Bacterial diversity of soil under eucalyptus assessed by 16S rDNA sequencing analysis

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

Características químicas de substratos utilizados na produção de mudas de cacaueiros

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar monitoramento químico de seis substratos utilizados na produção de mudas de cacaueiros. Os substratos receberam 10 volumes (100mL, cada) de água destilada, e no lixiviado coletado foram determinados o pH, a condutividade elétrica (CE) e os teores de sódio (Na) e potássio (K) em solução. Os valores de pH variaram de 5,0 a 8,0 em Plantmax® e composto do tegumento da amêndoa do cacau (CTAC), respectivamente. Verificou-se que, a partir do primeiro volume lixiviado, a CE de todos os substratos foi reduzida. Foram encontradas correlações positivas para a CE em relação ao K e Na da fibra de coco (FC) (r=0,83 e 0,72 P<0,05) e CTAC (r=0,98 e 0,99 P<0,05). Os resultados indicam que a FC e o CTAC deveriam ser usados após pré-lavagens. Verificou-se que, embora a FC apresente na primeira lixiviação valor de CE superior aos demais substratos, o valor ideal da 2,0 dSm-1 é alcançado na segunda lixiviação. Os teores de K e Na são um indicativo do valor da CE em FC e CTAC.

Propriedades químicas de solo sob reflorestamento ciliar após 20 anos de plantio em área de cerrado

As propriedades químicas do solo variam com a cultura e manejo utilizados. O trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar as propriedades químicas de solo sob reflorestamento ciliar após 20 anos de plantio em área de Cerrado localizada na Fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão, FEPE/UNESP, da Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira. Foi realizada a análise química do solo (P, matéria orgânica (MO), pH, K, Ca, Mg, H+Al, Al e S) em 33 módulos, com três repetições em duas profundidades (0,0 - 0,20 e 0,20 - 0,40 m), com delineamento em blocos casualizados em esquema hierárquico. Os resultados indicaram que as propriedades químicas do solo sob o reflorestamento ciliar são semelhantes às propriedades do solo sem perturbação antrópica dessa região. As espécies plantadas no reflorestamento ciliar estão contribuindo com a deposição de material orgânico suficiente para que haja reciclagem de nutrientes, mantendo as propriedades químicas do solo em boas condições para que ocorra o estabelecimento da mata ciliar.

COMPOSIÇÃO, PERFIL NITROGENADO E CARACTERÍSTICAS do LEITE CAPRINO (SAANEN): REGIÃO SUDESTE, BRASIL

Durante um ano, trabalhou-se com o leite de conjunto produzido por três grupos distintos de cabras Saanen, perfazendo um total variável entre 44 e 56 animais em lactação e um total de 179 amostras analisadas, nas quais determinou-se a composição química, o perfil nitrogenado e as principais características físico-químicas. Para a composição geral, os valores determinados foram: 3,27% para proteína total, 3,74% para gordura, 4,35% para lactose, 0,74% para cinzas e 88,49% para água. O perfil nitrogenado distribuiu-se em: 3,27% para proteína bruta (PB), 2,97% para proteína verdadeira (TP), 2,43% para a fração caseínas (C), e 0,84% para as proteínas do soro (PS), incluindo 0,30% para a fração nitrogenada não protéica (NNP). As características determinadas foram: 1,0324 para a densidade a 15ºC, 6,65 para o pH a 25ºC, 16,11ºD para a acidez, 0,172 g% para o teor de cloretos, -0,574ºH para o ponto de congelamento, 11,51% para sólidos totais (ST), 7,77% para sólidos desengordurados (SD), 12,45% para o extrato seco total (EST) calculado e 8,90% para o extrato seco desengordurado (ESD), também calculado.

Influência de películas de fécula de mandioca na qualidade pós-colheita de frutos de pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.)

