Self-actualization and B-values: Development and validation of two instruments in the Brazilian context.

Self-actualization is a complex psychological construct within Maslow's motivation theory, characterized by numerous gaps in the empirical and measurement spectrums. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to develop, validate, and cross-verify measures for self-actualization attributes and B-values, focusing on job context and theoretical congruence with innovative behavior and human values related to the self-actualization construct (suprapersonal subfunction). This study involved a diverse sample of 621 Brazilian participants from 25 different professions, indicating the broad applicability of the findings. The proposed instruments underwent content and semantic validity assessments, followed by verification of factor validity and internal consistency. Results showed satisfactory content, semantic and factor validity and internal consistency parameters. The study reveals that self-actualization attributes can be understood through achieving one's own potential and work meta-motivation, consistent with the adoption of B-values. Relationships with suprapersonal values (maturity, knowledge, and beauty) and innovative work behavior were also demonstrated, suggesting convergent validity evidence. The validation of SAAS and BVI contributes to understanding self-actualization and B-values in varied Brazilian contexts, offering insights for psychological assessment and intervention.

The Link between Endogenous Pain Modulation Changes and Clinical Improvement in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Meta-Regression Analysis.

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation (TS) tests can measure the ability to inhibit pain in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients and its level of pain sensitization, respectively. However, their clinical validity is still unclear. We studied the association between changes in the CPM and TS tests and the clinical improvement of FMS patients who received therapeutic intervention. We systematically searched for FMS randomized clinical trials with data on therapeutic interventions comparing clinical improvement (pain intensity and symptom severity reduction), CPM, and TS changes relative to control interventions. To study the relationship between TS/CPM and clinical measures, we performed a meta-regression analysis to calculate odds ratios. We included nine studies (484 participants). We found no significant changes in TS or CPM by studying all the interventions together. Our findings show that this lack of difference is likely because pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions resulted in contrary effects. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as non-invasive neuromodulation, showed the largest effects normalizing CPM/TS. Meta-regression was significantly associated with pain reduction and symptom severity improvement with normalization of TS and CPM. We demonstrate an association between clinical improvement and TS/CPM normalization in FMS patients. Thus, the TS and CPM tests could be surrogate biomarkers in FMS management. Recovering defective endogenous pain modulation mechanisms by targeted non-pharmacological interventions may help establish long-term clinical recovery in FMS patients.

Behaviour of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals in simplified sewage treatment systems.

This work assessed the behaviour of nine pharmaceuticals and/or endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in demo-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors (UASB reactors) coupled to distinct simplified post-treatment units (submerged bed, polishing ponds, and trickling filters) fed on raw sewage taken from a municipality in Brazil. The dissolved concentration of the studied micropollutants in the raw and treated sewage was obtained using solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by analysis in a liquid chromatography system coupled to a hybrid high resolution mass spectrometer consisting of an ion-trap and time of flight (LC-MS-IT-TOF). The UASB reactors demonstrated that they were not appropriate for efficiently removing the assessed compounds from the sewage. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was an important parameter for the removal of the hydrophilic and less biodegradable compounds, such as trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. The post-treatment units substantially increased the removal of most target micropollutants present in the anaerobic effluents, with a greater removal of micropollutants in simplified systems that require a large construction area, such as the submerged bed and polishing ponds, probably because of the higher HRT employed. Alternatively, compact post-treatment systems, such as trickling filters, tended to be less effective at removing most of the micropollutants studied, and the type of packing proved to be crucial for determining the fate of such compounds using trickling filters.

Nucleofection induces non-specific changes in the metabolic activity of transfected cells.

Transfection has become an everyday technique widely used for functional studies in living cells. The choice of the particular transfection method is usually determined by its efficiency and toxicity, and possible functional consequences specific to the method used are normally overlooked. We describe here that nucleofection, a method increasingly used because of its convenience and high efficiency, increases the metabolic rate of some cancer cells, which can be misleading when used as a measure of proliferation. Moreover, nucleofection can alter the subcellular expression pattern of the transfected protein. These undesired effects are independent of the transfected nucleic acid, but depend on the particular cell line used. Therefore, the interpretation of functional data using this technology requires further controls and caution.

