Xylanases from fungi: properties and industrial applications

Xylan is the principal type of hemicellulose. It is a linear polymer of beta-D-xylopyranosyl units linked by (1-4) glycosidic bonds. In nature, the polysaccharide backbone may be added to 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucuronopyranosyl units, acetyl groups, alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl, etc., in variable proportions. An enzymatic complex is responsible for the hydrolysis of xylan, but the main enzymes involved are endo-1,4-beta-xylanase and beta-xylosidase. These enzymes are produced by fungi, bacteria, yeast, marine algae, protozoans, snails, crustaceans, insect, seeds, etc., but the principal commercial source is filamentous fungi. Recently, there has been much industrial interest in xylan and its hydrolytic enzymatic complex, as a supplement in animal feed, for the manufacture of bread, food and drinks, textiles, bleaching of cellulose pulp, ethanol and xylitol production. This review describes some properties of xylan and its metabolism, as well as the biochemical properties of xylanases and their commercial applications.

Joint (X)over-bar and R charts with variable sample sizes and sampling intervals

Recent studies have shown that the (X) over bar chart with variable sampling intervals (VSI) and/or with variable sample sizes (VSS) detects process shifts faster than the traditional (X) over bar chart. This article extends these studies for processes that are monitored by both the (X) over bar and R charts. A Markov chain model is used to determine the properties of the joint (X) over bar and R charts with variable sample sizes and sampling intervals (VSSI). The VSSI scheme improves the joint (X) over bar and R control chart performance in terms of the speed with which shifts in the process mean and/or variance are detected.

Variable influence of ferric and cupric ions on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains used in asymmetric organic synthesis.

Fe (III) and Cu (II) each at 50 mu M in four commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced an increase of NAD(P)(+) reduction in one strain (Turkish), but two others (Chilean and Brazilian), the presence of Fe(III) and/or Cu(II) diminished NAD(P)(+) reduction presumably due to free radicals formation inside these living cells. Suprisingly, in the American strain, Fe(III) induced a decrease and Cu (II) an increase of NAD(P)(+) reduction.

Condições associadas ao grau de satisfação com a vida entre a população de idosos

OBJECTIVE: As a result of overall growing population's life expectancy, it has become increasingly important to ensure not only that the elderly have greater longevity but also happiness and life satisfaction. The objective of the study was to describe factors associated with life satisfaction among elderly people.METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-five older persons, selected by means of random stratified proportional sampling, were interviewed in 2003. The instrument used was a combination of Flanagan and Nahas questionnaires and WHOQOL-100. There were added questions concerning physical activity extracted from International Physical Activity Questionnaire, questions regarding reported morbidity and emotional assessment, sociodemographic condition and an open question. The level of life satisfaction was measured using a scale from one to seven by means of visual recognition. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed including life satisfaction as a dependent variable and those included the final questionnaire, in blocks, as independent variables.RESULTS: Most elderly were generally rather satisfied with life as well as with specific aspects. The level of life satisfaction was associated with: comfort at home (OR=11.82; 95% Cl: 3.27; 42.63); appraising leisure as quality of life (OR=3.82; 95% Cl: 2.28; 6.39); waking up feeling well in the morning (OR=2.80; 95% Cl: 1.47; 5.36); not reporting loneliness (OR=2.68; 95% Cl: 1.54; 4.65); having three or more daily meals (OR=2.63; 95% Cl: 1.75; 5.90) and not reporting Diabetes Mellitus (OR-2.63; 95% Cl: 1.3 1; 5.27).CONCLUSIONS: Most elderly in the study were satisfied with life and their satisfaction was associated with situations related to being well and not being diabetic.

AATS for the (X)over-bar chart with variable parameters

A Fortran computer program is given for the computation of the adjusted average time to signal, or AATS, for adaptive (X) over bar charts with one, two, or all three design parameters variable: the sample size, n, the sampling interval, h, and the factor k used in determining the width of the action limits. The program calculates the threshold limit to switch the adaptive design parameters and also provides the in-control average time to signal, or ATS.

