A Study of Compost Added to a Casing Technique in Agaricus bisporus Cultivation from Phase III Bulk Compost

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Use of Cassava Wastewater Treated Anaerobically with Alkaline Agents as Fertilizer for Maize (Zea mays L.)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aditivos de formulação na formação de filmes isolados de etilcelulose. estudos físico-químicos e morfológicos

Formulation Additives on Formation of Films isolated from Ethylcellulose. Physicochemical and Morphological Studies. In this work were developed free films from Surelease (R), additives alpha-GOS (alfa-glucooligosaccharide) and/or Tween (R) 80 in aqueous solution. It was obtained by Teflon plates casting process. The free films were characterized by thermal analysis (DSC and TGA), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). DSC and TO analysis showed that the additives do not influenced in the thermal stability of Surelease (R) films. SEM analysis observed homogeneous morphological characteristics and phase detachment absence. FTIR-ATR spectra were used to confirm the physical mixture between the components of films.

Nanostructured hybrid films containing nanophosphor: Fabrication and electronic spectral properties

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

Identification of oligomers in polyethyleneterephthalate bottles for mineral water and fruit juice - Development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of first series cyclic trimer

Cyclic oligomers were identified in PET bottles used for mineral water and fruit juice using MS and H-1 and C-13 NMR: a first series cyclic trimer, a first series cyclic tetramer, a first series cyclic dimmer and a second series cyclic trimer. An analytical method to determine first series cyclic trimer in these bottles was developed and validated, using HPLC. The first series cyclic trimer levels were 316-462 mg/100 g of PET bottle. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal study and physico-chemical characterization of some functional properties of guava seeds protein isolate (Psidium guajava)

The guava seed protein isolate ( PI) was obtained from the protein precipitation belonging to the class of the gluteline (Ip 4.5). The conditions for the preparation of the PI were determined by both the solubility curve and simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA): pH 11.5, absence of NaCl and whiteners and T=( 25 +/- 3) degrees C. Under these conditions a yield of 77.0 +/- 0.4%, protein content of 94.2 +/- 0.3, ashes 0.50 +/- 0.05% and thermal stability, T= 200 degrees C, were obtained. The TG-DTA curves and the PI emulsification capacity study showed the presence of hydrophobic microdomains at pH 11.5 and 3.0 suggesting a random coil protein conformation and, to pH 10.0, an open protein conformation. The capacity of emulsification (CE), in the absence of NaCl, was verified for: 1 - pH 3.0 and 8.5, using the IP extracted at pH 10.0 and 11.5, CE >= 343 +/- 5 g of emulsified oil/g of protein; 2 - pH 6.60 just for the PI obtained at pH 11.5, CE >= 140 +/- 8 g of emulsified oil/g of protein.

Radiografia digital para inspeção de soldas de dutos - melhor sensibilidade

The conventional radiographic technique using industrial radiographic films is with the days finishing. The Digital Radiography is taking place in several sectors, e.g., the medical, aerospace, security, automotive, etc. In addition to representing a technological trend, it has been demonstrated that digital radiography offers a series of benefits in terms of productivity, sensitivity, environmental aspects, image treatment tools, cost reduction, etc. If one weld seam to be inspected is from a serried product, as example a pipe, the best option to be implemented is the Flat Panel Detector with this equipment is possible to reduce the obtaining digital radiographic images in place of films and reducing the inspection cycle time due to its high degree of automation. In the experiments described in this paper this new technique was tested and the results were compared with those obtained by the conventional radiography. The welded specimens were prepared using the submerged-arc welding process and small artificial cracks of the most varied dimensions, present in the specimens, were used to establish a comparison of the sensitivities presented by the techniques employed After conducting several experiments, the digital method presented the highest sensitivity to the wire-type Image Quality Indicator (IQI) and in the detection of small defects, leading to the conclusion that the use of digital radiography using the flat-panel detector offers advantages over the conventional technique [1, 2]. This work was carried out based on the API 5L Edition 2004 [3] and ISO 3183 Edition 2007 [4] specifications.