Effects of Thymol and Carvacrol, Constituents of Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oil, on the Inflammatory Response.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae) is an aromatic and medicinal plant that has been used in folk medicine, phytopharmaceutical preparations, food preservatives, and as an aromatic ingredient. The effect of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TEO) and its isolated constituents thymol and cavacrol (CVL) were studied in the following experimental models: ear edema, carrageenan-induced pleurisy, and chemotaxis in vitro. In the pleurisy model, TEO, CVL, and thymol significantly inhibited inflammatory edema. However, only TEO and CVL inhibited leukocyte migration. In the in vitro chemotaxis experiment, CVL inhibited leukocyte migration, whereas thymol exerted a potent chemoattractant effect. In the ear edema model, CVL (10 mg/ear), applied topically, reduced edema formation, exerting a topical anti-inflammatory effect. Thymol did not reduce edema formation but rather presented an irritative response, probably dependent on histamine and prostanoid release. Our data suggest that the antiinflammatory effects of TEO and CVL are attributable to the inhibition of inflammatory edema and leukocyte migration.

Nutritive evaluation of a non-conventional leafy vegetable (Pereskia aculeata Miller).

Pereskia aculeata Miller is a native cactus that can be found in Brazil and is called 'ora-pro-nobis' (OPN). Many people from poor communities consume the dark green leaves of OPN as a vegetable. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the nutritional components in terms of proximate composition, minerals, vitamins, protein content and their in vitro protein digestibility. OPN leaves showed remarkable levels of total dietary fiber (39.1% dry basis), minerals (calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc) and vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin C and folic acid). Among amino acids, tryptophan was the most abundant (20.5% of the total amino acids) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed small peptides, inferior to 6.5 kDa, and four major bands (61 kDa, 53 kDa, 33 kDa, and 15 kDa). The protein digestibility corrected amino acid score showed the lowest value of sulfur-amino acids (Met+Cys). OPN leaves could be considered a good source of minerals, vitamins and amino acids, and may serve as a potential functional ingredient.

Study of membrane potential in T lymphocytes subpopulations using flow cytometry.

BACKGROUND: Ion channels are involved in the control of membrane potential (psi) in a variety of cells. The maintenance of psi in human T lymphocytes is essential for T-cell activation and was suggested to depend mostly on the voltage-gated Kv1.3 channel. Blockage of Kv1.3 inhibits cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and suppresses immune response in vivo. T lymphocytes are a heterogeneous cell population and the expression of Kv1.3 varies among cell subsets. Oxonol diBA-C4-(3) was used to determine psi by flow cytometry. The presence of distinct T cell subsets was evaluated by immunophenotyping techniques and the contribution of Kv1.3 channels for the maintenance of psi was investigated using selective blockers. RESULTS: The distribution of psi in T lymphocytes varied among blood donors and did not always follow a unimodal pattern. T lymphocytes were divided into CD3+/CD45RO- and CD3+/CD45RO+ subsets, whose peak channel values of psi were -58 +/- 3.6 mV and -37 +/- 4.1 mV, respectively. MgTX (specific inhibitor of Kv1.3 channels) had no significant effect in the psi of CD3+/CD45RO- subsets but depolarized CD3+/CD45RO+ cells to -27 +/- 5.1 mV. CONCLUSION: Combination of optical methods for determination of psi by flow cytometry with immuophenotyping techniques opens new possibilities for the study of ion channels in the biology of heterogeneous cell populations such as T lymphocyte subsets.

Apontamentos sobre as mulheres na capoeira: performance, corpo e emoção / Notes on women in capoeira: performance, body and emotions / Apuntes sobre mujeres en la capoeira: performance, cuerpo y emociones

O presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir a performance das mulheres na capoeira Angola e Contemporânea. Ao observar a capoeira por meio do corpo da mulher, pergunta-se sobre a tradição masculina construída até aqui, já que ao longo do tempo ela foi apresentada em uma perspectiva hegemonicamente masculina. Discute-se como as mulheres, por meio de suas performances, têm construído o fazer capoeira, como essa performance se apresenta e altera os saberes e poderes dessa prática. Conclui-se, tendo em vista o corpo das mulheres como meio para questionar a tradição da masculinidade construída, que a performance pode ser refletida enquanto uma prática de negociação, na qual o corpo mostra as múltiplas estratégias das mulheres para reelaboração da capoeira.

