The Influence of Municipal Treated Wastewater on Morpho-Physiological Characteristics of Eucalyptus Plants

The effects of municipal-treated wastewater on growth and gas exchange characteristics were studied in eucalyptus plants cultivated in a greenhouse under continuous sub irrigation with 70 % Long Ashton solution as a control, 100 % treated wastewater, and treated wastewater diluted 50 % with tap water. Irrigation with wastewater resulted in a reduction of total dry matter per plant and the shoot-to-root ratio and increased specific leaf mass, irrespective of the dilution. The gas exchange characteristics were adversely affected by the irrigation with wastewater, with photosynthetic rates been negatively affected. Total chlorophyll and carotenoids content were reduced in plants grown under treated wastewater. The results demonstrated that when the eucalyptus plants were grown under treated wastewater as the only source of mineral nutrients they were able to produce nearly 50 % of the dry matter produced by the plants grown under appropriate mineral nutrient supply, irrespective of the dilution. Therefore, the contribution of mineral nutrients and organic matter from the treated wastewater used as agricultural irrigation will be significant in lower the fertilizer rates without reducing dry matter production per plant.

Efeito da suplementação de erva mate (Ilex paraguariensis) sobre a capacidade antioxidante total em atletas futebolistas em teste exaustivo em esteira

Introduction: Physical exercise are related to high oxygen consumption, leading to increase on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent oxidative stress. Concomitantly, physical training can improve the antioxidant defense systems, reducing the deleterious activity of ROS. The yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) has several bioactive compounds in its composition, providing important antioxidant activity in improving defense systems and reducing the damage caused by ROS. Few studies related to yerba mate with antioxidant effects during exercise. Objective: Evaluate whether the consumption-based drink yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is able to increase the total antioxidant performance (TAP) after an exhaustive test on a treadmill. Methods: The sample counted with 15 female soccers players from Botucatu-SP female soccer team with a mean age of 22.1 ± 4.2 years. For laboratory tests , it was evaluated: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and fractions, glucose and gamma-GT were dosed by dry chemistry (Vitros® System, Johnson & Johnson). LDL-cholesterol was obtained by Friedwald formula. Total antioxidant performance (TAP) was obtained by the method of fluorescence assay for the measurement of plasma. Weight, height and body mass index (IMC) were measured, percentage of body fat was obtained by bioeletrical impedance analysis (Biodinâmics, modelo 450, USA). Arterial blood pressure was checked by auscultatory method and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by ergoespirometric test (Ramp Protocol). Maltodextrin was supplemented (30 g in 400 ml) 30 minutes after M0 with placebo (400 ml) or mate (5 g in 400 ml of water). Statistical analysis: ANOVA for repeated measures followed by Tukey's test set, p<0.05. Results: There was a decrease in the pH after exhaustive testing for water and tea (p<0.0001), the same was observed for bicarbonate (p<0.0001). In both groups pO₂ increased for ...

A coordenação motora de indivíduos com Transtorno do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação (TDC): o ritmo em foco

The aim of the present study was to examine tapping synchronization in children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Participants were 27 children from which 13 diagnosed with motor difficulties composed the DCD group and 14 children with typical development (TD) the comparison group. The experimental task consisted of performing 25 continuous tapping on a surface of an electronic drum with the preferred hand. Participants were required to tap in synchrony with an auditory bip generated by customized software. Three interval values the tapping task were tested: 470 ms, 1000 ms, 1530 ms. The dependent variables were constant error (CE) and absolute error (AE) and standard deviation of absolute error (SD of AE). The ANOVA 2 x 3 x 3 (Group X Age x Interval) with repeated measures in the last factor for the CE indicated significant interaction among Group X Age X Interval. For the AE and SD of AE the ANOVAs yielded significant main effect of Interval and a significant interaction between Group X Interval. The results of the present study indicated that children with DCD were less accurate and more variable in the tapping synchronization than children with TD. Differences in performance between DCD and children with TD become larger as the interval of the auditory signal increases.

Dental caries and related factors in Brazilian children from fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas

PURPOSE: To compare the caries prevalence, saliva buffering capacity (SBC), oral hygiene (OH), dietary habits, family income (FI) and frequency of visits to a dental office (Do) between Brazilian children living in areas with and without fluoridated public water supply. METHODS: Forty-six 5-7-year-old preschoolers were selected in Itatiba, SP, Brazil; 19 were from a fluoridated area, and 27 were from a non-fluoridated area. The caries index was determined according to the World Health Organization criteria, and the SBC was assessed by titration with hydrochloric acid. The FI, frequency of OH and visits to Do were estimated by questionnaire. The dietary habits were assessed with a diet chart. The differences between the groups were analyzed with Mann-Whitney-U tests (α=0.05). RESULTS: Children from the non-fluoridated area showed significantly higher dmft/DMFT than those from the fluoridated area, but they showed significantly lower SBC, OH frequency and FI. No significant differences were observed between the areas for dietary habits and visits to Do. CONCLUSION: Children from fluoridated areas showed higher salivary buffering capacity, family income and oral hygiene frequency as well as lower caries prevalence, supporting the beneficial effect of fluoride in the tap water for caries prevention.

