Sustainable Coating Paperboard Packaging Material Based on Chitosan, Palmitic Acid, and Activated Carbon: Water Vapor and Fat Barrier Performance.

Synthetic polymer coatings impact the biodegradable behavior of cellulosic packaging material. The environmental consequences of food packaging disposal have increased consumer concern. The present study aimed to use natural polymer coatings incorporating palmitic acid and activated carbon applied to paperboard surfaces as a sustainable alternative to improve cellulosic packaging material's moisture and fat barrier properties, minimizing the environmental impact. The coating formulation was defined using a Factorial Experimental Design with independent variables: chitosan, palmitic acid, activated carbon concentrations, and the number of coating layers. The highest concentration of chitosan (2.0% w/w) filled the pores of the cellulosic paperboard network, supporting the compounds incorporated into the filmogenic matrix and improving the fat resistance. The water vapor permeability of the coated paperboard material (range: 101 ± 43 to 221 ± 13 g·d-1·m-2) was influenced by the hydrophobicity effect of palmitic acid, the non-polar characteristic of activated carbon, and the number of applied layers. The coating formulation selected was a chitosan concentration of 2.0% (w/w), a palmitic acid concentration of 1.8% (w/w), an activated carbon concentration of 1.2% (w/w), and an application of three layers. The coating provides the potential for a paperboard surface application, improving the cellulosic packaging material's fat and moisture barrier properties and maintaining biodegradability and recyclability.

Toxocara seropositivity, atopy and wheezing in children living in poor neighbourhoods in urban Latin American.

BACKGROUND: Toxocara canis and T. cati are parasites of dogs and cats, respectively, that infect humans and cause human toxocariasis. Infection may cause asthma-like symptoms but is often asymptomatic and is associated with a marked eosinophilia. Previous epidemiological studies indicate that T. canis infection may be associated with the development of atopy and asthma. OBJECTIVES: To investigate possible associations between Toxocara spp. seropositivity and atopy and childhood wheezing in a population of children living in non-affluent areas of a large Latin American city. METHODS: The study was conducted in the city of Salvador, Brazil. Data on wheezing symptoms were collected by questionnaire, and atopy was measured by the presence of aeroallergen-specific IgE (sIgE). Skin prick test (SPT), total IgE and peripheral eosinophilia were measured. Toxocara seropositivity was determined by the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies, and intestinal helminth infections were determined by stool microscopy. FINDINGS: Children aged 4 to 11 years were studied, of whom 47% were seropositive for anti-Toxocara IgG; eosinophilia >4% occurred in 74.2% and >10% in 25.4%; 59.6% had elevated levels of total IgE; 36.8% had sIgE≥0.70 kU/L and 30.4% had SPT for at least one aeroallergen; 22.4% had current wheezing symptoms. Anti-Toxocara IgG was positively associated with elevated eosinophils counts, total IgE and the presence of specific IgE to aeroallergens but was inversely associated with skin prick test reactivity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Toxocara seropositivity was high in the studied population of children living in conditions of poverty in urban Brazil. Toxocara infection, although associated with total IgE, sIgE and eosinophilia, may prevent the development of skin hypersensitivity to aeroallergens, possibly through increased polyclonal IgE and the induction of a modified Th2 immune reaction.

Abordagem crítica filosófica, científica e pragmática ao abortamento pós-nascimento / Abordaje crítico filosófico, científico y pragmático del aborto post-nacimiento / Philosophical, scientific and pragmatic critical approach of post-birth abortion

O infanticídio foi denominado abortamento pós-nascimento em artigo publicado em 2012. Embora tenha despertado numerosas reações no meio acadêmico e na mídia, ainda resta a necessidade de tecer uma crítica dialética ampla e específica do mesmo, considerando seus aspectos científicos, filosóficos e pragmáticos, além de inseri-lo na realidade concreta. Por meio de tal crítica, pode-se concluir que o artigo apresenta importantes limitações científicas, filosóficas e pragmáticas, desconsiderando a complexidade da realidade e a abrangência do conceito de pessoa. As afirmações do artigo são pouco fundamentadas e suas conclusões se baseiam em pressupostos artificiais e frágeis...

El infanticidio fue llamado aborto post-nacimiento en un artículo publicado en 2012. Aunque levantara numerosas reacciones en el ámbito académico y en los medios de comunicación, aún existe la necesidad de tejer una amplia y específica crítica dialéctica de lo mismo, teniendo en cuenta su carácter científico, filosófico y pragmático, y su integración en la realidad concreta. A través de esta crítica, se puede concluir que el artículo tiene limitaciones científicas, filosóficas y pragmáticas serias, sin llevar en cuenta la complejidad de la realidad y el alcance del concepto de persona. Las afirmaciones del artículo son mal fundamentadas, y sus conclusiones se basan en suposiciones artificiales y frágiles...

Infanticide was named post-birth abortion in an article published in 2012. Despite raising many reactions in the academia and in the media, there is still the need to do a wide and specific dialectical critique, considering its scientific, philosophical and pragmatic aspects, inserting it into the concrete reality. Through this critique, it can be concluded that the article has serious scientific, philosophical and pragmatic limitations, disregarding the complexity of reality and the broad scope of the "person" concept. The claims of the article are poorly substantiated, and its conclusions are based on artificial and fragile assumptions...

Fenologia da gravioleira (Annona muricata) em área de cerrado do Amapá, Brasil

This study evaluated the phenology of soursop (Annona muricata L.) cultivated in a savanna area. Four trees were randomly chosen from each of six cultivars of the Embrapa Amapá experimental collection in a savanna ecosystem. The cultivars were: soursop A, soursop B, FAO II, Morada, Lisa and M-415 of Embrapa Amazonia Oriental. The climate type is Ami and the soil is classified as a Typic Haplorthox. Leaf fall happened in all soursop cultivars in May and June (after harvest) and September and October (dry season). Flowering occurred during the rainy season, with extremes in February and July. Annual flower prodution was superior in soursop (115) and FAO II (97). Fruit development was expressive from December to March. Fruit set stood out on soursop A (9%) and FAO II (6,7%). Peak of the fruit harvest was in March, except for soursop A which was in May.

O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a fenologia de graviola (Annona muricata L.) cultivada em área de cerrado do Amapá. Foram escolhidas quatro plantas, ao acaso, de seis progênies de graviola, da coleção do Campo Experimental do Cerrado, no Centro de Pesquisa Agroflorestal do Amapá (CPAF-Embrapa). As progênies avaliadas foram a graviola A, graviola B, FAO II, Morada, Lisa e plantas oriundas da matriz 415 (M-415) da coleção do Centro de Pesquisa Agroflorestal da Amazônia Oriental (CPATU-Embrapa). O clima é do tipo Ami e o solo é um Latossolo Amarelo arenoso distrófico. Foram observadas queda de folhas em todas as progênies de graviola após a safra (maio a julho) e na seca estacional (setembro a outubro). A floração ocorreu durante o período chuvoso, com picos em fevereiro e julho. A produção anual de flores foi superior na graviola (115) e FAO II (97). A frutificação foi expressiva de dezembro a março. O vingamento de frutos sobressaiu-se na graviola A (9%) e FAO II (6,7%). O pico da colheita foi no mês de março, exceto para a graviola A que foi em maio.