Electrical and Optical Properties of Conductive and Transparent ITO@PMMA Nanocomposites

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

Preconcentration and determination of metal ions in commercial ethanol used as fuel for automotive engines

The present investigation reports the synthesis, characterization, and adsorption properties of a new nanomaterial based on organomodified silsesquioxane nanocages. The adsorption isotherms for CuCl,, CoCl2, ZnCl2, NiCl2, and FeCl3 from ethanol solutions were performed by using the batchwise method. The equilibrium condition is reached very quickly (3 min), indicating that the adsorption sites are well exposed. The results obtained in the flow experiments, showed a recovery of ca. 100% of the metal ions adsorbed in a column packed with 2 g of the nanomaterial, using 5 mL of 1.0 mol L-1 HCl solution as eluent. The sorption-desorption of the metal ions made possible the development of a method for preconcentration and determination of metal ions at trace level in commercial ethanol, used as fuel for car engines. The values determined by recommended method for plants 1, 2, and 3 indicated an amount of copper of 51, 60, and 78 mu g L-1, and of iron of 2, 15, and 13 mu g L-1, respectively. These values are very close to those determined by conventional analytical methods. Thus, these similar values demonstrated the accuracy of the determination by recommended method.

Glass transition and degree of conversion of a light-cured orthodontic composite

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

Development of a method to determine Ni and Cd in biodiesel by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

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

Comparison of lung tissue concentrations of nebulized ceftazidime in ventilated piglets: ultrasonic versus vibrating plate nebulizers

Objective: To compare the efficiency of an Aeroneb Pro vibrating plate and an Atomisor MegaHertz ultrasonic nebulizer for providing ceftazidime distal lung deposition.Design: In vitro experiments. One gram of cetazidime was nebulized in respiratory circuits and mass median aerodynamic diameter of particles generated by ultrasonic and vibrating plate nebulizers was compared using a laser velocimeter. In vivo experiments. Lung tissue concentrations and extrapulmonary depositions were measured in ten anesthetized ventilated piglets with healthy lungs that received 1 g of ceftazidime by nebulization with either an ultrasonic (n = 5), or a vibrating plate (n = 5) nebulizer.Setting: A two-bed Experimental Intensive Care Unit of a University School of Medicine.Intervention: Following sacrifice, 5 subpleural specimens were sampled in dependent and nondependent lung regions for measuring ceftazidime lung tissue concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography.Measurements and results: Mass median aerodynamic diameters generated by both nebulizers were similar with more than 95% of the particles between 0.5 and 5 mu m. Lung tissue concentrations were 553 +/- 123 [95% confidence interval: 514-638] mu g g(-1) using ultrasonic nebulizer, and 452 +/- 172 [95% confidence interval: 376-528] mu g g(-1) using vibrating plate nebulizers (NS). Extrapulmonary depositions were, respectively, of 38 +/- 5% (ultrasonic) and 34 +/- 4% (vibrating plate) (NS).Conclusions: Vibrating plate nebulizer is comparable to ultrasonic nebulizers for ceftazidime nebulization. It may represent a new attractive technology for inhaled antibiotic therapy.

Effects on mother and fetus of epidural and combined spinal-epidural techniques for labor analgesia

OBJETIVO: A peridural (AP) e a técnica de duplo bloqueio (DB) são utilizadas em analgesia para o trabalho de parto. Este estudo comparou os efeitos na mãe e no feto de ambas as técnicas em analgesia e anestesia para o parto. MÉTODOS: Quarenta parturientes ASA I e II receberam por via peridural 15 ml de ropivacaína a 0,125% (grupo AP) e 5 µg de sufentanil com 2,5 mg bupivacaína por via subaracnóidea (grupo DB). Foram avaliados: intensidade de dor, altura do bloqueio sensitivo, tempo de latência, bloqueio motor, duração da analgesia de parto, tempo para a resolução do parto, hipotensão materna e presença de prurido. Os recém-nascidos foram avaliados pelo índice de Apgar e escore da capacidade adaptativa e neurológica (ECAN), método de Amiel-Tison. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos na intensidade da dor, no tempo de latência, no nível do bloqueio sensitivo e no índice de Apgar. O bloqueio motor, a duração da analgesia e o tempo para resolução do parto foram maiores no grupo DB, do qual sete parturientes apresentaram prurido leve. ECAN foi maior no grupo AP após meia hora, duas horas e 24 horas. Noventa e cinco por cento dos recém-nascidos do grupo AP e 60% do grupo DB foram considerados neurologicamente vigorosos ao exame de 24 horas. CONCLUSÃO: As duas técnicas mostraram-se eficazes para analgesia do trabalho de parto. As parturientes do grupo DB apresentaram prurido e trabalho de parto mais prolongado. Recém-nascidos de mães que receberam analgesia de parto via peridural apresentaram melhor ECAN.

