Mechanical properties of cotton fabric reinforced geopolymer composites at 200-1000 °C

Geopolymer composites containing woven cotton fabric (0–8.3 wt%) were fabricated using the hand lay-up technique, and were exposed to elevated temperatures of 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C. With an increase in temperature, the geopolymer composites exhibited a reduction in compressive strength, flexural strength and fracture toughness. When heated above 600 °C, the composites exhibited a significant reduction in mechanical properties. They also exhibited brittle behavior due to severe degradation of cotton fibres and the creation of additional porosity in the composites. Microstructural images verified the existence of voids and small channels in the composites due to fibre degradation

Joint analysis of phenotypic and molecular diversity provides new insights on the genetic variability of the brazilian physic nut germplasm bank

The genetic variability of the Brazilian physic nut (Jatropha curcas) germplasm bank (117 accessions) was assessed using a combination of phenotypic and molecular data. The joint dissimilarity matrix showed moderate correlation with the original matrices of phenotypic and molecular data. However, the correlation between the phenotypic dissimilarity matrix and the genotypic dissimilarity matrix was low. This finding indicated that molecular markers (RAPD and SSR) did not adequately sample the genomic regions that were relevant for phenotypic differentiation of the accessions. The dissimilarity values of the joint dissimilarity matrix were used to measure phenotypic + molecular diversity. This diversity varied from 0 to 1.29 among the 117 accessions, with an average dissimilarity among genotypes of 0.51. Joint analysis of phenotypic and molecular diversity indicated that the genetic diversity of the physic nut germplasm was 156% and 64% higher than the diversity estimated from phenotypic and molecular data, respectively. These results show that Jatropha genetic variability in Brazil is not as limited as previously thought

Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study

We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05-1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4-7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04-1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11-1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care

Consórcio intermunicipal para a aquisição de medicamentos: impacto no desabastecimento e no custo

O estudo analisa o impacto de consórcio para a aquisição de medicamentos no desabastecimento e no custo dos medicamentos do Componente da Assistência Farmacêutica Básica do município de Indaial, SC. Observou-se uma redução aproximada de 12,0% de 2008 para 2007, e de 48,0% de 2009 para 2007 no número de itens que apresentaram falta em pelo menos um dia; a redução foi de 33% no custo total de aquisição quando comparada a aquisição pelo consórcio (2009) com a aquisição municipal (2007), e de 18% quando comparada aos valores médios do Banco de Preço em Saúde do Ministério da Saúde/2009. A aquisição de medicamentos pelo consórcio diminuiu o desabastecimento e apresentou economia, possibilitando aquisição de maior quantidade de produtos com a mesma disponibilidade de recursos.The study evaluated the impact of the consortia on the budget and shortage of medicines for the basic pharmaceutical assistance component in Indaial municipality, Southern Brazil. The number of items with a stock out for at least one day decreased by 12% from 2008 to 2007 and 48% from 2009 to 2007; total costs decreased by 33%, when comparing procurement by consortia (2009) to municipal procurement (2007), and by 18% when compared to the average values of the 2009 Health Prices Database from the Ministry of Health. The procurement of medicines by the consortia decreased stock outs and represented an economy of scale, allowing for the procurement of a greater quantity of products with the same budget.El estudio analiza el impacto de consorcio para la adquisición de medicamentos en el desabastecimiento y en el costo de los medicamentos del Componente de la Asistencia Farmacéutica Básica del municipio de Indaial, Sur de Brasil. Hubo una reducción aproximada de 12,0% de 2008 a 2007, y de 48,0% de 2009 a 2007 en el número de itens que presentaron falta en por lo menos un día. La reducción fue de 33% en el costo total de adquisición al comparar la adquisición por el consorcio (2009) con la adquisición municipal (2007), y de 18% al comparar con los valores promedios del Banco de Precio en Salud del Ministerio de la Salud/2009. La adquisición de medicamentos por el consorcio disminuyó el desabastecimiento y presentó economía, posibilitando adquisición de mayor cantidad de productos con la misma disponibilidad de recursos