IMPEDANCE CHARACTERISTICS of La3/2Bi3/2Fe5O12 CERAMICS

Polycrystalline La3/2Bi3/2Fe5O12 (LBIO) compound was prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. The complex impedance of LBIO was measured over a wide temperature (i.e., room temperature to 500 C) and frequencies (i.e., 10(2)-10(6) Hz) ranges. This study takes advantage of plotting ac data simultaneously in the form of impedance and modulus spectroscopic plots and obey non-Debye type of relaxation process. The Nyquist's plot showed the presence of grain effects in the material at high temperature. The ac conductivity spectrum was found to obey Jonscher's universal power law. The dc conductivity was found to increase with rise in temperature. The activation energy of the compound was found to be 0.24 and 0.51 eV in the low and high-temperature region, respectively, for conduction process.

Influência do pré-aquecimento na adaptação marginal de dois materiais seladores de fóssulas e fissuras, analisada através de tomografia de coerência ótica

Among the non-invasive techniques employed in the prevention of caries highlights the sealing pits and fissures which is a conservative maneuver, in order to obliterate them to protect them from attack acid bacteria. Influenced by the studies of pre-heating composite resin, which has experienced great improvement in some of their physical properties, this study aimed to evaluate in vitro the superficial and internal marginal adaptation of different materials and sealants in pre-heating or not. A total of 40 extracted human third molars (n=10) that had their occlusal surfaces prepared to receive sealant. We tested two types of sealing materials: resin sealant (Fluoroshield) and low-viscosity resin (Permaflo), where 50% of previously received heated material and the other half received sealant material at room temperature. All samples were subjected to thermal cycling and pH, simulating a cariogenic oral environment, and later were analyzed appliance OCT (optical coherence tomography). The images obtained alterations were recorded and analyzed statistically. Change was considered as the emergence of bubbles, gaps and cracks in the sealant. Comparisons of the same material, assessing the fact that it is not sealed or preheated material, as well as comparisons between different materials subjected to the same temperature were carried out. The nonparametric Tukey test was used (p < 0,05). The results showed that there was statistically significant difference between both the materials analyzed, as between the situations in which the sealant material was submitted (preheated or not). On the issue of marginal adaptation and internal surface, seen through Optical coherence tomography, may suggest that there is a difference between the use of one type or another of the sealing material analyzed, with superiority attributed to resin Permaflo compared to sealant Fluroshield, telling is the same for the different techniques used

Comportamento de sementes de cultivares de soja, submetidos a diferentes períodos de envelhecimento acelerado

Accelerated aging test is an important procedure to be used, beyond other aim, for breeding programs to select cultivars with storage and development potential under high relative humidity and temperature. At accelerated aging test in soybean seeds, the temperature and time of exhibition they were not still totally established, factors that cause divergence among the researchers, mainly with relationship to the most appropriate periods. The aim was to evaluate the behavior of soybean seeds submitted to accelerated aging test. Seeds of the varieties IAC-15, CAC-1, FT-Estrela and IAC-Foscarin 31 were submitted to germination test, electrical conductivity and accelerated aging (41 degrees C, during 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72 and 76 hours). There are differences among cultivars evaluated in relation to accelerated aging test sensibilility; the cultivars are sensibles to increasing the exposition time; the accelerated aging test can be used to select cultivars in breeding programs; the cultivar FT-Estrela can be sowed at regions with high temperature and humidity.

