Avaliação da produção de lipases por diferentes cepas de microrganismos isolados em efluentes de laticínios por fermentação submersa

A produção enzimática é um dos campos mais promissores dentro das tecnologias para a síntese de compostos de alto valor agregado, estando em constante crescimento pela grande capacidade dos microrganismos de realizarem transformações químicas. As enzimas produzidas por processos fermentativos têm sido utilizadas para o controle ambiental. Muitas destas enzimas podem ser produzidas a partir de resíduos industriais, diminuindo os custos de produção. As lipases são enzimas que catalisam a hidrólise de triglicerídeos em glicerídeos e ácidos graxos. As lipases vêm sendo utilizadas na redução da concentração dos lipídios contidos nos efluentes, promovendo a hidrólise dos óleos e gorduras presentes. Objetivou-se avaliar a produção de lipases por fungos isolados a partir de efluentes de laticínios. Foram isolados 21 fungos, pertencentes aos gêneros Penicillium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma e Fusarium. Na etapa de seleção, 9 fungos foram selecionados devido à capacidade de crescimento em meio contendo azeite de oliva como substrato. Na fermentação submersa, os fungos E9 (Aspergillus), E21 (Aspergillus) e E20 (Penicillium) foram os que apresentaram as maiores atividades enzimáticas, de 1,250 a 2,250 U, utilizando-se como meio de cultivo o efluente coletado na saída do equalizador do sistema de tratamento de efluente.

Composição de ácidos graxos de margarinas à base de gordura hidrogenada ou interesterificada

Foi analisado o conteúdo de ácidos graxos (AG) de 12 marcas de margarinas à base de óleos vegetais parcialmente hidrogenados ou interesterificados comercializados no Distrito Federal. As margarinas foram agrupadas pelo tipo de óleos utilizados em sua produção e o percentual médio de lipídios em GH-T (margarinas hidrogenadas com 50% de lipídios), GH-L (hidrogenadas com 20%), GI-T (interesterificadas com 65%) e GI-L (interesterificadas com 30%). O perfil de AG foi obtido por cromatografia gasosa em coluna capilar SP2560®. O conteúdo de AG trans (AGT) no GH-T (7,91 ± 1,05 g.100 g-1) foi significativamente maior (p < 0,05) que no GH-L (2,46 ± 0,39 g.100 g-1), GI-T (1,29 ± 0,47 g.100 g-1) e GI-L (0,65 ± 0,24 g.100 g-1). Houve diferença significativa no conteúdo total de AG saturados (AGS) e insaturados (AGI) entre os grupos GH-T e GI-T, sendo maior no GI-T, seguido de GH-T e sem diferença significativa entre GH-L e GI-L. Porém, as razões entre ΣAGP/ ΣAGS das margarinas não variou entre os grupos, enquanto as razões entre ΣAGP/ ΣAGT nas margarinas GI-T e GI-L foram superiores às demais. Os resultados obtidos indicam que as margarinas GI-T e GI-L seriam mais apropriadas para consumo humano, por possuírem menos AGT e uma melhor razão AGP/AGT que as demais.

Comportamento de cristalização de lipídios estruturados obtidos a partir de gordura do leite e óleo de girassol

A finalidade do estudo foi avaliar o comportamento de cristalização de misturas binárias de gordura do leite e óleo de girassol em diversas proporções, bem como de seus correspondentes lipídios estruturados obtidos por interesterificação química. Foram usados conteúdo de gordura sólida, consistência, ponto de amolecimento e microscopia sob luz polarizada para avaliar as misturas antes e após a interesterificação. A adição de óleo de girassol e a interesterificação modificaram a cristalização da gordura do leite, pelos efeitos de diluição e rearranjo dos triacilgliceróis. Arquivos de vídeo em formato WMV foram compilados para estudar a cristalização a 20 ºC. Os vídeos tornaram possível a observação da estrutura cristalina formada e representaram uma ferramenta de grande importância para a pesquisa de cristalização de óleos e gorduras.

