Atividade amilolítica e qualidade fisiológica de sementes armazenadas de milho super doce tratadas com ácido giberélico

O uso de reguladores de crescimento na fase de germinação melhora o desempenho das plântulas, acelerando a velocidade de emergência e realçando o potencial das sementes de várias espécies, mesmo sob condições adversas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência do ácido giberélico na atividade amilolítica e no vigor de sementes armazenadas de milho super doce. O experimento foi conduzido nos Laboratórios de Análise de Sementes do Departamento de Produção Vegetal/FCA e no Laboratório de Bioquímica de Plantas do Departamento de Química e Bioquímica/IB da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP/Botucatu), entre os meses de julho e setembro de 2001, onde foram feitas as avaliações da qualidade fisiológica, através dos testes de germinação, vigor e bioquímicos. Sementes de milho super doce da cultivar DO-04, foram acondicionadas em sacos de papel e armazenadas por oito meses em câmara seca (40% UR). Após este período, foram colocadas para germinar em rolos de papel toalha, embebidos com GA3 nas concentrações zero; 50; 100; 150 e 200mg.L-1. Foram avaliadas a germinação, vigor e atividade amilolítica das sementes. As sementes submetidas à pré-embebição em solução de 50mg.L-1 de ácido giberélico, apresentaram maior germinação e vigor, menor teor de proteínas totais e maior atividade amilolítica.

Velocidade de hidratação em função de características do tegumento de sementes de soja de diferentes cultivares e localidades

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Automação de um sistema rotatório para secagem do rejeito de maracujá

The rotary dryer is one of the most used equipments in processing industries. Its automatic control mode of operation is important specially to keep the moisture content of the final product in the desired value. The classical control strategies, like PID (proportional integral derivative) control, are largely used in the industrial sector because of its robustness and because they are easy to be implemented. In this work, a data acquisition system was implemented for monitoring the most relevant process variables, like: both inlet and outlet drying air temperature, dryer rotation, outlet air speed and humidity, and mass of the final product. Openloop tests were realized to identify a mathematical model able to represent the drying process for the rotary system. From this model, a PID controller was tuned using a direct synthesis method, assuming a first order trajectory. The PID controller was implemented in the system in order to control the inlet drying air temperature. By the end, closedloop tests (operating in automatic mode) were realized to observe the controller performance, and, after setting the best tune, experiments were realized using passion fruit seeds as raw material. The experiments realized in closedloop showed a satisfactory performance by the implemented control strategy for the drying air temperature of the rotary system

Oxidação úmida de fenóis com catalisadores de ferro suportado em argilominerais em reator de leito de lama (slurry)

The wet oxidation of organic compounds with CO2 and H2O has been demonstrated to be an efficient technique for effluent treatment. This work focuses on the synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance of Fe-MnO2/CeO2, K-MnO2/CeO2/ palygorskite and Fe/ palygorskite toward the wet oxidative degradation of phenol. The experiments were conducted in a sludge bed reactor with controlled temperature, pressure and stirring speed and sampling of the liquid phase. Experiments were performed on the following operating conditions: temperature 130 ° C, pressure 20.4 atm, catalyst mass concentration of 5 g / L initial concentration of phenol and 0.5 g / L. The catalytic tests were performed in a slurry agitated reactor provided with temperature, pressure and agitation control and reactor liquid sampling. The influences of iron loaded on the support (0.3; 7 and 10%, m/m) and the initial pH of the reactant medium (3.1; 6.8; 8.7) were studied. The iron dispersion on the palygorskite, the phase purity and the elemental composition of the catalyst were evaluated by X-Ray Difraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Flourescence (XRF). The use of palygorskite as support to increase the surface area was confirmed by the B.E.T. surface results. The phenol degradation curves showed that the Fe3+ over palygorskite when compared with the other materials tested has the best performance toward the (Total Organic carbonic) TOC conversion. The decrease in alkalinity of the reaction medium also favors the conversion of TOC. The maximum conversion obtained from the TOC with the catalyst 3% Fe / palygorskite was around 95% for a reaction time of 60 minutes, while reducing the formation of acids, especially acetic acid. With products obtained from wet oxidation of phenol, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, catechol and oxalic acid, identified and quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography was possible to propose a reaction mechanism of the process where the phenol is transformed into the homogeneous and heterogeneous phase in the other by applying a kinetic model, Langmuir-Hinshelwood type, with evaluation of kinetic constants of different reactions involved.

