Viabilidade técnica e econômica da substituição de fontes convencionais de energia por biogás em assentamento rural do Estado de São Paulo

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a viabilidade econômica da implantação de dois biodigestores com uso de dejetos animais em área do Assentamento de Trabalhadores Rurais no município de Itaberá - SP, no ano de 2005; um deles para o fornecimento de energia para os domicílios e outro para as atividades produtivas. Foram avaliados os benefícios referentes ao fornecimento de energia elétrica e térmica, a partir do biogás, para cinco domicílios da agrovila do assentamento e para as atividades produtivas, comparativamente aos custos de construção e operação para produção de biogás. Os resultados mostraram a viabilidade econômica da produção de gás em ambos os biodigestores. Foram gerados benefícios no valor de R$ 3.698,00 por ano e R$ 9.080,57 por ano, nos biodigestores para os domicílios e produção, respectivamente; bem como o equivalente a R$ 1.478,28 por ano referentes à produção de biofertilizante. O custo anual do processo é de R$ 1.218,50 em cada biodigestor. O prazo de recuperação do investimento é de 2,5 anos e 11 meses, para a produção de biogás nos domicílios e na produção, respectivamente. Os resultados podem ser utilizados para subsidiar políticas públicas direcionadas ao aproveitamento de biomassa para a produção de energia a baixos custos no segmento da agricultura familiar.

Crystal structure of human PNP complexed with hypoxanthine and sulfate ion

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a ubiquitous enzyme, which plays a key role in the purine salvage pathway, and PNP deficiency in humans leads to an impairment of T-cell function, usually with no apparent effects on B-cell function. Human PNP has been submitted to intensive structure-based design of inhibitors, most of them using low-resolution structures of human PNP. Here we report the crystal structure of human PNP in complex with hypoxanthine, refined to 2.6 Angstrom resolution. The intermolecular interaction between ligand and PNP is discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cytogenetic analyses of two Curimatidae species (Pisces; Characiformes) from the Paranapanema and Tietê Rivers

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

Riscos para o excesso de peso entre adolescentes de diferentes classes socioeconômicas

OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre fatores de risco e a presença do excesso de peso entre adolescentes de diferentes classes socioeconômicas. MÉTODOS: Análise transversal, da qual participaram 888 jovens de ambos os sexos e com idade variando entre 11 e 17 anos. O índice de massa corporal foi calculado por meio dos valores de massa corporal e estatura, e utilizado como indicador do excesso de peso. A atividade física, a ingestão alimentar e a classe socioeconômica (alta e baixa) foram analisadas mediante a aplicação de questionários. Os dados foram analisados estatiscamente por meio dos testes Qui quadrado e regressão logística binária. RESULTADOS: Para os adolescentes de classe socioeconômica baixa, uma inadequada ingestão alimentar (Razão de chance [RC]= 4,59) e o sobrepeso dos pais (RC= 5,33) foram associados à presença do excesso de peso. Entre os adolescentes de classe socioeconômica alta, a escolaridade materna (RC= 0,57), estudar em escola privada (RC= 3,04) e o sobrepeso dos pais (RC= 3,47) foram associados à presença do excesso de peso. CONCLUSÃO: em ambas as classes socioeconômicas, o sobrepeso dos pais foi um importante fator de risco associado ao excesso de peso. Os outros fatores de risco diferiram entre as classes socioeconômicas.

Treatment of ligature-induced peri-implantitis by lethal photosensitization and guided bone regeneration: A preliminary histologic study in dogs

Background: the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the healing potential and reosseointegration in ligature-induced peri-implantitis defects adjacent to various dental implant surfaces following lethal photosensitization.Methods: A total of 36 dental implants with 4 different surface coatings (9 commercially pure titanium surface [CPTi]; 9 titanium plasma-sprayed [TPS]; 9 hydroxyapatite [HA]; and 9 acid-etched [AE]) were inserted in 6 male mongrel dogs 3 months after extraction of mandibular premolars. After a 2-month period of ligature-induced peri-implantitis and 12 months of natural peri-implantitis progression, only 19 dental implants remained. The dogs underwent surgical debridement of the remaining dental implant sites and lethal photosensitization by combination of toluidine blue O (100 mug/ml) and irradiation with diode laser. All exposed dental implant surfaces and bone craters were meticulously cleaned by mechanical means, submitted to photodynamic therapy, and guided bone regeneration (GBR) using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes. Five months later, biopsies of the implant sites were dissected and prepared for ground sectioning and analysis.Results: the percentage of bone fill was HA: 48.28 +/- 15.00; TPS: 39.54 +/- 12.34; AE: 26.88 +/- 22.16; and CPTi: 26.70 +/- 16.50. The percentage of reosseointegration was TPS: 25.25 +/- 11.96; CPTi: 24.91 +/- 17.78; AE: 17.30 +/- 15.41; and HA: 15.83 +/- 9.64.Conclusion: These data suggest that lethal photosensitization may have potential in the treatment of peri-implantitis.