Estudo geoquímico e geocronológico Rb-Sr e Sm-Nd em zonas de cisalhamento mineralizadas em ouro e suas relações com as rochas encaixantes e geocronológico Sm-Nd em mineralizações de scheelita na faixa Seridó

Great part of the gold mineralizations are associated with shearing zones through which circulate a great volume of fluids, that interact with the host rocks, originating leaching or precipitation of chemical elements, including gold. The studied mineralizations are inserted in the Seridó Belt. The tungsten mineralization in Brejuí Mine is hosted in calcsilicate rocks from Jucurutu Formation. The São Francisco auriferous mineralization has as host rocks mica-schists from Seridó Formation, while the Ponta da Serra and Fazenda Simpático mineralizations are hosted in orthogneisses of this fold belt basement. The research conducted on these mineralizations had the purpose of integrate the data of chemical elements behavior during the shearing/mineralizing event, and its influence on the isotopic systems Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd. The studies of chemical mobility in the auriferous mineralizations showed that elements that during the shearing displayed in general an immobile behavior were Al, Ti and Zr. Among the elements that were mobilized during the event, K and Rb showed mass gain in ali belts of transformed rocks, while the elements Ca, Na and Sr normally lost mass. Petrographic studies showed that the minerais biotite and plagioclase, in all investigated mineralizations, played an important role in the chemical reactions occurred in the transformed rocks to the generation of muscovite, cordierite and sillimanite, justifying the input of K to the formation of muscovite, and the release of Na and Ca from plagioclase to the fluid phase. In the São Francisco auriferous mineralization, the results of the Rb-Sr isotopic analysis yielded ages of 645 ± 19 Ma and 596 ± 17 Ma, with both samples, from original and transformed rocks. Two ages, 569 ± 20 Ma. and 554 ± 19 Ma., were obtained with samples frem the transformed rocks domain. These ages suggest that there were two metamorphic pulses during the emplacement of the mineralized shearing zone. The Sm-Nd data yielded TDM ages of 1,31 Ga and 1,26 Ga with 3Nd (0,6 Ga) of -0,26 e -0,40 for the original and final transformed rocks, respectively. In case of the orthogneisses of Caicó Complex, e.g. the Ponta da Serra and Fazenda Simpático mineralizations, the Rb-Sr data did not yield ages with geological significance. In the Ponta da Serra mineralization, the Sm-Nd isotopic data yielded T DM ages of 2,56 Ga and 2,63 Ga to the original rocks and of 2,71 Ga to the mineralized sheared rock, and values of 3Nd (2,0 Ga) between -3,70 e -5,42 to the original and sheared rock, respectively. In the Fazenda Simpático, Sm-Nd data yielded TDM between 2,65 and 2,69 Ga with values of 3Nd (2,0 Ga) between -5,25 e -5,52. Considering the Sm-Nd data, the TDM ages may be admitted as the age of the parental magma extraction, producer of the protoliths of the orthogneisses from Ponta da Serra and Fazenda Simpático mineralizations. The chemical mobility studies showed that in the basement hosted mineralizations, Rb achieved mass while Sr lost mass, as Sm as well as Nd were strongly mobilized. The Sm/Nd ratio remained constant, however, confirming the isochemical character of those elements. In the basement mineralizations, Rb-Sr ages are destituted of geological significance, because of the partial opening of the isotopic system during the tectono-metamorphic transformations. In the tungsten mineralization, the diagram Sm-Nd constructed with the whole-rock data of calcsilicatic and the high-temperature paragenesis (garnet, diopside and iron-pargasitic hornblende) indicated an 631 ± 24 Ma age, while with the whole-rock data and low-temperature paragenesis (vesuvianite, epidote and calcite), a 537 ± 107 Ma age was obtained. These ages, associated with the petrographic observations, suggest that there was a time gap among the hydrothernal events responsible by the formation of the high and low temperature paragenesis in the calcsilicatic rocks mineralized in scheelite

Petrologia dos granitóides brasilianos associados à zona de cisalhamento Remígio-Pocinhos(PB)

