Emulsões de óleo de copaíba: determinação do equilíbrio hidrófilo-lipófilo crítico (EHLC), propriedades e estabilidade físico-químicas

Durante as últimas décadas, as indústrias farmacêuticas têm despertado grande interesse em óleos vegetais e vários extratos de planta por causa da sua baixa toxicidade e alta biodegrabilidade. O óleo de copaíba (Cop) é usado in natura na medicina popular como anti-inflamatório e antimicrobiano para tratar várias doenças, tais como inflamação da garganta, úlceras e infecções urinárias e pulmonares. Emulsões são sistemas dispersos termodinamicamente instáveis que consistem em dispersões de gotículas microscópicas em outro líquido imiscível. O objetivo deste trabalho foi preparar diferentes emulsões de Cop, determinar o EHL crítico deste óleo e avaliar a sua estabilidade, além de realizar estudos comparativos entre diferentes métodos de construção de diagramas de fases. As emulsões foram preparadas pelo método de inversão de fases variando as proporções de EHL de 4,7 a 16,7. A estabilidade foi determinada por vários métodos e os diagramas de fases foram produzidos pelo método de titulação usando diferentes procedimentos de agitação. As emulsões a base de Cop com EHL entre 12,7 e 15,7 foram as mais estáveis. As emulsões apresentaram boa estabilidade em curto e longo prazo, aspecto leitoso e baixos valores de índice de cremagem. Diferentes sistemas coloidais foram produzidos a partir dos diagramas de fases dependendo do processo de agitação. Baseado nesses métodos, o valor determinado de EHL do Cop foi 14,8, as emulsões permaneceram estáveis por mais de um ano e estes resultados indicam que o estudo das emulsões de Cop pode ser um promissor veículo de liberação tópica de fármacos e ativos cosméticos

Medidas de parâmetros morfológicos e funcionais do Coração em brasileiros: um subestudo do primeiro registro multicêntricos latino-americano em ressonância magnética cardiáca

There is no data about cardiac measurements em Brazilians obtained by CMR. This a muldisciplinary study with the objective of obtaining measurements of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) diastolic diameter (Dd), systolic diameter (Ds), diastolic volume (Dv), systolic volume (Sv), ejection fraction (EF) and myocardial mass in Brazilians. One hundred and seven (54 men and 53 women, mean age of 43.4 ± 13.1 years) asymptomatic individuals without heart disease were submitted to cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) studies using steady state free precession technique. The means and standard deviations of the parameters of the LV and RV were respectively: LVDD = 4,8 ± 0,5 cm; LVSD = 3,0±0,6 cm; LVDV = 128,4±29,6 ml; LVSV = 45,2±16,6 ml; LVEF = 65,5±6,3%; LV mass = 95,2±30,8.1 g; RVDD = 3,9±1,3 cm; RVSD = 2,5±0,5 cm; RVDV = 126,5±30,7 ml; RVSV = 53.6±18,4 ml; RVEF = 58.3±8,0.0% and RV mass = 26,1±6,1 g. The masses and volumes were significantly higher in men, except for the LVSV. The RV EF was significantly higher in women. There was inverse correlation between RV systolic volume and with age, being more significant in men. This study describes for the first time benchmarks for cardiac measurements obtained by CMR among asymptomatic Brazilians individuals without heart disease and demonstrated differences according to sex and age

Respostas funcionais de diferentes tamanhos de Tilápia do Nilo; Oreochromis niloticus; predando zooplâncton

The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is an important omnivorous fish in the reservoirs of the semi-arid region of Brazil. Throughout its growth tilapia s feeding behavior changes from a visual predator of zooplankton to a filter-feeder, collecting suspended particulate matter, including planktonic organisms, through pumping. This feature results in different impacts of tilapia on plankton community as the fish grows. Aiming to quantify the functional response of different sizes of Nile tilapia on zooplankton experiments in microcosms scale in the laboratory and in mesocosm scale in the field were carried out. The data were fitted to four different models of functional response. The best fits were obtained for nonlinear models in laboratory experiments. While the experiments in mesocosms were the best settings for responses of type I (juvenile and adult tilapia) and type III (fry). The Manly's alpha index was used to evaluate the feeding selectivity of tilapia on the three main groups of the zooplankton in the experiments in mesocosms. The results show that: (i) rotifers were the preferred prey of fingerlings,(ii) copepods were rejected by fry and juvenile tilapia and (iii) adult fish fed non-selectively on copepods, cladocerans and rotifers. The functional response models obtained in this research can be applied to population models and help in modeling the dynamics of interactions between Nile tilapia and the planktonic communities in the reservoirs of the semi-arid