Thermal denaturation and aggregation of hemoglobin of Glossoscolex paulistus in acid and neutral media

The thermal denaturation and aggregation of the HbGp, in the oxy- and cyanomet-forms, was investigated by DSC, AUC, DLS, optical absorption and CD, in the pH range from 5.0 to 7.0. Oxy-HbGp has a denaturation process partially reversible and dependent on the temperature. DSC melting curve is characterized by a single peak with Tc value of 333.4±0.2K for oxy-HbGp, while two peaks with Tc values of 332.2±0.1 and 338.4±0.2K are observed for cyanomet-HbGp, at pH 7.0. In acidic pH oxy- and cyanomet-HbGp are more stable showing higher Tc values and aggregation. AUC data show that, HbGp, at pH 7.0, upon denaturation, remains undissociated at 323K, presenting oligomeric dissociation at 333 (12±3% of tetramer and 88±5% of whole HbGp) and 343K (70±5% of monomer and 30±2% of trimer). DLS data show that the lag period before aggregation is dependent on the temperature and HbGp concentration. Optical absorption and CD results show that the increase of temperature leads to the oxy-HbGp oxidation and aggregation, above 331K, in acidic pH. CD data, for HbGp, present a greater thermal stability in acid medium than at neutral pH, with similar Tc values for both oxidation forms. Our data are consistent with previous studies and represents an advance in understanding the thermal stability of oligomeric HbGp structure. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

As distintas interpretações acerca do projeto de industrialização do Governo Vargas (1951-54) e suas influências no Governo Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-61)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O fazer-se da burguesia industrial no Brasil: possibilidades históricas e obstáculos para o exercício da hegemonia burguesa (1930-54)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Sociais - FFC

Evaluation of Clinical and Inflammatory Markers of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Postmenopausal Women with Metabolic Syndrome

Background: The aim of this study was to assess clinical and inflammatory markers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 180 Brazilian women (age >= 45 years and amenorrhea >= 12 months). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by the presence of at least three of the following indicators: Waist circumference (WC) > 88 cm, triglycerides (TGs) >= 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) < 50 mg/dL; blood pressure >= 130/85 mmHg; and glucose >= 100 mg/dL. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Participants were divided into three groups: Metabolic syndrome alone (n = 53); metabolic syndrome + NAFLD (n = 67); or absence of metabolic syndrome or NAFLD (control, n = 60). Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical variables were quantified. The inflammatory profile included adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Data were submitted to statistical analysis using a Tukey test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression (odds ratio, OR).Results: Women with metabolic syndrome + NAFLD, abdominal obesity, high glucose, and insulin resistance by HOMA-IR were compared to women with metabolic syndrome alone and controls (P < 0.05). High values of IL-6 and TNF-alpha and low values of adiponectin were observed among women with metabolic syndrome alone or metabolic syndrome + NAFLD when compared to controls (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, the variables considered as risk of NAFLD development were: High systolic blood pressure (SBP) [(OR 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.04]; large WC (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13); insulin resistance (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.01-7.13); and metabolic syndrome (OR 8.68, 95% CI 3.3-24.1). Adiponectin levels reduced NAFLD risk (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.96).Conclusion: In postmenopausal women, metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance were risk markers for the development of NAFLD, whereas higher adiponectin values indicated a protection marker.

Transdentinal cytotoxicity of carbodiimide (EDC) and glutaraldehyde on odontoblast-like cells

Objective: To evaluate the transdentinal cytotoxicity of three different concentrations of carbodiimide (EDC) or 5% glutaraldehyde (GA) on MDPC-23 cells. Methods: Seventy 0.4-mm-thick dentin disks obtained from human molars were adapted to artificial pulp chambers. MDPC-23 cells were seeded on the pulpal surface of the disks. After 48 hours, the occlusal dentin was acid-etched and treated for 60 seconds with one of the following solutions (n=10): no treatment (negative control); 0.1 M, 0.3 M, or 0.5 M EDC; 5% GA; Sorensen buffer; or 29% hydrogen peroxide (positive control). Cell viability and morphology were assessed by methyltetrazolium assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The eluates were collected after the treatments and applied on MDPC-23 seeded in a 24-well plate to analyze cell death, total protein (TP), and collagen production. The last two tests were performed 24 hours and seven days after the challenge. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p<0.05). Results: EDC at all test concentrations did not reduce cell viability, while 5% GA did increase cell metabolism. Cell death by necrosis was not elicited by EDC or 5% GA. At the 24-hour period, 0.3 M and 0.5 M EDC reduced TP production by 18% and 36.8%, respectively. At seven days, increased TP production was observed in all groups. Collagen production at the 24-hour period was reduced when 0.5 M EDC was used. After seven days, no difference was observed among the groups. SEM showed no alteration in cell morphology or number, except in the hydrogen peroxide group. Conclusions: Treatment of acid-etched dentin with EDC or GA did not cause transdentinal cytotoxic effects on odontoblast-like cells.

Animal performance, feeding behaviour and carcass traits of feedlot cattle diet fed with agro-industrial by-product as fat source

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

Unesp Informa, 2014, número 54

Boletim elaborado pela Assessoria de Comunicação e Imprensa da Reitoria da UNESP

Unesp Ciência, 2014, ano 5, número 54

Revista elaborada pela Assessoria de Comunicação e Imprensa da Reitoria da UNESP