Produção de bioetanol a partir de pedúnculo de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) por fermentação submersa

Recently, global demand for ethanol fuel has expanded very rapidly, and this should further increase in the near future, almost all ethanol fuel is produced by fermentation of sucrose or glucose in Brazil and produced by corn in the USA, but these raw materials will not be enough to satisfy international demand. The aim of this work was studied the ethanol production from cashew apple juice. A commercial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for the production of ethanol by fermentation of cashew apple juice. Growth kinetics and ethanol productivity were calculated for batch fermentation with different initial sugar (glucose + fructose) concentration (from 24.4 to 103.1 g.L-1). Maximal ethanol, cell and glycerol concentrations (44.4 g.L-1, 17.17 g.L-1, 6.4 g.L-1, respectively) were obtained when 103.1 g.L-1 of initial sugar concentration were used, respectively. Ethanol yield (YP/S) was calculated as 0.49 g (g glucose + fructose)-1. Pretreatment of cashew apple bagasse (CAB) with dilute sulfuric acid was investigated and evaluated some factors such as sulfuric acid concentration, solid concentration and time of pretreatment at 121°C. The maximum glucose yield (162.9 mg/gCAB) was obtained by the hydrolysis with H2SO4 0.6 mol.L-1 at 121°C for 15 min. Hydrolysate, containing 16 ± 2.0 g.L-1 of glucose, was used as fermentation medium for ethanol production by S. cerevisiae and obtained a ethanol concentration of 10.0 g.L-1 after 4 with a yield and productivity of 0.48 g (g glucose)-1 and 1.43 g.L-1.h-1, respectively. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cashew apple bagasse treated with diluted acid (CAB-H) and alkali (CAB-OH) was studied and to evaluate its fermentation to ethanol using S. cerevisiae. Glucose conversion of 82 ± 2 mg per g CAB-H and 730 ± 20 mg per g CAB-OH was obtained when was used 2% (w/v) of solid and loading enzymatic of 30 FPU/g bagasse at 45 °C. Ethanol concentration and productivity was achieved of 20.0 ± 0.2 g.L-1 and 3.33 g.L-1.h-1, respectively when using CAB-OH hydrolyzate (initial glucose concentration of 52.4 g.L-1). For CAB-H hydrolyzate (initial glucose concentration of 17.4 g.L-1), ethanol concentration and productivity was 8.2 ± 0.1 g.L-1 and 2.7 g.L-1.h-1, respectively. Hydrolyzates fermentation resulted in an ethanol yield of 0.38 g/g glucose and 0.47 g/g glucose, with pretreated CABOH and CAB-H, respectively. The potential of cashew apple bagasse as a source of sugars for ethanol production by Kluyveromyces marxianus CE025 was evaluated too in this work. First, the yeast CE025 was preliminary cultivated in a synthetic medium containing glucose and xylose. Results showed that it was able to produce ethanol and xylitol at pH 4.5. Next, cashew apple bagasse hydrolysate (CABH) was prepared by a diluted sulfuric acid pre-treatment. The fermentation of CABH was conducted at pH 4.5 in a batch-reactor, and only ethanol was produced by K. marxianus CE025. The influence of the temperature in the kinetic parameters was evaluated and best results of ethanol production (12.36 ± 0.06 g.L-1) was achieved at 30 ºC, which is also the optimum temperature for the formation of biomass and the ethanol with a volumetric production rate of 0.25 ± 0.01 g.L-1.h-1 and an ethanol yield of 0.42 ± 0.01 g/g glucose. The results of this study point out the potential of the cashew apple bagasse hydrolysate as a new source of sugars to produce ethanol by S. cerevisiae and K. marxianus CE025. With these results, conclude that the use of cashew apple juice and cashew apple bagasse as substrate for ethanol production will bring economic benefits to the process, because it is a low cost substrate and also solve a disposal problem, adding value to the chain and cashew nut production