A perda de grupos funcionais em comunidades virtuais: efeito das interações entre espécies e grupos funcionais

High levels of local, regional, and global extinctions has progressively simplified communities in terms of both species and ecosystem functioning. Theoretical models demonstrated that the degree of functional redundancy determines the rates of functional group loss in response to species extinctions. Here, we improve the theoretical predictions by incorporating in the model interactions between species and between functional groups. In this study, we tested the effect of different scenarios of interspecific interactions and effects between functional groups on the resistance to loss of community functional groups. Virtual communities have been built with different distribution patterns of species in functional groups, both with high and low evenness. A matrix A was created to represent the net effect of interspecific interactions among all species, representing nesting patterns, modularity, sensitive species, and dominant species. Moreover, a second matrix B was created to represent the interactions between functional groups, also exhibiting different patterns. The extinction probability of each species was calculated based on community species richness and by the intensity of the interspecific interactions that act upon it and group to which it belongs. In the model, successive extinctions decrease the community species richness, the degree of functional redundancy and, consequently, the number of functional groups that remain in the system. For each scenario of functional redundancy, A, and B, we ran 1000 simulations to generate an average functional extinction curve. Different model assumptions were able to generate remarkable variation on functional extinction curves. More extreme variations occurred when the matrix A and B caused a higher heterogeneity in the species extinction probability. Scenarios with sensitive species, positive or negative, showed a greater variation than the scenarios with dominant species. Nested interactions showed greater variation than scenarios where the interactions were in modules. Communities with maximal functional evenness can only be destabilized by the interactions between species and functional groups. In contrast, communities with low functional evenness can have its resistance either increased or decreased by the interactions. The concentration of positive interactions in low redundancy groups or negative interactions in high redundancy groups was able to decrease the functional extinction rates. In contrast, the concentration of negative interactions in low redundancy groups or positive interactions in high redundancy groups was able to increase the functional extinction rates. This model shows results that are relevant for species priorization in ecosystem conservation and restoration

Aceitabilidade da carne caprina no hábito alimentar e percepção sobre o impacto ambiental na produção de caprinos no nordeste entre estudantes universitários

The present work has an objective of investigate the acceptability of consumption of the goat meat and studies the perception of university students on the productive sector of goats in the Northeast. The habit to eat goat meat has strong regional traditions and has been suffering the demographic, cultural, economic and personal influences. Currently, a new habit in the food consumers is observed and has been configuring itself a trend that concern with the health and welfare in general, in countries mainly developed. This fact comes directly contributing for the modernization of the production models, including the ambient conscience. The methodology applied includes bibliographical research, data-collecting through questionnaires applied in the UFRN (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte ) and analysis of the data using statistic techniques assisted for software Statistica V6. It is concluded that the rate of consumption of goat meat is low in the population studied. The frequency of consumption is higher in times of leisure or to visit relatives. The descriptive analysis of the responses of interviewees shows ignorance of the production of goat meat and its importance to the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

Redes neurais artificiais no ambiente de redes industriais foundation fieldbus usando blocos funcionais padrões

Industrial automation networks is in focus and is gradually replacing older architectures of systems used in automation world. Among existing automation networks, most prominent standard is the Foundation Fieldbus (FF). This particular standard was chosen for the development of this work thanks to its complete application layer specification and its user interface, organized as function blocks and that allows interoperability among different vendors' devices. Nowadays, one of most seeked solutions on industrial automation are the indirect measurements, that consist in infering a value from measures of other sensors. This can be made through implementation of the so-called software sensors. One of the most used tools in this project and in sensor implementation are artificial neural networks. The absence of a standard solution to implement neural networks in FF environment makes impossible the development of a field-indirect-measurement project, besides other projects involving neural networks, unless a closed proprietary solution is used, which dos not guarantee interoperability among network devices, specially if those are from different vendors. In order to keep the interoperability, this work's goal is develop a solution that implements artificial neural networks in Foundation Fieldbus industrial network environment, based on standard function blocks. Along the work, some results of the solution's implementation are also presented

