Preservation of wild feline semen by freeze-drying: experimental model

According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, 36 wild feline species are threatened by extinction or severely endangered, and to save them is the target of several conservation programs. This study aimed to assess the viability of the freeze-drying technique for domestic cat sperm cells, with the ultimate goal of transferring this technology to the wild feline species. The domestic cat is an excellent experimental model for wild felids. It is in this scenario that the freeze-drying process (low-temperature vacuum dehydration) of sperm cells shows its value in preserving male cats' germplasm. Results from membrane and DNA integrity analysis are promising and validates the use of frozen-dried sperm samples in intracytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSIs). Further studies are still necessary to evaluate the ICSI embryo production using domestic cat frozen-dried sperm and the possibility of using such technology with wild felines.

Micropartículas de metotrexato e ácido poli lático-co-glicólico obtidas por “spray-drying”

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

Moxonidine into the lateral parabrachial nucleus modifies postingestive signals involved in sodium intake control

The activation of a2-adrenoceptors with bilateral injections of moxonidine (a2-adrenoceptor and imidazoline receptor agonist) into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) increases 1.8% NaCl intake induced by treatment with furosemide (FURO) + captopril (CAP) subcutaneously. In the present study, we analyzed licking microstructure during water and 1.8% NaCl intake to investigate the changes in orosensory and postingestive signals produced by moxonidine injected into the LPBN. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with FURO + CAP combined with bilateral injections of vehicle or moxonidine (0.5 nmol/0.2 ll) into the LPBN. Bilateral injections of moxonidine into the LPBN increased FURO + CAP-induced 1.8% NaCl intake, without changing water intake. Microstructural analysis of licking behavior found that this increase in NaCl intake was a function of increased number of licking bursts from 15 to 75 min of the test (maximum of 49 ± 9 bursts/bin, vs. vehicle: 2 ± 2 bursts/bin). Analysis of the first 15 min of the test, when most of the licking behavior occurred, found no effect of moxonidine on the number of licks/burst for sodium intake (24 ± 5 licks/burst, vs. vehicle: 27 ± 8 licks/burst). This finding suggests that activation of a2-adrenoceptors in the LPBN affects postingestive signals that are important to inhibit and limit sodium intake by FURO + CAP-treated rats.

Freeze-drying for microencapsulation of turmeric oleoresin using modified starch and gelatin

The aims of this study were to assess the turmeric oleoresin microencapsulation by freeze-drying with modified starch/gelatin and to evaluate its stability during storage at different temperatures and light. Encapsulated turmeric oleoresin w stored at −20, 25 and 60C, in the absence of light, and at 25C in the presence of light, and analyzed over a period of 6 weeks for curcumin and total phenolic contents and color. The different concentrations of wall material showed no significant effect on the curcumin retention. The best conditions for microencapsulation of turmeric oleoresin were: wall material composed of 30 g/100 g of modified starch + 1 g/100 g gelatin and mechanical homogenization. Encapsulated material was more stable during storage at −20C and less stable at 25C in the presence of light.

Produção de fitases por fermentação em estado sólido e imobilização das enzimas por srpay drying

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

Improvement of water transport and carotenoid retention during drying of papaya by applying ultrasonic osmotic pretreatment

The effect of ultrasound and osmotic dehydration pretreatments on papaya drying kinetics was investigated. The ultrasound pretreatment was carried out in an ultrasonic bath at 30 A degrees C. The osmotic pretreatment in sucrose solution was carried out in an incubator at 34 A degrees C and agitation of 80 rpm for 210 min. The drying process was conducted in a fixed bed dryer at 70 A degrees C. Experimental data were fitted successfully using the Page model for dried fresh and pretreated fruits, with coefficient of determination greater than 0.9992 and average relative error lower that 14.4 %. The diffusional model was used to describe the moisture transfer, and the effective water diffusivity was identified in the order of 10(-9) m(2) s(-1). It was found that drying rates of osmosed fruits were the lowest due to the presence of infused solutes, while the ultrasound pretreatment contributed to faster drying rates. Evaluation of the dried fruit was performed by means of total carotenoids retention. Ultrasound treatments in distilled water prior to air-drying gave rise to dried papayas with retention of carotenoids in the range 30.4-39.8 % and the ultrasonic-assisted osmotic dehydration of papayas showed carotenoids retention values up to 64.9 %, whereas the dried fruit without pretreatment showed carotenoids retention lower than 24 %.

Microencapsulation of turmeric oleoresin in binary and ternary blends of gum arabic, maltodextrin and modified starch

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

Influence of alternative drying aids on water sorption of spray dried mango mix powders: a thermodynamic approach

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

Enhancement of quality and stability of dried papaya by pectin-based coatings as air-drying pretreatment

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of edible coatings on convective drying and characteristics of the dried pineapple

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mass and surface fractal in supercritical dried silica aerogels prepared with additions of sodium dodecyl sulfate

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

Indications for the HPV vaccine in adolescents: A review of the literature

Background: The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) was created to abrogate the risk that the virus presents for the development of cervical cancers. The prevalence of HPV infection among healthy individuals is significant (20%). We performed a review of the literature published in the period from 2008 to 2012 regarding the use of the vaccine against HPV specifically in adolescents. Methods: The articles were selected from a search of the PubMed database with the key words "vaccine", "HPV" and "adolescent". This search identified 576 articles; based on readings of the titles and abstracts, the list of included article was reduced to 42. Results: We observed that the majority of authors are in favor of the vaccine for adolescents particularly females. Conclusion: Recommending the use of the HPV vaccine and other vaccines represents an attempt to broaden the reach of these vaccines among both sexes of the adolescent population. Vaccination is a strategy for the prevention of pre-cancerous Lesions in the genital and oropharyngeal regions. (C) 2014 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited. All rights reserved.

Loss of desiccation tolerance in Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. seeds during germination

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of intermittent drying and storage on parchment coffee quality

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modeling the formation and propagation of desiccation cracks in soils

The problem of desiccation cracks in soils has received increasing attention in the last few years, in both experimental investigations and modeling. Experimental research has been mainly focused on the behavior of slurries subjected to drying in plates of different shapes, sizes and thickness. The main objectives of these studies were to learn about the process of crack formation under controlled environmental conditions, and also to better understand the effect of different factors (e.g. soil type, boundary conditions, soil thickness) on the morphology of the crack network. As for the numerical modeling, different approaches have been suggested lately to describe the behavior of drying cracks in soils. One aspect that it is still difficult to describe properly is the crack pattern observed in desiccated soils. This work presents a novel technique to model the behavior of drying soils. The crack patter observed in desiccation tests on circular plates are simulated with the main objective of predicting the effect of soil thickness on crack pattern. Good agreement between experimental results and model prediction are observed.