Determination of amylase activity in cotyledons of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. carioca

Determination of α- and β-amylase activity in the extracts of cotyledons of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. cariocawas done using selective inactivation of α-amylase by lowering the pH of the incubation medium or by the use of EDTA as inhibitor or selective inactivation of β-amylase by the use of HgCl2 or by heating to 70ºC in the presence of CaCl2; and still by using the reagent starch azure for specific determination of α-amylase. Results indicated that the methods used were inappropriate in this case, being indicated the determination of total amylase activity.

Reversion by calcium of a yeast-like development to the original filamentous form, of the 10V10 5-fluorocytosine-sensitive mutant of Aspergillus niger

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modelos de paisagem e susceptibilidade magnética na identificação e caracterização do solo

O conhecimento detalhado do solo e de seus atributos, ao longo da paisagem, é uma demanda permanente dos sistemas urbanos e agroindustriais, para o planejamento sustentável de uso e ocupação. O presente trabalho objetivou estudar o potencial de modelos de paisagem e susceptibilidade magnética na identificação e caracterização de latossolos, em Guariba (SP). Foram coletadas 514 amostras de solo, em 110,0 ha, às profundidades de 0,0-0,20 m e 0,60-0,80 m. Foram identificados diferentes compartimentos de paisagem, com base no modelo de superfície geomórfica e segmento de vertente. em cada compartimento de paisagem, foram abertas trincheiras, para classificação do solo. As amostras foram analisadas quanto à granulometria e atributos químicos, pH (água, CaCl2 e KCl), matéria orgânica, P extraível, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ e H+ + Al3+. Também foram determinados os teores de SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 e óxidos de Fe livres (Fe d) e pouco cristalizados (Fe o), nas amostras das trincheiras, além da susceptibilidade magnética (SM). Solos taxonomicamente iguais, porém em diferentes compartimentos da paisagem, apresentaram valores distintos, para os atributos estudados, indicando que os modelos de paisagem e a susceptibilidade magnética podem ser viáveis, como técnica de campo, para auxiliar no detalhamento da variação dos atributos do solo. A susceptibilidade magnética demonstrou ter potencial para delimitação das superfícies geomórficas mapeadas no campo, o que indica o seu potencial de uso, na identificação e caracterização de áreas mais homogêneas.

Degradação de 14C-atrazina em solo sob condições semicontroladas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito da injeção de diferentes concentrações de cloreto de cálcio na textura e aceitabilidade de carne bovina maturada

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

Caracterização físico-química da manga 'Tommy Atkins' submetida a aplicação de cloreto de cálcio pré-colheita e armazenamento refrigerado

Avaliou-se a qualidade pós-colheita de manga 'Tommy Atkins' submetida a aplicação pré-colheita de CaCl2 e armazenamento refrigerado. Os fatores estudados foram concentrações de CaCl2 (1% e 2%) e números de aplicações (2,3 e 4 vezes). Houve ainda um tratamento adicional, que funcionou como controle. As pulverizações foliares foram iniciadas cerca de 35 dias após antese, num intervalo de 15 dias. do total de 280 frutos colhidos, 175 foram levados para análise imediata, enquanto que 105 permaneceram em câmara fria (10ºC) por 30 dias, sendo posteriormente analisados. As concentrações de CaCl2 testadas não resultaram em incremento do teor de cálcio no fruto e também não influenciaram as características de qualidade avaliadas. Houve efeito do número de aplicações de CaCl2 sobre a textura, sólidos solúveis (após 30 dias) e açúcares solúveis totais (após a colheita). A incidência de colapso interno não foi associada a aplicação de cálcio.

Seleção de métodos para avaliação do cobre disponível nos solos

Fez-se um estudo de seleção de métodos para cobre disponível, empregando-se trinta solos coletados na região de Jaboticabal, SP. Os solos utilizados pertencem aos seguintes grandes grupos: Solos Podzolizados de Lins e Marília, variação Lins e variação Marília, Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro fase arenosa, Latossolo Roxo, e Terra Roxa Estruturada. O cobre dos solos foi extraído através das seguintes soluções extratoras: CaCl2 0,5 M; Mg02 2,0 N; CH3COONH4 1,0 N1 pH 6,0 e pH 4,8; HCl 0,05 N e O,1 N; H2SO4 0,05 N; DTPA 0,005 M pH 7,3 e pH 6,0; EDTA 0,01 M + (NH4)2CO3 1,0 MpH 8,6; EDTA 0,02 M + CH3C0011 0,5 M + CH3COONH4 0,5 M pH 4,65 (AAAc-EDTA); e Na2EDTA 1,0%. Foi realizado ensaio em casa de vegetação, e o milho (Zea mays L.) foi empregado como planta teste. Excluindo-se o extrator CaCl2 0,5 M, todos os demais apresentaram coeficientes de correlação entre cobre extraído do solo e o absorvido pelo milho, significativos e próximos uns dos outros. Assim, com base também em parâmetros como o coeficiente de variação, o coeficiente angular e a praticidade do método, pode-se indicar um dos seguintes extratores para a avaliação do cobre disponível dos solos: DTPA 0,005 M pH 7,3, HCl 0,1 N e Na2EDTA 1,0%.