Influência da adição de rejeitos cerâmicos nas propriedades de cerâmica vermelha da região do Recôncavo Baiano

The study of the physical and mechanic properties is an analysis of unquestioned importance on the production of the ceramic materials. In the region of the Recôncavo Baiano, there are ceramic and small brick factories, that still use rudimentary techniques, where the necessity of characterization of raw materials is denounced by the quality of the final product. The present work has for objective to study the behavior of the clay proceeding from the region of the Recôncavo, between the cities of Candeias and Camaçari/Ba, with addition of 5, 10 and 15% by weight of brick scraps, trying to optimize the physic and mechanical properties of the final product, aiming a better possibility of being manufactured, mechanic resistance, low linear retraction and water absorption. The brick scraps and the clay were characterized by FRX, DRX, TG, ATD and the granulometric analysis. Samples for testing where prepared by uniaxial pressing at 25Mpa, in 60x20x5mm size. The evaluated technological properties were: linear retraction, water absorption, apparent porosity and flexural strength. The samples were burned in electric oven in the temperatures of 850º, 950º and 1050ºC and compared its mechanical properties and the gresification. With addition of 15% by weight of brick scraps and burning at 900º-1000ºC the samples showed properties superior to that clay

Estudo das propriedades termofísicas com variação da expansibilidade de compósito desenvolvido com matriz PUR-NOP e carga funcional de argilomineral

In this study were conducted experimental procedures for determination of variation of the expandability of rigid polyurethane foam (PUR) from a natural oil polyol (NOP), specifically the Castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, pure and additions of the vermiculite in phase dispersed in different percentage within a range from 0% to 20%, mass replacement. From the information acquired, were defined the parameters for production of bodies of test, plates obtained through controlled expansion, with the final volume fixed. Initially, the plates were subjected to thermal performance tests and evaluated the temperature profiles, to later be extracted samples duly prepared in accordance with the conditions required for each test. Was proceeded then the measurement of the coefficient of thermal conductivity, volumetric capacity heat and thermal diffusivity. The findings values were compared with the results obtained in the tests of thermal performance, contributing to validation of the same. Ultimately, it was investigated the influence that changes in physical-chemical structure of the material had exerted on the variation of thermophysical quantities through gas pycnometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF), infrared spectroscopy using Fourier transform (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Based on the results obtained was possible to demonstrate that all load percentage analyzed promoted an increase in the potential expansion (PE) of the resin. In production of the plates, the composites with density near at the free expansion presented high contraction during the cure, being the of higher density adopted as definitive standard. In the thermal performance tests, the heating and cooling curves of the different composites had presented symmetry and values very close for lines of the temperature. The results obtained for the thermophysical properties of composites, showed little difference in respect of pure foam. The percentage of open pores and irregularities in the morphology of the composites were proportionate to the increment of vermiculite. In the interaction between the matrix and dispersed phase, there were no chemical transformations in the region of interface and new compounds were not generated. The composites of PUR-NOP and vermiculite presented thermal insulating properties near the foam pure and percentage significantly less plastic in its composition, to the formulation with 10% of load

Fabricação de malha de trama utilizada como pré-formas na indústria de compósitos e avaliação das propriedades mecânicas

In the manufacture of composite, textile materials are being used as reinforcement. Generally, the combination of the matrix with the textile material in the form of fibres or yarns is used depending on their distribution in the web. In the present work, in place of fibres or yarns, a knitted structure in the form of the final product which is defined as preform. The preform is weft knit manufactured with polyester filaments. In the manufacture of composite, polyester resin was used as matrix. The physical and mechanical properties as well as the formability of the weft knit were analysed. The physical and mechanical properties as well as the formability of the knitted structure were analysed. The results obtained on the analysis show that the courses and wales of the weft knit structure and the tensile properties help the formability of the structure and the impregnation of the resin. It could be clearly observed that composite structure in the direction of the courses support more tension than in the direction of the wales. In relation to the three points flexural tests it was possible to note that there was more flexion in the direction of wales, what was expected. It was also possible to note that there are other advantages such as reduction in the loss of materials used, homogeneity in the distribution of the knitted structure in the mould, reduction in the preparation time and also in the reduction in the cost of manufacture

Eletrofiação e caracterização de membranas biopoliméricas a base de quitosana extraídas dos exoesqueletos de crustáceos

