Production of polysaccharidases in different carbon sources by Leucoagaricus gongylophorus Moller (Singer), the symbiotic fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens linnaeus

Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the fungus cultured by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens, produces polysaccharidases that degrade leaf components by generating nutrients believed to be essential for ant nutrition. We evaluated pectinase, amylase, xylanase, and cellulase production by L. gongylophorus in laboratory cultures and found that polysaccharidases are produced during fungal growth on pectin, starch, cellulose, xylan, or glucose but not cellulase, whose production is inhibited during fungal growth on xylan. Pectin was the carbon source that best stimulated the production of enzymes, which showed that pectinase had the highest production activity of all of the carbon sources tested, indicating that the presence of pectin and the production of pectinase are key features for symbiotic nutrition on plant material. During growth on starch and cellulose, polysaccharidase production level was intermediate, although during growth on xylan and glucose, enzyme production was very low. We propose a possible profile of polysaccharide degradation inside the nest, where the fungus is cultured on the foliar substrate.

Análise estatística das emissões de CO e HC produzidas por gases da exaustão veicular oriundos de gasolina, GNV e mistura álcool/gasolina

The vehicles are the main mobile sources of carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC) released into the atmosphere. In the last years the increment of the fleet of vehicles in the municipal district of Natal-RN it is contributing to the increase of the emissions of those pollutants. The study consisted of a statistical analysis of the emissions of CO and HC of a composed sample for 384 vehicles with mechanization Gasoline/CNG or Alcohol/Gasoline/CNG of the municipal district of Natal-RN. The tests were accomplished in vehicles submitted to Vehicular Safety's Inspection, in the facilities of INSPETRANS, Organism of Vehicular Inspection. An partial gases analyzer allowed to measure, for each vehicle, the levels of CO and HC in two conditions of rotation of the motor (900 and 2500 rpm). The statistical analysis accomplished through the STATISTICA software revealed a sensitive reduction in the efficiency of the converters catalytic after 6 years of use with emission average it is of 0,78% of CO and 156 (ppm) of HC, Which represents approximately 4 (four) times the amount of CO and the double of HC in comparison with the newest vehicles. The result of a Student s t-test, suggests strongly that the average of the emissions of HC (152 ppm), at 900 rpm, is 40% larger than at 2500 rpm, for the motor without load. This result reveals that the efficiency of the catalytic conversion is limited kinetically in low engine speeds. The Study also ends that when comparing the emissions of CO and HC considering the influence of the fuels, it was verified that although the emissions of CO starting from CNG are 62% smaller than arising from the gasoline, there are not significant differences among the emissions of HC originating from of CNG and of the gasoline. In synthesis, the results place the current criteria of vehicular inspection, for exhaust gases, in doubt, leading the creation of emission limits of pollutant more rigorous, because the efficiency of the converters catalytic is sensibly reduced starting from 6 years of use. It is also raised the possibility of modifications in the test conditions adopted by the current norms, specifically in the speed engine, have seen that in the condition without load the largest emission indexes were registered in slow march. That fact that allows to suggest the dismissal of the tests in high speed engine, reducing the time of inspection in half and generating economy of fuel

Electrically, Chemically, and Photonically Powered Torsional and Tensile Actuation of Hybrid Carbon Nanotube Yarn Muscles

Artificial muscles are of practical interest, but few types have been commercially exploited. Typical problems include slow response, low strain and force generation, short cycle life, use of electrolytes, and low energy efficiency. We have designed guest-filled, twist-spun carbon nanotube yarns as electrolyte-free muscles that provide fast, high-force, large-stroke torsional and tensile actuation. More than a million torsional and tensile actuation cycles are demonstrated, wherein a muscle spins a rotor at an average 11,500 revolutions/minute or delivers 3% tensile contraction at 1200 cycles/minute. Electrical, chemical, or photonic excitation of hybrid yarns changes guest dimensions and generates torsional rotation and contraction of the yarn host. Demonstrations include torsional motors, contractile muscles, and sensors that capture the energy of the sensing process to mechanically actuate.

Adsorption and detection of DNA dendrimers at carbon electrodes

Dendritic nucleic acids are highly branched and ordered molecular structures, possessing numerous single-stranded oligonucleotide arms, which hold great promise for enhancing the sensitivity of DNA biosensors. This article evaluates the interfacial behavior and redox activity of nucleic acid dendrimers at carbon paste electrodes, in comparison to DNA. Factors influencing the adsorption behavior, including the adsorption potential and time, solution conditions, or dendrimer concentration, are explored. The strong adsorption at the anodically pretreated carbon surface is exploited for an effective preconcentration step prior to the chronopotentiometric measurement of the surface species. Coupled with the numerous guanine oxidation sites, such stripping protocol offers remarkably low detection limits (e.g., 3 pM or 2.4 femtomole of the I-layer dendrimer following a 15 min accumulation). The new observations bear important implications upon future biosensing applications of nucleic dendrimers.