Influence of the precursor salts in the synthesis of CaSnO3 by the polymeric precursor method

CaSnO3 was synthesized by the polymeric precursor method, using different precursor salts as (CH3COO)(2)Ca. H2O, Ca(NO3)(2). 4H(2)O, CaCl2. 2H(2)O and CaCO3, leading to different results. Powder precursor was characterized using thermal analysis. Depending on the precursor different thermal behaviors were obtained. Results also indicate the formation of carbonates, confirmed by IR spectra. After calcination and characterization by XRD, the formation of perovskite as single phase was only identified when calcium acetate was used as precursor. For other precursors, tin oxide was observed as secondary phase.

Influence of biosolids rate on chemical properties of an oxisol in São Paulo, Brazil

Organic residues may cause major health and environmental problems. This is the case in our study area, where more than 10 billion L per year of residential and industrial waste are produced. Land application of biosolids can be an economical solution by recycling waste and can provide valuable fertilizer if used correctly. The aim of this work was to study the effect of biosolids on the chemical properties of an Oxisol. The experiment was located at Ilha Solteira northwest of São Paulo State, Brazil. The soil was cropped to Sorghum bicolor.The field experimental design consisted of random blocks with six treatments and four replications of each treatment. Biosolids were surface applied to four treatments at rates of 5, 10, 20, and 40 Mg ha(-1) on a dry matter basis; in addition, a treatment with mineral fertilizer and a control were included. One year after biosolids application, soil samples were taken at 0-10, 10-20, and 20-40 cm. Organic matter content (Walkley-Black) and pH (CaCl2) were routinely determined. Cation exchange capacity, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K), and P were determined by exchange resin extraction. No significant differences in any of the analyzed properties were found below the 20 cm depth. Extractable phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) increased with increasing biosolids rate in the top 20 cm, whereas calcium (Ca) and (Ma) magnesium content were not significantly influenced by biosolids. Soil pH decreased with increasing biosolids application. The sewage sludge application did not influence the sorghum production in the first year of culture, under unfavorable soil moisture conditions, but it influenced the dry matter.

Vascular effects of long-term propranolol administration after chronic nitric oxide blockade

Long-term propranolol treatment reduces arterial blood pressure in hypertensive individuals mainly by reducing peripheral vascular resistance, but mechanisms underlying their vasodilatory effect remain poorly investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether long-term propranolol administration ameliorates the impairment of relaxing responses of aorta and mesenteric artery from rats made hypertensive by chronic nitric oxide (NO) deficiency, and underlying mechanisms mediating this phenomenon. Male Wistar rats were treated with N-omega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 20 mg/rat/day) for four weeks. DL-Propranolol (30 mg/rat/day) was given concomitantly to L-NAME in the drinking water. Treatment with L-NAME markedly increased blood pressure, an effect largely attenuated by DL-propranolol. In phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings, the reduction of relaxing responses for acetylcholine (0.001-10 mu M) in L-NAME group was not modified by DL-propranolol, whereas in mesenteric rings the impairment of acetylcholine-induced relaxation by L-NAME was significantly attenuated by DL-propranolol. In mesenteric rings precontracted with KCl (80 MM), DL-propranolol failed to attenuate the impairment of acetylcholine-induced relaxation by L-NAME. The contractile responses to extracellular CaCl2 (1-10 mM) were increased in L-NAME group, and co-treatment with DL-propranolol reduced this response in both preparations in most Ca2+ concentrations used. The NO2/NO3 plasma levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were reduced in L-NAME-treated rats, both of which were significantly prevented by DL-propranolol. In conclusion, propranolol-induced amplification of the relaxation to acetylcholine in mesenteric arteries from L-NAME-treated rats is sensitive to depolarization. Additional mechanisms involving blockade of Ca2+ entry in the vascular smooth muscle and increase in NO bioavailability contributes to beneficial effects of long-term propranolol treatment. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interações do ácido indolil-3-acético e calcio sobre o fluxo de água de células de Nitella

The effect of indol-3-acetic acid (lAA) and calcium (Ca + + ) on the flow of water through Nitella celIs was studied. Nitella cernua Braun was selected because it is possible tb study the permeability of a single isolated cell. IAA was used at a concentration of 0,28 10-3 M and CaCI2 at 10-3 M. The effect of IAA on the isolated celIs was confirmed by the increase of plasticity and permeability of the plasmalema of th.e treated cells with absorption and a consequent elimination of water. The effect was reversed by Ca ions.