This article aims to discuss the performance of women in Angola and Contemporânea capoeira. When observing capoeira through the woman's body, one wonders about the male tradition built up to now, since over time, it has been presented in a hegemonically male perspective. It is discussed how women, through their performances, have built capoeira practice, how this performance presents itself and changes the knowledge and powers of this practice. It is concluded, due to the women's body as a way to question the tradition of the constructed masculinity that performance can be reflected as a negotiation practice, in which the body shows the multiple strategies of women to re-elaborate capoeira.

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo discutir la performance de las mujeres en la capoeira Angola y Contemporánea. Al observar la capoeira a través del cuerpo de la mujer, se pregunta sobre la tradición masculina construida hasta ahora, ya que a lo largo del tiempo ella fue presentada en una perspectiva hegemónicamente masculina. Se analiza como las mujeres, por medio de sus performances, han construido el hacer capoeira, como esa performance se presenta y cambia los saberes y poderes de esa práctica. Se Concluye, teniendo en cuenta el cuerpo de las mujerescomo medio para cuestionar la tradición de la masculinidad construida, que la performance puedereflejarse como una práctica de negociación, en la cual el cuerpo muestra las múltiples estrategias de las mujeres para reelaboración de la capoeira.

[Managing postoperative pain in pediatric nursing: searching for subsides to improve nursing care]. / Manejo da dor pós-operatória na enfermagem pediátrica: em busca de subsídios para aprimorar o cuidado.

This study reports on a literature review about child postoperative pain management by nursing professionals, in the period from 1993 to 2005. Three themes were identified: factors influencing nurses' management of child pain, interventions to relieve child pain, and nurses' assessment and response to children's pain experience. Child pain management is a complex act that involves elements of the dimensions related to the children themselves, health professionals and family members. The lack of studies in this area reveals the need for research, with a view to (re)considering pediatric nursing care.

Ether à go-go potassium channel expression in soft tissue sarcoma patients.

BACKGROUND: The expression of the human Eag1 potassium channel (Kv10.1) is normally restricted to the adult brain, but it has been detected in both tumour cell lines and primary tumours. Our purpose was to determine the frequency of expression of Eag1 in soft tissue sarcoma and its potential clinical implications. RESULTS: We used specific monoclonal antibodies to determine the expression levels of Eag1 in soft tissue sarcomas from 210 patients by immunohistochemistry. Eag1 was expressed in 71% of all tumours, with frequencies ranging from 56% (liposarcoma) to 82% (rhabdomyosarcoma). We detected differences in expression levels depending on the histological type, but no association was seen between expression of this protein and sex, age, grade or tumour size. Four cell lines derived from relevant sarcoma histological types (fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma) were tested for Eag1 expression by real-time RT-PCR. We found all four lines to be positive for Eag1. In these cell lines, blockage of Eag1 by RNA interference led to a decrease in proliferation. CONCLUSION: Eag1 is aberrantly expressed in over 70% sarcomas. In sarcoma cell lines, inhibition of Eag1 expression and/or function leads to reduced proliferation. The high frequency of expression of Eag1 in primary tumours and the restriction of normal expression of the channel to the brain, suggests the application of this protein for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

Overexpression of Eag1 potassium channels in clinical tumours.