Incerteza em resultados analíticos e verificação de conformidade de qualidade de alimentos

Este artigo questiona a validade de estimativas de incerteza (dispersão, variância e seus correlatos, como precisão, desvio padrão, etc.) de medição e incerteza de amostragem, bem como sua validade em verificações de conformidade. Obteve tendências de acréscimo ou comportamento em leque em micotoxinas, sódio, óleos graxos e curvas de calibração para carotenoides em ensaios de proficiência, experimentos de precisão de instituições consagradas ou acreditadas e curvas de calibração, o que invalida diversas estimativas de incerteza de medição. Questionou e recalculou resultados do Guia de Incerteza de Amostragem, demonstrando inadequações teóricas e concluiu por sua invalidade. Propôs sistema de estimação voltada para o alimento/processo que se pesquisa através de plano amostral normalizado ou especificamente elaborado para fim de verificação de conformidade. Finalmente, traz as regras decisórias estocásticas para verificação de conformidade em alimentos e diversos outros produtos.

Óleo essencial de orégano: interferência da composição química na atividade frente a Salmonella Enteritidis

Este trabalho avaliou a interferência da origem e do teor de compostos fenólicos de óleo essencial de orégano (OEO) de cinco marcas comerciais provenientes de diferentes regiões do mundo, na atividade inibitória frente à Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). A composição de cada OEO foi determinada por cromatografia gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massas (CG-IE-MS). A atividade inibitória frente SE in vitro foi avaliada pela técnica de difusão em poços, empregando-se soluções alcoólicas a 0,1; 0,2; 0,5; 1,0; ou 2,0%, observando-se a formação de halo de inibição após incubação a 30 °C por 24 horas. Como resultado da análise por CG-IE-MS, foram identificados dezessete componentes voláteis. Todos OEO analisados neste trabalho possuíam carvacrol como componente principal e apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana frente a SE nas cinco concentrações testadas. A ação inibitória das cinco marcas comerciais avaliadas não apresentou diferença estatística significativa (p > 0,05), porém o OEO proveniente da região do Mediterrâneo com p-cimeno e γ-terpineno, além de carvacrol, apresentou maiores halos de inibição de SE que os demais OEO. Concluiu-se que a multiplicação de Salmonella Enteritidis in vitro pode ser inibida por OEO cuja ação antimicrobiana independe da região produtora de orégano. No entanto, óleos essenciais que possuem p-cimeno e γ-terpineno, além de carvacrol, podem ter o seu efeito antimicrobiano potencializado.

Construction of 2D transparent micromodels in polyester resin with porosity similar to carrots

Microscopic visualization, especially in transparent micromodels, can provide valuable information to understand the transport phenomena at pore scale in different process occurring in porous materials (food, timber, soils, etc.). Micromodels studies focus mainly on the observation of multi-phase flow, which presents a greater proximity to reality. The aim of this study was to study the process of flexography and its application in the manufacture of polyester resin transparent micromodels and its application to carrots. Materials used to implement a flexo station for micromodels construction were thermoregulated water bath, exposure chamber to UV light, photosensitive substance (photopolymer), RTV silicone polyester resin, and glass plates. In this paper, data on size distribution of a particular kind of carrot we used, and a transparent micromodel with square cross-section as well as a Log-normal pore size distribution with pore radii ranging from 10 to 110 µm (average of 22 µm and micromodel size of 10 × 10 cm) were built. Finally, it stresses that it has successfully implemented the protocol processing 2D polyester resin transparent micromodels.

Hypercalcemia and acute kidney injury caused by abuse of a parenteral veterinary compound containing vitamins A, D, and E

A previously healthy 19 year-old male presented to the hospital with anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. Laboratory studies were significant for hypercalcemia (peak calcium value of 14.8 mg/dL) and acute kidney injury (peak serum creatinine of 2.88 mg/dL). He admitted to using a parenteral formulation of vitamins A, D and E restricted for veterinary use containing 20,000,000 IU of vitamin A; 5,000,000 IU of vitamin D3; and 6,800 IU of vitamin E per 100 mL vial. The patient stated to have used close to 300 mL of the product over the preceding year. Interestingly, the young man was not interested in the massive amounts of vitamins that the product contained; he was only after the local effects of the oily vehicle. The swelling produced by the injection resulted in a silicone-like effect, which gave the impression of bigger muscles. Nevertheless, the product was absorbed and caused hypervitaminosis. The serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D was clearly elevated at 150 ng/mL (reference range from 30 to 60 ng/mL), but in most published cases of vitamin D toxicity, serum levels have been well above 200 ng/mL. His PTH level was undetectable and other potential causes of hypercalcemia were excluded. Therefore, we posit that the severity of the hypercalcemia observed in this case was the result of a synergistic effect of vitamins A and D. The patient was treated with normal saline, furosemide and zolendronic acid, with rapid normalization of calcium levels and renal function.