A proposta em estudo é o uso de películas comestíveis, derivadas de fécula de mandioca na manutenção da qualidade de frutos de pimentão após a sua colheita. Frutos de pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.) receberam tratamento com películas de amido, com a finalidade de avaliar a sua eficiência como barreira à perda de água, bem como sua influência nas propriedades físicas e químicas dos mesmos. Os frutos foram mergulhados por um minuto em suspensões a 1, 3 e 5% de fécula, secos naturalmente ao ar e armazenados em condições ambientais, onde a temperatura e umidade relativa médias do período variaram de 26,0-29,0° C e 59,5-71,5%, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial com 16 tratamentos, 3 repetições e 2 frutos por parcela. As análises de controle (porcentagem de perda de peso, textura, pH e teor de sólidos solúveis), foram feitas a cada três dias por um período de 12 dias. As películas a 3 e 5% mantiveram os frutos firmes. Os tratamentos não influenciaram significativamente na perda de peso, pH e no teor de sólidos solúveis.

Influência dos constituintes do esgoto no colapso de um solo arenoso

Este trabalho analisa o comportamento colapsível de um solo tropical arenoso inundado com diferentes fluidos de saturação que constituem o esgoto doméstico. Para tal análise, foram levados em consideração parâmetros físicos e químicos e aspectos estruturais do solo no âmbito do fenômeno da colapsibilidade dos solos, assim como as principais características dos fluidos de inundação de água destilada, esgoto doméstico e algumas soluções à base de substâncias que compõem os esgotos e as deformações axiais do solo a um metro de profundidade em ensaios edométricos. As propriedades físicas e químicas dos fluidos de inundação e dos solos, bem como a combinação entre tais propriedades, desempenham relevante papel na compreensão do fenômeno do colapso, mostrando que a sua ocorrência não pode ser atribuída a um ou outro parâmetro do solo ou do fluido isoladamente.

Microwave synthesis of YAG : Eu by sol-gel methodology

Yttrium-aluminum oxides are interesting compounds and they have been extensively used as host for lasers and phosphors, due to their stable physical and chemical properties. The fabrication of yttrium-aluminum garnet (YAG) has been investigated thoroughly. Single-crystal YAG is expensive and to produce it a new way has been investigated. This process consists of modifying the methodology of reagents mixture and the process of heating them. The microwave irradiation is used to heat-treat the oxide mixture. The traditional synthesis of YAG powders occurs through the reaction of aluminum and yttrium powders at high temperatures. With this work we investigated the preparation of YAG by non-hydrolytic sol-gel route as an alternative methodology to obtain yttrium-aluminum matrix from inorganic precursors (yttrium and aluminum chloride). The preparation of the gel was carried out in an oven-dried glassware. The AlCl3, YCl3 and ethanol were reacted in reflux under argon atmosphere. Europium III chloride was added as a structural probe. The powder was dried and heat-treated in modified microwaves. The samples were pre-treated at 50 and 800 C during I h and then heated in microwaves for 30 s, 2 and 4 min. The formation process and structure of the powders were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). XRD presents only picks corresponding to the YAG phase and confirmed by TEM. PL date showed that the YAG phase was formed in 2 min with the samples pre-treated at 50 C. For the samples pretreated at 800 degrees C, the YAG phase appears in 30s. The excitation spectra present a maximum of 394 nm corresponding to the L-5(6) level and emission spectra of Eu III ion present bands characteristic transitions arising from the D-5(0) -> F-7(J) (J= 1, 2, 3, 4) monifolds excited at their maximum. The magnetic dipole D-5(0) -> F-7(1) transition presents more intensity than the electric dipole D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition. This methodology showed efficiency in obtaining YAG phase. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of the surface state and structural feature in the thermoreversible sol-gel transition of a zirconyl aqueous precursor modified by sulfuric acid

