Construction of a chamber for in situ monitoring of the drying process of gels and porous solids

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

Eficácia de óleos minerais aplicados como adjuvantes auxiliando na selitividade de herbicidas na cultura de cana-de-açúcar

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

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.

Spray adjuvant characteristics affecting agricultural spraying drift

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Engine LES with fuel-spray modeling

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

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 %.

Influence of mobility models in precision spray aided by wireless sensor networks

Precision Spray is a technique to increase performance of Precision Agriculture. This spray technique may be aided by a Wireless Sensor Network, however, for such approach, the communication between the agricultural input applicator vehicle and network is critical due to its proper functioning. Thus, this work analyzes how the number of nodes in a wireless sensor network, its type of distribution and different areas of scenario affects the performance of communication. We performed simulations to observe system's behavior changing to find the most fitted non-controlled mobility model to the system.

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)

Physicochemical aspects involved in methotrexate release kinetics from biodegradable spray-dried chitosan microparticles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A comparison of three different methodologies for evaluating Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) rnicroplus susceptibility to topical spray compounds

This study aimed to compare three different methodologies (Adult Immersion Tests, field trials with naturally infected animals, and a Stall Test using artificially infested cattle) to evaluate the efficacy of two topical formulations that we administered as whole body sprays (15% Cypermethrin + 30% Chlorpyriphos + 15% Fenthion-Colosso (R) FC 30, Ouro Fino Agronegocios; and 60% Dichlorvos + 20% Chlorpyriphos-Ectofos (R), Vallee Saude Animal Ltd.), against a susceptible strain of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. To achieve this objective, two natural infestation trials were conducted, as well as two artificial infestation trials (Stall Tests) and two Adult Immersion Tests (AIT). The AIT results showed that both spray formulations achieved 100% efficacy against R. (B.) micro plus fully engorged females. However, when observing results obtained by field trials (natural infestations) and Stall Tests, none of these topically applied compounds reached 100% efficacy or affected the reproductive capacity of the fully engorged female ticks. Additional studies must be conducted to compare these in vivo methodologies with different in vitro techniques, such as the Larval Packet Test. However, based on results obtained here, we can conclude that depending on the spray formulations used, the AIT can overestimate acaricidal efficacy and values of reproductive efficiency of such compounds against R (B.) micro plus. Specifically, when dealing with spray formulations in the Stall Tests, the period of residual action can increase because these animals are sheltered from contact with environmental factors that might interfere with the efficacy of the products tested. It may be necessary to take in vivo trial results into consideration (such as field trials with naturally infested animals or Stall Tests) to standardize a specific in vitro assay, such as the Adult Immersion Test. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of a spray formulation on the reproductive parameters of a susceptible population of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

The number of studies emphasizing the possible damage that acaricidal spray formulations can cause on engorged female ticks'reproductive parameters is small. The present study evaluated the deleterious effects of a spray formulation (dichlorvos 60% + chlorpyrifos 20%) on the reproductive parameters of a susceptible population of Rhipicephalus (B.) microplus females, using the Stall Test. The ticks were allocated randomly to treatments according to the mean numbers of females detached from each cow on days -3, -2 and -1 and the cattle pen location. The numbers of engorged female ticks that naturally detached from the cattle were counted daily from day 1 to day 30. For each group, 20 detached engorged female ticks or the available number collected daily were evaluated regarding reproductive parameters. Associations of organophosphates demonstrated elevated acaricidal efficacy, as well as deleterious effects on the reproductive parameters of R. (B.) microplus females. The engorged female weight (days 1 to 7), weight of egg masses (days 5 to 10) and larval hatching percentage (days 5 to 19) were decreased (P <= 0.05). It is possible that a formulation can lead to deleterious effects on R. (B.) microplus females when the tick population analyzed shows elevated sensitivity towards a particular formulation. However, further studies need to be conducted.

Effect of intermittent drying and storage on parchment coffee quality

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)