THERMOTOLERANCE BEHAVIOR IN SUGAR-CANE SYRUP FERMENTATIONS OF WILD-TYPE YEAST STRAINS SELECTED UNDER PRESSURES OF TEMPERATURE, HIGH SUGAR AND ADDED ETHANOL

The selected yeast strains were examined for their ability lo grow, to retain cell viability and to ferment diluted sugar cane juice (15% total sugar, w/v) to ethanol at 40-degrees-C. The degree of agitation (aeration) affects the thermotolerance while the method used for isolation of the strains appears to have no significant effect. The yeast isolated are aerobically fermentative with increased levels of fermentation and growth resulting from agitation (aeration), the exact level of these increases being dependent on the strain used.

A multi-cell variable frequency interleaved ZCS boost rectifier digitally controlled by FPGA

This paper presents a multi-cell single-phase high power factor boost rectifier in interleave connection, operating in critical conduction mode, employing a soft-switching technique, and controlled by Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The soft-switching technique is based on zero-current-switching (ZCS) cells, providing ZC (zero-current) turn-on and ZCZV (zero-current-zero-voltage) turn-off for the active switches, and ZV (zero-vohage) turn-on and ZC (zero-current) turn-off for the boost diodes. The disadvantages related to reverse recovery effects of boost diodes operated in continuous conduction mode (additional losses, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems) are minimized, due to the operation in critical conduction mode. In addition, due to the interleaving technique, the rectifier's features include the reduction in the input current ripple, the reduction in the output voltage ripple, the use of low stress devices, low volume for the EMI input filter, high input power factor (PF), and low total harmonic distortion (THD) in the input current, in compliance with the IEC61000-3-2 standards. The digital controller has been developed using a hardware description language (VHDL) and implemented using a XC2S200E-SpartanII-E/Xilinx FPGA device, performing a true critical conduction operation mode for all interleaved cells, and a closed-loop to provide the output voltage regulation, like as a preregulator rectifier. Experimental results are presented for a implemented prototype with two and with four interleaved cells, 400V nominal output voltage and 220V(rms) nominal input voltage, in order to verify the feasibility and performance of the proposed digital control through the use of a FPGA device.

A phase-shifting control for variable frequency multi-cells interleaved boost pre-regulator based on FPGA device

In this paper were investigated phase-shift control strategies applied to a four cells interleaved high input-power-factor pre-regulator boost rectifier, operating in critical conduction mode, using a non-dissipative commutation cells and frequency modulation. The digital control has been developed using a hardware description language (VHDL) and implemented using the XC2S200E-SpartanII-E/Xilinx FPGA, performing a true critical conduction operation mode for a generic number of interleaved cells. Experimental results are presented, in order to verify the feasibility and performance of the proposed digital control, through the use of a Xilinx FPGA device.

Chemical Composition and fermentative characteristics of Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) silages added of increasing levels of mango (Mangifera indica L.) byproducts

Aiming at evaluating the use of those byproducts on ruminant feeding an experiment has been carried out in the Forage Research department (www.npf.ufc.br), in order to evaluate the effects of addition of increasing levels of mango processing byproducts (MB) in Elephant grass silages. Twenty experimental silos made of PVC pipe (100 x 340 mm), in a completely randomized design with 5 levels of addition (0; 5; 10; 15; and 20%) of MB and 4 replications. Upon 32 days of ensilage, samples were collected for determination of levels of dry Matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ethereal extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicelluloses (HC), ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3), and pH values. Data were evaluated by analyses of variance and regression analyses using the F test at the 5% level. The levels of DM and CP increased of 0.50 and 0.03 percentage units, respectively, for every 1% of MB added. The levels of NDF and ADF decreased of 0.51 and 0.24 percentage units, respectively, for every 1% of MB added. The levels of N-NH3 decreased from 4 to 23 percentage units while pH values remained constant (p>0.05), with average values of 3.29. Addition of 20% of MB improved silages chemical composition by promoting an increase in the levels of MS and reduction in the levels of fiber.

