Polyurethane Foams for Thermal Insulation Uses Produced from Castor Oil and Crude Glycerol Biopolyols.

Rigid polyurethane foams were synthesized using a renewable polyol from the simple physical mixture of castor oil and crude glycerol. The effect of the catalyst (DBTDL) content and blowing agents in the foams' properties were evaluated. The use of physical blowing agents (cyclopentane and n-pentane) allowed foams with smaller cells to be obtained in comparison with the foams produced with a chemical blowing agent (water). The increase of the water content caused a decrease in density, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, and Young's modulus, which indicates that the increment of CO2 production contributes to the formation of larger cells. Higher amounts of catalyst in the foam formulations caused a slight density decrease and a small increase of thermal conductivity, compressive strength, and Young's modulus values. These green foams presented properties that indicate a great potential to be used as thermal insulation: density (23-41 kg·m-3), thermal conductivity (0.0128-0.0207 W·m-1·K-1), compressive strength (45-188 kPa), and Young's modulus (3-28 kPa). These biofoams are also environmentally friendly polymers and can aggregate revenue to the biodiesel industry, contributing to a reduction in fuel prices.

Antibacterial activity of different types of snake venom from the Viperidae family against Staphylococcus aureus / Atividade antibacteriana de diferentes tipos de veneno de serpentes da família Viperidae contra Staphylococcus aureus

Toxins and venoms produced by living organisms have exhibited a variety of biological activities against microorganisms. In this study, we tested seven snake venoms from the family Viperidae for antibacterial activity and the activities of reversal of antibiotic resistance and inhibition of biofilm formation against 22 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Bothrops moojeni venom exhibited anti staphylococcal activity with the lowest mean value of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Moreover, reversal of antibiotic resistance was observed for combinations of B. moojeni venom (½ x MIC) and norfloxacin or ampicillin (both ½ x MIC) for 86.4% and 50% of the isolates, respectively. B. moojeni venom alone at ½ MIC inhibited 90% of biofilm formation, whereas in combination with ciprofloxacin, both at ½ MIC, a reduction on the NorA efflux pump activity was observed. The detection of in vitro mutants colonies of S. aureus resistant to B. moojeni venom was low and they did not survive. A phospholipase A2 was purified from the venom of B. moojeni and displayed anti-staphylococcal activity when tested alone or in combination with ciprofloxacin. The results presented here will contribute to the search for new antimicrobial agents against resistant S. aureus.

Toxinas e venenos exibem uma variedade de atividades biológicas contra micro-organismos. Neste estudo, investigou-se a atividade de sete venenos de serpentes, da família Viperidae, sobre o crescimento de Staphylococcus aureus, na reversão fenotípica da resistência a antibióticos e inibição de formação de biofilme contra 22 isolados clínicos de S. aureus. O veneno de Bothrops moojeni apresentou a menor média de concentração inibitória mínima (CIM). Além disso, observou-se reversão da resistência a antibióticos para combinações do veneno de B. moojeni (½ x CIM) e norfloxacina ou ampicilina (ambos ½ x CIM) para 86,4% e 50% dos isolados, respectivamente. O veneno de B. moojeni na concentração de ½ CIM inibiu 90% de formação de biofilme, enquanto ele em combinação com ciprofloxacina, ambos na concentração de ½ CIM, diminuiu a atividade da bomba de efluxo NorA. A detecção in vitro de colônias mutantes de S. aureus resistente ao veneno de B. moojeni foi baixa e eles não sobreviveram. Uma fosfolipase A2 purificada a partir do veneno de B. moojeni exibiu atividade antibacteriana quando testada sozinha ou em combinação com ciprofloxacina. Os dados obtidos poderão contribuir para a pesquisa de novos agentes antimicrobianos contra S. aureus.

Análise da efetividade da Lei Maria da Penha e dos Conselhos Municipais da Mulher no combate à violência doméstica e familiar no Brasil / Analysis of Maria da Penha Law effectiveness and the Municipal Councils of Women in fight against domestic and familiar violence in Brazil

A Lei Maria da Penha (LMP) é a principal política pública de combate à violência doméstica e familiar no Brasil; responsável pela criação de medidas punitivas mais severas ao agressor e pela criação de uma rede de atendimento à mulher. Diante disso, buscou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a efetividade da LMP na redução do estupro e tentativa de estupro, entre 2005 e 2013, e, ainda, verificar a influência dos Conselhos Municipais da Mulher na redução dos casos de violência contra a mulher, para os anos de 2009, 2011, 2012 e 2013. O exame analítico descritivo mostrou que não houve redução das denúncias de estupro e tentativa de estupro durante o período, e o modelo econométrico, utilizando painel com efeitos aleatórios, confirmou a influência dos Conselhos Municipais.

The Maria da Penha Law (MPL) is the main public policy of fight against domestic and familiar violence in Brazil. The law is responsible for the creation of severe punitive measures against aggressors, and for the development of a network of attention to women. Therefore, this paper aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Maria da Penha Law in the reduction of rapes and rape attempts in the period between 2005 and 2013. Furthermore, this work tried to verify the influence of women's municipal councils in the reduction of cases violence against women, for the years 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The analytic-descriptive examination showed no reduction in allegations of rape and attempted rape during the period, and the econometric model, using panel with random effects, confirmed the influence of municipal councils.