Evolução microestrutural da cerâmica KSr2Nb5O15 dopada com CuO:B2O3

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

Development and validation of HPLC method for analysis of dexamethasone acetate in microemulsions

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise fitoquímica e atividade antimicobacteriana de extratos metanólicos de Jacaranda cuspidifolia Mart. (Bignoniaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aspectos dinâmicos da água versus álcool e acetona por técnicas de congelamento

Water still represents, on its critical properties and phase transitions, a problem of current scientific interest, as a consequence of the countless open questions and of the inadequacy of the existent theoretical models, mainly related to the different solid and liquid phases that this substance possesses. For example, there are 13 known crystalline forms of water, and also amorphous phases. One of them, the amorphous ice of very high density (VHDA), was just recently observed. Other example is the anomalous behavior in the macroscopic density, which presents a maximum at the temperature of 277 K. In order to experimentally investigate the behavior of one of the liquid-solid phase transitions, the anomaly in its density and also the metastability, we used three different cooling techniques and, as comparison systems, we made use of the solvents: acetone and ethyl alcohol. The first studied cooling system employ a Peltier plate, a device recently developed, which makes use of small cubes made up of semiconductors to change heat among two surfaces; the second system is a commercial refrigerator, similar to the residential ones. Finally, the liquid nitrogen technique, which is used to refrigerate the samples in a container, in two ways: a very fast and other one, almost static. In those three systems, three Beckers of aluminum were used (with a volume of 80 ml, each), containing water, alcohol and acetone. They were closed and maintained at atmospheric pressure. Inside of each Becker were installed three thermocouples, disposed along the vertical axis of the Beckers, one close to the inferior surface, other to the medium level and the last one close the superior surface. A system of data acquisition was built via virtual instrumentation using as a central equipment a Data-Acquisition board. The temperature data were collected by the three thermocouples in the three Beckers, simultaneously, in function of freezing time. We will present the behavior of temperature versus freezing time for the three substances. The results show the characterization of the transitions of the liquid

Propriedades magnéticas de nanopartículas de ferro em substratos antiferromagnéticos

The effect of finite size on the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic particles systems is a recurrent subject. One of the aspects wide investigated is the superparamagnetic limit where the temperature destroys the magnetic order of ferromagnetic small particles. Above the block temperature the thermal value of the magnetic moment of the particle vanishes, due to thermal fluctuations. The value of the blocking temperature diminishes when the size of the particle is reduced, reflecting the reduction of the anisotropy energy barrier between the uniform states along the uniaxial axis. The increasing demand for high density magnetic media has recently attracted great research interest in periodic arrangements of nanometric ferromagnetics particles, approach in the superparamagnetic limit. An interesting conjecture is the possibility of stabilization of the magnetic order of small ferromagnetic particles (F) by interface coupling with antiferromagnetic (AF) substrate. These F/AF systems may also help to elucidate some details of the effect of exchange bias, because the effect of interface roughness and the paper of domain walls, either in the substrate or the particle, are significantly reduced. We investigate the magnetic phases of small ferromagnetic particles on a antiferromagnetic substrate. We use a self-consistent local field method, incorporating the interface field and the dipole interaction between the spins of the ferromagnetic particle. Our results indicate that increasing the area of the interface favors the formation of the uniform state. Howere above a critical height value appears a state non-uniform is formed where the spins of in the particle s free surface are rotated with respect to the interface spins direction. We discuss the impact of the competition between the dipolar and interface field on the magnetic charge, that controls the field of flux leakage of the particle, and on the format of the hysteresis curves. Our results indicate that the liquid magnetic charge is not a monotonically increasing function of the height of the particle. The exchange bias may display anomalous features, induced for the dipolar field of the spins near the F/AF interface

Ativação local da rota da quinurenina por moduladores inflamatórios durante a meningite bacteriana.