Influence of osmotic dehydration on ascorbic acid loss in pickled dry peppers (Capsicum chinense)

The objective of this work was (1) to develop a dehydrated pepper with 45% humidity, determining the drying curves for pepper, with and without osmotic pre-treatment and (2) to evaluate the influence of both drying and osmotic treatment on the content ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in fresh pepper and pepper with 45% humidity. The experiments were carried out using the peppers cut in half, with and without osmotic pre-treatment, followed by drying in an oven at 70 ºC. The results showed that the osmotic pretreatment did not influence the retention of ascorbic acid during the drying of pepper. The sensory analysis regarding the color, flavor, and texture attributes revealed that there was no difference in the acceptability.

Involvement of median raphe nucleus 5-HT1A receptors in the regulation of generalized anxiety-related defensive behaviours in rats

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

Isolation and partial characterization of a 30 kDa adhesin from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

The virulence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis can be attenuated or lost after long periods of repeated subculturing and reestablished after animal inoculation. Only one adhesin (gp43) has been described until now, among the various identified components of P. brasiliensis, and gp43 shows adhesion to laminin. Thus, the present study was designed to isolate and characterize factors putatively related to the capacity of this fungus to adhere to the host by comparing P brasiliensis samples, taken before and after animal inoculation. The two samples differed in their pattern of adhesion and invasion. The sample recently isolated from animals (Pb18b) demonstrated a greater capacity to adhere and to invade the Vero cells than the one subcultured in vitro (Pb18a). Extract from Ph18b also showed higher levels of protein expression than that from Pb18a, when two-dimensional electrophoresis gels were compared. A protein species of 30 kDa, pI 4.9, was more evident in the Pb18b extract and had properties of adhesin. Laminin, but none of the other extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as fibronectin, collagen I and IV, bound specifically to the P. brasiliensis 30 kDa protein. The roles of 30 kDa and gp43 in cellular interactions were investigated and the adhesion of P. brasiliensis yeast cells was intensively inhibited by pre-treatment of epithelial cells with 30 kDa protein and gp43. Thus, this study presents evidence that adhesion capacity could be related to virulence, and that a 30 kDa adhesin accumulated differentially in samples with different levels of pathogenicity. This protein and its adhesion characteristics are being published for the first time and may be related to the virulence of P brasiliensis. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Epithelial cells treated with genistein inhibit adhesion and endocytosis of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Paracoccidioidomycosis is caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, which although not formally considered an intracellular pathogen, can be internalized by epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms used by P. brasiliensis to adhere to and invade non-professional phagocytes have not been identified. The signal-transduction networks, involving protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and protein phosphatase activities, can modulate crucial events during fungal infections. In this study, the involvement of PTK has been investigated in P. brasiliensis adherence and invasion in mammalian epithelial cells. A significant inhibition of the fungal invasion occurred after the pre-treatment of the epithelial cells with genistein, a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, indicating that the tyrosine kinase pathway is involved in P. brasiliensis internalization. In contrast, when the fungus was treated, a slight (not significant) inhibition of PTK was observed, suggesting that PTK might not be the fungus' transduction signal pathway during the invasion process of epithelial cells. An intense PTK immunofluorescence labeling was observed in the periphery of the P. brasiliensis infected cells, little PTK labeling was found in both uninfected cells and yeast cells, at later infection times (8 and 24 h). Moreover, when the epithelial cells were treated with genistein and infected with P. brasiliensis, no labeling was observed, suggesting the importance of the PTK in the infectious process. These results suggest that PTK pathway participates in the transduction signal during the initial events of the adhesion and invasion processes of P. brasiliensis to mammalian epithelial cells.