The Brasiliano Cycle in the Seridó Belt (NE Brazil) is regarded mostly as a crustal reworking event, characterized by transcurrent or transpressional shear zones which operated under high temperature and low pressure conditions. In the eastern domain of this belt- the so-called São José de Campestre Massif (SJCM), a transtensional deformation regime is evidenced by extensional components or structures associated to the strikeslip shear zones. The emplacement of the Neoproterozoic Brasiliano granitoids is strongly controled by these discontinuities. Located in the southern border of the SJCM, the Remígio-Pocinhos shear zone (RPSZ) displays, in its northern half, top to the SW extensional movement which progressively grade, towards its southern half, to a dextral strike-slip kinematics, defining a negative semi-flower structure. This shear zone is overprinted upon allocthonous metasediments of the Seridó Group and an older gneiss-migmatite complex, both of which containing metamorphic parageneses from high amphibolite to granulite facies (the latter restricted to the strike-slip zone), defining the peak conditions of deformation. Several granitoid plutons are found along this structure, emplaced coeval with the shearing event. Individually, such bodies do not exceed 30 km2 in outcropping area and are essentially parallel to the trend of the shear zone. Petrographic, textural and geochemical data allow to recognize five different granitoid suites along the RPSZ: porphyritic granites (Serra da Boa Vista and Jandaíra), alkaline granites (Serra do Algodão and Serra do Boqueirão) and medium to coarse-grained granites (Olivedos) as major plutons, while microgranite and aluminous leucogranite sheets occur as minor intrusions. The porphyritic granites are surrounded by metasediments and present sigmoidal or en cornue shapes parallel to the trend of the RPSZ, corroborating the dextral kinematics. Basic to intermediate igneous enclaves are commonly associated to these bodies, frequently displaying mingling textures with the host granitoids. Compositionally these plutons are made up by titanite-biotite monzogranites bearing amphibole and magnetite; they are peraluminous and show affinities to the monzonitic, subalkaline series. Peraluminous, ilmenite-bearing biotite monzogranites and titanite-biotite monzogranites correspond, respectivally, to the Olivedos pluton and the microgranites. The Olivedos body is hosted by metasediments, while the microgranites intrude the gneiss-migmatite complex. Being highly evolved rocks, samples from these granites plot in the crustal melt fields in discrimination diagrams. Nevertheless, their subtle alignment also looks consistent with a monzonitic, subalkaline affinity. These chemical parameters make them closer to the I-type granites. Alkaline, clearly syntectonic granites are also recognized along the RPSZ. The Serra do Algodão and Serra do Boqueirão bodies display elongated shapes parallel to the mylonite belt which runs between the northern, extensional domain and the southern strike-slip zone. The Serra do Algodão pluton shows a characteristic isoclinal fold shape structure. Compositionally they encompass aegirine-augite alkali-feldspar granites and quartz-bearing alkaline syenite bearing garnet (andradite) and magnetite plus ilmenite as opaque phases. These rocks vary from meta to peraluminous, being correlated to the A-type granites. Aluminous leucogranites bearing biotite + muscovite ± sillimanite ± garnet (S-type granites) are frequent but not volumetrically important along the RPSZ. These sheet-like bodies may be folded or boudinaged, representing partial melts extracted from the metasediments during the shear zone development. Whole-rock Rb-Sr isotope studies point to a minimum 554��10 Ma age for the crystalization of the porphyritic granites. The alkaline granites and the Olivedos granite produced ca. 530 Ma isochrons which look too young; such values probably represent the closure of the Rb-Sr radiometric clock after crystallization and deformation of the plutons, at least 575 Ma ago (Souza et al. 1998). The porphyritic and the alkaline granites crystallized under high oxygen fugacity conditions, as shown by the presence of both magnetite and hematite in these rocks. The presence of ilmenite in the Olivedos pluton suggests less oxidizing conditions. Amphibole and amphibole-plagioclase thermobarometers point to minimum conditions, around 750°C and 6 Kbars, for the crystallization of the porphyritic granites. The zirconium geothermometer indicates higher temperatures, in the order of 800°C, for the porphyritic granites, and 780°C for the Olivedos pluton. Such values agree with the thermobarometric data optained for the country rocks (5,7 Kbar and 765°C; Souza et al. 1998). The geochemical and isotope data set point to a lower crustal source for the porphyritic and the alkaline granites. Granulite facies quartz diorite to tonalite gneisses, belonging or akin to the gneiss-migmatite complex, probably dominate in the source regions. In the case of the alkaline rocks, subordinate contributions of mantle material may be present either as a mixing magma or as a previously added component to the source region. Tonalite to granodiorite gneisses, with some metasedimentary contribution, may be envisaged for the Olivedos granite. The diversity of granitoid rocks along the RPSZ is explained by its lithospheric dimension, allowing magma extraction at different levels, from the middle to lower crust down to the mantle. The presence of basic to intermediate enclaves, associated to the porphyritic granites, confirm the participation of mantle components in the magma extraction system along the RPSZ. This mega-structure is part of the network of Brasiliano-age shear zones, activated by continental collision and terrane welding processes at the end of the Neoproterozoic