The sols produced by admixture of ZrOCl2 acidified solutions to hot H2SO4 aqueous solutions were studied to clarify the effects of Cl- and SO42- ions on the kinetic stability of nanoparticles and to obtain some new evidence concerning the mechanism of a thermoreversible sol-gel transition observed in this system. The study of suspensions prepared with different molar ratios R-S = [Zr]/[SO42-] and R-Cl = [Zr]/[Cl-] revealed domains of composition of formation of thermoreversible gels, thermostable sols, and powder precipitation. The effects of R-S and R-Cl on the structural features of nanoparticles and on the particle solution interface were systematically analyzed for samples of thermoreversible and thermostable sol domains. Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements revealed the presence of small fractal aggregates in all samples of thermoreversible domains, while compact packing aggregates of primary particles are present in the thermostable sol. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure and elemental chemical analysis revealed that irrespective of the nominal value of R-S and R-Cl all studied samples of the thermoreversible domain are constituted by a well-defined compound possessing an inner core made of hydroxyl and oxo groups bridging together zirconium atoms surrounded on the surface by complexing sulfate ligands. zeta potentials of powders extracted by freeze-drying from the thermoreversible gel revealed a point of surface charge inversion attributed to the specific adsorption of SO42- ion. Thermoreversible gel formation is rationalized by considering the effect of the specific adsorption on the electrical double-layer repulsion together with the temperature dependency of the physical chemical properties of ions in solution.

Resposta do abacaxizeiro 'Vitória' a doses de nitrogênio em solos de tabuleiros costeiros da Paraíba

Informations about fertilization and mineral nutrition of the new fusariosis-resistant pineapple cultivars are still scarce, despite the importance of this crop. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of N on fruit yield and quality of the pineapple cultivar 'Vitoria' grown on a 'Humiluvico Espodossolo' in the region of Tabuleiros Costeiros, in the state of Paraiba. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design, using five N doses (100, 200, 300, 500 and 600 kg ha(-1)N, as urea) applied 60, 180 and 270 days after planting (dap) with three replications. The following variables were evaluated: length and fresh matter of the 'D' leaf; contents of N, P and K in the portions with and without chlorophyll, 300 and 420 dap; average weight, yield, physical properties (fruit weight, length and medium diameter; crown weight and length) and chemical properties (pH, soluble solids -SS, titrable acidity - AT, and the SS/AT ratio) of the fruits at harvest. Increasing N doses linearly increased length and fresh matter of the 'D' leaf and N content and decrease both P and K contents of the chlorophyll portion 300 dap, but did not affect nutrient contents 420 dap; in the chlorophyll-free portion. Increasing N doses, also, led to an increase in K contents 320 dap, but to reductions 420 dap. Individual fruit weight and total yield increased with increasing N doses, as maximum values of 1.0 kg and 37.9 t ha(-1) were estimated at doses of 409.0 and 439.0 kg ha(-1) N, respectively. The N doses did not affect the fruit quality properties, which were compatible with the characteristics described for this cultivar.

Porosity measurement of solid pharmaceutical dosage forms by gamma-ray transmission

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

SiO2-GeO2 soot preform as a core for Eu2O3 nanocoating: Synthesis and photophysical study

Nowadays solid state chemists have the possibility of work with low temperature strategies to obtain solid state materials with appropriate physical and chemical properties for useful technological applications. Photonic core shell materials having a core and shell domains composed by a variety of compounds have been synthesized by different methods. In this work we used silica-germania soot prepared by vapor-phase axial deposition as a core where a nanoshell of Eu2O3 was deposited. A new sol-gel like method was used to obtain the Eu2O3 nanoshell coating the SiO2-GeO2 particles, which was prepared by the polymeric precursor method. The photophysical properties of Eu3+ were used to obtain information about the rare earth surrounding in the SiO2-GeO2@Eu2O3 material during the sintering process. The sintering process was followed by the luminescence spectra of Eu3+ and all the samples present the characteristic emission related to the D-5(0) -> F-7(J) (J=0, 1, 2, 3 and 4). The ratios of the D-5(0) -> F-7(2)/D-5(0) -> F-7(1) emission intensity for the SiO2-GeO2@Eu2O3 systems were calculated and it was observed an increase in its values, indicating a low symmetry around the Eu3+ as the temperature increases.

