Determination of crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat in twenty-five genotypes of kale (B. oleracea var. acephala)

The aim of the study was to determine the percentage of crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat (ether extract) of 25 genotypes of kale from the Germplasm Bank of Instituto Agronômico de Campinas and of one genotype grown in the region of Jaboticabal-SP. The plants were cultivated in the field, and the leaves after collection were pre-dried in a convection oven at 65°C for 72 h. Afterward, the leaves were analyzed for crude protein, crude fiber and crude fat (ether-soluble materials). Significant differences were detected among the different genotypes for all the characteristics examined. Of the genotypes studied, six showed more than 30% crude protein: HS-20 (32.56%), Comum (31.70%), Couve de Arthur Nogueira 2 (31.16%), Pires 2 de Campinas (30.63%), Manteiga I-916 (30.36%), and Manteiga de Ribeirao Pires I-2446 (30.03%). In relation to crude fiber, the highest percentage was seen in the genotype Manteiga de Mococa (10.92%), differing significantly from the other genotypes studied. With regard to crude fat, the highest percentage was found in the genotype HS-20 (3.72%), and Pires 1 de Campinas (3.34%). Of the genotypes tested, HS-20 stood out among the others, showing both the highest percentage of protein and fat.

Smear layer removal and collagen fiber exposure using tetracycline hydrochloride conditioning

Aim: Smear layer removal and collagen fiber exposure may improve periodontal treatment and regeneration. This in vitro study assessed smear layer removal and collagen fiber exposure after tetracycline hydrochloride (TTC) application on root surfaces using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Methods and Materials: Root cementum was removed with diamond burs followed by scaling and root planning. Four hundred fifty samples were divided into ten groups: a control (saline application) and nine different TTC concentrations were applied at doses of 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, and 250 mg/ml. The TTC application was performed in all groups in three different ways (passive, brushing, and burnishing) and at three different periods of conditioning (1, 2, and 3 minutes). A previously trained, calibrated, and blind examiner evaluated photomicrographs of the samples using Sampaio's index (2005). Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis' and Dunn's tests. Results: The concentrations of 50 mg/mL and 75 mg/mL applied by burnishing were the most effective in smear layer removal and collagen fiber exposure. Both the passive mode of application (p=0.0001) and 1 minute period of application (p=0.002) were the least effective. Conclusions: The concentrations of 50 mg/mL and 75 mg/mL applied by burnishing during 2 or 3 minutes were the most effective. Clinical Significance: These parameters may be applied in periodontal procedures involving TTC root conditioning to optimize results.

A modified method of immediate occlusal loading using a reinforced framework denture: A case report

The technique presented in this article presents a protocol for treatment that reduces the time required for the fabrication and placement of an implant supported prosthesis. It also offers improved patient comfort at a lower cost when compared to conventional technology.

Effect of light-curing units on push-out fiber post bond strength in root canal dentin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different light-curing units on the bond strength (push-out) of glass fiber posts in the different thirds of the root (cervical, middle and apical) with different adhesive luting resin systems (dual-cure total-etch; dual-cured and self-etch bonding system; and dual-cure self-adhesive cements), Disks of the samples (n = 144) were used, with approximately 1 mm of thickness of 48 bovine roots restored with glass fiber posts, that were luted with resin cements photo-activated by halogen LCU (QTH, Optilux 501) and blue LED (Ultraled), with power densities of 600 and 550 mW/cm 2, respectively. A universal testing machine (MTS 810 Material Test System) was used with a 1 mm diameter steel rod at cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min until post extrusion, with load cell of 50 kg, for evaluation of the push-out strength in the different thirds of each sample. The push-out strength values in kgf were converted to MPa and analyzed through Analysis of Variance and Tukey's test, at significance level of 5%. The results showed that there were no statistical differences between the QTH and LED LCUs. The self-adhesive resin cement had lower values of retention. The total-etch and self-adhesive system resin cements seem to be a possible alternative for glass fiber posts cementation into the radicular canal and the LED LCU can be applied as an alternative to halogen light on photo-activation of dual-cured resin cements. © 2009 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.

