Recent findings have deeply changed the current view of coronary heart disease, going beyond the simplistic model of atherosclerosis as a passive process involving cholesterol build-up in the subintimal space of the arteries until their final occlusion and/or thrombosis and instead focusing on the key roles of inflammation and the immune system in plaque formation and destabilization. Chronic inflammation is a typical hallmark of cardiac disease, worsening outcomes irrespective of serum cholesterol levels. Low-grade chronic inflammation correlates with higher incidence of several non-cardiac diseases, including depression, and chronic depression is now listed among the most important cardiovascular risk factors for poor prognosis among patients with myocardial infarction. In this review, we include recent evidence describing the immune and endocrine properties of the heart and their critical roles in acute ischaemic damage and in post-infarct myocardial remodeling. The importance of the central and autonomic regulation of cardiac functions, namely, the neuro-cardiac axis, is extensively explained, highlighting the roles of acute and chronic stress, circadian rhythms, emotions and the social environment in triggering acute cardiac events and worsening heart function and metabolism in chronic cardiovascular diseases. We have also included specific sections related to stress-induced myocardial ischaemia measurements and stress cardiomyopathy. The complex network of reciprocal interconnections between the heart and the main biological systems we have presented in this paper provides a new vision of cardiovascular science based on psychoneuroendocrineimmunology.

ABSTRACT:The use of plant residues for energy purposes is already a reality, yet in order to ensure suitability and recommend a given material as being a good energy generator, it is necessary to characterize the material through chemical analysis and determine its calorifi c value. This research aimed to analyze different residues from plant biomass, characterizing them as potential sources for energy production. For the accomplishment of this study, the following residues were used: wood processing residue (sawdust and planer shavings); coffee bean parchment and coffee plant stem; bean stem and pod; soybean stem and pod; rice husk; corn leaf, stem, straw and cob; and sugar cane straw and bagasse. For residue characterization the following analyses were done: chemical analysis, immediate chemical analysis, calorifi c value and elemental analysis. All procedures were conducted at the Laboratory of Forest Biomass Energy of the Federal University of Lavras. In general, all residues showed potential for energetic use. Rice husk was found to have higher lignin content, which is an interesting attribute as far as energy production is concerned. Its high ash content, however, led to a reduction in calorifi c value and fi xed carbon. The remaining residues were found to have similar energetic characteristics, with corn cob showing greater calorifi c value, followed by coffee plant stem, both also containing higher levels of carbon and fi xed carbon. A high correlation was found of higher calorifi c value with volatile materials, carbon and hydrogen contents.

RESUMO:Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade da madeira e do carvão vegetal de algumas espécies de ocorrência do cerrado mineiro visando o uso siderúrgico. Foram utilizadas cinco espécies de madeiras de ocorrência no cerrado procedentes do Estado de Minas Gerais. Na madeira foram avaliadas a densidade básica e os teores de lignina, extrativos totais, holocelulose e cinzas. No carvão vegetal foram avaliados os rendimentos em carvão vegetal e em carbono fixo, os teores de carbono fixo, materiais voláteis e cinzas, o poder calorífico superior e a densidade relativa aparente. Na avaliação do experimento utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Utilizou-se ainda a análise multivariada de componentes principais. As espécies Casearia sylvestris e Luehea divaricata apresentaram os maiores rendimentos gravimétricos em carvão vegetal e em carbono fixo, bem como elevados teores de lignina na madeira. O carvão vegetal da espécie Trema micrantha possui elevado poder calorífico superior, mas a menor densidade relativa aparente. A espécie Guazuma ulmifolia se destacou pelo elevado teor de carbono fixo e grande potencial para uso siderúrgico, juntamente com a espécie Casearia sylvestris. Palavras-chave: carvão vegetal, espécies nativas, qualidade da madeira WOOD QUALITY OF FIVE SPECIES FROM CERRADO FOR PRODUCTION OF CHARCOAL

RESUMO -Foram estudadas madeiras de híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla, em três idades diferentes, com o objetivo de avaliar o comportamento da madeira e do carvão vegetal produzido diante do aumento controlado de temperatura, bem como verificar a influência das características da madeira sobre o carvão vegetal. Foram realizadas análises químicas (extrativos totais, lignina, holocelulose, celulose, cinza e análise elementar) e térmicas (análise termogravimétrica -TG, análise térmica diferencial -DTA e calorimetria 1,67 ºC min -1 e temperatura final de 450 ºC. No carvão vegetal produzido, foram realizadas análise imediata, elementar e térmica. A densidade básica da madeira correlacionou-se positivamente com a relação carbono/ hidrogênio (C/H) e negativamente com os teores de cinza, nitrogênio, oxigênio, enxofre e relação siringil/ guaiacil (S/G). Os teores de cinza, nitrogênio, enxofre e S/G da madeira correlacionaram-se positivamente entre si e negativamente com a variável C/H da madeira. O teor de carbono fixo (TCF), o poder calorífico do carvão vegetal, o teor de carbono elementar e a relação C/H correlacionaram-se positivamente entre si e negativamente com o teor de materiais voláteis (TMV). O teor de lignina correlacionou-se positivamente com o rendimento gravimétrico em carvão (RGC) e negativamente com o TCF.Palavras-chave: Carbonização; Eucalipto; Lignocelulósico. CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE PROPERTIES OF EUCALYPTUS HYBRIDS WOOD AND CHARCOAL ABSTRACT -Three different ages of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptos urophylla

The piassava fiber, residue of the broom industry, was used as precursor for the preparation of activated carbons (AC). AC were prepared by chemical activation with zinc chloride (AC ZnCl(2)) or phosphoric acid (AC H(3)PO(4)) and by physical activation with carbon dioxide (AC CO(2)) or water vapor (AC H(2)O). These materials were characterized by adsorption/desorption of N(2) to determine the BET areas, elemental analysis (CHN), thermogravimetric analysis (TG, DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The carbons were tested with respect to their adsorption capacity of methylene blue, reactive red, phenol and metallic ions (Cr(+6), Cu(+2) and Zn(+2)). AC ZnCl(2) presented the highest surface area (1190 m(2)g(-1)) and AC H(3)PO(4), the largest pore volume (0.543 cm(3)g(-1)). AC ZnCl(2) was more efficient in the adsorption of methylene blue, Cr(+6) and Cu(+2) ions. AC H(2)O was the better adsorbent for phenol, while AC CO(2) was better for Zn(+2) ions.