Activation of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway (KP) by modulators of immune system has been observed during several neurological diseases. Here we assessed the association of chemo-/cytokine levels with the concentration of KP metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples from patients with bacterial meningitis (BM). All samples were collected from 42 patients diagnosed with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM), aseptic meningitis, tuberculous meningitis and patients without infection neurological disorders. CSF and plasma concentration of metabolites from the KP was assessed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and cytokines and chemokines by Bio-plex 200 suspension array system. Concentrations of the KP metabolites KYN and kynurenic acid (KYNA) were significantly higher in CSF of patients with ABM compared to other groups. Tryptophan (TRP), anthranilic acid (AA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) did not show statistical significance, although some of them presented a good accumulation during ABM. The expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, MCP-1 and G-CSF was about 100-fold higher in CSF from ABM patients than other infected groups. In all CSF and plasma samples, the concentration of IL-2, IL-12(p70), IL-4, IL-8 and GM-CSF was not significant. ABM still showed significant concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, IL-1Ra and MCP-1 in plasma samples. Based on the comparison of KP metabolites concentrations between plasma and CSF samples we conclude that the activation of the tryptophan pathway upon BM occurs within the brain. This increase in KP metabolites is most due to activation of the KP by molecules as IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in response to infection.

Influência do estado nutricional materno em vitamina A sobre os níveis de imunoglobulina A no colostro humano

Mothers with good vitamin A nutritional status during gestation and lactation are better able to nourish and protect their infant with maternal milk. Our hypothesis is that women with more serum retinol have more retinol and secretory immunoglobulin A in colostrum. 190 healthy puerperal women from a Brazilian public maternity were recruited and divided according to the cutoff point for serum retinol (30 μg/dL). A number of the women was supplemented with 200000 UI (60 mg) of retinyl palmitate in the immediate postpartum. Serum and colostrum were collected on the 1st day postpartum and colostrum again on the following day. Retinol (serum and colostrum) was analyzed by HPLC and SIgA (colostrum) by turbidimetry. The mothers presented with adequate biochemical indicators of nutritional status, according to serum retinol (44.6 μg/dL). There were significant differences (p= 0.0017 and p= 0.043, respectively) in retinol and SIgA levels in the colostrum of mothers with serum retinol > 30 μg/dL and < 30 μg/dL. The concentration of SIgA in the colostrum of non-supplemented mothers on the 1st day postpartum was 822.6 mg/dL, decreasing after 24 hours to 343.7 mg/dL. Supplemented mothers showed levels of SIgA in colostrum of 498.9 mg/dL on the 2nd day postpartum (p= 0.00006). The colostrum of women with good vitamin A nutritional status had more retinol and SIgA. Additionally, maternal supplementation increases the levels of SIgA in colostrum. The higher levels of SIgA on the 1st day postpartum showed the importance of early breastfeeding, given that it provides considerable immunological benefits to newborn infants

Eletromiografia de superfície da musculatura supra-hióidea durante a deglutição de idosos sem doenças neurológicas e idosos com Parkinson

OBJETIVO: investigar as diferenças entre os achados eletromiográficos dos músculos supra-hióideos direito e esquerdo durante a deglutição de um líquido e um pastoso fino, em sujeitos idosos com doença de Parkinson e idosos sem doença neurológica. MÉTODOS: 30 sujeitos de ambos os sexos participaram deste estudo, 15 idosos sem doença neurológica e os demais com doença de Parkinson. Todos foram submetidos a um protocolo de avaliação clínica e avaliação eletromiográfica de superfície. RESULTADOS: foram constatadas diferenças significantes nos valores entre os sujeitos (f=14.4 e p= 0.000) e entre os lados (f=4.4 e p=0.0037). em relação ao tempo de duração da contração muscular durante a deglutição as diferenças foram significantes apenas entre as consistências (f=8.2 e p=0.005). CONCLUSÃO: a amplitude eletromiográfica foi menor nos sujeitos com doença de Parkinson e maior nos músculos supra-hiódeos do lado direito em ambos os grupos. A duração da contração muscular não diferiu significativamente entre os sujeitos com doença de Parkinson e idosos sem doença neurológica e foi menor para a consistência líquida.

Remoção de diclofenaco, ibuprofeno, naproxeno e paracetamol em filtro ecológico seguido por filtro de carvão granular biologicamente ativado

O filtro ecológico representa uma promissora tecnologia de tratamento, em razão desta não necessitar da aplicação de produtos químicos, além de sua constatada eficiência. Nele, estabelece-se entre os seres vivos a relação de cadeia alimentar. Inicialmente uma matriz aquosa foi acrescida de quatro fármacos (diclofenaco, naproxeno, ibuprofeno e paracetamol) e posteriormente analisada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para avaliar a remoção desses compostos pelo filtro ecológico seguido pelo filtro de carvão granular biologicamente ativado. Parâmetros, entre eles turbidez, coliformes totais e termotolerantes, cor aparente e cor verdadeira, foram mensurados para verificar a eficiência dos filtros. Houve remoção de 97,43% do diclofenaco, 85,03% do ibuprofeno: 94,11% do naproxeno e 84,07% do paracetamol.

