Pectinase production by a Brazilian thermophilic fungus Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae N31 in solid-state and submerged fermentation

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

A new lipase isolated from oleaginous seeds from Pachira aquatica (Bombacaceae)

A new lipase from seeds of Pachira aquatica was purified to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE obtaining an enzyme with a molecular weight of approximately 55 kDa. The purified lipase exhibited maximum activity at 40 degrees C and pH 8.0, for an incubation time of 90 min. Concerning temperature stability, at the range from 4 to 50 degrees C, it retained approximately 47% of its original activity for 3 h. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of Ca(++) and Mg(++), but was inhibited by Hg(++), Mn(++), Zn(++), Al(+++) and various oxidizing and reducing agents. The lipase was highly stable in the presence of organic solvents, and its activity was stimulated by methanol. The values of K(m) and V(max) were 1.65 mM and 37.3 mu mol mL(-1) min(-1), respectively, using p-nitrophenylacetate as substrate. The enzyme showed preference for esters of long-chain fatty acids, but demonstrated significant activity against a wide range of substrates.

Biosotption of lanthanum using Sargassum fluitans in batch system

Separation and purification of lanthanum from other rare-earth (RE) elements are highly complex processes comprising several steps of extraction using organic solvents or ion-exchange resins at high costs. In order to study the biosorption process as an alternative for conventional lanthanum recovery, this work investigated some basic aspects of lanthanum-Sargassum biomass interactions in batch equilibrium contact. The dynamics of biosorption, influence of pH, and the desorption of this RE were investigated. Maximum biosorption coefficient (q(max)) increased from 0.05 at pH 2 to 0.53 mmol g(-1) at pH 5 for lanthanum sulfate. When lanthanum chloride was used, a higher q(max) at pH 5 (0.73 mmol g(-1)) was observed as compared to the sulfate salt (q(max) = 0.53 mmol g(-1)) at the same pH. Adsorption and desorption curves pointed out a complete recovery of metal adsorbed in the Sargassum fluitans biomass, showing a reversibility of this process and indicating the potential of biosorption for lanthanum removal and recovery. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization and environmental interpretation of a floodplain Holocene paleosoil: Implications for paleohydrological reconstructions in the Upper Paraná River, Brazil

Alluvial paleosoil horizons from the 3 to 4 m high banks of the Paraná River were used to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental history and palaeohydrological regime of the river. The bank consists of a Middle to Late Holocene sequence of sandy to silty clay layers of overbank deposits. The paleosoil horizon is located to a depth of 1.95 m from the top of the bank and is recognized as a guide horizon throughout the floodplain of the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Analyses of organic matter (δ13C and humic/fulvic acids), palynology (pollen and charcoal fragments), magnetic susceptibility, micromorphology, x-ray diffraction and 14C dating were conducted for samples from two representative profiles of the study area. Two phases were characterized in the history of the river: 1) An older phase, of stability in fluvial hydrology (stasis) with low frequency of floods, which produced conditions for soil development (14C 1700 ± 70 yr. BP). At this period, the predominance of herbaceous vegetation (determinated by pollen and δ13C analyses) suggests a climate less humid than the present one, and 2) A second phase, when climate changed to the present conditions of humidity (annual rain fall of 1600 rum) and characterized by the predominance of C3 plants. Under this new hydrological regime, the river developed an agradational floodplain, with a depositional sedimentary rate of 1.2 mm.y-1. © 2006 Gebrüder Borntraeger.

Visual evaluation of color stability after accelerated aging of pigmented and nonpigmented silicones to be used in facial prostheses

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate by a visual method of comparison the color stability of nonpigmented and pigmented facial silicones after accelerated aging. Materials and Methods: Two kinds of silicones were used in this study; one specifically formulated for facial prostheses and the other an acetic silicone for industrial use. Twenty-four trial bodies were made for each silicone. These were divided into colorless and intrinsically pigmented groups: ceramic, make-up, and iron oxide. The groups were submitted to accelerated aging for nonmetallic materials. An initial reading and subsequent readings were made at 163, 351, 692, and 1000 hours using a visual method of comparison. The values were annotated in a spreadsheet by two observers, according to scores elaborated for this study. Results: All groups presented color stability in the visual method. According to the results obtained and analyzed in this study, we can conclude that both silicones, Silastic 732 RTV and Silastic MDX 4-4210, behaved similarly, they can therefore be indicated for use in maxillofacial prosthesis. The time factor of aging influenced negatively, independently of the pigmentation, or lack of it, and of silicones and no group had visually noticeable alterations in any of the accelerated aging time, independently of the addition or not of pigments.