Morphological and physiological alterations induced by lactofen in soybean leaves are reduced with nitric oxide

O lactofen é um herbicida difeniléter recomendado para controlar plantas daninhas de folhas largas em campos de soja (Glycine max) e seu mecanismo de ação é a inibição da protoporfirinogênio-IX oxidase (Protox), que atua na biossíntese de clorofilas. Essa inibição resulta em um acúmulo de protoporfirina-IX, o que leva à produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS), causando estresse oxidativo. Conseqüentemente, podem ocorrer manchas, enrugamento e queima das folhas, o que leva à paralisação temporária do crescimento da cultura. Porém, o óxido nítrico (NO) atua como um antioxidante na eliminação direta das ROS. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar, por meio de avaliações fitométricas e bioquímicas, o efeito protetor do NO em plantas de soja tratadas com o herbicida lactofen. Plantas de soja foram pré-tratadas com diferentes doses de Nitroprussiato de Sódio (SNP), substância doadora de NO, e então pulverizadas com 168 g a.i. ha-1 lactofen. O pré-tratamento com SNP foi benéfico, pois o NO reduziu os sintomas de injúria causados pelo lactofen nos folíolos jovens e manteve baixos teores de açúcares solúveis. Porém, o NO proporcionou crescimento mais lento das plantas. Desta forma, posteriores estudos são necessários para elucidar os mecanismos de ação do NO na sinalização do estresse promovido pelo lactofen na cultura da soja.

Residual stress influence on fatigue lifetimes of electroplated AISI 4340 high strength steel

Residual stresses play an important role in the fatigue lives of structural engineering components. In the case of near surface tensile residual stresses, the initiation and propagation phases of fatigue process are accelerated; on the other hand, compressive residual stresses close to the surface may increase fatigue life. In both decorative and functional applications, chromium electroplating results in excellent wear and corrosion resistance. However, it is well known that it reduces the fatigue strength of a component. This is due to high tensile internal stresses and microcrack density. Efforts to improve hard chromium properties have increased in recent years. In this study, the effect of a nickel layer sulphamate process, as simple layer and interlayer, on fatigue strength of hard chromium electroplated AISI 4340 steel hardness - HRc 53, was analysed. The analysis was performed by rotating bending fatigue tests on AISI 4340 steel specimens with the following experimental groups: base material, hard chromium electroplated, sulphamate nickel electroplated, sulphamate nickel interlayer on hard chromium electroplated and electroless nickel interlayer on hard chromium electroplated. Results showed a decrease in fatigue strength in coated specimens and that both nickel plating interlayers were responsible for the increase in fatigue life of AISI 4340 chromium electroplated steel. The shot peening pre-treatment was efficient in reducing fatigue loss in the alternatives studied.

SUGARCANE BAGASSE PULPING and BLEACHING: THERMAL and CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION

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

Parâmetros reprodutivo e metabólico de vacas da raça Guzerá suplementadas no pré e pós-parto

Foram utilizadas 30 vacas da raça Guzerá (10 por tratamento), suplementadas no pré-parto (PRE), pós-parto (POS) e sem suplementação (SS) com os objetivos de avaliar no pós-parto as variações do peso corporal (PC), do escore de condição corporal (ECC) (1 = muito magra a 9 = muito gorda) e dos níveis plasmáticos de colesterol total (NPCT), o índice de prenhez (IP) até 112 dias pós-parto e a viabilidade econômica dos tratamentos PRE e POS, que constou de 1 kg/dia/animal de concentrado (16% PB; 3000 kcal ED/kg). O PC e o ECC foram obtidos a cada 28 dias, e colheitas de sangue semanalmente para análise dos NPCT até 112 dias pós-parto. O PC e o ECC tiveram interação dias pós-parto x tratamento. O tratamento PRE aumentou o PC e o ECC das vacas ao parto: 477,80 kg e 6,20 respectivamente, em comparação com os tratamentos POS e SS de 453,37 kg e 5,5; 447,57 kg e 5,28, respectivamente. O PC e o ECC do tratamento PRE foi superior de 28 a 84 dias comparado ao SS, enquanto o tratamento POS foi superior apenas de 84 a 112 dias pós-parto. O tratamento POS não diferiu do PRE no PC de 56 a 112 dias pós-parto e no ECC de 28 a 112 dias pós-parto. O tratamento POS proporcionou aumento do PC e ECC das vacas, já os tratamentos PRE e SS perderam PC e ECC até 112 dias pós-parto. O PC e ECC dos tratamentos PRE, POS e SS aos 112 dias pós-parto foram de 457,79 kg e 5,38; 461,87 kg e 5,66; 436,57 kg e 4,78, respectivamente. Os NPCT tiveram efeito dos dias pós-parto, mas não de tratamento, aumentando com os dias pós-parto. Os IP não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos PRE, POS e SS com 50,00; 62,20 e 57,14%, respectivamente. Economicamente a suplementação não foi viável.