Charcoal production using tropical pine thinnings

In Brazil, the wood from pine-plantation thinnings is difficult to sell. However, these wood thinnings could be used to produce charcoal. The physical and chemical properties of charcoal produced from logs or first and fourth thinnings of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and Pinus oocarpa were determined. Similar properties were also determined for sawmill slabs cut from first and fourth thinnings. Properties were compared to charcoal made from pine materials and 7-yr-old Eucalyptus grandis. Results show that Pinus spp had better chemical properties than did E. grandis. In contrast, charcoal obtained from E. grandis had higher values of apparent density and lower values of bulk density than did Pinus spp. © 1992.

Nitrogen and potassium fertilization of 'Nanicao' banana (Musa AAA Cavendish subgroup) under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions

A field experiment was carried out in São Paulo State, Brazil, with the objective of investigating the response of 'Nanicao' banana (Musa AAA Cavendish subgroup) to nitrogen and potassium fertilization under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions during two crop seasons. The effects of cropping on some soil chemical properties were also investigated. A split-plot design was used with irrigation (micro-sprinkler) and no irrigation applied to main plots, and a combination of four rates of N (0, 200, 400 and 800 kg N ha-1) and K (0, 300, 600 and 900 kg K2O ha-1) as the sub-plot treatments. Irrigation caused a significant increase in fruit yield and determined the response to N and K fertilizers. In spite of a high level of exchangeable K, a positive response to K application was observed on the plant crop in non-irrigated plants. Fruit yield was impaired by N application in the plant crop (1st cycle). A positive response to N application was observed in the 2nd cycle. Soil pH decreased with increasing N rates. Exchangeable K was significantly reduced due to crop exhaustion.

Sm-Nd system in total rock open versus closed isotopic composition in zones of high deformation

High strain shear zones of Brasiliano age, developed in Paleoproterozoic basement gneiss of the Caicó region, Borborema Province, NE Brazil, were associated with medium- to low-grade metamorphism and deformational processes that transformed porphyritic augen gneiss into muscovite quartzite, modifying their original mineralogy and chemical properties. During the last hydrothermal event mobility of major, minor and trace elements was great, whereas the pattern of Rare Earth Elements was not changed. We carried out a Sm-Nd isotopic study in these rocks in order to understand the behavior of Nd isotopes during mylonite generation. TDM model ages at around 2.6 Ga and εNd (t) values for both protolith and transformed rock suggest that the Nd isotopic system remained closed, recording the original source rock signature, despite undergoing two superposed metamorphic events. These new Sm-Nd results provide important information on the geologic evolution of basement rocks in the central Rio Grande do Norte Terrane of the Borborema Province, NE Brazil.

Secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by mouse peritoneal macrophages in the presence of dental sealers, sealapex and endomethasone

After filling root canals, the healing process depends on the chemical composition or physical-chemical properties of the material used, among other factors. All root canal sealers, whether solid or plastic, are foreign matter for the body if they remain in permanent contact with apical and periapical tissues. As a result, the first organic reaction that occurs is an attempt to phagocytize the material. During phagocytosis, macrophages release a large number of cell mediators into the area, among which are cytokines that are essential in intercellular communication and in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. One of these cytokines is tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α), which acts through links to specific receptors on the cell membrane initiating a cascade of events leading to induction, activation, or inhibition of numerous cytokine-regulated genes in the cell nucleus. The release of TNF-α in a cell culture of mouse peritoneal macrophages incubated with three concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg/ml) of two endodontic sealers was measured. The solutions containing the calcium hydroxide-based root canal sealer (Sealapex) released fewer units of TNF-α than solutions containing the zinc oxide and eugenol-based sealer (Endomethasone).