Estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para características de crescimento e produtividade em vacas da raça Canchim, utilizando-se inferência bayesiana

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for body weights at weaning (PD), 12 months old (P12) and adult age (PAD), culling age (TPR, days in herd), number (ND10) and kilograms (QD10) of calves weaned up to ten years of age, total number (NDT) and total kilograms (QDT) of calves weaned during herd life, and kilograms of calves weaned per year in herd (QTPR) of Canchim (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu) females from one herd. Data consisted of 3,249, 3.111, 1,138, 1,340, 1,362, 1,362, 1,340, 1,340 and 1,340 records of PD, P12, PAD, TPR, ND10, QD10, NDT, QDT and QTPR. respectively. Variance and covariance components were estimated by bivariate analyses between PD, P12 and PAD and other production traits using Bayesian inference. The models included the additive direct, permanent environmental and residual random effects and the fixed effects year and month of birth or calving, calving age and age of the animal, depending on the trait. QD10, QDT and QTPR of each female were obtained by adjusting the weaning weights of calves for year and month of birth, sex and age of cow. Average of heritability estimates were 0.38 (PD), 0.40 (P12), 0.54 (PAD), 0.22 (TPR), 0.22 (ND10), 0.24 (QD10), 0.23 (NDT), 0.23 (QDT) and 0.32 (QTPR), indicating genetic variability to obtain response by selection. Genetic correlations between TPR (-0.02, 0.26 and -0.12), ND10 (0.04, 0.10 and -0.29), QD10 (0.37, 0.39 and -0.13), NDT (-0.03, 0.14 and -0.25), QDT (0.20, 0.33 and -0.16), QTPR (0.21, 0.28 and -0.19) and body weights (PD, P12 and PAD) suggest that selection of females based on weaning and 12-month body weights will not affect productivity. However, it may be decreased by increasing female adult body weight.

NMR study of ion-conducting organic-inorganic nanocomposites poly(ethylene glycol) - Silica - LiClO4

Hybrid organic-inorganic ionic conductors, also called ormolytes, were obtained by dissolution of LiClO4 into silica/poly(ethylene glycol) matrices. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to probe the inorganic phase structure (Si-29) and the effects of the temperature and composition on the dynamic behavior of the ionic species (Li-7) and the polymer chains (H-1 and C-13). The NMR results between -100 and +90 degrees C show a strong correlation with ionic conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry experiments. The results also demonstrate that the cation mobility is assisted by segmental motion of the polymer, which is in agreement with the results previously reported for pure poly(ethylene oxide), PEG, electrolytes.

Helium ion irradiation of polymer films deposited from TMS-Ar plasmas

Polymer films synthesized from plasmas of a tetramethylsilane - Ar mixture were modified by irradiation with 170 keV He ions at fluences ranging from 1 x 10(14) to 1 x 10(16) cm(-2). As revealed by infrared spectroscopy, the ion beam produced intense bond rearrangements, such as the depletion of bonding groups (C-H and Si-H), and induced the formation of new ones, such as O-H and Si-O. From the nanoindentation measurements, a remarkable increase in the surface hardness of the films was observed as the ion fluence was increased. The increases in hardness were accompanied by an increase in the film compaction as shown by using a combination of RBS and film thickness measurements. From both hardness and infrared measurements A was concluded that, under the He ion bombardment, the polymer structure is transformed into a silicon oxycarbide network.

