobial activity enough to prevent biofouling. With the emergence of new microorganisms and viruses, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that was responsible for the global pandemic caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is evident the importance of the development of self-disinfectant PVC for hospital environments and medical clinics where infected people remain for a long time. In this contribution, PVC nanocomposites with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared in the molten state. AgNPs are well-known as antimicrobial agents suitable for designing antimicrobial polymer nanocomposites. Adding 0.1 to 0.5 wt% AgNPs significantly reduced Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength of PVC due to the emergence of microstructural defects in the PVC/AgNP nanocomposites, but the impact strength did not change significantly. Furthermore, nanocomposites have a higher yellowness index (YI) and lower optical bandgap values than PVC. The PVC/AgNP nanocomposites present virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.28 strain) within 48 h when the AgNP content is at least 0.3 wt%, suitable for manufacturing furniture and hospital equipment with self-disinfectant capacity to avoid secondary routes of COVID-19 contagion.

Psicologia, Conselho Federal de Psicologia e covid-19: enfrentamento às desigualdades psicossociais no Brasil / Psychology, FCP, and covid-19: facing the psychosocial inequalities in Brazil / Psicología, Consejo Federal de Psicología y covid-19: enfrentando las desigualdades psicosociales en Brasil

A pandemia da covid-19 impôs transformações no cotidiano mundial, em âmbito micro e macroestrutural. Seu impacto psicológico desestabiliza e evidencia desigualdades e vulnerabilidades psicossociais brasileiras. Configura-se como um estudo de perspectiva crítica, com base na Psicologia Sócio-histórica, com o objetivo de mapear os posicionamentos da Psicologia, vindos de diferentes campos, diante das ações de saúde mental. Para tanto, utiliza-se o site do Conselho Federal de Psicologia para a análise de 62 documentos, que resultaram em dois eixos de produção crítica: 1) a relação da Psicologia com o Conselho Federal de Psicologia; e 2) da Psicologia com a sociedade. Revela-se o abismo social entre segmentos da sociedade brasileira; formas de exclusão da população carcerária; violência doméstica contra as mulheres e as crianças; dificuldades de acesso a estratégias sociais, na educação e na saúde, e de superação dos impasses acirrados com a infecção global pelo novo coronavírus. Conclui-se que a diversidade de públicos, temáticas, áreas de atuação e referenciais teóricos materializa um compromisso crítico e científico da Psicologia.(AU)

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed transformations in the world daily life, at the micro and macrostructural levels. Its psychological impact destabilizes and highlights Brazilian inequalities and psychosocial vulnerabilities. This is a critical perspective study, based in socio-historical Psychology, aiming to map the positions of Psychology, from different fields, in the face of mental health actions. To this end, the Federal Council of Psychology website is utilized to analyze 62 documents, which resulted in two axes of critical production: 1) the relation between Psychology and the Federal Council of Psychology; and 2) Psychology with society. They reveal the social gap between segments of Brazilian society; ways of excluding prison po7pulation; domestic violence against women and children; and difficulties in accessing social strategies, in education and health, and in overcoming impasses aggravated by the global infection by the new coronavirus. In conclusion, the diversity of public, themes, areas of professional performance, and theoretical references materialize Psychology's critical and scientific commitment.(AU)

La pandemia del COVID-19 provocó transformaciones globales en lo cotidiano a nivel micro y macroestructural. Su impacto psicológico desestabiliza y destaca las desigualdades y vulnerabilidades psicosociales en Brasil. Esta es una investigación en la perspectiva crítica, basada en la psicología sociohistórica, con el objetivo de mapear las posiciones de la Psicología, procedentes de diferentes campos, frente a las acciones de salud mental. Para este fin, se utiliza el sitio web del Consejo Federal de Psicología para el análisis de 62 documentos, lo que resultó en dos ejes de producción crítica: 1) la relación de la Psicología con el Consejo Federal de Psicología; y 2) de la Psicología con la sociedad. Se revelan la brecha social entre los segmentos de la sociedad brasileña; las formas de exclusión de la población carcelaria; la violencia doméstica contra las mujeres y los niños; y las dificultades para acceder a las estrategias sociales, en la educación y la salud, para superar los impasses agravados por la infección global por el nuevo coronavirus. Se concluye que la diversidad de públicos, temáticas, áreas de actividad y referentes teóricos materializa un compromiso crítico y científico de la Psicología.(AU)

Preparation and characterization of alginate and gelatin microcapsules containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

This paper describes the preparation and characterization of alginate beads coated with gelatin and containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Capsules were obtained by extrusion method using CaCl2 as cross linker. An experimental design was performed using alginate and gelatin concentrations as the variables investigated, while the response variable was the concentration of viable cells. Beads were characterized in terms of size, morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), moisture content, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), thermal behavior and cell viability during storage. The results showed that the highest concentration of viable cells (4.2 x 109 CFU/g) was obtained for 1 % w/v of alginate and 0.1 % w/v of gelatin. Capsules were predominantly spherical with a rough surface, a narrow size distribution ranging from 1.53 to 1.90 mm and a moisture content of 97.70 ± 0.03 %. Furthermore, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis indicated an interaction between alginate-gelatin. Cell concentration of alginate/gelatin microcapsules was 105 CFU/g after 4 months of storage at 8 oC.

