Cell membrane integrity of candida albicans after different protocols of microwave irradiation

To evaluate the ability of low time microwaveexposureto inactivate and damage cell membrane integrity of C. albicans. Materials and Methods: Two 200ml C. albicans suspensions were obtained. Sterile dentures were placed in a beaker containing Experimental (ES) or Control suspensions (CS). ES was microwaved at 650 W for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 min. Suspensions were optically counted using Methylene blue dye as indicative of membrane-damaged cells; spread on Agar Sabouraud dextrose (ASD) for viability assay; or spectrophotometrically measured at 550nm. Cell-free solutions were submitted to content analyses of protein (Bradford and Pyrogallol red methods); Ca++ (Cresolphthalein Complexone method); DNA (spectrophotometer measurements at 260nm) and K+ (selective electrode technique). Data were analyzed by Student-t test and linear regression (α=0.05). In addition, flowcytometry analysis of Candida cells in suspensionwas performed using propidium iodide. Results: All ES cells demonstrated cell membrane damage at 3, 4 and 5 min,viable cells were nonexistent at 3, 4 and 5 min ES ASD plates and optical density of ES and CS was not significantly differentfor all exposition times. ES cells released highcontents of protein, K+ , Ca++ and DNA after 2 min exposition when compared to that of the CSs. Similar results were observed with flow cytometry analysiswith regard to the periodsof microwave exposure. Conclusions: Microwave irradiation inactivated C. albicansafter 3min and damaged cell membrane integrity after 2 min exposition.

Electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachate in a flow reactor: optimization using response surface methodology

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of microwave-assisted pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass immersed in alkaline glycerol for fermentable sugars production

A pretreatment with microwave irradiation was applied to enhance enzyme hydrolysis of corn straw and rice husk immersed in water, aqueous glycerol or alkaline glycerol. Native and pretreated solids underwent enzyme hydrolysis using the extract obtained from the fermentation of Myceliophthora heterothallica, comparing its efficiency with that of the commercial cellulose cocktail Celluclast (R). The highest saccharification yields, for both corn straw and rice husk, were attained when biomass was pretreated in alkaline glycerol, method that has not been previously reported in literature. Moreover, FTIR, TG and SEM analysis revealed a more significant modification in the structure of corn straw subjected to this pretreatment.Highest global yields were attained with the crude enzyme extract, which might be the result of its content in a great variety of hydrolytic enzymes, as revealed zymogram analysis. Moreover, its hydrolysis efficiency can be improved by its supplementation with commercial beta-glucosidase.

Mathematical modeling of a continuous alcoholic fermentation process in a two-stage tower reactor cascade with flocculating yeast recycle

Experiments of continuous alcoholic fermentation of sugarcane juice with flocculating yeast recycle were conducted in a system of two 0.22-L tower bioreactors in series, operated at a range of dilution rates (D (1) = D (2) = 0.27-0.95 h(-1)), constant recycle ratio (alpha = F (R) /F = 4.0) and a sugar concentration in the feed stream (S (0)) around 150 g/L. The data obtained in these experimental conditions were used to adjust the parameters of a mathematical model previously developed for the single-stage process. This model considers each of the tower bioreactors as a perfectly mixed continuous reactor and the kinetics of cell growth and product formation takes into account the limitation by substrate and the inhibition by ethanol and biomass, as well as the substrate consumption for cellular maintenance. The model predictions agreed satisfactorily with the measurements taken in both stages of the cascade. The major differences with respect to the kinetic parameters previously estimated for a single-stage system were observed for the maximum specific growth rate, for the inhibition constants of cell growth and for the specific rate of substrate consumption for cell maintenance. Mathematical models were validated and used to simulate alternative operating conditions as well as to analyze the performance of the two-stage process against that of the single-stage process.

Potential of a bacterial consortium to degrade azo dye Disperse Red 1 in a pilot scale anaerobic-aerobic reactor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Recovery Tests of an Hybrid Current Limiter Composed of a SFCL in Parallel to an Air-Core Power Reactor

The resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters (RSFCL) prototypes using YBCO-coated conductors have shown current limitation for medium voltage class applications for acting time up to 80 ms. By connecting an air-core reactor in parallel with the RSFCL, thus making an hybrid current limiter, one can extend the acting time for up to 1 s. In this work, we report the performance of a hybrid current limiter subjected to an AC peak fault current of 2 kA during 1 s for which within the first 80 ms the SFCL limits the current concurrently with the air-core reactor, and for the remaining 920 ms, only the air-core reactor limits the current. In order to evaluate the actual conditions for subsequent reconnection of RSFCL to the power grid, the hybrid fault current limiter was tested varying the time interval for recovery from 900 ms and 1.2 s, followed again by the concurrent operation of the hybrid limiter during 1 s (SFCL during 80 ms). From this evaluation test, the recovery time can be measured and compared using the voltage peak generated in superconducting module from the first and second fault test. The recovery time was also determined through the pulsed current method (PCM) on short-length sample test. The results showed that the fault current was limited from 1.9 kA down to 514 A after 1 cycle of 60 Hz frequency, with recovery time lower than 1.2 s for two subsequent fault current tests.