Ferramentas quimiométricas aplicadas a classificação de amostras de leite em pó e quantificação de proteínas

In this work we used chemometric tools to classify and quantify the protein content in samples of milk powder. We applied the NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy combined with multivariate techniques. First, we carried out an exploratory method of samples by principal component analysis (PCA), then the classification of independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA). Thus it became possible to classify the samples that were grouped by similarities in their composition. Finally, the techniques of partial least squares regression (PLS) and principal components regression (PCR) allowed the quantification of protein content in samples of milk powder, compared with the Kjeldahl reference method. A total of 53 samples of milk powder sold in the metropolitan areas of Natal, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro were acquired for analysis, in which after pre-treatment data, there were four models, which were employed for classification and quantification of samples. The methods employed after being assessed and validated showed good performance, good accuracy and reliability of the results, showing that the NIR technique can be a non invasive technique, since it produces no waste and saves time in analyzing the samples

Effect of a nanostructured dendrimer-naloxonazine complex on endogenous opioid peptides mu(1) receptor-mediated post-ictal antinociception

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

Uso do pó da palha de carnaúba em compósitos de quitosana

In this work a biodegradable composite using the carnauba straw s powder as reinforcement on chitosan matrix polymeric were manufactured. Firstly, were carried out the chemistry characterization of the carnauba straw s powder before and after treatments with NaOH and hexane. Goering and Van Soest method (1970), flotation test, moisture absorption, FTIR, TG/DTG, DSC and SEM have also being carried out. Composites were developed with variations in granulometry and in powder concentrations. They were characterized by TG/DTG, SEM and mechanicals properties. The results of chemical composition showed that the carnauba straw s powder is composed of 41% of cellulose; 28,9% of hemicellulose and 14% of lignin.The flotation test have indicated that the chemical treatment with NaOH decreased the powder s hidrophilicity.The thermal analysis showed increased of thermal stability of material after treatments. The results of FTIR and SEM revealed the removal of soluble materials from the powder (hemicelluloses and lignin), the material became rougher and clean. The composites obtained showed that the mechanicals properties of the composites were decreased in respect at chitosan films, and the composites with the powder at 150 Mesh showed less variation in the modulus values. The speed test of 10 mm/min showed the better reproducibility of the results and is in agreement to the standard ASTM D638. The SEM analysis of fracture showed the low adhesion between the fiber/matrix. The increase of volume of powder in the composite caused a decrease in values of stress and strain for the samples with untreated powder and treated with hexane. The composite with 50% of the powder s treated in NaOH didn t have significant variation in the values of stress and strain as compared with the composites with 10% of the powder, showing that the increase in the volume of fiber didn t affect the stress and strain of the composite. Thereby, it is concluded that the manufacture of polymeric composites of chitosan using carnauba straw s powder can be done, without need for pre-treatment of reinforcement, become the couple of carnauba straw s powder-chitosan a good alternative for biodegradable composites

Comparative study between target-controlled-infusion and continuous-infusion anesthesia in dogs treated with methotrimeprazine and treated with propofol and remifentanil

