A high dynamic range method for the direct readout of a dynamic phase change in homodyne interferometers

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

Caracterização físico-química de algumas tuberosas amiláceas

As principais fontes de amido comercial no mundo são o milho, a batata e a mandioca. Entretanto, nos últimos anos vem crescendo o interesse em amidos naturais que possam ser utilizados pela indústria alimentícia. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar, quanto à composição físico-química, açafrão, ahipa, araruta, batata-doce, biri, inhame e mandioquinha-salsa, tuberosas amiláceas potencialmente passíveis de introdução como matérias-primas de interesse comercial. Amostras das tuberosas foram analisadas quanto ao teor de umidade, cinzas, proteína, matéria graxa, açúcares redutores e totais, fibras e amido. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que das tuberosas analisadas as que apresentaram maior teor de amido foram a araruta (Maranta arundinacea), o inhame (Dioscorea sp) e o biri (Canna edulis), sendo que o inhame e o biri apresentaram também o maior rendimento potencial em toneladas de amido/hectare.

Advances in stallion's epididymal sperm technology

Freezing epididymal sperm is a method to preserve germplasm from animals with not only high genetic potential but also endangered species. In the equine some owners have chosen this possibility in cases of either severe illness or death of stallions. However, the lack of knowledge and poor published results of such technique hampers its propagation. New procedures have allowed some improvement on fertility rates of frozen sperm from the epididymis of stallions. The aim of this study is to report the advances on processing and cryopreservation of samples from the stallion's epididymal semen.

High Incidence of Enterotoxin D Producing Staphylococcus spp. in Brazilian Cow's Raw Milk and Its Relation with Coagulase and Thermonuclease Enzymes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aspirin increases tolerance to high temperature in seeds of Raphanus sativus L. cvar Early Scarlet Globe

The incubation of seeds of Raphanus sativus L. cvar Early Scarlet Globe with 10 mu M aspirin resulted in increase in the temperature range for germination. The analysis of percentage germination and germination rates indicated the increase in the optimum temperature from 21.4 to 26 degrees C although at 32.6 degrees C 80.8% of seeds germinated with aspirin and no germination in the control. The analysis of the kinetics of seed germination indicated that aspirin treatment resulted in germination by decreasing the enthalpy of activation of the process. The aspirin treatment also resulted in the synchronization of seed germination. on the base of our results we propose aspirin application in practice to increase the tolerance to high temperature and to synchronize seed germination at least in Raphanus sativus L. cvar early scarlet globe.

Características físico-químicas de amidos modificados com permanganato de potássio/ácido lático e hipoclorito de sódio/ácido lático

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Pulpal temperature increase with high-speed handpiece, ER : YAG laser and ultrasound tips

The aim of this study was to compare intrapulpal temperature increase produced by high-speed handpiece, Er:YAG laser and CVDentus ultrasound tips during cavity preparation. Thirty bovine mandibular incisors with an enamel/dentin thickness of 4 mm at buccal surface had their roots amputated and were allocated to the following groups (n=10): Group I- high-speed handpiece; Group II- noncontact Er:YAG laser (250 mJ/4Hz); and Group III- CVDentus ultrasouns tips. All devices were used with water cooling. Class V cavities were prepared to a depth of 3.5 mm, measured with a periodontal probe. A type T thermocouple was placed inside the pulp chamber to determine the temperature increase (degrees C), which was recorded by a data acquisition system ADS 2000 IP (Lynx Technology) linked to a notebook computer. Data were analyzed statistically by oneway ANOVA and Tukey's test (p=0.05). The mean temperature rises were: 1.10 degrees C ( 0.56) for Group 1, 0.84 degrees C (0.55) for Group II, and 3.00 degrees C (1.34) for Group III. There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between Groups I and II, but both of them differed significantly from Group III (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of Er:YAG laser and high-speed handpiece for cavity preparation resulted in similar temperature increase. Although ultrasound tips generated significantly higher intrapulpal temperature increase, it remained below the critical value of 5.5 degrees C and may be considered safe for use.

High-velocity oxyfuel Cr3C2-NiCr replacing hard chromium coatings

Comparative wear and corrosion properties of Cr3C2-NiCr (CC-TS) (a high-velocity oxyfuel [HVOF]) and hard chromium (HC) coating's obtained on a steel substrate have been studied. The structural characterization was done before and after measurements by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and scanning white light interferometry. Wear and corrosion properties were evaluated by ball on disk (ASTM G99-90), rubber wheel (ASTM G65-91), and electrochemical measurements of open circuit and polarization curves. The best corrosion and wear resistance was for the CC-TS obtained by HVOF. The open-circuit potential values measured for both samples after 18 h of immersion we're: -0.240 and -0.550 V, respectively, for CC-TS and HC, versus Ag/AgCl,KClsat. Three orders of magnitude lower volume loss were found for CC-TS (HVOF) after friction tests compared with HC.