Chitin and chitosan are nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible polymers produced by renewable natural sources with applications in diverse areas such as: agriculture, textile, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and biomaterials, such as gels, films and other polymeric membranes. Both have attracted greater interest of scientists and researchers as functional polymeric materials. In this context, the objective of this study was to take advantage of the waste of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei and Aristeus antennatus) and crabs (Ucides cordatus) from fairs, beach huts and restaurant in Natal/RN for the extraction of chitin and chitosan for the production of membranes by electrospinning process. The extraction was made through demineralization, deproteinization, deodorization and deacetylation. Morphological analyzes (SEM and XRD), Thermal analysis (TG and DTG), Spectroscopy in the Region of the Infrared with Transformed of Fourier (FTIR) analysis Calorimetry Differential Scanning (DSC) and mechanical tests for traction were performed. In (XRD) the semicrystalline structure of chitosan can be verified while the chitin had higher crystallinity. In the thermal analysis showed a dehydration process followed by decomposition, with similar behavior of carbonized material. Chitosan showed temperature of maximum degradation lower than chitin. In the analysis by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) the curves were coherent to the thermal events of the chitosan membranes. The results obtained with (DD) for chitosan extracted from Litopenaeus vannamei and Aristeus antennatus shrimp were (80.36 and 71.00%) and Ucides cordatus crabs was 74.65%. It can be observed that, with 70:30 solutions (v/v) (TFA/DCM), 60 and 90% CH3COOH, occurred better facilitate the formation of membranes, while 100:00 (v/v) (TFA/DCM) had formation of agglomerates. In relation to the monofilaments diameters of the chitosan membranes, it was noted that the capillary-collector distance of 10 cm and tensions of 25 and 30 kV contributed to the reduction of the diameters of membranes. It was found that the Young s modulus decreases with increasing concentration of chitosan in the membranes. 90% CH3COOH contributed to the increase in the deformation resulting in more flexible material. The membranes with 5% chitosan 70:30 (v/v) (TFA/DCM) had higher tensile strength

Envelhecimento ambiental acelerado em PRF a base de tecidos híbridos kevlar/vidro: propriedades e instabilidade estrutural

There are a number of damaging mechanisms that various materials can suffer in service. However, when working with polymer composite materials, this is something that requires analysis, especially when exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Thus, the objective of the present thesis is the study of the direct influence of environmental aging and the form of hybridization of the reinforcement woven on the structural stability, surfacedegradation and fracture process of polymer composites laminates. For this, the development of two polymer composite laminates was necessary, where one of them was reinforced with a bi-directional woven with hybrid strandsofkevlar-49/glass-Efibers, and the other also with a bi-directionalwoven, however with weft and warpformed of alternating strandsof Kevlar-49 fibers and glass-E fiber The reinforcementwoven are industrially manufactured. Both laminates use a polyester resin as a matrixand are made up of four layers each. All laminates were industrially prepared by the hand lay-up method of manufacturing. To do this, test specimens were manufactured of the respective laminates and submitted to environmental aging accelerated through the aging chamber. They were exposed to alternating cycles of UV radiation and moisture (heated steam) for a standard defined period. At the end of the exposure period the specimens were subjected to mechanical tests of uniaxial tensile and bending in three points and to the characterizationsof the fracture and surface deterioration. In addition, they were submitted to a structural degradation assessment by the measurement of mass variation technique (MMVT) and the measurement of thickness variation technique (MTVT), this last technique being developed in this thesis. At the end of the analysis it was observed that the form of hybridization of the reinforcement woven and the aging process directly influence with losses or gain in mechanical properties, with losses in the structural degradation and in the formation and propagation of damage mechanism of the developedcomposite laminates

Descontinuidade na seção transversal em laminados compósitos poliméricos: efeitos e propriedades