Determination of BTEX by GC-MS in air of offset printing plants: Comparison between conventional and ecological inks

The use of inks containing organic solvents by the offset printing process implies in the release of volatile organic compounds to the work environment. Many of these compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the xylene isomers (well known by the acronym BTEX) are extremely toxic. In this study, the BTEX concentrations were determined in two different printing plants that use distinct types of inks: the conventional and the so-called ecological, which is manufactured based on vegetal oil. Concentration ranges were 43-84, 15-3,480, 2-133, 5-459, and 2-236 μg m-3 for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m + p-xylene, and o-xylene, respectively, for the conventional printing plant. At the ecological printing plant, concentration ranges were below limit of detection (inting environment than in the conventional, where mineral oil-based inks are used. However, the worker who cleans the printing matrices is exposed to high concentrations of ethylbenzene and xylenes, due probably to the cleaning product's composition (containing high amounts of BTEX). Although the BTEX concentrations found in both printing work environments were below the limits considered by the Brazilian Law for Activities and Unhealthy Operations (NR-15), the exposure to such vapors characterizes risk to the workers' health for some of the evaluated samples, mainly the personal ones. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.

Microbiological quality of organic and conventional vegetables sold in Brazil

While searching for healthier diets, people became more attentive to organic produce. Yet, organic foods may be more susceptible to microbiological contamination because of the use of organic fertilizers, a possible source of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, 130 samples of different organic and conventional vegetable varieties sold in Brazil were analyzed for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, total coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Most of the mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts in organic and conventional vegetables ranged from 6 to 7 log10 CFU/g; most of the yeasts and molds counts ranged from 5 to 6 log10 CFU/g and most of the total coliforms counts ranged from 4 to 5 log10 CFU/g. E. coli was found in 41.5% of the organic and 40.0% of the conventional vegetables, and most samples had counts ranging from 1 to 2 log10 CFU/g. Salmonella spp. was not found in any sample. Comparative analyses of the microbial counts of organic and conventional vegetables showed that some organic varieties have greater counts. However, the global results show that this is not a trend. These results indicate the need of good farming practices, and proper sanitization before consumption, to ensure food quality and safety. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Determination of 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole in caramel colors by capillary electrophoresis

The use of chemical preservative compounds is common in the food products industry. Caramel color is the most usual additive used in beverages, desserts, and breads worldwide. During its fabrication process, 2- and 4-methylimidazole (MeI), highly carcinogenic compounds, are generated. In these cases, the development of reliable analytical methods for the monitoring of undesirable compounds is necessary. The primary procedure for the analysis of 2- and 4-MeI is using LC- or GC-MS techniques. These procedures are time-consuming and require large amounts of organic solvents and several pretreatment steps. This prevents the routine use of this procedure. This paper describes a rapid, efficient, and simple method using capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation and determination of 2- and 4-MeI in caramel colors. The analyses were performed using a 75 μm i.d. uncoated fused-silica capillary with an effective length of 40 cm and a running electrolyte consisting of 160 mmol L-1 phosphate plus 30% acetonitrile. The pH was adjusted to 2.5 with triethylamine. The analytes were separated within 6 min at a voltage of 20 kV. Method validation revealed good repeatability of both migration time (<0.8% RSD) and peak area (<2% RSD). Analytical curves for 2- and 4-MeI were linear in the 0.4-40 mg L-1 concentration interval. Detection limits were 0.16 mg L-1 for 4-MeI and 0.22 mg L-1 for 2-MeI. The extraction recoveries were satisfactory. The developed method showed many advantages when compared to the previously used method. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Dairy goat health management and milk production on organic and conventional system in Brazil

The aimed of this article is to measure risk factors on health and milk production on organic and conventional dairy goats in Brazil. Two experimental groups (organic and conventional) were evaluated simultaneously. The study design was completely randomized. The organic herd consisted of 25 goats and 15 kids. In the conventional production system, a dairy herd comprising 40 goats and 20 kids participated in the study. Data on milk production and health management were available from January 2007 to December 2009. The abortion rate in the conventional system was 5% (2/40) whereas in organic system no abortion was diagnosed (0/25). The mortality rate at weaning in the conventional system was 5% (2/40) and in the organic system was 8% (2/25). Milk production was lower (2.20 kg/day) in organic than conventional system (2.66 kg/day). Goats and kids in organic farm had a higher FEC (386±104 and 900±204, respectively) (p<0.05) than those in conventional farm (245±132 and 634±212, respectively). In addition, Saanen kids had higher FEC (p<0.001) than goats. Treatment with antiparasitic drugs was higher in conventional system (50%) than organic system (1.3%).

Formadores de filmes híbridos orgânicos inorgânicos do tipo ureasil-poliéter para liberação controlada de fármacos

Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas - FCFAR

Microencapsulação de oleoresina de cúrcuma (curcuma longa l.) em matrizes de gelatina, goma arábica e colágeno hidrolisado

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

Microencapsulação de oleoresina de cúrcuma (curcuma longa l.) em misturas de goma arábica, maltodextrina e amido modificado

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Análise químico-farmacêutica de preparações injetáveis de ampicilina sódica

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

Investigação fitoquímica e avaliação da atividade antioxidante das folhas e frutos de Eugenia jambolana Lam. (Myrtaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da fotocapacitância em dispositivos MIS orgânicos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)