Glutathione-s-transferase modified electrodes for detecting anticancer drugs

With the fast growth of cancer research, new analytical methods are needed to measure anticancer drugs. This is usually accomplished by using sophisticated analytical instruments. Biosensors are attractive candidates for measuring anticancer drugs, but currently few biosensors can achieve this goal. In particular, it is challenging to have a general method to monitor various types of anticancer drugs with different structures. In this work, a biosensor was developed to detect anticancer drugs by modifying carbon paste electrodes with glutathione-s-transferase (GST) enzymes. GST is widely studied in the metabolism of xenobiotics and is a major contributing factor in resistance to anticancer drugs. The measurement of anticancer drugs is based on competition between 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and the drugs for the GST enzyme in the electrochemical potential at 0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl by square wave voltammetry (SWV) or using a colorimetric method. The sensor shows a detection limit of 8.8 mu M cisplatin and exhibits relatively long life time in daily measurements. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Uso de complexo enzimático em dietas para tilápia do Nilo: digestibilidade, atividade enzimática, desempenho produtivo e parâmetros fisiológicos

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Avaliação do herbicida saflufenacil no controle de Ipomoea grandifolia (Dammer) O’Donell e Euphorbia heterophylla L. no sistema de cana crua

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Seletividade de herbicidas em mudas pré-brotadas de cana-de-açúcar

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Hematological and biochemical changes in a Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812) population in response to environmental stressors

Turtles are among the most endangered vertebrate groups, and the main threats to populations are environmental pollution and habitat degradation. The species Phrynops geoffroanus, popularly known as “Geoffroy’s side-necked turtle”, has proliferated in polluted environments, where adverse conditions could influence their living habits and physiological condition. Studies that monitor the effects of environmental pollution are key to understanding the species’ biology and designing effective conservation strategies. Thus, the analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters has been shown to be important in assessing the health of wild animals and risks for the animal and ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the environmental influence on the physiology of a P. geoffroanus population through the evaluation of antioxidant status and responses to environmental stressors, compared to specimens from a place under controlled conditions. Blood samples of 60 specimens were collected, 30 from the Felicidade Stream, polluted environment, within the city of São José do Rio Preto, and 30 from the “Reginaldo Uvo Leone” breeding farm, Tabapuã, SP, a place under controlled conditions, whose samples constituted the control group. They were evaluated by hemogram and by determining thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). There was a wide variation in hematological parameters of P. geoffroanus from the urban environment. The red blood cell count and hemoglobin values were significantly less than those observed in animals from the breeding farm (P = 0.0004; P = 0.0371, respectively). There was a significant increase in the number of thrombocytes (P < 0.0001) and leukocytes (P < 0.0001) in the animals from Felicidade Stream. The stress indices were similar between the two groups (P = 0.4077). TBARS levels showed the cytotoxic potential of compounds in the urban environment, whose animals had elevated levels of lipid peroxidation (P < 0.0001), despite showing a response to environmental damages with increase in antioxidant capacity, as demonstrated by the TEAC assay (P = 0.0207). The lower catalase enzyme activity noted in individuals from the urban environment (P = 0.000184) could be due to the presence of inhibitory compounds. On the other hand, G6PDH activity was higher (P = 0.002962), where this enzyme acts in the generation of NADPH, which is used in several detoxification pathways. We conclude that environmental contamination can increase oxidative damages and generate physiological changes in this species. These data are very useful for the conservation of P. geoffroanus and turtles in general, and confirm that these techniques are effective in monitoring natural regions and that P. geoffroanus can serve as an environmental contamination bioindicator.