Avaliação nutricional, em tilápias-do-nilo, de farinhas de sangue bovino obtidas por três métodos de processamento

Avaliaram-se farinhas de sangue obtidas pelos métodos de processamento em tambor, convencional e atomização. As farinhas foram submetidas ao processo de extração e fracionamento da proteína para determinação do perfil do tamanho molecular, que foi comparado ao do sangue bovino in natura. Nas amostras, submetidas ou não ao processo de desengorduramento, foram realizadas análises da digestibilidade in vitro da proteína. Para determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes in vivo, foram confeccionadas quatros rações, sendo uma sem farinha de sangue, denominada ração-referência purificada. Para essa etapa, juvenis de tilápia-do-nilo com peso médio inicial de 100,0±5,0 g foram estocados em aquários de 250 L, em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e dez peixes/unidade experimental. As rações-teste foram obtidas com a introdução de 30% das farinhas de sangue em estudo. O processamento afetou a estrutura proteica original do sangue in natura em condições de alta temperatura e tempo prolongado, efeito traduzido pela alta proporção de peptídeos de baixo peso molecular e aminoácidos livres, correspondendo a baixos valores de digestibilidade da proteína da farinha de sangue nos testes in vivo e in vitro. A farinha de sangue atomizada e a de tambor são eficientemente utilizadas por tilápias-do-nilo. Na farinha de sangue convencional, a proteína teve valor biológico inferior ao das outras duas farinhas. Na formulação de rações contendo farinha de sangue para tilápias-do-nilo, a isoleucina deve ser considerada o primeiro aminoácido limitante, seguida pela metionina+cistina, arginina e treonina, que foram encontradas em níveis críticos para essa espécie, principalmente na farinha de sangue convencional.

The effect of season on serum testosterone concentrations in dogs

Photoperiod and environmental temperature are two important factors that may influence the reproductive cycle of various species. The objective of this study was to investigate seasonal influences on serum testosterone concentrations in dogs in a tropical zone, where the variation in day length between winter and summer solstice was approximately 2.5 h. Blood samples were collected every 15 days from seven adult dogs over a 14-month interval and serum testosterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The year was divided into four seasons and mean testosterone concentrations for each season were related to the mean environmental temperature and rainfall during that season. Mean testosterone concentrations were 1.81 ng/mL (winter 2002), 1.93 ng/mL (spring 2002),1.31 ng/mL (summer 2003), 2.02 ng/mL (autumn 2003) and 1.93 ng/mL (winter 2003). The temperature ranged from 10.2 to 32.8 degrees C and the rainfall from 33 to 476 mm. Serum testosterone concentrations were lower in summer 2003 than in both spring 2002 (P = 0.05) and autumn 2003 (P = 0.0 16). In a tropical zone, a combination of high temperature and substantial rainfall may have reduced serum testosterone concentrations in dogs. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Delayed replantation of rat teeth after use of reconstituted powdered milk as a storage medium