(X)over-bar charts with variable parameters

Varying the parameters of the (X) over bar chart has been explored extensively in recent years. In this paper, we extend the study of the (X) over bar chart with variable parameters to include variable action limits. The action limits establish whether the control should be relaxed or not. When the (X) over bar falls near the target, the control is relaxed so that there will be more time before the next sample and/or the next sample will be smaller than usual. When the (X) over bar falls far from the target but not in the action region, the control is tightened so that there is less time before the next sample and/or the next sample will be larger than usual. The goal is to draw the action limits wider than usual when the control is relaxed and narrower than usual when the control is tightened. This new feature then makes the (X) over bar chart more powerful than the CUSUM scheme in detecting shifts in the process mean.

Correlation between acidic ninhydrin and HPLC methods to evaluate fraudulent addition of whey in milk

The acidic ninhydrin spectrophotometric method (ANSM) for quantitative determination of free and bound sialic acid of milk glycoprotein has been proved to be fast and efficient for routine detection of fraudulent addition of rennet whey to fluid milk. In this research the ANSM was compared with the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, internationally recommended for caseinomacropeptide (CMP) determination, which besides its high accuracy is more sophisticated and requires trained personnel. For several sample conditions (raw milk and milk with variable added amounts of rennet cheese whey), the methods showed an excellent linear correlation, with r = 0.981 when milk was deproteinized with a 120 g.L-1 final concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentration. The best correlations could be seen with final concentrations of 100 g.L-1 and 80 g.L-1 TCA; respectively, r = 0.992 and 0.993.

Characterization of the cellular component of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy

In order to characterize the cellular component of the polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) of the salivary gland, a morphological and immunohistochemical study was carried out. Thirty cases of PLGA were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry and five cases by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of cytokeratins (CKs) 7,8,10,13,14,18,19, vimentin and muscle-specific actin (MSA) was investigated through the streptavidin-biotin method. The majority of tumor cells stained for vimentin, CKs 8,18 and 7. CK 14 was positive in most cells of the papillary and trabecular sub-types. Although the expression of CKs 8,18 and 14 varied among the tumors sub-types, a straight relationship between each histologic pattern and the CK expression could not be delineated. MSA was reactive in only three tumors while CKs 10 and 13 were not detected in any tumor studied. The absence of MSA and the expression of CKs 8,18 and 7, in most of the tumor cells, lead to the hypothesis that myoepithelial cells are not the major cellular component of the PLGA. TEM revealed cells exhibiting microvilli and variable amounts of secretory granules, some of them suggesting an excretory activity. The presence of CKs 8, 18 and 7, added to the secretory granules, indicates that PLGA originates from cells located at the acinar-intercalated duct junction. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

(X)OVER-BAR CHARTS WITH VARIABLE SAMPLE-SIZE

The usual practice in using a control chart to monitor a process is to take samples of size n from the process every h hours This article considers the properties of the XBAR chart when the size of each sample depends on what is observed in the preceding sample. The idea is that the sample should be large if the sample point of the preceding sample is close to but not actually outside the control limits and small if the sample point is close to the target. The properties of the variable sample size (VSS) XBAR chart are obtained using Markov chains. The VSS XBAR chart is substantially quicker than the traditional XBAR chart in detecting moderate shifts in the process.

Variable structure controller and observer applied to induction machine

This work will propose the control of an induction machine in field coordinates with imposed stator current based on theory of variable structure control and sliding mode. We describe the model of an induction machine in field coordinates with imposed stator current and we show the design of variable structure control and sliding mode to get a desirable dynamic performance of that plant. To estimate the inaccessible states we will use a state observer (estimator) based on field coordinates induction machine. We will present the results of simulations in any operation condition (start, speed reversal and load) and with parameters variation of the machine compared to a PI control scheme.