Incorporação de novas tecnologias no setor sucroalcooleiro: produção de hidrogênio e aumento da oferta de eletricidade

This work studies the incorporation of new technologies in the sugarcane sector. Are considered the ethanol steam reforming and the gasification of sugarcane bagasse(by-product) processes associated with combined cycle systems (Gas Turbine + Steam Turbine), aggregating hydrogen production and increased electricity supply in the sector, respectively. To verify the technical feasibility of the incorporation processes was performed a thermodynamic analysis, considering data from a typical Brazilian Sugar Cane Industry. In another step the economic viability study of the hydrogen production process was made, with consideration on hydrated and anhydrous ethanol steam reform, comparing the cost of hydrogen production. Also considered studies of economic engineering of the gasification process and the generation of electricity associated. As conclusions, it follows that the ethanol steam reforming is a great alternative for hydrogen production, presenting production cost relatively low, especially when is considered the steam reforming of hydrated ethanol. For the gasification process associated with combined cycle, can be observed an increase of 8.56 times of the electricity production in the sugar cane industry, indicating a positive annual saving when the sales price of the supply electricity is greater than 0.070 US$/kWh. Finally it can be concluded that the incorporation of these new processes allow greater profitability and operational flexibility of Brazilian sugarcane mills

Fast determination of beef quality parameters with time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and chemometrics

The noteworthy of this study is to predict seven quality parameters for beef samples using time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) relaxometry data and multivariate models. Samples from 61 Bonsmara heifers were separated into five groups based on genetic (breeding composition) and feed system (grain and grass feed). Seven sample parameters were analyzed by reference methods; among them, three sensorial parameters, flavor, juiciness and tenderness and four physicochemical parameters, cooking loss, fat and moisture content and instrumental tenderness using Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF). The raw beef samples of the same animals were analyzed by TD-NMR relaxometry using Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) and Continuous Wave-Free Precession (CWFP) sequences. Regression models computed by partial least squares (PLS) chemometric technique using CPMG and CWFP data and the results of the classical analysis were constructed. The results allowed for the prediction of aforementioned seven properties. The predictive ability of the method was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE) for the calibration (RMSEC) and validation (RMSEP) data sets. The reference and predicted values showed no significant differences at a 95% confidence level.

Parâmetros genéticos para características de desempenho e reprodutivas de aves poedeiras por inferência bayesiana

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV

Gestão de resíduos sólidos no município de Tibagi - PR: desempenho da coleta seletiva

The objective of this study was to analyze the performance of solid waste management in the municipality of Tibagi, Paraná, a city with approximately 20000 inhabitants, which implemented the selective collection program called Recycle Tibagi. The analysis was based on descriptive statistical techniques, considering the three types of waste (tailings, organic and recyclable), and per capita generation of garbage upward trend in the coming years, based on the method of Winter (Triple Exponential Damping), using data recorded by the Department of the Environment and the Association of Recyclable Materials from Tibagi - ACAMARTI. Efficient selective collection from a structured environmental education program with constant training conducted with the scavengers, possible to obtain important data in sorting and marketing of recyclable materials, saving raw materials, water and energy, as well as relevant indicators social inclusion and employment generation and income. The project involves several areas of municipal management and arouses curiosity and interest in several areas: social, financial, environmental and administrative. It's a way to encourage new projects and public bodies, highlighting the importance of recycling and proper disposal of solid waste.

The effect of CPP-ACP and Nd:YAG laser on the bond strength of softened dentin

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Diurnal effects on spearmint oil yields and composition

'Native'spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is one of the two spearmint species grown commercially in the United States and other countries for essential oil production. The two major constituents of spearmint oil are carvone and limonene. It is not known if the essential oil yield (content) and composition of spearmint oil are affected by diurnal variation, and when it would be the best time for harvesting flowering spearmints within a 24h period. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diurnal variation on yield and composition of spearmint 'Native'essential oil for the environmental conditions of Northern Wyoming, at elevation 1170 m above the sea level. The experiment was conducted on a 3-year old well established spearmint plantation. The harvest times were every 2 h within a 24-h period: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:00 PM, 11:00 PM, 1:00 AM, 3:00 AM, and 5:00 AM. Essential oil yield varied from 0.96 to 1.47 g of oil per 100 g of dry herbage; the maximum oil yield was obtained at 9:00 AM and the minimum at 7:00 PM. The concentration of carvone in the oil varied from 44.1% (at 1:00 PM) to 66.4% (at 9:00 PM) of the total oil. However, the yield of carvone (a function of oil yield and carvone concentration in the oil) was the highest at 3:00 AM and the lowest at 1:00 PM. The concentration of limonene (10.7-15.8% of the oil) was the highest at 7:00 PM and the lowest at 1:00 PM, whereas the yield of limonene was the highest at 9:00 PM. For best essential oil yields, flowering spearmint should be harvested at around 9:00 AM. However, to obtain oil with high carvone concentration, spearmint should be harvested at 9:00 PM. Harvests at 1:00 PM would result in spearmint oil with low concentrations of both carvone and limonene, and hence, should be avoided. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the natural variation of 13C:12C ratio in leaves at Reserva Ducke Forest, central Amazonia

