A biofuel cell harvesting energy from glucose-air and fruit juice-air

The membraneless biofuel cell (BFC) is facile prepared based on glucose oxidase and laccase as anodic and cathodic catalyst, respectively, by using 1,1'-dicarboxyferrocene as the mediators of both anode and cathode. The BFC can work by taking glucose as fuel in air-saturated solution, in which air serves as the oxidizer of the cathode. More interestingly, the fruit juice containing glucose, e.g. grape, banana or orange juice as the fuels substituting for glucose can make the BFC work. The BFC shows several advantages which have not been reported to our knowledge: (1) it is membraneless BFC which can work with same mediator on both anode and cathode; (2) fruit juice can act as fuels of BFCs substituting for usually used glucose; (3) especially, the orange juice can greatly enhance the power output rather than that of glucose, grape or banana juice. Besides, the facile and simple preparation procedure and easy accessibility of fruit juice as well as air being whenever and everywhere imply that our system has promising potential for the development and practical application of BFCs.

Orange juice–derived flavanone and phenolic metabolites do not acutely affect cardiovascular risk biomarkers: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in men at moderate risk of cardiovascular disease

Background: Epidemiological data suggest inverse associations between citrus flavanone intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, insufficient randomized controlled trial (RCT) data limit our understanding of mechanisms by which flavanones and their metabolites potentially reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Objective: We examined the effects of orange juice or a dose-matched hesperidin supplement on plasma concentrations of established and novel flavanone metabolites and their effects on CV risk biomarkers in men at moderate CVD risk. Methods: In an acute, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 16 fasted participants (aged 51-69 y) received orange juice or a hesperidin supplement (both providing 320 mg hesperidin) or control (all matched for sugar and vitamin C content). At baseline and 5 h post-intake, endothelial function (primary outcome), further CV risk biomarkers (i.e. blood pressure, arterial stiffness, cardiac autonomic function, platelet activation and NADPH oxidase gene expression) and plasma flavanone metabolites were assessed. Prior to each intervention, a diet low in flavonoids, nitrate/nitrite, alcohol and caffeine was followed and a standardized low-flavonoid evening meal was consumed. Results: Orange juice intake significantly elevated mean (± SEM) plasma concentrations of 8 flavanone (1.75 ± 0.35 µmol/L, P < 0.0001) and 15 phenolic metabolites (13.27 ± 2.22 µmol/L, P < 0.0001) compared with control at 5 h post-consumption. Despite increased plasma flavanone and phenolic metabolite concentrations, CV risk biomarkers were unaltered. Following hesperidin supplement intake, flavanone metabolites were not different to control, suggesting altered absorption/metabolism compared with the orange juice matrix. Conclusions: Following single-dose flavanone intake within orange juice, we detected circulating flavanone and phenolic metabolites collectively reaching a concentration of 15.20 ± 2.15 µmol/L but observed no effect on CV risk biomarkers. Longer-duration RCTs are required to further examine the previous associations between higher flavanone intakes and improved cardiovascular health and to ascertain the relative importance of food matrix and flavanone-derived phenolic metabolites.

Anaerobic treatment of juice and fruit-processing effluents

Effluents from the juice and fruit processing industries have high organic matter content. Discharge of these effluents without appropriate treatment would therefore have a negative impact on the environment. High organic contents and low contamination levels make such effluents suitable for biological treatment, especially anaerobic digestion. In the latter process, significant amounts of digester gas can be produced, turning a waste stream into a source of renewable energy that can be used for electricity and heat production, leading to financial benefits.This paper investigates the feasibility of anaerobic digestion and the gas generation potential of five different effluents from the carrot-juice, orange-juice and sultana processing industries. Benefits are assessed in terms of digester gas production and organic matter reduction. The results show that the specific gas production ranges between 665 and 860 m3 per tonne of effluent treated (as organic dry matter). Furthermore, nearly 100% of the organic matter is converted into gas in the case of the carrot- and orange-juice processing residues, while a 84.5% reduction of the organic matter was found to be achievable in the case of the sultana wastes. While these results are promising, further testing will be required to validate them in a larger scale.

SENSORY ACCEPTANCE of JUICE FROM FCOJ PROCESSING STEPS

The acceptance of orange juice from the frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) processing steps was evaluated by 101 consumers for color, overall impression, aroma, flavor and texture. The juice from the extraction, filtration, concentration, cooling and blend steps was collected at the beginning and the end of the 2009 harvest period. The juice from the extraction and filtration steps showed higher acceptance means for overall impression, aroma and flavor, while the juice from the concentration, cooling and blend steps had acceptance lower than the cutoff score. The internal preference mapping showed that color discriminated the juice from the collection periods while texture allowed discrimination between the steps of extraction and of filtration. The acceptance of the orange juice was driven by the aroma and flavor. The sensory acceptance was successfully applied to evaluate change during the process and the difference between the orange juice from different steps of the FCOJ processing.