Luz e temperatura na germinação de sementes de pimenta longa (Piper hispidinervum) e pimenta-de-macaco (Piper aduncum)

As espécies Piper hispidinervum e Piper aduncum destacam-se como produtoras de óleos essenciais ricos em compostos de interesse às indústrias de perfumaria e produtos fitossanitários, como o safrol e dilapiol. Essas espécies encontram-se em processo de domesticação e estudos sobre o processo germinativo de suas sementes são escassos. Assim, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar a viabilidade de sementes de P. hispidinervum e P. aduncum, buscando determinar um protocolo eficiente para a realização do teste de germinação para cada espécie estudada. O trabalho foi conduzido no período de julho a agosto de 2008, sendo as sementes submetidas a diferentes combinações de temperatura e de luz: 20 ºC e 25 ºC sob luz branca e difusa; e 20-30 ºC alternando escuro (16 h) e claro (8 h), totalizando cinco tratamentos. O tratamento utilizando a temperatura de 25 ºC com incidência de luz branca foi o que produziu melhores resultados, com maiores valores de porcentagem e velocidade de germinação sendo, portanto, indicado para avaliação da qualidade fisiológica das sementes de pimenta longa e pimenta-de-macaco.

Investigations into the extraction and the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water by solid-phase extraction and capillary gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry

Factors affecting the detennination of PAHs by capillary GC/MS were studied. The effect of the initial column temperature and the injection solvent on the peak areas and heights of sixteen PAHs, considered as priority pollutants, USillg crosslinked methyl silicone (DB!) and 5% diphenyl, 94% dimethyl, 1% vinyl polysiloxane (DBS) columns was examined. The possibility of using high boiling point alcohols especially butanol, pentanol, cyclopentanol, and hexanol as injection solvents was investigated. Studies were carried out to optimize the initial column temperature for each of the alcohols. It was found that the optimum initial column temperature is dependent on the solvent employed. The peak areas and heights of the PAHs are enhanced when the initial column temperature is 10-20 c above the boiling point of the solvent using DB5 column, and the same or 10 C above the boiling point of the solvent using DB1 column. Comparing the peak signals of the PAHs using the alcohols, p-xylene, n-octane, and nonane as injection solvents, hexanol gave the greatest peak areas and heights of the PAHs particularly the late-eluted peaks. The detection limits were at low pg levels, ranging from 6.0 pg for fluorene t9 83.6 pg for benzo(a)pyrene. The effect of the initial column temperature on the peak shape and the separation efficiency of the PARs was also studied using DB1 and DB5 columns. Fronting or splitting of the peaks was obseIVed at very low initial column temperature. When high initial column temperature was used, tailing of the peaks appeared. Great difference between DB! and.DB5 columns in the range of the initial column temperature in which symmetrical.peaks of PAHs can be obtained is observed. Wider ranges were shown using DB5 column. Resolution of the closely-eluted PAHs was also affected by the initial column temperature depending on the stationary phase employed. In the case of DB5, only the earlyeluted PAHs were affected; whereas, with DB1, all PAHs were affected. An analytical procedure utilizing solid phase extraction with bonded phase silica (C8) cartridges combined with GC/MS was developed to analyze PAHs in water as an alternative method to those based on the extraction with organic solvent. This simple procedure involved passing a 50 ml of spiked water sample through C8 bonded phase silica cartridges at 10 ml/min, dried by passing a gentle flow of nitrogen at 20 ml/min for 30 sec, and eluting the trapped PAHs with 500 Jll of p-xylene at 0.3 ml/min. The recoveries of PAHs were greater than 80%, with less than 10% relative standard deviations of nine determinations. No major contaminants were present that could interfere with the recognition of PAHs. It was also found that these bonded phase silica cartridges can be re-used for the extraction of PAHs from water.