Development of amorphous carbon protective coatings on poly(vinyl)chloride

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

Treatment of PVC using an alternative low energy ion bombardment procedure

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

3-D reconstruction by extended depth-of-field in failure analysis - Case study II: Fractal analysis of interlaminar fracture in carbon/epoxy composites

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

Evaluation of fatigue behavior on repaired carbon fiber/epoxy composites

The continuous use of structural polymer composites in aeronautical industry has required the development of repairing techniques of damages found in different types of laminates. The most usually adopted procedure to investigate the repair of composite laminates has been by repairing damages simulated in laminated composite specimens. This work shows the influence of structural repair technique on mechanical properties of a typical carbon fiber/epoxy laminate used in aerospace industry. When analyzed by tensile test, the laminates with and without repair present tensile strength values of 670 and 892 MPa, respectively, and tensile modulus of 53.0 and 67.2 GPa, respectively. By this result, it is possible to observe a decrease of the measured mechanical properties of the repaired composites. When submitted to fatigue test, it is observed that in loads higher than 250 MPa, this laminate presents a low life cycle (lower than 400,000 cycles). The fatigue performance of both laminates is comparable, but the non-repaired laminate presented higher tensile and fatigue resistance when compared with the repaired laminate.

Low voltage and variable-pressure scanning electron microscopy of fractured composites

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

Fractography analysis and fatigue strength of carbon fiber/RTM6 laminates

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Carbon fiber non-crimp multi-axial reinforcement and epoxy mono-component system composite: fatigue behavior

Fiber reinforced polymer composites have been widely applied in the aeronautical field. However, composite processing, which uses unlocked molds, should be avoided in view of the tight requirements and also due to possible environmental contamination. To produce high performance structural frames meeting aeronautical reproducibility and low cost criteria, the Brazilian industry has shown interest to investigate the resin transfer molding process (RTM) considering being a closed-mold pressure injection system which allows faster gel and cure times. Due to the fibrous composite anisotropic and non homogeneity characteristics, the fatigue behavior is a complex phenomenon quite different from to metals materials crucial to be investigated considering the aeronautical application. Fatigue sub-scale specimens of intermediate modulus carbon fiber non-crimp multi-axial reinforcement and epoxy mono-component system composite were produced according to the ASTM 3039 D. Axial fatigue tests were carried out according to ASTM D 3479. A sinusoidal load of 10 Hz frequency and load ratio R = 0.1. It was observed a high fatigue interval obtained for NCF/RTM6 composites. Weibull statistical analysis was applied to describe the failure probability of materials under cyclic loads and fractures pattern was observed by scanning electron microscopy. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Mechanism of charge transport in castor oil-based polyurethane/carbon black composite (PU/CB)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Use of weathered diesel oil as a low-cost raw material for biosurfactant production

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

Use of sugarcane bagasse and grass hydrolysates as carbon sources for xylanase production by Bacillus circulans D1 in submerged fermentation

The use of sugarcane bagasse and grass as low cost raw material for xylanase production by Bacillus circulans D1 in submerged fermentation was investigated. The microorganism was cultivated in a mineral medium containing hydrolysate of bagasse or grass as carbon source. High production of enzyme was obtained during growth in media with bagasse hydrolysates (8.4 U/mL) and in media with grass hydrolysates (7.5 U/mL). Xylanase production in media with hydrolysates was very close to that obtained in xylan containing media (7.0 U/ mL) and this fact confirm the feasibility of using this agro-industrial byproducts by B. circulans D1 as an alternative to save costs on the enzyme production process. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Carbon-supported Pt-Co catalysts prepared by a modifled polyol process as cathodes for PEM fuel cells

In this work, carbon-supported Pt70Co30 nanoparticles were prepared by a polyol process using a long-chain diol as reducer (hexadecanediol) and oleic acid and oleylamine as stabilizers. Depending on the synthesis conditions, Pt70Co30/C nanocatalysts with very small particle size (1.9 +/- 0.2 nm) and narrow distribution homogeneously dispersed on the carbon support and having a high degree of alloying without the need of thermal treatments were obtained. The as-prepared catalyst presents an excellent performance as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) cathode material. In terms of mass activity (MA), the Pt70Co30/C electrocatalysts produced single fuel cell polarization response superior to that of commercial catalyst. To analyze alloying effects, the result of thermal treatment at low temperatures (200-400 degrees C) was also evaluated and an increase of average crystallite size and a lower degree of alloying, probably associated to cobalt oxidation, were evidenced.