COLOR STABILITY of SEALED COMPOSITE RESIN RESTORATIVE MATERIALS AFTER ULTRAVIOLET ARTIFICIAL AGING and IMMERSION IN STAINING SOLUTIONS

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

Effect of Artificial Aging on the Roughness and Microhardness of Sealed Composites

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

Simultaneous observation of collagen and elastin in normal and pathological tissues: analysis of Sirius-red-stained sections by fluorescence microscopy

In order to observe collagen and elastic fibers simultaneously, sections of human aorta, skin, lung, liver, and bladder were stained by Sirius red and analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. In all cases, the fibers of collagen presented the characteristic fluorescent red-orange color that results from the interaction of this extracellular protein with the dye, whereas elastic fibers showed strong green fluorescence (intrinsic fluorescence). This method efficiently detects collagen and elastic fibers when these two structures are present and could have valuable applications in processes that involves both fibers.

In vitro assessment of dentin erosion after immersion in acidic beverages: Surface profile analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of some acidic drinks on dentin erosion, using methods of surface profile (SP) analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). One hundred standardized dentin slabs obtained from bovine incisor roots were used. Dentin slabs measuring 5x5 mm were ground flat, polished and half of each specimen surface was protected with nail polish. For 60 min, the dentin surfaces were immersed in 50 mL of 5 different drinks (Gatorade®, Del Valle Mais orange juice®, Coca-Cola®, Red Bull® and white wine), 20 blocks in each drink. The pH of each beverage was measured. After the erosive challenge, the nail polish was removed and SP was analyzed. The mineral concentration of dentin surfaces was determined by means of EDXRF. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). SP analysis showed that Red-Bull had the highest erosive potential (p<0.05). EDXRF results exhibited a decrease in phosphate in the groups immersed in Red-Bull, orange juice and white wine (p<0.05), and no significant difference in calcium content between the reference surface and eroded surface. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that all studied beverages promoted erosion on root dentin and Red Bull had the highest erosive potential. There was no correlation between pH of beverages and their erosive potential and only the P content changed after erosive challenge.

Influência do selante de superfície em propriedades físicas e mecânicas de resinas compostas submetidas a envelhecimentos artificiais

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Compostos bioativos em frutas cítricas: quantificação, avaliação da atividade antioxidante, parâmetros de cor e efeito da pasteurização

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Efeito de diferentes meios de imersão na emissão fluorescente de resinas compostas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito protetor do suco de laranja vermelha e dieta hiperlipídica nos parâmetros fisiológicos e marcadores bioquímicos em ratos submetidos à dieta hiperlipídica

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Fluorescence Intensity of Composite Layering Combined with Surface Sealant Submitted to Staining Solutions

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

Alteração cromática de resinas compostas laboratoriais submetidas à imersão em diferentes soluções

The pigmentation of indirect composite resins has been one of the most common reasons that lead the restorative treatment to failure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different solutions on color stability of indirect composite resins. Five brands of indirect composite resins were tested: Adoro, Resilab, Cristobal, Sinfony and Epricord. The samples were immerged in eleven solutions (n=10): common liquid foods (coke soft drink, red wine, coffee and orange juice), mounthrinses (Listerine, Oral-B, Colgate Plax and Periogard) and bleaching agents (carbamide peroxide 16%, 7.5% and hydrogen peroxide 38%) and artificial saliva (control group). The color was measured by a spectrophotometer before and after 7, 14 and 21 days of immersion in common liquid foods, after 12, 24, 36 and 60 hours of immersion in mounthrinses and after 7 and 14 days of immersion in bleaching agents. The Cristobal and Adoro resins showed highest values of ΔE statistically significant compared to the others resin brands. Adoro’s ΔE values changed significantly after the immersion process in red wine and coffee and also between periods measured. The resins Cristobal and Sinfony showed the highest values of ΔE after the immersion process in Listerine with difference statistically significant in comparison to control group. Besides, there was difference statistically significant of the ΔE values  for  Cristobal  after  immersion  in hydrogen peroxide 7,5% in comparison to control group. It can be conclude that all the solutions promoted color change on the indirect composite resins. However, ΔE values  are  whitin  the  values clinically acceptable.

Effect of different solutions on knoop hardness of indirect composite

Introduction: Indirect dental composites may have adequate clinical performance. However, the literature is scarce regarding indirect composite resins and these solutions should be considered to maintain their properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of beverages, mouthwashes and bleaching agents on the hardness of indirect composite resins. Methods: Five different brands of indirect composite resins were evaluated: Adoro, Resilab, Cristobal, Sinfony and Epricord. Ten specimens of each brand were immersed in eleven different solutions: four mouthwashes (Listerine, Oral-B, Plax, Periogard), four beverages (coke soft drink, red wine, coffee, orange juice), three dental bleaching agents (16% peroxide of carbamide, 7.5% and 38% peroxide of hydrogen) and artificial saliva (control group). The Knoop hardness was measured before (baseline) and after 12, 24, 36 and 60 hours of immersion in mouthwashes; after 7, 14 and 21 days of immersion in beverages and after 7 and 14 days of immersion in dental bleaching agents. The results were analyzed using 3-way repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p<0.05). Results: All resins presented significant decrease on hardness values after immersion process whereas this reduction was higher for Resilab and Sinfony. The latter exhibited the lowest initial values of hardness while Cristobol resin presented the highest hardness values. The mouthwashes promoted a significant decrease in the hardness of specimens.