Proline content and protein patterns in Eucalyptus grandis shoots submitted to high and low temperature shocks

As respostas às mudanças de temperatura de plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas de E. grandis cultivadas in vitro foram avaliadas considerando alterações dos níveis de prolina e proteínas solúveis totais. Análises de proteínas solúveis através de SDS-PAGE e prolina foram realizadas após 12h a 12ºC (aclimatação ao frio) ou a 33ºC (aclimatação ao calor), e imediatamente depois dos choques térmicos a 41ºC e 0ºC. Análises também foram realizadas após um período de 24h depois dos choques térmicos (período de recuperação). O tratamento de temperatura a 0ºC não alterou o padrão de proteínas nas plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas, entretanto a temperatura baixa induziu altos níveis de prolina, que se mantiveram relativamente altos após o período de recuperação. Três novas proteínas (90,5, 75 e 39 kDa), provavelmente HSPs, foram observadas nas plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas submetidas às temperaturas altas. As plantas expostas a 41ºC foram capazes de recuperar-se dos choques após o período de recuperação, entretanto não houve recuperação completa das plantas expostas às baixas temperaturas. O efeito da aclimatação sobre a recuperação (homeostasis) pode variar dependendo do parâmetro avaliado, tipo e duração do choque térmico.

Yellow passion fruit seed oil (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa): physical and chemical characteristics

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

FÉCULA E FARELO DE MANDIOCACOMO SUBSTRATO NA PRODUÇÃO DE CICLODEXTRINAS

Ciclodextrinas (CDs) são oligossacarídeos cíclicos, não redutores, capazes de formar complexos de inclusão com outras moléculas, modificando suas características químicas e físicas. São de interesse industrial, mas o fator limitante para sua utilização ainda é o alto custo de produção. Devido à sua pureza e ao teor de amilopectina, a fécula de mandioca se apresenta como substrato potencial para a produção de CDs, tendo mais de 95% de amido. Outro substrato potencial é o farelo, resíduo da extração da fécula de mandioca, com cerca de 70% de amido e custo consideravelmente inferior ao da fécula. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de CDs usando fécula e farelo de mandioca como substratos, empregando ciclodextrina glucosiltransferase (CGTase; E. C. 2.4.1.19) proveniente de Bacillus macerans. A conversão do amido em a-CDs foi de 19% para a fécula e 21% para o farelo. Para b-CDs, os valores foram de 27% e 15% para a fécula e o farelo, respectivamente. A proporção de a: b-CDs produzidas a partir da fécula foi de 1,0:1,4, enquanto que para o farelo foi de 1,5:1,0. Após 4 horas a 50ºC houve considerável perda da atividade enzimática, indicando tendência de estabilização da reação.

Effect of high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits, and subunits of gliadin on physicochemical parameters of different wheat genotypes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Design of a LNA and a Gilbert Cell Mixer MMICs with a GaAsPHEMT technology

The design of a Gilbert Cell Mixer and a low noise amplifier (LNA), using GaAs PHEMT technology is presented. The compatibility is shown for co-integration of both block on the same chip, to form a high performance 1.9 GHz receiver front end. The designed LNA shows 9.23 dB gain and 2.01 dB noise figure (NF). The mixer is designed to operate at RF=1.9 GHz, LO=2.0 GHz and IF=100 MHz with a gain of 14.3 dB and single sideband noise figure (SSB NF) of 9.6 dB. The mixer presents a bandwith of 8 GHz.

Performance of an operating high energy physics data grid: DOSAR-Grid

The DO experiment at Fermilab's Tevatron will record several petabytes of data over the next five years in pursuing the goals of understanding nature and searching for the origin of mass. Computing resources required to analyze these data far exceed capabilities of any one institution. Moreover, the widely scattered geographical distribution of DO collaborators poses further serious difficulties for optimal use of human and computing resources. These difficulties will exacerbate in future high energy physics experiments, like the LHC. The computing grid has long been recognized as a solution to these problems. This technology is being made a more immediate reality to end users in DO by developing a grid in the DO Southern Analysis Region (DOSAR), DOSAR-Grid, using a available resources within it and a home-grown local task manager, McFarm. We will present the architecture in which the DOSAR-Grid is implemented, the use of technology and the functionality of the grid, and the experience from operating the grid in simulation, reprocessing and data analyses for a currently running HEP experiment.

Mechanistic approach to predict real machining time for milling free-form geometries applying high feed rate

An accurate estimate of machining time is very important for predicting delivery time, manufacturing costs, and also to help production process planning. Most commercial CAM software systems estimate the machining time in milling operations simply by dividing the entire tool path length by the programmed feed rate. This time estimate differs drastically from the real process time because the feed rate is not always constant due to machine and computer numerical controlled (CNC) limitations. This study presents a practical mechanistic method for milling time estimation when machining free-form geometries. The method considers a variable called machine response time (MRT) which characterizes the real CNC machine's capacity to move in high feed rates in free-form geometries. MRT is a global performance feature which can be obtained for any type of CNC machine configuration by carrying out a simple test. For validating the methodology, a workpiece was used to generate NC programs for five different types of CNC machines. A practical industrial case study was also carried out to validate the method. The results indicated that MRT, and consequently, the real machining time, depends on the CNC machine's potential: furthermore, the greater MRT, the larger the difference between predicted milling time and real milling time. The proposed method achieved an error range from 0.3% to 12% of the real machining time, whereas the CAM estimation achieved from 211% to 1244% error. The MRT-based process is also suggested as an instrument for helping in machine tool benchmarking.