OBJETIVO: Comparar duas técnicas de infusão de propofol em cadelas submetidas à ovariohisterectomia, estudando a eficácia da dose alvo de propofol, avaliando os atributos cardiorrespiratórios, hemogasométricos e escala do índice bispectral, (BIS) bem como as características do período de recuperação. MÉTODOS: Foram anestesiadas 20 cadelas, distribuídos em dois grupos (GI e GII). em GI, os animais foram pré-tratados com levomepromazina e anestesiados com propofol por infusão alvo controlada, através de bomba de infusão Harvard pump, associado com remifentanila, através de bomba de seringa. em GII, os animais receberam o mesmo tratamento de GI, só que ao invés de receberem o propofol por infusão alvo controlada, receberam o propofol em infusão contínua de velocidade fixa. RESULTADOS: Bradicardia e discreta hipotensão, estabilidade hemogasométrica e respiratória, além de um bom miorrelaxamento, mais evidente na infusão contínua e boa hipnose. CONCLUSÕES: As doses de propofol utilizadas em ambas as técnicas, após o pré-tratamento de levomepromazina e associadas ao opióide, foram eficazes para a realização cirúrgica. A técnica de anestesia alvo controlada obteve um menor consumo de anestésico (propofol) com períodos mais rápidos de recuperação.

Evaluation of the adverse effects of subcutaneous carprofen over six days in healthy cats

This study evaluated the adverse effects of carprofen in seven healthy cats. Values for CBC, biochemical profiles and platelet aggregation were measured before and at seven days after SID treatment with subcutaneous carprofen: 4 mg/kg (day 1), 2 mg/kg (day 2 and 3) and 1 mg/kg (day 4 and 6) (CG) or 0.35 ml of saline (SG) for six days in a randomized, blinded, cross-over study with a four-week washout period. No treatment was given on day 5. Endoscopy of the GI tract was performed pre-treatment and on day 7 post-treatment. There were no significant changes in hematological profiles, biochemical profiles and endoscopy grading scores within nor between groups, except for lower albumin values at baseline than on day 7 (CG), and globulin and ALP values were higher at baseline than on day 7 in CG and SG. SC administration of carprofen over six days did not cause any adverse effects on gastrointestinal, hematological, or serum biochemical variables. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DNA damage and aberrant crypt foci as putative biomarkers to evaluate the chemopreventive effect of annatto (Bixa orellana L.) in rat colon carcinogenesis

Chemoprevention opens new perspectives in the prevention of cancer and other degenerative diseases. Use of target-organ biological models at the histological and genetic levels can markedly facilitate the identification of such potential chemopreventive agents. Colon cancer is one of the highest incidence rates throughout the world and some evidences have indicated carotenoids as possible agents that decrease the risk of colorectal cancer. In the present study, we evaluate the activity of annatto (Bixa orellaria L.), a natural food colorant rich in carotenoid, on the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by dimethy1hydrazine (DMH) in rat colon. Further, we investigate, the effect of annatto on DMH-induced DNA damage, by the comet assay. Male Wistar rats were given s.c. injections of DMH (40 mg/kg body wt.) twice a week for 2 weeks to induce ACE They also received experimental diets containing annatto at 20, 200 or 1000 ppm for five 5 weeks before (pre-treatment), or 10 weeks after (post-treatment) DMH treatment. In both protocols the rats were sacrificed on week 15th. For the comet assay, the animals were fed with the same experimental diets for 2 weeks. Four hours before the sacrifice, the animals received an s.c. injection of DMH (40 mg/kg body wt.). Under such conditions, dietary administration of 1000 ppm annatto neither induce DNA damage in blood and colon cells nor aberrant crypt foci in rat distal colon. Conversely, annatto was successful in inhibiting the number of crypts/colon (animal), but not in the incidence of DMH-induced ACF, mainly when administered after DMH. However, no antigenotoxic effect was observed in colon cells. These findings suggest possible chemopreventive effects of annatto through their modulation of the cryptal cell proliferation but not at the initiation stage of colon carcinogenesis. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.