Otimização de um sistema de distribuição predial de água fria: estudo de caso

This dissertation presents a methodology to the optimization of a predial system of cold water distribution. It s about a study of a case applied to the Tropical Buzios Residential Condominium, located in the Búzio s Beach, Nísia Floresta city, the east coast of the Rio Grande do Norte state, twenty kilometers far from Natal. The design of cold water distribution networks according to Norm NBR 5626 of the ABNT - Brazilian Association of Techniques Norms, does not guarantee that the joined solution is the optimal solution of less cost. It s necessary the use of an optimization methodology, that supplies us, between all the possible solutions, the minimum cost solution. In the optimization process of the predial system of water distribution of the Tropical Búzios Condominium, is used Method Granados, that is an iterative algorithm of optimization, based on the Dynamic Programming, that supplies the minimum cost s network, in function of the piezometric quota of the reservoir. For the application of this Method in ramifies networks, is used a program of computer in C language. This process is divided in two stages: attainment of the previous solution and reduction of the piezometric quota of headboard. In the attainment of the previous solution, the minors possible diameters are used that guarantee the limit of maximum speed and the requirements of minimum pressures. The piezometric quota of headboard is raised to guarantee these requirements. In the second stage of the Granados Method, an iterative process is used and it objective is to reduce the quota of headboard gradually, considering the substitution of stretches of the network pipes for the subsequent diameters, considering a minimum addition of the network cost. The diameter change is made in the optimal stretch that presents the lesser Exchange Gradient. The process is locked up when the headboard quota of desired is reached. The optimized network s material costs are calculated, and is made the analysis of the same ones, through the comparison with the conventional network s costs

Consumo máximo de oxigênio e limiar anaeróbio de jogadores de futebol: comparação entre as diferentes posições

O grau de desenvolvimento das capacidades físicas no futebol é fator determinante do nível desportivo do jogador. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar valores de limiar anaeróbio e consumo máximo de oxigênio entre jogadores profissionais de futebol de diferentes posições. Para tanto, 25 atletas (idade = 22,08 ± 8,28 anos, peso = 76,12 ± 9,8kg, altura = 179,8 ± 7,1cm e relação corporal = 12,21 ± 3,67% de gordura corporal) foram divididos em cinco grupos, como se segue: goleiros (GO), zagueiros (ZA), laterais (LA), meio-campistas (MC) e atacantes (AT). O VO2max foi determinado em esteira ergométrica através de análise direta e a velocidade de corrida correspondente ao limiar anaeróbio fixo de 4mM (V4mM), em teste de campo (2 x 1.000m a 90 e 95% da velocidade máxima para a distância) através de interpolação linear. A V4mM foi menor (p < 0,05) para o grupo GO em relação aos demais grupos. Além disso, os grupos LA e MC apresentaram valores de V4mM significantemente maiores em relação aos grupos ZA e AT. O grupo GO mostrou VO2max significantemente menor em relação a todos os outros grupos, sendo que estes últimos não apresentaram diferença entre si. Uma vez que os atletas de diferentes posições não realizavam treinamento diferenciado, os autores creditam as diferenças encontradas à especificidade da movimentação durante partidas e coletivos.

Application of an HPLC method for analysis of propolis extract

Propolis obtained from honeybee hives has been widely used in medicine, cosmetics, and industry due to its versatile biological activities (antioxidant, antimicrobial, fungicidal, antiviral, antiulcer, immunostimulating, and cytostatic). These activities are mainly attributed to the presence of flavonoids in propolis, which points out the interest in quantifying these constituents in propolis preparations, as well as validation of analytical methodologies. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods have been reported to quantify isolated flavonoids or these compounds in complex biological matrices, such as herbal raw materials and extractive preparations. An efficient, precise, and reliable method was developed for quantification of propolis extractive solution using HPLC with UV detection. The chromatograms were obtained from various gradient elution systems (GES) tested in order to establish the ideal conditions for the analysis of propolis extractive solution, using methanol and water: acetonitrile (97.5 : 2.5, v/v) as mobile phase. Gradient reversed phase chromatography was performed using a stainless steel column (250 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 mum) filled with Chromsep RP 18 (Varian), column temperature at 30.0 +/- 0.1degreesC and detection at 310 nm. The main validation parameters of the method were also determined. The method showed linearity for chrysin in the range 0.24-2.4 mug mL(-1) with good correlation coefficients (0.9975). Precision and accuracy were determined. The obtained results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method. The analytical procedure is reliable and offers advantages in terms of speed and cost of reagents.