Preparation and characterization of alginate and gelatin microcapsules containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus

ABSTRACT This paper describes the preparation and characterization of alginate beads coated with gelatin and containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Capsules were obtained by extrusion method using CaCl2 as cross linker. An experimental design was performed using alginate and gelatin concentrations as the variables investigated, while the response variable was the concentration of viable cells. Beads were characterized in terms of size, morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), moisture content, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), thermal behavior and cell viability during storage. The results showed that the highest concentration of viable cells (4.2 x 109 CFU/g) was obtained for 1 % w/v of alginate and 0.1 % w/v of gelatin. Capsules were predominantly spherical with a rough surface, a narrow size distribution ranging from 1.53 to 1.90 mm and a moisture content of 97.70 ± 0.03 %. Furthermore, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis indicated an interaction between alginate-gelatin. Cell concentration of alginate/gelatin microcapsules was 105 CFU/g after 4 months of storage at 8 oC.

Iconografia na investigação e intervenção de processos psicossociais / Iconography in research and intervention of psychosocial processes

Discute a iconografia como instrumento metodológico de investigação e intervenção psicossocial, a partir dos conceitos vigotskianos de imaginação e criação. Descreve a construção de um acervo iconográfico (desenhos, fotografias e vídeos) produzido em pesquisas com crianças e jovens de comunidades litorâneas. O método utilizado identificou, catalogou, descreveu e interpretou imagens produzidas em investigações e intervenções psicossociais do Grupo de Pesquisa entre 2007 e 2012. O inventário resultou em 72 desenhos, 127 fotografias e 42 vídeos. Os resultados indicam o uso do método como autoimagens(desenhos e fotografias), registro de ações(vídeos e fotografias) e acervo pessoal (fotografias). A análise de conteúdo a partir dos conceitos de imaginação e criação identificou desenhos infantis como expressão da realidade da vida cotidiana; as fotografias demonstram a apropriação de elementos espaciais, históricos e culturais das comunidades e o protagonismo de crianças e jovens no contexto comunitário; os vídeos adicionam movimento e áudio aos processos identificados nas produções de desenhos e fotografias. Conclui-se que instrumentos iconográficos potencializam pesquisas e intervenções com crianças e jovens; a criação imagética permite a objetivação da imaginação e a expressão de subjetividades.

Discusses the iconography as a methodological tool for research and psychosocial intervention from Vygotsky's concepts of imagination and creation. Describes the construction of an iconographic collection (drawings, photographs and videos), produced in research with children and young people from coastal communities. The method identified, cataloged, described and interpreted images produced in psychosocial research and interventions of the Research Group between 2007 and 2012. The inventory resulted in 72 drawings, 127 photos and 42 videos. The results indicate the use of method as self-images(drawings and photographs), actions recording(videos and photographs) and private collection(photographs). The content analysis based on the concepts of imagination and creation identified children's drawings as expression of the reality of everyday life; the photographs demonstrate the spatial, historical and cultural appropriation of elements within the community and the protagonism of children and youth in the communitarian context; the videos adds motion and audio to the identified processes at the productions of drawings and photographs. In conclusion, the iconographic instruments potentiate research and interventions with children and youth; imagetic creation enables the objectification of imagination and the expression of subjectivities.

Characterisation of a new exopolysaccharide obtained from of fermented kefir grains in soymilk.

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have been widely studied in recent decades due to similarity to gums used in the food industry. Exopolysaccharides can be used in food processing as a thickener and/or stabiliser. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties, thermal behaviour and structural composition of the lyophilised EPS obtained from the fermentation of kefir grains in soymilk. The EPS in concentration 18 mg/mL exhibited water activity of 0.204 and pH=6.20 at 25°C, reducing sugars content of 22.10% (v/v) and protein content of 2% (v/v). The thermogravimetric curve obtained was similar to those reported in the literature for other EPSs. The degradation temperature was 351.84°C and showed that the EPS in this study had a high thermal stability. Characteristic polysaccharide bands were observed in the infrared spectrum. The analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) showed that the EPS is only composed of glucose.

Orientaçöes pós mastectomia: o papel da enfermagem / Post-mastectomy orientations: the nursing role

O tratamento para o câncer de mama, especialmente a cirurgia, acarreta para a mulher uma série de conseqüências de ordem física e emocional, dentre as quais destacam-se aquelas relacionadas ao desempenho de suas atividades na vida diária e de seus papéis sociais. A reabilitação da mulher submetida a uma cirurgia por câncer de mama requer, portanto, uma assistência multiprofissional, na qual é grande a importância do papel da enfermagem. Nesse processo de reabilitação, ela deverá receber informações a respeito dos cuidados após a cirurgia, orientações e informações sobre as diferentes etapas de recuperação, cuidados com o membro superior homolateral à cirurgia, exercícios que recuperem a capacidade funcional do braço e do ombro, além de informações sobre outros tratamentos, como radioterapia, quimioterapia e hormonioterapia. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo identificar as orientações recebidas por um grupo de mulheres mastectomizadas, quanto aos cuidados com o braço homolateral à cirurgia, no período de internação e alta hospitalar, bem como identificar os profissionais que têm assumido as orientações pós-mastectomia...