BACKGROUND: Certain types of potassium channels (known as Eag1, KCNH1, Kv10.1) are associated with the production of tumours in patients and in animals. We have now studied the expression pattern of the Eag1 channel in a large range of normal and tumour tissues from different collections utilising molecular biological and immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: The use of reverse transcription real-time PCR and specifically generated monoclonal anti-Eag1 antibodies showed that expression of the channel is normally limited to specific areas of the brain and to restricted cell populations throughout the body. Tumour samples, however, showed a significant overexpression of the channel with high frequency (up to 80% depending on the tissue source) regardless of the detection method (staining with either one of the antibodies, or detection of Eag1 RNA). CONCLUSION: Inhibition of Eag1 expression in tumour cell lines reduced cell proliferation. Eag1 may therefore represent a promising target for the tailored treatment of human tumours. Furthermore, as normal cells expressing Eag1 are either protected by the blood-brain barrier or represent the terminal stage of normal differentiation, Eag1 based therapies could produce only minor side effects.

Voltage-Gated Proton Channel in Human Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells.

Solid tumors tend to have a more glycolytic metabolism leading to an accumulation of acidic metabolites in their cytosol, and consequently, their intracellular pH (pHi) turns critically lower if the cells do not handle the acid excess. Recently, it was proposed that the voltage gated proton channels (HV1) can regulate the pHi in several cancers. Here we report the functional expression of voltage gated proton channels in a human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell line, the most common and lethal brain tumor. T98G cells presented an outward, slow activating voltage-dependent proton current, which was also ΔpH-dependent and inhibited by ZnCl2, characterizing it as being conducted by HV1 channels. Furthermore, blocking HV1 channels with ZnCl2 significantly reduced the pHi, cell survival, and migration, indicating an important role for HV1 for tumor proliferation and progression in GBM. Overall, our results suggest that HV1 channels can be a new therapeutic target for GBM.

Management of health sector actions in drought situations.

Water is essential for the socio-economic development of a region and also for the survival of human beings. Water scarcity has direct and indirect impacts on the environment, the economy and human health. It can change the profile of morbidity and mortality of diseases, as well as having an impact on the supply of services that are essential public to the quality of life. This study aims to contextualize the occurrence of drought in Brazil, its effects on human health, as well as actions to be developed by the health sector to reduce the risk to those living in affected areas, with an emphasis on the monitoring of the quality of drinking water. This is a descriptive, qualitative study with a documental basis. The documents that were researched were related to initiatives by the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health up until 2014. It is necessary to strengthen the performance capacity of the Unified Health System (SUS) in order to develop timely responses to reduce the risk to public health.

A inserção social da Pós-graduação em Serviço Social da Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte / The Post-graduate social insertion in Social Work of the Rio Grande do Norte State University

Resumo: O artigo visa discutir a inserção social do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Serviço Social e Direitos Sociais da Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), contextualizando sua criação, trajetória, avanços e desafios, bem como as ações e experiências empreendidas na tríade ensino, pesquisa e extensão, com destaque para intervenção social.

Abstract: This article aims to discuss the social insertion of the Post-graduation Program in Social Service and Social Rights of UERN, contextualizing its creation, trajectory, advances, and struggles, as well as the actions and experiences undertaken in the education, research, and extension triad, with a spotlight on social intervention.

Avaliação do conhecimento dos cirurgiões-dentistas de alfenas-MG sobre a importância do prontuário odontológico na identificação humana / Assessment of prior knowledge of dentists in Alfenas-MG about the importance of dental records in human identification

O prontuário odontológico é um documento de suma importância para a prática odontológica, pois é através do mesmo que se obtém informações importantes do paciente, possibilitando conhece-lo como um todo. Além disso, é um aliado do profissional, atentando-se as necessidades administrativas, éticas e legais. Assim, através deste documento, desde que seja bem preenchido e arquivado, é possível auxiliar em casos de identificação humana. Assim, o presente estudo tem como objetivo verificar o conhecimento dos cirurgiões-dentistas de Alfenas-MG, sobre a importância do prontuário odontológico nos casos de identificação humana. Utilizou-se um questionário pré-estabelecido com questões relacionadas ao tema, junto a 147 profissionais. Verificou-se que os cirurgiões-dentistas de Alfenas-MG apresentam um conhecimento satisfatório sobre a importância da elaboração e manutenção do prontuário, principalmente nos casos de identificação humana. Entretanto, ainda há falhas no seu processo de preenchimento, podendo resultar em problemas administrativos e judiciais. Observou-se que 14,96% dos profissionais já tiveram a documentação odontológica solicitada para auxiliar no processo de identificação humana e, nestes casos 90,90% relataram que estes documentos foram extremamente úteis para solucionar o caso. Observou-se que os profissionais com menos de 10 anos de formado dedicam-se maior tempo para elaboração de uma anamnese e a utilização de software odontológico, com diferença estatística (p<0,01). Assim, observa-se que o profissional sabe da importância e colaboração do prontuário odontológico nos casos de identificação humana, mas ainda existe falhas no seu preenchimento.