Smear layer removal for collagen fiber exposure after citric acid conditionings

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the removal of the smear layer and exposure of collagen fibers of the root surface following the application of five citric acid solution concentrations. Methods and Materials: Two hundred seventy (270) samples were equally divided into six groups (n=45) for treatment with saline solution (control) and five different concentrations of citric acid (0.5, 1, 2, 15, and 25 percent). Three acid application methods were used (passive, brushing, and burnishing) as well as three application periods (1, 2, and 3 minutes). A previously trained, calibrated (kappa score = 0.93), and blind examiner subsequently scored scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) of the samples. Statistical analyses were performed by using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's post-hoc tests. Results: According to the results obtained and within the limitations of the methodology used, the citric acid applications were more effective than the control treatment of applying saline solution (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed among the three application methods and three application periods. Descriptive analyses showed that best results for exposure of collagen fibers were obtained with the application of citric acid at 25 percent by brushing for 1 or 3 minutes. Conclusions: The best results for exposure of collagen fibers in this study were obtained with application of citric acid at 25 percent by brushing for 1 or 3 minutes, even though there were no statistically significant differences among the groups. Clinical Significance: The best results for exposure of collagen fibers on root surfaces noted in this study were obtained with application of citric acid at 25 percent by brushing for 1 or 3 minutes. © 2010 Seer Publishing LLC.

Microhardness of dual-polymerized resin cement around a translucent fiber post in the intraradicular environment

Aim: In this study, we evaluated the effect of photopolymerization on Vickers microhardness of dual-polymerized resin cement at three locations when a translucent quartz fiber post was used. Materials and Methods: Single-rooted bovine teeth received quartz fiber post systems (length: 12 mm) using a dual-polymerized resin cement. In Group 1, the posts were cemented but not photopolymerized, and in Group 2, the posts were both cemented and photopolymerized. After cementation, approximately 1.5-mm thick sections were obtained (two cervical, two middle, and two apical) for regional microhardness evaluations. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software (ver. 11.0 for Windows; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Microhardness (kg/mm 2 ) data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA) and repeated measures with microhardness values as the dependent variable and polymerization status (two levels: with and without) and root region (three levels: cervical, middle, and apical) as independent variables. Multiple comparisons were made using Dunnett's T3 post-hoc test. P values of <0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance in all tests. Results: Photopolymerization did not significantly change the microhardness values when compared with no photopolymerization. Microhardness values also showed no significant difference between the three regions in the root canals in both groups. Conclusions: The mode of polymerization of the cement tested in combination with the translucent quartz fiber post system did not affect the microhardness of the cement at the cervical, middle, or apical regions of the root.

Morphological changes in the fast vs slow fiber profiles of the urethras of diabetic pregnant rats

Background: This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that diabetes and pregnancy detrimentally affect the normal function of urethral striated muscles in rats, providing a model for additional studies related to urinary incontinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological alterations in the urethral striated muscles of diabetic pregnant rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty female Wistar rats were distributed into four experimental groups of five rats as follows: virgin, pregnant, diabetic virgin, and diabetic pregnant. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin administration (40 mg/kg i.v.). The rats were lethally anesthetized, and the urethra and vagina were extracted as a unit. Cryostat sections (6 μm thick) were cut and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and immunohistochemical procedures were performed and subjected to morphological and semi quantitative analysis. Results: The urethral striated muscle from the diabetic pregnant rats presented with the following variations: thinning and atrophy, disorganization and disruption associated with the colocalization of fast and slow fibers and a steady decrease in the proportion of fast vs slow fibers. Conclusion: Diabetes and pregnancy impair the urethral striated muscle and alter its fiber type distribution. © Copyright G. Marini et al., 2011.

Fracture resistance of bovine incisors restored with different glass fiber posts: Effect of the diameter of fiber post

Aim: Compare the effect of three post designs on the fracture resistance and failure modes of composite core-fiber post-crownless tooth sets. Materials and Methods: Ninety bovine incisors were selected and divided into nine groups of 10 specimens. The teeth were assigned to three groups based on the post design: Cylindrical, tapered, and double-tapered. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups in accordance with the diameter of the post: Small (No.1), medium (No.2), and large (No.3). The Panavia F system was used for post cementation. The specimens were mounted in acrylic resin blocks with a layer of silicone rubber covering the roots. A universal testing machine compressively loaded the specimens from the palatal side at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min and at an angle of 135I to the long axis of the teeth, until failure occurred. The failure mode was determined by a stereomicroscope inspection of all the specimens. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the Tukey test (P < 0.05). Results: The fracture resistance was affected by the type of post (P < 0.0001). A narrower diameter for all of the post systems allowed for higher resistance. The main failure mode in the large cylindrical group was catastrophic fractures, while the main failures in the other eight groups were favorable. Conclusion: Narrower diameter posts showed higher fracture resistance. The dominant failure pattern was repairable fracture, except for those with large cylindrical groups.