Multi-scale structural description of siloxane-PPO hybrid ionic conductors doped by sodium salts

Alkaline metal doped organic - inorganic hybrids have potential applications in the field of portable energy sources. Attractive sol - gel derived urea cross-linked polyether, siloxane - PPO ( poly( propylene oxide)) hybrids doped with sodium salts ( NaClO4 and NaBF4) were examined by multi-spectroscopic approach that includes complex impedance, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Si-29 and Na-23 magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR/MAS), Na K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and Raman spectroscopies. The goals of this work were to determine which cation coordinating site of the host matrix ( ether oxygen atoms or carbonyl oxygen atoms) is active in each of the materials analyzed, its influence on the nanostructure of the samples and its relation with the thermal and electrical properties. The main conclusion derived from this study is that the NaBF4 salt has a much lower solubility in the hybrid matrix than the NaClO4 salt. Furthermore, the addition of a large amount of salt plays a major role in the hybrid nanostructure and electrical properties, modifying the PPO chain conformation, weakening or breaking the hydrogen bond of the polyether - urea associations and changing the polycondensation and aggregation processes involving the siloxane species.

Eu3+ doped polyphosphate-aminosilane organic-inorganic hybrids

The preparation and characterization of new Eu3+ doped polyphosphate-aminosilane hybrids xerogels is reported. Eu3+ D-5(0) emission quantum efficiency ranges from 0.41 to 0.54 depending on the SUP ratio. These rather high values are due to the substitution of phosphate and amino groups for water in the Eu3+ coordination shell. Raman and Si-29 and C-13 CP-MAS NMR results suggest that no strong interaction exists between the polyphosphate and the siloxane parts. Not fully condensed siloxane colloidal domains seem to be homogeneously distributed in the polyphosphate network. Good optical quality and favorable Eu3+ spectroscopic characteristics suggest these new hybrids as good hosts for lanthanide ions in optical devices. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Analysis of cement slurries by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry with axial viewing

The feasibility of Portland cement analysis by introduction of slurries in an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) with axial viewing has been evaluated. After a fast manual grinding of the cement samples, owing to the pulverized state of this material, 0.1% m/v slurries were prepared in 1% v/v HCl. The calibration was performed adopting two strategies: one based on slurries prepared from different masses (50, 75, 100 and 125 mg) of a Portland cement standard reference material (NIST SRM 1881), and the other one based on aqueous reference solutions. A complete analysis of cement for major (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg and Si), minor and trace elements (Mn, P, S, Sr and Ti) was accomplished. Both strategies led to accurate results for commercial Portland cement samples, except for Si and Ti. for which the calibration with aqueous reference solutions resulted in low values. Applying a paired t-test it was shown that most results were in agreement at a 95% confidence level with a conventional fusion decomposition procedure. The ICP-OES with axial viewing and end-on gas configuration for removal of the recombination plasma zone was effective for cement slurry analysis without any undesirable particle deposition in the pre-optics interface and without severe spectral interferences. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

ASSESSMENT of POLYATOMIC INTERFERENCES ELIMINATION USING A COLLISION REACTION INTERFACE (CRI) FOR INORGANIC ANALYSIS of FUEL ETHANOL BY ICP-QMS

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

Gold-bearing iron duricrust in Central Brazil

In the Cuiabá region-State of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil-primary gold mineralization is hosted by two generations of quartz veins in Precambrian metamorphic terrains of the Cuiabá Group. Gold is mined from the veins and mainly from the eluvial horizons that cover the deeply altered basement. In the lodes gold occurs as small particles (less than 1 mm) associated with pyrite and contains up to 5% Ag. Larger particles and nuggets of almost pure gold are found in the iron duricrust which caps the upper levels of the weathering profile. It is difficult to determine the average grade of this kind of deposit but some prospects in the Cuiabá region produce up to 2 g gold per ton of ore. Lateritization is responsible for both the formation of the iron crust and the concentration of gold within the regolith. Under a tropical climate, the supergene alteration of phyllites of the Cuiabá Group has led to the formation of a weathering profile consisting typically of saprolite, mottled clay zone and duricrust, from bottom to top. The duricrust is directly derived form the in situ weathering of phyllites. Geochemical balance calculations indicate that in the transition from the saprolite to the duricrust lateritization has promoted a progressive loss of Si, Al and K, and more than 500% of absolute Fe enrichment. Gold underwent a supergene evolution related to the development of the weathering profile. In the saprolite and mottled clay zone, associated with quartz and oxidized sulfides, gold dissolves as demonstrated by corrosion features at the surface of the particles. The formation of secondary gold in the duricrust is indicated by the larger size of the nuggets, their higher fineness and the close relationship between gold and the neoformed iron oxy-hydroxides. © 1991.