Seleção de extratores químicos para avaliação da disponibilidade de zinco em solos do estado de São Paulo

The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods for predicting availability of Zn in soils. Surface soil samples representing Podzolized soils from Lins and Marilia var. Marilia and var. Lins, medium texture Dark-Red Latosol, Dusky-Red Latosol and Terra Roxa Estruturada, were gathered from fields in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Com was used as indicator plant in a greenhouse experiment. Availability of Zn was determined with: 0.5 M CaCl2, 2.0 N MgCl2, N CH3COONH4 (pH 6.0 and 4.8), 0.05 and 0.1 N HCl, 0.05 N H2SO4, 0.005 M DTPA (pH 7.3 and 6.0), 1.0% Na2-EDTA, 0.01 M EDTA + 1.0 M (NH4)2CO3 (pH 8.6) and 0.02 M EDTA + 0.5 M CH3COOH + 0.5 M CH3COONH4. By using the simple correlation coefficients (Zn extracted from soils x absorbed by plants it can be concluded that the complexant agents and acid solutions showed to be efficient. The salt solutions showed low extraction capacity, low correlation coefficients and less accuracy. By considering aspects as accuracy and easy management DTPA pH 7,3 and Na2-EDTA can be indicated as the most apropriates (r values, respectively, 0.873** and 0.868** and V.C. 7.52% and 7.98%).

Potassium intake during cell dehydration

Isotonic NaCl is ingested in addition to water by cell-dehydrated rats in two-bottle tests. The objective of the present work was to find out whether mineral intake in the cell-dehydrated rat is specific to NaCl in a five-bottle test. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats had distilled water and four mineral solutions at palatable concentrations (0.01 M KCl, 0.05 mM CaCl2, 0.15 M NaHCO3, 0.15 M NaCl) simultaneously available for consumption. Cell-debydration was produced infusing 1.5 ml of NaCl solution (0.15, 0.25, 0.5, 1.01, 2.0, 4.0 M) intravenously for 10 min and intakes were recorded for the next hour. It was observed a NaCl concentration-dependent increase in 0.01 M KCl intake. The ingestion of the other mineral solutions was not significantly altered compared to infusion of 0.15 M NaCl. The ingestion of KCl was not related to changes in serum potassium concentration. The ingestion of KCl was reduced in half and water was the preferred fluid when the five-bottle test was performed with mineral solutions at isomolar (0.15 M) concentrations. There was no increase in intake of other mineral solution in the isomolar test. No preference was observed for palatable or isomolar solutions during early extracellular dehydration until 4 h after subcutaneous injection of furosemide, in spite of the increase in total volume intake. Therefore, mineral intake induced by cell dehydration is not specific for NaCl solution. The type of mineral solution available influences the choice and KCl. is the preferred solution of the cell-dehydrated rat in the conditions of the present study. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Purification and characterization of a cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase from Paenibacillus campinasensis strain H69-3

A cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (E.C. 2.4.1.19) from a newly isolated alkalophilic and moderately thermophilic Paenibacillus campinasensis strain H69-3 was purified as a homogeneous protein from culture supernatant. Cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase was produced during submerged fermentation at 45 degrees C and purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G50 ion exchange using a Q-Sepharose column and ion exchange using a Mono-Q column. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 70 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the pI was 5.3. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was 6.5, and it was stable in the pH range 6.0-11.5. The optimum temperature was 65 degrees C at pH 6.5, and it was thermally stable up to 60 degrees C without substrate during 1 h in the presence of 10 mm CaCl2. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of Co2+, Ba2+, and Mn2+. Using maltodextrin as substrate, the K-m and K-cat were 1.65 mg/mL and 347.9 mu mol/mg.min, respectively.

Viscoelasticity of frozen/thawed egg yolk as affected by salts, sucrose and glycerol

Based on dynamic rheological measurements, sucrose, glycerol and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) prevented egg yolk gelation at concentrations of 2% and higher, These additives showed improved cryoprotectant effects as their concentrations were increased, Sodium chloride (NaCl) at higher than 2% also prevented gelation but at 10%, it caused a considerable increase in viscosity of unfrozen yolk, Calcium chloride (CaCl2) showed an opposite effect, promoting protein coagulation before freezing, Samples with 2% CaCl2 gelled completely after 36h at -24 degrees C, Before freezing, potassium chloride (KCl) in the range 2-10% had an effect similar to that of NaCl, However, after freezing its effect changed, Yolk with 2% KCl, frozen 36h at -24 degrees C, showed very elastic behavior.