Influência do biofeedback no treino de marcha de sujeitos hemiparéticos: ensaio clínico randomizado

BACKGROUND: Treadmill training with partial body weight support (BWS) has shown many benefits for patients after a stroke. But their findings are not well known when combined with biofeedback. OBJETIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of biofeedback, visual and auditory, combined with treadmill training with BWS on on walking functions of hemiplegic subjects. METHODS: We conducted a clinical trial, randomized controlled trial with 30 subjects in the chronic stage of stroke, underwent treadmill training with BWS (control), combined with visual biofeedback, given by the monitor of the treadmill through the symbolic appearance of feet as the subject gave the step; or auditory biofeedback, using a metronome with a frequency of 115% of the cadence of the individual. The subjects were evaluated by kinematics, and the data obtained by the Motion Analysis System Qualisys. To assess differences between groups and within each group after training was applied to ANOVA 3 x 2 repeated measures. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between groups in any variable spatio-temporal and angular motion, but within each group there was an increase in walking speed and stride length after the training. The group of visual biofeedback increased the stance period and reduced the swing period and reason of symmetry, and the group auditory biofeedback reduced the double stance period. The range of motion of the knee and ankle and the plantar flexion increased in the visual biofeedback group. CONCLUSION: There are no differences between the immediate effects of gait training on a treadmill with BWS performed with and without visual or auditory biofeedback. However, the visual biofeedback can promote changes in a larger number of variables spatiotemporal and angular gait

Estágio menopausal e níveis hormonais no desenvolvimento muscular e funcional em mulheres de meia idade: um estudo transversal

Introduction: Hypoestrogenism is the main characteristic of female aging. It promotes significant changes in body composition, both in fat mass as in lean body mass, leading to a decrease in muscle strength and physical performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to test whether menopausal status and hormone levels are associated with muscular strength and physical performance in middle-aged women. Methods: In a cross-sectional study it was collected sociodemographic data, gynecological history, anthropometric and biochemical measures in women aged 40 to 65 years in Parnamirim-RN. The menopause status (pre, peri and post menopause) was determined by menstrual history. All women underwent three dimensions of physical performance assessment: handgrip dynamometry, gait speed and chair stands test - Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Categorical data were presented as absolute and relative frequencies. Quantitative data were showed as mean and standard deviation and the normality of distribution was verified with Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test. Biochemical measures of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were transformed to log10. ANOVA with Tukey post-test for comparison of variables between the groups pre, peri and post-menopausal was performed and then multiple linear regression analyzes. Results: Two hundred and seventy eight women aged 50.2 (±5.58) years composed this study, being 50 women in premenopausal status (18%), 122 in perimenopausal (43.9%), and 106 postmenopausal stage (38.1%). The groups were different in age (p=0.001), marital relationship duration (p <0.001), number of pregnancies (p=0.001) and parity (p=0.001). Differences in biochemical measures were observed among the groups: estradiol (p<0.001), FSH (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p=0.001). There were no differences in gait velocity between menopausal status. Values in mean of grip strength decreased by postmenopausal women to perimenopausal and premenopausal ones (24.5 ± 5.1, 25.6 ± 5.4, 26.9 ± 4.9 for post-stage, pre and peri menopausas, respectively, p = 0.02) and the performance of chair stands test was better in premenopausal women compared with that in peri and postmenopausal status (p = 0.02). In multiple linear regression for muscle strength, the variables that remained were: age, estradiol and somatic symptoms measured by Menopause Rating Scale-MRS (R2=0.15). While for the xiv chair-stands test the predictors were number of births and FSH values (R2=0.04). Conclusion: There is a relationship between the stages of menopause and muscle performance in measures of grip strength and sit-up test and these are influenced by the fall of estrogens levels. Data suggest that the decrease in muscle strength and physical performance already appear in the transition to menopause stage, pointing to the need for more research in this area and appropriate preventive interventions

Avaliação in vitro da adesão e proliferação de células mesenquimais do ligamento periodontal humano em diferentes superfícies de titânio

