Effects of different soil tillage systems and coverages on soybean crop in the Botucatu Region in Brazil

Nowadays, agricultural practices should combine high yields with a sustainable use of resources. Different tillage practices and crop covers, if combined, may help to achieve both objectives. In this work, several traits of a soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) cultivar were studied under different conditions of tillage and previous soil coverages. The experiment was installed at Lageado Research Station, Botucatu county, SP, Brazil, on a Paleudult. It consisted of nine treatments (combining three systems of soil tillage and three cover crops) and 4 replicates, yielding 36 plots of a randomized block experimental design. The soil tillage systems considered were: (i) conventional tillage with two heavy harrowing and a levelling harrowing; (ii) chiseling, and (iii) no-tillage with chemical drying of vegetation. The three cover crops used were: black oat, sorghum and spontaneous vegetation. Analyzed variables were: plant height, initial and final plant densities, height of first pod insertion, weight of a thousand grains, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, and crop yield. No significant differences were observed for most of the analyzed variables; however, conventional tillage produced significantly heavier grains and a higher number of pods per plant. The selected covers were considered an excellent coverage prior to planting soybean in a crop rotation. The three tillage systems can be used for deployment of culture without compromising the development of soybean.

Physical and chemical changes in juvenile and mature woods of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii by thermal modification

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

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.

Europium luminescent polymeric microspheres fabricated by spray drying process

The spray drying method was used to prepare luminescent microspheres. These microspheres were prepared by spraying an aqueous solution of dextrin and an europium(III) complex with subsequent drying in a hot medium. The spray dried powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Particle size distribution was estimated from SEM images. The ultrasonic spray drying technique was successfully applied to yield a microparticulated and red luminescent powder composed by the [Eu(dpa)(3)](3-) stop (dpa = dipicolinic acid) complex incorporated in dextrin microspheres.

Evaluation of the spouted bed dried leaf extract of Bauhinia forficata for the treatment of experimental diabetes in rats

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

Thermal analysis of biodegradable microparticles containing ciprofloxacin hydrochloride obtained by spray drying technique

Thermal analysis has been extensively used to obtain information about drug-polymer interactions and to perform pre-formulation studies of pharmaceutical dosage forms. In this work, biodegradable microparticles of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) containing ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CP) in various drug:polymer ratios were obtained by spray drying. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the spray drying process on the drug-polymer interactions and on the stability of microparticles using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The results showed that the high levels of encapsulation efficiency were dependant on drug:polymer ratio. DSC and TG/DTG analyses showed that for physical mixtures of the microparticles components the thermal profiles were different from those signals obtained with the pure substances. Thermal analysis data disclosed that physical interaction between CP and PLGA in high temperatures had occurred. The DSC and TG profiles for drug-loaded microparticles were very similar to the physical mixtures of components and it was possible to characterize the thermal properties of microparticles according to drug content. These data indicated that the spray dryer technique does not affect the physicochemical properties of the microparticles. In addition, the results are in agreement with IR data analysis demonstrating that no significant chemical interaction occurs between CP and PLGA in both physical mixtures and microparticles. In conclusion, we have found that the spray drying procedure used in this work can be a secure methodology to produce CP-loaded microparticles. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changing inter-molecular spin-orbital coupling for generating magnetic field effects in phosphorescent organic semiconductors

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

On the dynamic behaviour of the "click" mechanism in dipteran flight

In this paper, the dynamic behaviour of the "click" mechanism is analysed. A more accurate model is used than in the past, in which the limits of movement due to the geometry of the flight mechanism are imposed. Moreover, the effects of different damping models are investigated. In previous work, the damping model was assumed to be of the linear viscous type for simplicity, but it is likely that the damping due to drag forces is nonlinear. Accordingly, a model of damping in which the damping force is proportional to the square of the velocity is used, and the results are compared with the simpler model of linear viscous damping. Because of the complexity of the model an analytical approach is not possible so the problem has been cast in terms of non-dimensional variables and solved numerically. The peak kinetic energy of the wing root per energy input in one cycle is chosen to study the effectiveness of the "click" mechanism compared with a linear resonant mechanism. It is shown that, the "click" mechanism has distinct advantages when it is driven below its resonant frequency. When the damping is quadratic, there are some further advantages compared to when the damping is linear and viscous, provided that the amplitude of the excitation force is large enough to avoid the erratic behaviour of the mechanism that occurs for small forces. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Selenium determination in tissue samples of Nile tilapia using ultrasound-assisted extraction

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

Tooth replantation after use of euro-coffins solution or bovine milk as storage medium: a histomorphometric analysis in dogs

Purpose: Euro-Collins solution was developed for the preservation of organs for transplantation, whose characteristics have raised interest for its use as a storage medium for avulsed teeth before replantation. This study evaluated histologically and morphometrically the healing process of dog teeth replanted after storage in Euro-Collins solution or bovine milk.Materials and Methods: Eighty roots of 4 young adult mongrel clogs were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 20) and the root canals were instrumented and obturated with gutta-percha and a calcium hydroxide-based sealer. After 2 weeks, the teeth were extracted and subjected to the following protocols: GI (negative control), replantation immediately after extraction; GII (positive control), bench-drying for 2 hours before replantation; GIII and GIV, immersion in 10 mL of whole bovine milk and Euro-Collins solution at 4 C, respectively, for 8 hours before replantation. The animals were sacrificed 90 days postoperatively. The pieces containing the replanted teeth were subjected to routine processing for histologic and histometric analyses under light microscopy and polarized light microscopy.Results: Root resorption was observed in all groups. GII exhibited the greatest loss of dental structure (P < .01), and inflammatory resorption was predominant in this group. Storage in milk showed poorer results than immediate replantation and storage in Euro-Collins solution (P < .01). The teeth stored in Euro-Collins solution presented similar extension of root resorption and periodontal ligament reorganization to those of immediately replanted teeth.Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the Euro-Collins solution is an adequate storage medium for keeping avulsed teeth for up to 8 hours before replantation.

Occlusal caries prevention in high and low risk schoolchildren. A clinical trial

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

Evaluation of Cu, Mn, and Se in Vegetables Using Ultrasonic Extraction and GFAAS Quantification

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

Levels of copper in Nile tilapia from Brazil

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

Effect of grape pre-drying and static pomace contact on physicochemical properties and sensory acceptance of Brazilian (Bordo and Isabel) red wines

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Kinetics of osmotic dehydration and air-drying of pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata)

Kinetics of osmotic dehydration (OD) and effects of sucrose impregnation on thermal air-drying of pumpkin slices were investigated. A simplified model based on the solution of Fick's Law was used to estimate effective diffusion coefficients during OD and air-drying. In order to take into account shrinkage, average and variable thicknesses were considered. Pumpkin slices were dehydrated in sucrose solutions (40%, 50% and 60%, w/w, 27 degrees C. The effective water diffusion coefficients were higher than the sucrose, and low diffusivity dependence with solution concentration was observed. Samples non-treated and pre-treated in 60% osmotic solutions during one hour were dried in a hot-air-dryer at 50 and 70 degrees C (2 m/s) until equilibrium was achieved. Pre-treatment enhanced mass transfer during air-drying. Great volume reduction was observed in pre and non-treated dried samples. Using variable thickness in the model diminished the relative deviations between predicted and experimental OD and drying data. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.