Investigation of carbon isotope fractionation by plants was carried out at two sub-areas located in Reserva Ducke, central Amazonia: open reserve (virgin forest with low density of plant species); and closed reserve (virgin forest with high density of plant species). Preliminary results (δ‰ 13C: 12C values, PDB) of leaf analysis at different plant heights indicate the following: Eschweilera matamata Hub. (Lecythidaceae), common name 'matamata', -31.55±0.61; Protium heptaplyllum March. (Burseraceae), common name 'breu branco', -32.34±1.39; Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. (Guttiferae), common name 'jacareúba', -30.72±0.23; Scleronema micrantthum Ducke. (Bombacaceae), common name 'cardeiro'. -28.81±0.68; and Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae), common name 'andiroba', -31.07±0.51. It is possible that the plant species analysed belong to the C3 photosynthetic cycle. In general, the species in the open reserve show differences of the order of 1.66±0.34‰ (greater in 13C) as compared with the same species in the closed reserve. The old leaves show differences in the relative isotopic enrichment (δ) of the order of 1‰, being smaller in new leaves in both reserves. The probable occurrence of an isotopic gradient from the lower (2-5 m) to the upper part (15-20 m) of the plant, of the order of 1.3‰, smaller in 13C, in species from the dense forest was noted. However, only two plants from each species were analysed during a two-year period, data obtained to far are still preliminary, and results should, therefore, be revised. Moreover, according to the literature, the natural carbon isotope fractionation by plants shows metabolic, physiological and environmental dependence. © 1991.

Observatório do esporte: uma visão crítica da mídia esportiva

O projeto “Observatório do Esporte” é um programa radiofônico que desde 2010 é veiculado pela Rádio UNESP FM, na madrugada da sexta para o sábado à meia-noite com reprises aos sábados às 11 horas da manhã, onde por meio da estratégia do infotretenimento são discutidos assuntos diversos do cotidiano esportivo com uma análise mais aprofundada, principalmente da mídia esportiva. Com uma abordagem de avaliação multi-metodológica, o projeto busca articular extensão e profissionalização em jornalismo e radialismo esportivo para que o ensino-aprendizado dos alunos e bolsistas dos cursos de graduação e pós-graduação de Comunicação Social da FAAC – Faculdade de Arquitetura, Artes e Comunicação da Unesp Bauru ocorra de modo atualizado , dinâmico e ligado à pesquisa empírica em Comunicação.

Diagnóstico e gestão dos resíduos gerados em aterro sanitário

The issue of environmental impacts to human health and the generation and disposal of solid waste has led to a change of paradigms for your face, highlighting the need for sustainable management of municipal solid waste (MSW). In this context, the expansion of landfills in Brazil in recent decades makes it necessary to sustainable management of waste generated by this type of enterprise, since its implementation. The aim of this study was to perform a diagnosis of the generation of waste in a landfill, in the expansion phase, and the alternatives adopted for its management. The qualitative diagnosis was made from observations on site and the wastes were classified and quantified from August 2011 to January 2012. In the diagnosis was considered the reduction, reuse and recycle, in that order. The results of this study showed that the residue of the greatest generation was PEAD geomembranes used in the waterproofing of the landfill, reaching 7 t, followed by PVC pipes, which reached 850 kg, both destined for recycling. The largest volume of wastewater generated corresponded to the leachate, reaching 11,500 m3 , which were sent for treatment

Métodos para a tomada de decisão em portfólio de produtos: um levantamento em empresas dos setores eletrônico, óptico e de informática

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