Minimal extraoral dry storage period and moist storage for the avulsed tooth are identified as key steps for the treatment protocol of tooth replantation. Among the possible moist storage media, bovine milk has stood out because of its capacity of preserving the integrity of the periodontal ligament (PDL) fibers. This condition has attracted the attention to investigate the use of powdered milk, which is one of the presentation forms of bovine milk, as a feasible storage medium in cases of delayed tooth replantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing process after delayed replantation of rat teeth stored in reconstituted powdered milk and long shelf-life (ultra high temperature) whole milk. Forty maxillary right rat incisors were assigned to four groups (n = 10): group I - the teeth were extracted and immediately replanted into theirs sockets; group II - the teeth were stored for 60 min in 200 ml of freshly reconstituted powdered milk; group III - the teeth were stored for 60 min in 200 ml of long shelf-life whole milk; group IV - the teeth were kept dry for the same time. All procedures were performed at room temperature. Next, the root canals of teeth in groups II, III, and IV were instrumented, filled with a calcium hydroxide-based paste, and replanted into their sockets. All animals received systemic antibiotic therapy and were killed by anesthetic overdose 60 days after replantation. The pieces containing the replanted teeth were removed, fixed, decalcified, and paraffin-embedded. Semi-serial 6-mu m-thick sections were obtained and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histomorphological analysis. There was statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between groups I and IV regarding the presence of replacement resorption and PDL remnants on root surface. The powdered milk and long shelf-life whole milk presented similar results to each other and may be indicated as storage media for avulsed teeth.

Effect of microwave disinfection on the bond strength of denture teeth to acrylic resins

During microwave disinfection, the dentures are exposed to water at high temperature and this may affect the bond between the denture teeth and the acrylic resin from which dentures are made. In this study, a shear test was used to evaluate the effect of microwave disinfection (650W/6 min) on the bond strength of two types of denture teeth to three acrylic resins, with different polymerization methods. The specimens were submitted to the shear tests (0.5 mm/min) after: immersion in water (37 degrees C) for 48 h or 8 days (controls); two or seven cycles of microwave disinfection (test groups). Data (MPa) were analyzed using three-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test (alpha = 0.05). Microwave disinfection did not adversely affect the bond strength of all tested materials with the exception of QC-20 bonded to SR Vivodent PE, for which a significant reduction was recorded after seven cycles of irradiation. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seasonal effect of three pasture plants species on the free-living stages of Haemonchus contortus

Avaliaram-se o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência dos estágios de vida livre de Haemonchus contortus em fezes obtidas de ovinos infectados por esse nematódeo, depositadas nas quatro estações do ano, em pastagens de três espécies de gramíneas (Brachiaria decumbens cv Australiana, Cynodon dactylon cv. Coast-cross e Panicum maximum cv. Aruana), com duas alturas (5cm e 30cm) no momento da deposição das fezes. Amostras de fezes e de capim foram coletadas uma, duas, quatro, oito, 12 e 16 semanas após a deposição das fezes e processadas em laboratório, para recuperação de larvas infectantes. O maior número de larvas infectantes foi recuperado das amostras de capim e de fezes nas pastagens com 30cm de altura. As condições climáticas que mais favoreceram o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência das larvas nas fezes, bem como a sobrevivência e a manutenção das larvas no capim foram aquelas com temperaturas médias em torno de 17ºC, acompanhadas de baixas precipitações pluviométricas. As temperaturas mais altas e as precipitações elevadas, que ocorrem na chamada estação das águas, foram desfavoráveis para a recuperação de larvas infectantes da pastagem. de forma geral, a pastagem de Aruana foi a que possibilitou as maiores recuperações de larvas.