Avaliação histológica de estratégias de engenharia tecidual para a terapia endodôntica

Pós-graduação em Ciência Odontólogica - FOA

Produção e caracterização das Tanases do fungo filamentoso Aspergillus carbonarius

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Modelo matemático para o controle ótimo de Volt/VAr em sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica trifásicos

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

High sodium intake during postnatal phases induces an increase in arterial blood pressure in adult rats

Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento em Pesquisa (CAPES)

Microhardness of the enamel exposed to whitening dentifrices

The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of three different types of dentifrices on the superficial microhardness of bovine enamel. Methods: Forty-eight 4x4mm dental fragments were polished and randomly divided into 4 groups: GI, conventional silica-based dentifrice; GII, hydrogen peroxide-based dentifrice; GIII, carbamide peroxide-based dentifrice; and GIV, immersion in artificial saliva. After polished, the specimens received five indentations of 25g static load, for 5 seconds. Subsequently, specimens from groups GI, GII and GIII were immersed in solution containing dentifrice and distilled water, in weight proportion of 1:2, for 15 minutes daily. After this period, fragments were rinsed in tap water and stored in artificial saliva at 37oC. This procedure was repeated for 21 days and then a new analysis of the microhardness was performed. Results and conclusion: The results were submitted to ANOVA and Fisher’s test at 5%. It was concluded that all samples treated with dentifrices showed hardness decrease, being most pronounced in dentifrices containing peroxide.

Simulação em tempo real de sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica utilizando-se estruturas com descrição de hardware em software

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Cadmium exposure inhibits MMP2 and MMP9 activities in the prostate and testis

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

Reactive power planning under conditional-value-at-risk assessment using chance-constrained optimisation

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

Mixed-integer convex model for VAr expansion planning

This paper presents a mixed-integer convex-optimization-based approach for optimum investment reactive power sources in transmission systems. Unlike some convex-optimization techniques for the reactive power planning solution, in the proposed approach the taps settings of under-load tap-changing of transformers are modeled as a mixed-integer linear set equations. Are also considered the continuous and discrete variables for the existing and new capacitive and reactive power sources. The problem is solved for three significant demand scenarios (low demand, average demand and peak demand). Numerical results are presented for the CIGRE-32 electric power system.

Population trends of the red palm mite, raoiella indica hirst (acari: tenuipalpidae) and associated entomopathogenic fungi in trinidad, antigua, st kitts and nevis and dominica

A survey to determine population trends and entomopathogenic fungi associated with the red palm mite (RPM), Raoiella indica, was conducted in Trinidad, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica. RPM population density was evaluated by sampling a total of ten coconut palms per site in Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and Trinidad (Manzanilla and Icacos). Mites from the four islands were either surface sterilized or left unsterilized before being cultured on Tap Water Agar (TWA). A total of 318 fungal colonies were retrieved. A further 96 mites from Dominica were kept on sterile moist filter paper in a humidity chamber and a further 85 colonies were isolated. Based on morphological observations of all 403 isolates, a sample consisting of 32 colonies (8 %) was sent for identification at CABI-UK. Of the 27 fungi positively identified, 15 isolates belonged to the genera Cladosporium, three to Simplicillium spp., and one to Penicillium. Other fungi genera with limited or no entomopathogenic potential included: Aspergillus, Cochliobolus, Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis and Pithomyces. The results show a potential use of entomopathogenic fungi for population management of the red palm mite in the Caribbean region.

Gold electrodes from recordable CDs for mercury quantification by flow injection analysis

The development of a new methodology for the construction of very efficient flow cells for mercury detection by potentiometric stripping analysis, employing the thin gold layer of recordable CDs as working electrode is reported. This new source of electrodes (CDtrodes) show very attractive performance, similar to that obtained with commercial gold electrodes, with superior versatility. The low cost of this new source of gold electrodes allows a frequent replacement of the electrode, avoiding cumbersome clean-up treatments. Various experimental parameters have been optimized to yield low detection limits (0.25 ng/mL of mercury for 5 min deposition at 0.3 V) and good precision (standard deviation of 1.9% was obtained for 15 repetitive measurements using 10 ng/mL of mercury). Standard curves were found to be linear over the range of 0.5-100 μg L-1 of mercury. The flow cells developed were used for the quantification of mercury in oceanic and tap water. © Springer-Verlag 2000.