Câncer de Pele e Renda Familiar: um Estudo Ecológico / Skin Cancer and Family Income: an Ecological Study / Cáncer de Piel y Rendimiento Familiar: un Estudio Ecológico

Introdução: Recentemente, houve crescimento da incidência do câncer de pele. Radiação solar, história familiar, imunossupressão, pele clara e idade constituem fatores de risco da doença. Objetivo: Correlacionar a mortalidade do câncer de pele com variáveis socioeconômicas. Método: Estudo ecológico, utilizando a planilha de dados da incidência de radiação solar do projeto aquecedor solar de baixo custo (ASBC), e indicadores de condições de vida do Censo de 2010. Os dados foram exportados para o SPSS 14.0, para analisar a correlação (coeficiente de correlação de Spearman), e as variáveis foram comparadas. Resultados: Associações estatisticamente significantes ocorreram entre o coeficiente de mortalidade por câncer maligno de pele com a renda familiar média (r=-0,316, p<0,006) indicando que, quanto maior a renda, menor a mortalidade por neoplasia maligna, ocorrendo o mesmo com a proporção de óbitos evitáveis em menores de 4 anos (r=-0,292, p<0,01) e a proporção de mortes evitáveis entre 5 e 74 anos (r=-0,372, p<0,001). A proporção da população ganhando menos de 1/2 salário-mínimo (r=0,232, p<0,05) indica que, quanto maior a proporção populacional com renda inferior a 1/2 salário- -mínimo, maior será a mortalidade por neoplasia maligna, similar à proporção da população ganhando menos de 1/4 de salário-mínimo (r=0,229, p<0,05). Conclusão: Sendo um assunto de saúde pública intimamente relacionado à renda, o câncer de pele ainda carece de ações de prevenção primária e secundária.

Introduction: Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of skin cancer. Solar radiation, family history, immunosuppression, fair skin and age are risk factors for the disease. Objective: To correlate skin cancer mortality with several socioeconomic variables. Method: An ecological study using the Solar Heating at Affordable (ASBC) Project Solar Radiation Incidence Worksheet, with indicators of living conditions from the 2010 Census. All the collected data were exported to SPSS 14.0, a tool where the correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient) was analyzed and the variables were compared. Results: Statistically significant associations between the mortality coefficient for malignant skin cancer, with mean family income (r=-0.316, p<0.006) were found, indicating that as high the income, lower is the mortality by malignant neoplasm, occurring the same with the proportion of avoidable deaths in children younger than 4 years (r=-0.292, p<0.01) and the proportion of avoidable deaths between 5 and 74 years (r=-0.372, p<0.001). The proportion of the population earning less than ½ minimum wage (r=0.232, p<0.05) indicates that as high the population proportion with income lower than ½ minimum wage, higher will be the mortality by malignant neoplasm, similar to the proportion of the population earning less than » of the minimum wage (r=0.229, p<0.05). Conclusion: Although is a public health issue closely related to income, skin cancer needs initiatives targeted to primary and secondary prevention of the disease.