Xylo-oligosaccharides from lignocellulosic materials: Chemical structure, health benefits and production by chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis

Currently, there is worldwide interest in the technological use of agro-industrial residues as a renewable source of food and biofuels. Lignocellulosic materials (LCMs) are a rich source of cellulose and hemicellulose. Hemicellulose is rich in xylan, a polysaccharide used to develop technology for producing alcohol, xylose, xylitol and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOSs). The XOSs are unusual oligosaccharides whose main constituent is xylose linked by β 1-4 bonds. The XOS applications described in this paper highlight that they are considered soluble dietary fibers that have prebiotic activity, favoring the improvement of bowel functions and immune function and having antimicrobial and other health benefits. These effects open a new perspective on potential applications for animal production and human consumption. The raw materials that are rich in hemicellulose include sugar cane bagasse, corncobs, rice husks, olive pits, barley straw, tobacco stalk, cotton stalk, sunflower stalk and wheat straw. The XOS-yielding treatments that have been studied include acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis, auto-hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis, but the breaking of bonds present in these compounds is relatively difficult and costly, thus limiting the production of XOS. To obviate this limitation, a thorough evaluation of the most convenient methods and the opportunities for innovation in this area is needed. Another challenge is the screening and taxonomy of microorganisms that produce the xylanolytic complex and enzymes and reaction mechanisms involved. Among the standing out microorganisms involved in lignocellulose degradation are Trichoderma harzianum, Cellulosimicrobium cellulans, Penicillium janczewskii, Penicillium echinulatu, Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus awamori. The enzyme complex predominantly comprises endoxylanase and enzymes that remove hemicellulose side groups such as the acetyl group. The complex has low β-xylosidase activities because β-xylosidase stimulates the production of xylose instead of XOS; xylose, in turn, inhibits the enzymes that produce XOS. The enzymatic conversion of xylan in XOS is the preferred route for the food industries because of problems associated with chemical technologies (e.g., acid hydrolysis) due to the release of toxic and undesired products, such as furfural. The improvement of the bioprocess for XOS production and its benefits for several applications are discussed in this study. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Characterization of high density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with banana peel fibers

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

Evaluation of weather influence on mechanical and viscoelastic properties of polyetherimide/carbon fiber composites

In order to investigate how environmental degradation affects the mechanical and thermal performance of polyetherimide/carbon fiber laminates, in this work different weathering were conducted. Additionally, dynamic mechanical analysis, interlaminar shear strength tests and non-destructive inspections were performed on this composite before and after being submitted to hygrothermal, UV radiation and thermal shock weathering. According to our results, hygrothermally aged samples had their glass transition temperature and elastic and storage moduli reduced by plasticization effect. Photooxidation, due to UV radiation exposure, occurred only on the surface of the laminates. Thermal shock induced a reversible stress on the composite's interface region. The results revealed that the mechanical behavior can vary during weather exposure but since this variation is only subtle, this thermoplastic laminate can be considered for high-performance applications, such as aerospace. © The Author(s) 2013.

Lead-germanate glasses and fibers: A practical alternative to tellurite for nonlinear fiber applications

We report on the fabrication of novel lead-germanate glasses and fibers. We have characterized these glasses in terms of their thermal properties, Raman spectra and refractive indices (both linear and nonlinear) and present them as viable alternatives to tellurite glasses for applications requiring highly nonlinear optical fibers. © 2013 Optical Society of America.

Compósito estrutural carbono/epóxi via RTM para aplicação aeronáutica: processamento e caracterização

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

Estudo das intempéries nas propriedades mecânicas e viscoelásticas de compósitos PPS/Fibras de carbono e EPOXI/Fibras de carbono de uso aeronaútico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização mecânica e térmica de compósitos naturais modificados com ciclodextrina e fibras vegetais utilizando como matriz uma resina termofixa DGEBA/TETA

Pós-graduação em Ciência dos Materiais - FEIS