Avaliação da influência do vento na circulação de uma lagoa de estabilização

Este artigo avaliou a influência do vento em diferentes profundidades na circulação de massa líquida da lagoa facultativa da estação de tratamento de esgotos do município de Álvares Florence, em São Paulo, Brasil, por meio de flutuadores com diferentes dimensões (15, 25 e 35 cm de comprimento). Por meio de um método simples, prático e de baixo custo, foi possível verificar o sentido de circulação da lagoa, o qual, por sua vez, está relacionado com a direção dos ventos.

Transferência de oxigênio em reatores de leito fluidizado com circulação em tubos concêntricos em meios bifásico e trifásico com variação da relação entre diâmetros

A eficiência do reator de leito fluidizado com circulação em tubos concêntricos depende das condições hidrodinâmicas que influem na transferência de oxigênio ao biofilme. Este trabalho investigou a influência da relação entre diâmetros dos tubos e da concentração de meio suporte (areia), sobre o coeficiente global de transferência de oxigênio (K La). Os ensaios - em reatores de 2,6 m de altura, com diâmetro externo de 250 mm e internos de 100, 125, 150 e 200 mm - empregaram vazões de ar até 2.500 L.h-1 e concentrações de até 150 g.L-1 de areia. O K La aumentou ligeiramente com 30 g.L-1 e diminuiu para concentrações maiores, confirmando relatos da literatura em condições semelhantes. Um modelo para K La em meio bifásico foi ajustado para as diversas relações ensaiadas entre a área externa e a interna, postulando-se uma redução na razão entre a transferência na fase líquida e o diâmetro da bolha com o aumento da vazão de ar.

Síntese enzimática de biosurfactante e sua aplicabilidade na indústria do petróleo

Enzymes have been widely used in biosynthesis/transformation of organic compounds in substitution the classic synthetic methods. This work is the first writing in literature of enzymatic synthesis for attainment the biossurfactants, the use glucose sucrose, ricinoleic acid e castor oil as substratum, and as biocatalyst, used immobilized lipase Thermomyces lanuginose, Rhizomucor miehei and the Candida antarctica lipase B; alkaline protease and neutral protease from Bacillus subtillis and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiaeI. The analysis of HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) showed that highest conversions were reached of used the alkaline protease from Bacillus subtillis. Laboratory tests, to evaluate the applicability, indicated that the produced biosurfactantes had good stability in presence of salts (NaCl) and temperature (55 e 25°C), they are effective in the reduction of the superficial tension and contac angle, but they have little foaming capacity, when compared with traditional detergents. These results suggest that the prepared surfactants have potential application as wetting agent and perforation fluid stabilizer

Análises bromatológicas e fitoquímicas de frutos de Licania tomentosa (Benth) FRITSCH

This study conducted chemical analyzes of the fruits of Licania tomentosa Benth belonging to the Chrysobalanaceae family, order and superorder Rosiflorae Rosales. Samples were collected in February 2011 in the city of Natal - RN. The fruits were separated into peel, pulp and seed, and the samples were analyzed on moisture and ash by thermogravimetric methods, reducing and total sugars, lipids by Soxhlet extraction, minerals by ICP / OES and other analyzes by physical measurements of the fruit. The fruits for the analysis of determination of flavonoids and phenolic compounds were dried at 40 ° C and ground. For the analyzes to determine the content of phenolics and flavonols was used spectroscopy in the visible region, and also performed the characterization of ethanol extracts by high performance liquid chromatography and test for antioxidant activity hydroethanolic extracts. The results obtained are about 83.9% of the fruits have a length between 4.0 to 6.0 cm with respect to the diameter of the fruit about 97.4% of the fruits have a diameter between 2.0 - 4, 0 cm, mean weight of 36.14 g (7.86), the bark showed 60.5 (1.5)% relative humidity, the flesh 72.3 (0.9) and 44.4 seeds (0.4 )%, the bark showed 0.22 (0.00)% ash, the pulp 1.41 (0.01)% and the seed 1.18 (0.01)%, the bark showed 3.73 (0, 09) mg lipids / 100 g sample of the pulp 0.40 (0.04) and the seed 0.05 (0.00). With respect to reducing sugars and total gave the results, 16.23 (0.23) g/100g and 20.70 (0.24) g/100g. The fruit is presented with a good source of nutrients especially carbohydrates and lipids. The analysis for determining the antioxidant activity tests were performed reducing power and antioxidant capacity, the antioxidant capacity of hydroethanolic extracts of peel and pulp showed similar results, with higher concentrations however hydroethanolic bark extract. Regarding the content of phenolics and flavonoids hidroetanílico bark extract showed higher concentration values. The characterization of the extracts by high performance liquid chromatography identified the following compounds by retention time indicated by the race of the standards: galic acid, kaempferol and kaempferol derivatives. Considering the results of the fruit Licania tomentosa Benth may be an alternative food by analysis of their nutritional content and has substances with antioxidant action