Photoluminescence in amorphous (PbLa)TiO3 thin films deposited on different substrates

Pb1-xLaxTiO3 thin films, (X=0.0; 13 and 0.27mol%) were prepared by the polymeric precursor method. Thin films were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(111), Si(100) and glass substrates by spin coating, and annealed in the 200-300°C range in an O2 atmosphere. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used for the microstructural characterization of the thin films. Photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature has been observed in thin films of (PbLa)TiO3. The films deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates present PL intensity greater than those deposited on glass and silicon substrates. The intensity of PL in these thin films was found to be dependent on the thermal treatment and lanthanum molar concentration. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Recent applications of analytical techniques for quantitative pharmaceutical analysis: A review

The intension of this paper was to review and discuss some of the current quantitative analytical procedures which are used for quality control of pharmaceutical products. The selected papers were organized according to the analytical technique employed. Several techniques like ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, titrimetry, electroanalytical techniques, chromatographic methods (thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography), capillary electrophoresis and vibrational spectroscopies are the main techniques that have been used for the quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical compounds. In conclusion, although simple techniques such as UV/VIS spectrophotometry and TLC are still extensively employed, HPLC is the most popular instrumental technique used for the analysis of pharmaceuticals. Besides, a review of recent works in the area of pharmaceutical analysis showed a trend in the application of techniques increasingly rapid such as ultra performance liquid chromatography and the use of sensitive and specific detectors as mass spectrometers.

Differentially transcribed genes in skeletal muscle of lambs

The objective of this study was to compare gene transcription profiles in Longissimus dorsi muscle of the following four hair sheep genetic groups, Morada Nova (MO), Brazilian Somali (SO), Santa Inĉs (SI) and 1/2 Dorper×1/2 Morada Nova (F1). These groups all display different postnatal muscle growth. The transcriptomes of the skeletal muscle of the lambs (at 200 days of age) were profiled by using oligonucleotide microarrays and reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The microarray experiment identified 262 transcripts that were differentially expressed when transcription levels were compared between the different breeds. A total of 23 transcripts among which those involved in skeletal muscle development (MyoD1 and IGFBP4), lipogenesis and adipogenesis (C/EBPδ, PPARγ and PGDS) were differentially expressed in at least in one comparison. Clustering analysis showed that there is greater similarity in gene expression between the MO and SI breeds and between F1 and SO genetic groups. The SO breed has the most distinct expression pattern. The RT-qPCR results confirmed the findings from the microarray study. A positive correlation was observed between the expression of MyoD1 and the cold carcass yield. The negative correlations between the weight and yield of cold carcass with the expression of C/EBPδ mean that the selection for adipogenesis could lead to a lower carcass weight. The GLUT3 and PYGL gene transcripts were negatively correlated with fat thickness, but ATP5G1 was positively correlated with this trait. Interestingly, many genes negatively correlated with PUFA were positively correlated with cold carcass yield. In conclusion, the present work demonstrated that there are breed-specific expression patterns in Brazilian hair sheep genetic groups. The differences in gene expression among genetic groups were consistent with their phenotypic differences. The positive correlation of the MyoD1 expression with the cold carcass yield suggests that this gene is important for tissue growth in sheep. The positive correlation of the C/EBPδ expression with PUFA provides an opportunity to select for lipid deposition in meat animals. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Cinética de absorção de silício por cultivares de cana-de-açúcar e de arroz

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

Análise de distúrbios de tensão em sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica baseada em sistemas imunológicos artificiais

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Caracterização molecular do arco da alça V3 da gp 120 do HIV-1

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

A escória de siderurgia como material corretivo e a interação com a adubação nitrogenada em cana-de-açúcar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)