Investigations into the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by capillary gas chromatography

Factors involved in the determination of PAHs (16 priority PAHs as an example) and PCBs (10 PCB congeners, representing 10 isomeric groups) by capillary gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS, for PAHs) and electron capture detection (GC/ECD , for PCBs) were studied, with emphasis on the effect of solvent. Having various volatilities and different polarities, solvent studied included dichloromethane, acetonitrile, hexan e, cyclohexane, isooctane, octane, nonane, dodecane, benzene, toluene, p-xylene, o-xylene, and mesitylene. Temperatures of the capillary column, the injection port, the GC/MS interface, the flow rates of carrier gas and make-up gas, and the injection volume were optimized by one factor at a time method or simplex optimization method. Under the optimized conditions, both peak height and peak area of 16 PAHs, especially the late-eluting PAHs, were significantly enhanced (1 to 500 times) by using relatively higher boiling point solvents such as p-xylene and nonane, compared with commonly used solvents like benzene and isooctane. With the improved sensitivity, detection limits of between 4.4 pg for naphthalene and 30.8 pg for benzo[g,h,i]perylene were obtained when p-xylene was used as an injection solvent. Effect of solvent on peak shape and peak intensity were found to be greatly dependent on temperature parameters, especially the initial temperature of the capillary column. The relationship between initial temperature and shape of peaks from 16 PAHs and 10 PCBs were studied and compared when toluene, p-xylene, isooctane, and nonane were used as injection solvents. If a too low initial temperature was used, fronting or split of peaks was observed. On the other hand, peak tailing occurred at a too high initial column temperature. The optimum initial temperature, at which both peak fronting and tailing were avoided and symmetrical peaks were obtained, depended on both solvents and the stationary phase of the column used. On a methyl silicone column, the alkane solvents provided wider optimum ranges of initial temperature than aromatic solvents did, for achieving well-shaped symmetrical GC peaks. On a 5% diphenyl: 1% vinyl: 94% dimethyl polysiloxane column, when the aromatic solvents were used, the optimum initial temperature ranges for solutes to form symmetrical peaks were improved to a similar degree as those when the alkanes were used as injection solvents. A mechanism, based on the properties of and possible interactions among the analyte, the injection solvent, and the stationary phase of the capillary column, was proposed to explain these observations. The effect of initial temperature on peak height and peak area of the 16 PAHs and the 10 PCBs was also studied. The optimum initial temperature was found to be dependent on the physical properties of the solvent used and the amount of the solvent injected. Generally, from the boiling point of the solvent to 10 0C above its boiling point was an optimum range of initial temperature at which cthe highest peak height and peak area were obtained.

Lipase-Mediated Enzymatic Catalysis For The Synthesis of New Chiral Polymers

Immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (N435) was investigated as a potential biocatalyst to generate silicone-based chiral polymers from monomers derived from the enzymatic dihydroxylation of bromobenzene. Several conditions and parameters have been investigated for this purpose and lipase transesterification preference to each of the free secondary alcohols in the chiral monomers was documented. The N435 was challenged with a series of substrates where the free alcohol moieties were systematically protected in order to study the substrate preference(s) for the transesterification reactions.

Obesidad y sedentarismo en poblaciones rural y urbana

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias de Enfermería con Enfasis en Salud Comunitaria) UANL

Reingeniería de procesos, coadyuvante de la administración escolar en universidades públicas

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias de la Administración con Especialidad en Relaciones Industriales) - UANL, 2000

Estudio de la actividad biológica de los extractos de tres plantas de la familia boraginaceae

Tesis (Doctor en Ciencias con Acentuación en Química de productos Naturales) UANL, 2010.

L'élastographie ultrasonore dynamique vasculaire : une nouvelle modalité d'imagerie non-invasive pour la caractérisation mécanique de la thrombose veineuse