Scintigraphic validation of AC Biosusceptometry to study the gastric motor activity and the intragastric distribution of food in humans

Abnormal intragastric distribution of food (IDF) and a phasic contractility in the proximal stomach have been related to dyspeptic symptoms. Thus, the behaviour of the stomach and the proximal region, in particular, continues to attract attention and demand for reliable and comfortable techniques. The aims of this study were to employ AC Biosus-ceptometry (ACB) and scintigraphy to evaluate IDF and gastric motor activity in humans. Fifteen healthy volunteers ingested 60 mL of yogurt containing 2 mCi of Tc-99m and 4 g of ferrite. Each volunteer had gastric motility and IDF evaluated twice on separate days; on one occasion by ACB and another by scintigraphy. Digital signal processing was performed in MatLab (Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA). Results were expressed as mean +/- SD. Similar results of distal accumulation time (P < 0.001) were obtained for scintigraphy (6.93 +/- 3.25 min) and for ACB (7.04 +/- 3.65 min). Fast Fourier Transform revealed two dominant frequencies (P > 0.9). Besides the well-know frequency of 3 cpm, our results showed identical frequencies in proximal stomach recordings (P < 0.001) for scintigraphic (1.01 +/- 0.01 cpm) and ACB (0.98 +/- 0.06 cpm). In summary, our data showed that scintigraphy and ACB are promising techniques to evaluate several aspects of gastric motility. Moreover, ACB is non-invasive, radiation-free and deserves the same importance as conventional methods for this kind of analysis.

THE ROLE of OXIDATIVE STRESS and LIPID PEROXIDATION IN VENTRICULAR REMODELING INDUCED BY TOBACCO SMOKE EXPOSURE AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the roles of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the ventricular remodeling that is induced by tobacco smoke exposure after myocardial infarction.METHODS: After induced myocardial infarction, rats were allocated into two groups: C (control, n=25) and ETS (exposed to tobacco smoke, n=24). After 6 months, survivors were submitted to echocardiogram and biochemical analyses.RESULTS: Rats in the ETS group showed higher diastolic (C = 1.52 +/- 0.4 mm(2), ETS = 1.95 +/- 0.4 mm(2); p=0.032) and systolic (C = 1.03 +/- 0.3, ETS = 1.36 +/- 0.4 mm(2)/g; p=0.049) ventricular areas, adjusted for body weight. The fractional area change was smaller in the ETS group (C = 30.3 +/- 10.1 %, ETS = 19.2 +/- 11.1 %; p=0.024) and E/A ratios were higher in ETS animals (C = 2.3 +/- 2.2, ETS = 5.1 +/- 2.5; p=0.037). ETS was also associated with a higher water percentage in the lung (C = 4.8 (4.3-4.8), ETS = 5.5 (5.3-5.6); p=0.013) as well as higher cardiac levels of reduced glutathione (C = 20.7 +/- 7.6 nmol/mg of protein, ETS = 40.7 +/- 12.7 nmol/mg of protein; p=0.037) and oxidized glutathione (C = 0.3 +/- 0.1 nmol/g of protein, ETS = 0.9 +/- 0.3 nmol/g of protein; p=0.008). No differences were observed in lipid hydroperoxide levels (C = 0.4 +/- 0.2 nmol/mg of tissue, ETS = 0.1 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg of tissue; p=0.08).CONCLUSION: In animals exposed to tobacco smoke, oxidative stress is associated with the intensification of ventricular re-remodeling after myocardial infarction.