Introducción: Recientemente, ha habido un aumento en la incidencia de cáncer de piel. La radiación solar, historia familiar, inmunosupresión, piel clara y la edad constituyen los factores de riesgo para esta enfermedad. Objetivo: Correlacionar la mortalidad por cáncer de piel con varias variables socioeconómicas. Método: Se realizo un estudio ecológico usando la base de datos de la incidencia de la radiación solar del proyecto calentador solar de bajo costo (ASBC), adicionando los indicadores del censo de 2010 relativos a las condiciones de vida. Todos los datos recolectados fueron exportados a SPSS 14.0, herramienta que analizó la correlación (coeficiente de correlación de Spearman) y comparar todas las variables de la base de datos. Resultados: Fueran encontró asociaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el coeficiente de mortalidad debido al cáncer maligno de la piel y el ingreso familiar promedio (r=-0,316, p<0,006), lo mismo ocurre con la proporción de muertes prevenibles en niños menores de 4 años de edad (r=-0,292, p<0,01) y la proporción de muertes prevenibles entre 5 y 74 años (r=-0,372, p<0,001). La proporción de la población que gana menos de 1/2 salario mínimo (r=0,232, p<0,05) indica que cuanto mayor es la proporción de la población con ingresos por debajo de 1/2 salario mínimo, mayor es la mortalidad por neoplasia maligna, similar a proporción de la población que gana menos de 1/4 del salario mínimo (r=0,229, p<0,05). Conclusión: A pesar de ser un problema de salud pública y estrechamente relacionado con los ingresos, el cáncer de piel todavía carece de acciones encaminadas a la prevención primaria y secundaria de la enfermedad.

[Strategies for prevention of acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery: an integrative review]. / Estratégias de prevenção da lesão renal aguda em cirurgia cardíaca: revisão integrativa.

Acute kidney injury is a common complication after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and increased length of stay in the intensive care unit. Considering the high prevalence of acute kidney injury and its association with worsened prognosis, the development of strategies for renal protection in hospitals is essential to reduce the associated high morbidity and mortality, especially for patients at high risk of developing acute kidney injury, such as patients who undergo cardiac surgery. This integrative review sought to assess the evidence available in the literature regarding the most effective interventions for the prevention of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. To select the articles, we used the CINAHL and MedLine databases. The sample of this review consisted of 16 articles. After analyzing the articles included in the review, the results of the studies showed that only hydration with saline has noteworthy results in the prevention of acute kidney injury. The other strategies are controversial and require further research to prove their effectiveness.

Anethole and eugenol reduce in vitro and in vivo leukocyte migration induced by fMLP, LTB4, and carrageenan.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anethole (AN) and eugenol (EUG) on leukocyte migration using in vitro chemotaxis and in situ microcirculation assays. BALB/c mice were used for the in vitro chemotaxis assay, and Wistar rats for the in situ microcirculation assay. We evaluated (a) the in vitro leukocyte migration in response to chemotactic factors (formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine [fMLP] and leukotriene B4 [LTB4]) and (b) the rolling, adhesion, and migration of leukocytes induced by an injection of carrageenan (100 µg/cavity) into the scrotum of the animal. In the in vitro chemotaxis assay, AN and EUG at doses of 1, 3, 9, and 27 µg/ml significantly inhibited leukocyte migration when stimulated by the chemotactic agents fMLP and LTB4. In the in situ microcirculation assay, AN at doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg and EUG at a dose of 250 mg/kg significantly decreased the number of leukocytes that rolled, adhered, and migrated to perivascular tissue. The results indicate that AN and EUG exert inhibitory effects on leukocyte migration, highlighting their possible use to diminish excessive leukocyte migration in the inflammatory process.

Comparative study of processing methods for starch/gelatin films.

In this work, the influence of processing methods on the properties of starch/gelatin films plasticized with glycerol and sorbitol is reported. Four different processing techniques: casting; pressing; pressing followed by blowing and extrusion followed by blowing were evaluated. Bioplastics prepared by casting were homogeneous and transparent with lower opacity and water vapor permeability (WVP) values when compared to films prepared by other techniques. Among the cast films studied, those with 3% lipophilic starch, in 1:1 proportions and plasticized with sorbitol, showed lower WVP values and higher tensile strength (TS). Films obtained by pressing and blowing showed little expansion during blow, had cracks in the surface, low TS and higher WVP. These films were the only samples to show crystallinity as determined by thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. In conclusion, different processing techniques have significantly affected the properties of these films.