INFLUENCE of ENCAPSULATING MATERIALS on WATER SORPTION ISOTHERMS of VACUUM-DRIED PERSIMMON PULP POWDER

Water sorption isotherms for vacuum-dried persimmon pulp (PP) powder were determined in the temperature range of 20-50C, and the effects of maltodextrin (MD) or gum arabic (GA) addition on the water sorption behavior of the dried powders were analyzed. Several models were evaluated to fit the experimental data and the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer model was selected as the most adequate to describe the observed behavior. Addition of encapsulants affected the isotherms: at the same water activity, PP powder with added GA (PP + GA) or MD (PP + MD) presented lower equilibrium water content than pure PP and were less affected by temperature variations. Samples of PP + MD presented lower equilibrium moisture content than those of PP + GA. The isosteric heats of sorption of pulp powders with encapsulants were higher (less negative) than those of PP, suggesting that there are more active polar sites in PP than in pulp powder containing encapsulants.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe choice of persimmon to carry out this work was due to the large persimmon production available in Brazil; moreover, persimmon pulp is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and iron, as well as in phenolic compounds. Drying of fruit pulps with high sugar content presents technical difficulties because the hygroscopicity and thermoplasticity of the resulting powders when exposed to high temperature and relative humidity. For this reason, addition of high-molar-mass biopolymers, such as maltodextrin or gum arabic, is a strategy to aid drying and to improve storage stability. Knowledge of water sorption isotherms and net isosteric heats of sorption is important to various food processing operations, including drying, storage and packaging. They are useful in calculating time and energy consumptions during drying, modeling moisture changes during storage and predicting shelf life of food products.

Chaotic thermalization in Yang-Mills-Higgs theory on a spacial lattice

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

Experimental aspects of biomass fuels in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor

This work presents experimental information relevant to the combustion of biomass in a bubbling fluidized bed. The biomass distribution in a fluidized bed was studied through tests performed in a cold bed, while the volatiles released in the biomass pyrolysis, the burning rate of the resulting charcoal, and the combustion control regime, were studied through tests performed in a high temperature bed.Visual examination of photographs taken from a transparent walls bed, with a rectangular cross-section, showed that the large fuel particles, typical of biomass processing, were distributed in the bubbles, in the splash zone, and in the emulsion phase. The occurrence of biomass in the emulsion phase was favored by burning biomass particles of greater density and smaller size-expetimentally determined in each case. Decreasing the fuel particle size improved the biomass distribution inside the bed. The same was accomplished by increasing the superficial gas velocity as high as possible, compatibly with the acceptable elutriation.Burning tests showed that the biomass fuels have the advantage of reaching the diffusional regime at temperatures that can be lower than 1000 K, which ensures that the biomass fuels burn in a stable regime. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relaxor behavior in multiferroic BiMn2O5 ceramics

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

Electron microprobe and Raman spectroscopic investigation of monazite from chromitites of Cedrolina (Goias State, Brazil)

Monazite from chromitites of Cedrolina (Goias State, Brazil) was investigated by electron microprobe and Raman spectroscopy. Monazite has been rarely encountered in chromitites. In Brazil, it was previously reported from chromitites of the Campo Formoso layered intrusion. Comparison between the two occurrences indicates similar morphology and textural characteristics, but remarkable differences in chemical composition. In both cases, monazite occurs as irregular grains (up to 200 mu m) preferentially located in the chlorite-serpentine matrix of the chromitite, more rarely included in chromite. However, the monazite from Cedrolina is characterized by higher Ce/La ratio, and Pr, Nd, Th contents, compared with the monazite from Campo Formoso. The obtained Raman spectra are very similar in the two cases, suggesting that the compositional variation of monazites and the spectral resolution of the Raman do not allow a conclusive chemical analysis with Raman spectra. Textural evidence indicates that, in both occurrences, monazite precipitation did not take place at high temperature, concomitantly with the host chromitite. In the Campo Formoso chromitites, precipitation of monazite has been related with percolation of hydrothermal, aqueous and acid fluids emanating from a granite batholith. on the contrary, the Cedrolina monazite probably formed during one of the metamorphic events that affected the area in which the host chromitite occurs.