Soil and leaf nutrient content of tree species support deciduous forests on limestone outcrops as a eutrophic ecosystem

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Carotenoid Profile of Tomato Sauces: Effect of Cooking Time and Content of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The consumption of carotenoid-rich vegetables such as tomatoes and tomato sauces is associated with reduced risk of several chronic diseases. The predominant carotenoids in tomato products are in the (all-E) configuration, but (Z) isomers can be formed during thermal processing. The effect of cooking time (15, 30, 45 and 60 min) and the addition of extra virgin olive oil (5% and 10%) on the carotenoid extractability of tomato sauces was monitored using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and LC-ultraviolet detection (LC-UV). The thermal treatment and the addition of extra virgin olive oil increased the levels of antioxidant activity, total carotenoids, Z-lycopene isomers, -carotene and -carotene. These results are of particular nutritional benefit since higher lycopene intake has been associated with a reduced risk of lethal prostate and a reduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Moreover, -carotene has been reported to suppress the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 gene expression in a dose dependent manner and to suppress UVA-induced HO-1 gene expression in cultured FEK4.

On the evaluation of the U(3) content of the matrix elements of one- and two-body operators

An expression for the U(3) content of the matrix elements of one- and two-body operators in Elliott's basis is obtained. Three alternative ways of evaluating this content with increasing performance in computing time are presented. All of them allow an exact representation of that content in terms of integers, avoiding Founding errors in the computer codes. The role of dual bases in dealing with nonorthogonal bases is also clarified. © 1992 American Institute of Physics.

The changes on microstructure and electrical properties of Bi:2223/Ag composite as a function of the granulation and the content of the added silver powder

The Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system has been one of the most studied superconducting ceramic materials for industry applications. The most of the studies with this aim are on silver/ceramic composites, due to the benefits and great compatibility of this metal with the oxide. In this paper we describe a systematic and comparative study on Ag/BSCCO composite, made by the citrate route, in which the ceramic pellets are sintered in the presence of silver powder using several proportions and having several granulations. It was observed that the introduction of fine (0.5 and 2 μm) silver powder in the proportions of 5 wt. % always implies in a better critical current density compared to the no silver pellet. According to the results, the silver powder in excess of 5 wt.% may not promote best electrical properties, depending on the size of the silver particles.

Protein content of equine seminal plasma and sperm plasma membrane in subfertile stallions

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