The growing demand in the use of composite materials necessitates a better understanding its behavior to many conditions of loading and service, as well as under several ways of connections involved in mechanisms of structural projects. It is know that most of the structural elements are designed with presence of geometric discontinuities (holes, notches, etc) in their longitudinal sections and / or transversals, and that these discontinuities affect the mechanical response of these elements. This work has aims to analyze a study of the mechanical response, when in the presence geometric discontinuity, of polymer matrix composite laminates (orthophthalic polyester) to the uniaxial tensile test. The geometric discontinuity is characterized by the presence of a center hole in the transversal section of the composite. In this study, different kinds of stacking sequences are tested, with and without the presence of the hole, so as to provide better understanding of the mechanical properties. This sense, two laminates were studied: the first is only reinforced by with seven layers short mats of fiberglass-E (CM) and the second where the reinforcement of fiberglass-E comes in the form of bidirectional fabric (CT), with only four layers. The laminate CT has the presence of anisotropy (sense of continuous fibers with respect to the applied load) as the main parameter influencing its mechanical behavior, behavior this, not observed for the CM. In addition to the mechanical properties was also studied the fracture characteristics developed in each composite laminated. The results also showed that the presence of the hole in the transversal section decreased the ultimate strength of laminates and changed the final characteristic of fracture in all kinds of composite laminated studied

Painéis-sanduíche com núcleo de EPS reciclado: metodologia de execução e determinação de propriedades termofísicas

New materials made from industrial wastes have been studied as an alternative to traditional fabrication processes in building and civil engineering. These materials are produced considering some issues like: cost, efficiency and reduction of nvironmental damage. Specifically in cases of materials destined to dwellings in low latitude regions, like Brazilian Northeast, efficiency is related to mechanical and thermal resistance. Thus, when thermal insulation and energetic efficiency are aimed, it s important to increase thermal resistance without depletion of mechanical properties. This research was conducted on a construction element made of two plates of cement mortar, interspersed with a plate of recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS). This component, widely known as sandwich-panel, is commonly manufactured with commercial EPS whose substitution was proposed in this study. For this purpose it was applied a detailed methodology that defines parameters to a rational batching of the elements that constitute the nucleus. Samples of recycled EPS were made in two different values of apparent specific mass (ρ = 65 kg/m³; ρ = 130 kg/m³) and submitted to the Quick-Line 30TM that is a thermophysical properties analyzer. Based on the results of thermal conductivity, thermal capacity and thermal diffusivity obtained, it was possible to assure that recycled EPS has thermal insulation characteristics that qualify it to replace commercial EPS in building and civil engineering industry

Análise das propriedades termofísicas, mecânicas e geométricas de telhas cerâmicas queimadas em forno caieira e forno abóbada

In the industry of ceramic in Rio G. do Norte, tile stands out as the most manufactured product by this industry, being the intermittent kiln abóbada and caieira the principal type of kiln used in burning. There was a need to make a study of the influence exerted by the type of kiln in which tiles are burnt in their thermo physical properties. The analysis started with 24 raw samples of tile, which was split in two groups of 12 samples and burnt in Abóbada and Caieira kiln. Besides that, it was made study of the tax of heat transfer to the environment (for each kiln). After having been burnt the samples were taken for laboratory analysis. The properties verified were impermeability, determination of dry mass, absorption of water, the load of bending rupture and its geometric characteristics, the tests were conducted following the currents standards. The tests were carried out according to the ABNT - NBR 15310. The calculation of the rate of heat transfer showed that the abóbada kiln is more efficient than the Caieira, however the results of tests on the samples revealed no superiority of one over another sample. So the furnace had no influence on the performance of the ceramic tiles

Análise comparativa entre propriedades mecânicas, termofísicas e geométricas de tijolos produzidos pelos fornos caieira e abóbada

In the State of Rio Grande do Norte potteries are distributed in several counties in the four meso, which are: West Potiguar, Center Potiguar, Agreste Potiguar and East Portiguar. The ceramics, mostly, are responsible for products used in construction as bricks, tiles and white brick and wood used as fuel. This paper had a primary focus in the region of Seridó. The furnaces in this region, used to manufacture bricks are configured Caieira and Valt, in most of them using principles rustic, usually operated in an empirical way, using principles of control rather primitive, predominantly visual control. The focus of this study was to analyze the differences in the thermophysical, mechanical and geometric characteristics of bricks produced by Caieira and vault furnaces, using the NBR 15720 and the evaluation of energy efficiency in both furnaces. Thermophysical characteristics were analyzed through tests to determine the water absorption obtained from the difference between dry mass and wet mass of the sample and analysis of the thermal gradient, the mechanical characteristics from determination of the compressive strength of ceramic brick popularly known as bricks and also analyzed the geometrical characteristics of the bricks in order to verify the homogeneity of manufacturing. The tests showed that the energy difference of the two furnaces is not considered responsible for a significant difference in the properties of the products