L’accident thromboembolique veineux, tel que la thrombose veineuse profonde (TVP) ou thrombophlébite des membres inférieurs, est une pathologie vasculaire caractérisée par la formation d’un caillot sanguin causant une obstruction partielle ou totale de la lumière sanguine. Les embolies pulmonaires sont une complication mortelle des TVP qui surviennent lorsque le caillot se détache, circule dans le sang et produit une obstruction de la ramification artérielle irriguant les poumons. La combinaison d’outils et de techniques d’imagerie cliniques tels que les règles de prédiction cliniques (signes et symptômes) et les tests sanguins (D-dimères) complémentés par un examen ultrasonographique veineux (test de compression, écho-Doppler), permet de diagnostiquer les premiers épisodes de TVP. Cependant, la performance de ces outils diagnostiques reste très faible pour la détection de TVP récurrentes. Afin de diriger le patient vers une thérapie optimale, la problématique n’est plus basée sur la détection de la thrombose mais plutôt sur l’évaluation de la maturité et de l’âge du thrombus, paramètres qui sont directement corrélées à ses propriétés mécaniques (e.g. élasticité, viscosité). L’élastographie dynamique (ED) a récemment été proposée comme une nouvelle modalité d’imagerie non-invasive capable de caractériser quantitativement les propriétés mécaniques de tissus. L’ED est basée sur l’analyse des paramètres acoustiques (i.e. vitesse, atténuation, pattern de distribution) d’ondes de cisaillement basses fréquences (10-7000 Hz) se propageant dans le milieu sondé. Ces ondes de cisaillement générées par vibration externe, ou par source interne à l’aide de la focalisation de faisceaux ultrasonores (force de radiation), sont mesurées par imagerie ultrasonore ultra-rapide ou par résonance magnétique. Une méthode basée sur l’ED adaptée à la caractérisation mécanique de thromboses veineuses permettrait de quantifier la sévérité de cette pathologie à des fins d’amélioration diagnostique. Cette thèse présente un ensemble de travaux reliés au développement et à la validation complète et rigoureuse d’une nouvelle technique d’imagerie non-invasive élastographique pour la mesure quantitative des propriétés mécaniques de thromboses veineuses. L’atteinte de cet objectif principal nécessite une première étape visant à améliorer les connaissances sur le comportement mécanique du caillot sanguin (sang coagulé) soumis à une sollicitation dynamique telle qu’en ED. Les modules de conservation (comportement élastique, G’) et de perte (comportement visqueux, G’’) en cisaillement de caillots sanguins porcins sont mesurés par ED lors de la cascade de coagulation (à 70 Hz), et après coagulation complète (entre 50 Hz et 160 Hz). Ces résultats constituent les toutes premières mesures du comportement dynamique de caillots sanguins dans une gamme fréquentielle aussi étendue. L’étape subséquente consiste à mettre en place un instrument innovant de référence (« gold standard »), appelé RheoSpectris, dédié à la mesure de la viscoélasticité hyper-fréquence (entre 10 Hz et 1000 Hz) des matériaux et biomatériaux. Cet outil est indispensable pour valider et calibrer toute nouvelle technique d’élastographie dynamique. Une étude comparative entre RheoSpectris et la rhéométrie classique est réalisée afin de valider des mesures faites sur différents matériaux (silicone, thermoplastique, biomatériaux, gel). L’excellente concordance entre les deux technologies permet de conclure que RheoSpectris est un instrument fiable pour la mesure mécanique à des fréquences difficilement accessibles par les outils actuels. Les bases théoriques d’une nouvelle modalité d’imagerie élastographique, nommée SWIRE (« shear wave induced resonance dynamic elastography »), sont présentées et validées sur des fantômes vasculaires. Cette approche permet de caractériser les propriétés mécaniques d’une inclusion confinée (e.g. caillot sanguin) à partir de sa résonance (amplification du déplacement) produite par la propagation d’ondes de cisaillement judicieusement orientées. SWIRE a également l’avantage d’amplifier l’amplitude de vibration à l’intérieur de l’hétérogénéité afin de faciliter sa détection et sa segmentation. Finalement, la méthode DVT-SWIRE (« Deep venous thrombosis – SWIRE ») est adaptée à la caractérisation de l’élasticité quantitative de thromboses veineuses pour une utilisation en clinique. Cette méthode exploite la première fréquence de résonance mesurée dans la thrombose lors de la propagation d’ondes de cisaillement planes (vibration d’une plaque externe) ou cylindriques (simulation de la force de radiation par génération supersonique). DVT-SWIRE est appliquée sur des fantômes simulant une TVP et les résultats sont comparés à ceux donnés par l’instrument de référence RheoSpectris. Cette méthode est également utilisée avec succès dans une étude ex vivo pour l’évaluation de l’élasticité de thromboses porcines explantées après avoir été induites in vivo par chirurgie.