Remoção, por flotação, de óleo em águas produzidas na indústria de petróleo: eficiência e modelagem do processo

The separation oil-water by the use of flotation process is characterized by the involvement between the liquid and gas phases. For the comprehension of this process, it s necessary to analyze the physical and chemical properties command float flotation, defining the nature and forces over the particles. The interface chemistry has an important role on the flotation technology once, by dispersion of a gas phase into a liquid mixture the particles desired get stuck into air bubbles, being conduced to a superficial layer where can be physically separated. Through the study of interface interaction involved in the system used for this work, was possible to apply the results in an mathematical model able to determine the probability of flotation using a different view related to petroleum emulsions such as oil-water. The terms of probability of flotation correlate the collision and addition between particles of oil and air bubbles, that as more collisions, better is the probability of flotation. The additional probability was analyzed by the isotherm of absorption from Freundlich, represents itself the add probability between air bubbles and oil particles. The mathematical scheme for float flotation involved the injected air flow, the size of bubbles and quantity for second, the volume of float cell, viscosity of environment and concentration of demulsifier. The results shown that the float agent developed by castor oil, pos pH variation, salt quantity, temperature, concentration and water-oil quantity, presented efficient extraction of oil from water, up to 95%, using concentrations around 11 ppm of demulsifier. The best results were compared to other commercial products, codified by ―W‖ and ―Z‖, being observed an equivalent demulsifier power between Agflot and commercial product ―W‖ and superior to commercial product ―Z‖

Utilização de uma coluna de flotação para remoção de compostos orgânicos da água de produção

Innovative technologies using surfactant materials have applicability in several industrial fields, including petroleum and gas areas. This study seeks to investigate the use of a surfactant derived from coconut oil (SCO saponified coconut oil) in the recovery process of organic compounds that are present in oily effluents from petroleum industry. For this end, experiments were accomplished in a column of small dimension objectifying to verify the influence of the surfactant SCO in the efficiency of oil removal. This way, they were prepared emulsions with amount it fastens of oil (50, 100, 200 and 400 ppm), being determined the great concentrations of surfactant for each one of them. Some rehearsals were still accomplished with produced water of the industry of the petroleum to compare the result with the one of the emulsions. According to the experiments, it was verified that an increase of the surfactant concentration does not implicate in a greater oil removal. The separation process use gaseous bubbles formed when a gas stream pass a liquid column, when low surfactant concentrations are used, it occurs the coalescence of the dispersed oil droplets and their transport to the top of the column, forming a new continuous phase. Such surfactants lead to a gas-liquid interface saturation, depending on the used surfactant concentration, affecting the flotation process and influencing in the removal capacity of the oily dispersed phase. A porous plate filter, with pore size varying from 40 to 250 mm, was placed at the base of the column to allow a hydrodynamic stable operation. During the experimental procedures, the operating volume of phase liquid was held constant and the rate of air flow varied in each experiment. The resulting experimental of the study hydrodynamic demonstrated what the capturing of the oil was influenced by diameter of the bubbles and air flow. With the increase flow of 300 about to 900 cm3.min-1, occurred an increase in the removal of oil phase of 44% about to 66% and the removal kinetic of oil was defined as a reaction of 1° order.