In the last years, many scientific researches in implantology have been focused on alternatives that would provide higher speed and quality in the process of osseointegration. Different treatment methods can be used to modify the topographic and chemical properties of titanium surface in order to optimize the tissue-implant reactions by a positive tissue response. This study aimed to evaluate the adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal cells from human periodontal ligament on two different titanium surfaces, using cell culture techniques. Grade II titanium discs received different surface treatments, forming two distinct groups: polished and cathodic cage plasma nitriding. Human periodontal ligament mesenchymal cells were cultured on titanium discs in 24-well cell culture plates, at a density of 2 x 104 cells per well, including wells with no discs as positive control. Data obtained by counting the cells that adhered to the titanium surfaces (polished group and cathodic cage group) and to the plastic surface (control group), in the 24, 48 and 72-hour periods after plating, were used to analyze cell adhesion and proliferation and to obtain the cell growing curve in the different groups. The data were submitted to nonparametric analysis and the differences between groups were compared by Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman statistical tests. No statistically significant differences were found in the cells counts between the groups (p>0.05). It was concluded that both treatments produced surfaces compatible with the adhesion and proliferation of human periodontal ligament mesenchymal cells

Resolvendo problemas de fluxo de potência ótimo DC através de uma rede de hopfield modificada

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

Influência da Dureza dos Discos Abrasivos no Corte de Materiais Dúcteis

O corte de materiais por disco abrasivo é um dos processos que apresentam as melhores características de economia, eficiência e rapidez sendo muito utilizado no meio industrial. Fatores como porcentagens e homogeneidade da mistura dos componentes, tamanho, forma (abrasividade), tenacidade e dureza dos grãos abrasivos, tipos de ligantes e de abrasivos, velocidade de corte e velocidade de mergulho influenciam na segurança, no desempenho e comportamento da operação. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a influência da dureza dos discos abrasivos no desempenho do processo de corte em operações do tipo remoção a seco. O aumento da dureza dos discos propiciou um aumento da força tangencial de corte e da relação G, devido à mais forte ligação entre o grão e o ligante no compósito. Os resultados mostram que a dureza dos discos abrasivos afeta a economia, pois influencia na vida útil dos discos abrasivos em termos de números de cortes proporcionados; a produtividade, pois está relacionada com o número de trocas de discos desgastados; os esforços necessários para a operação, pois estão relacionados com as forças tangenciais de corte.

Material processing by plasma shock wave generated in an inverse Z-pinch plasma expander

The applicability of plasma shock wave for material processing was investigated using modified inverse Z-pinch device. Shock wave expanding speed and plasma spectral analysis were studied using an internal magnetic,probe and spatially collimated light spectroscopy. The material processing capability of the device was shown by many different surface analysis techniques such as AES, IRS, EPM and SEM. The interactions between a plasma shock wave of similar to4x10(6) cm/s speed with a Si substrate surface shows some ion implantation capability using a nitrogen plasma and thin film formation using a methane plasma.

Frequency synthesizer using a hybrid analog/digital loop filter: A low complexity approach

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação das habilidades neurocognitivas em crianças e adolescentes sobreviventes da Leucemia Linfoide Aguda - LLA

The present study investigated the impact of the treatment modalities of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on neurocognitive abilities of children and adolescents survivors, aged between 6 and 16 years of age, accompanied in pediatric oncology sectors of public health services in the cities of Campina Grande-PB and Natal-RN. The study included 52 children, 13 of these being children and adolescents diagnosed with leukemia and 39 healthy children matched in relation to the study group considering gender, age, school type and level of maternal education. Later the group of children with leukemia was subdivided into two subgroups depending on treatment modality which were submitted: Group 1A (only chemotherapy) and 1B (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). All participants were subjected to a battery of neuropsychological tests that investigated the following neurocognitive abilities: intellectual ability, memory system, attention, visuospatiality and visuoconstruction, processing speed and executive functions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential measurements with the aid of the U test of Mann-Whitney and T test, considering the influence of the variables: sex, age at diagnosis, time since completion of treatment and level of schooling mothers, on the performance of children. Overall, it is concluded that the illness and the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia significantly favors the emergence of cognitive deficits, particularly in terms of visuospatial skills, and executive skills visoconstrutivas. In turn, the treatment modality of radiotherapy is associated with the presence of more severe deficits, highlighting the significant impact on the speed of information processing. It is hoped that the results presented here will contribute to a better understanding of the nature and extent of neurocognitive effects arising ALL treatment