Rapid preparation of (BiO)(2)CO3 nanosheets by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method with promising photocatalytic activity under UV-Vis light

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Crystal growth and photoluminescence of europium-doped strontium titanate prepared by a microwave hydrothermal method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Synthesis of Structured Lipids by Enzymatic Interesterification of Milkfat and Soybean Oil in a Basket-Type Stirred Tank Reactor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Synthesis of Bi-based superconductor by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

In this work we studied the synthesis of BSCCO-2212 superconducting phase associating a quite similar method developed by Pechini with the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. To study the influence of the microwaves on the properties of BSCCO system, we synthesized two samples by such method. For one sample we used carbonates and for the other one we used nitrates as chemical reagents. We also produced a reference sample just using carbonates by Pechini's method to compare their morphological and superconducting properties. The structural properties of the samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Bi-2212 phase is predominant in all samples and despites the nitrates-like sample has a broader distribution of grain size in comparison with the reference sample, its magnetic behaviour is closer to that presented by the reference one.

Optical characterization of europium-doped indium hydroxide nanocubes obtained by Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Structural, optical, and magnetic properties of NiMoO4 nanorods prepared by microwave sintering

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

UASB reactor effluent disinfection by ozone and chlorine

This research studied the sequential ozone and chlorine process with respect to, the inactivation of indicator bacteria and the formation of ozone disinfection byproducts in sanitary wastewater effluent. The applied ozone doses were 5, 8 and 10 mg.O3.L(-1), followed by chlorine doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg.L(-1), respectively. After the sequential ozone/chlorine process, the mean reduction in chemical oxygen demand ranged from 9 to 37%. Total coliform inactivation ranged from 1.59 to 3.73 log10, and E. coli was always <1 CFU 100 mL(-1). Ozonation resulted in the formation of aldehydes, which were not significantly impacted by the subsequent chlorine dose (P ≤ 0.05).

Sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin removal using a horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass reactor

The antibiotics sulfamethoxazole (SMTX) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) are commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, which explains their occurrence in wastewater. Anaerobic reactors are low-cost, simple and suitable technology to wastewater treatment, but there is a lack of studies related to the removal efficiency of antibiotics. To overcome this knowledge gap, the objective of this study was to evaluate the removal kinetics of SMTX and CIP using a horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass reactor. Two different concentrations were evaluated, for SMTX 20 and 40 μg L(-1); for CIP 2.0 and 5.0 μg L(-1). The affluent and effluent analysis was carried out in liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with the sample preparation procedure using an off-line solid-phase extraction. This method was developed, validated and successfully applied for monitoring the affluent and effluent samples. The removal efficiency found for both antibiotics at the two concentrations studied was 97%. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) exhibited kinetic constants that were different from that observed for the antibiotics, indicating the absence of co-metabolism. Also, though the antibiotic concentration was increased, there was no inhibitory effect in the removal of COD and antibiotics.

Bond strength of artificial teeth attached to a microwave-polymerized denture base resin after immersion in disinfectant solutions

To evaluate the bond strength between two types of acrylic resin teeth and a microwave denture base resin after immersion in disinfectant solutions for 180 days. Eighty specimens made of acrylic resin teeth (Biotone and Biotone IPN) attached to a microwave polymerized denture base resin (Nature-Cryl MC) were divided into eight groups (n = 10) according to the treatment (distilled water-control, 2% chlorhexidine digluconate, 1% sodium hypochlorite and sodium perborate solution-Corega Tabs). The shear strength tests (MPa) were carried out using a universal testing machine with a 0.5 mm/min speed. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA and multiple comparison Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test (α = 0.05). Biotone IPN showed similar results among the groups (distilled water, 8.25 ± 1.81 MPa; chlorhexidine, 7.81 ± 3.34 MPa; hypochlorite, 7.75 ± 3.72 MPa; and Corega Tabs, 7.58 ± 2.27 MPa, whereas Biotone showed significantly lower shear bond strength values for the groups immersed in Corega Tabs (5.25 ± 3.27 MPa) and chlorhexidine (6.08 ± 2.35 MPa). Soaking the dentures in 1% sodium hypochlorite could be recommended as a disinfectant solution for dentures fabricated with conventional acrylic resin denture teeth and microwave denture base resin. For dentures fabricated with IPN teeth and microwave denture base resin, all the soaking solutions evaluated in this study could be suggested to denture wearers.