Dimensionamento do número de amostras para avaliação da fertilidade do solo

The determination of the amount of sample units that will compose the sample express the optimization of the workforce, and reduce errors inherent in the report of recommendation and evaluation of soil fertility. This study aimed to determine in three systems use and soil management, the numbers of units samples design, needed to form the composed sample, for evaluation of soil fertility. It was concluded that the number of sample units needed to compose the composed sample to determination the attributes of organic matter, pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Al and H+Al and base saturation of soil vary by use and soil management and error acceptable to the mean estimate. For the same depth of collected, increasing the number of sample units, reduced the percentage error in estimating the average, allowing the recommendation of 14, 14 and 11 sample in management with native vegetation, pasture cultivation and corn, respectively, for a error 20% on the mean estimate.

Simulação da transferência de calor em amostras aquecidas por plasma

The processing of materials through plasma has been growing enough in the last times in several technological applications, more specifically in surfaces treatment. That growth is due, mainly, to the great applicability of plasmas as energy source, where it assumes behavior thermal, chemical and/or physical. On the other hand, the multiplicity of simultaneous physical effects (thermal, chemical and physical interactions) present in plasmas increases the complexity for understanding their interaction with solids. In that sense, as an initial step for the development of that subject, the present work treats of the computational simulation of the heating and cooling processes of steel and copper samples immersed in a plasma atmosphere, by considering two experimental geometric configurations: hollow and plane cathode. In order to reach such goal, three computational models were developed in Fortran 90 language: an one-dimensional transient model (1D, t), a two-dimensional transient model (2D, t) and a two-dimensional transient model (2D, t) which take into account the presence of a sample holder in the experimental assembly. The models were developed based on the finite volume method and, for the two-dimensional configurations, the effect of hollow cathode on the sample was considered as a lateral external heat source. The main results obtained with the three computational models, as temperature distribution and thermal gradients in the samples and in the holder, were compared with those developed by the Laboratory of Plasma, LabPlasma/UFRN, and with experiments available in the literature. The behavior showed indicates the validity of the developed codes and illustrate the need of the use of such computational tool in that process type, due to the great easiness of obtaining thermal information of interest

Inferência do ponto de orvalho em amostras de gás natural processado

This dissertation aims to assess the representativeness of the manual chilled mirror analyzer (model II Chanscope 13-1200-CN-2) used for the determination of condensed hydrocarbons of natural gas compared to the indirect methods, based on thermodynamic models equation of state. Additionally, it has been implemented in this study a model for calculating the dew point of natural gas. The proposed model is a modification of the equation of state of Peng-Robinson admits that the groups contribution as a strategy to calculate the binary interaction parameters kij (T) temperature dependence. Experimental data of the work of Brown et al. (2007) were used to compare the responses of the dew point of natural gas with thermodynamic models contained in the UniSim process simulator and the methodology implemented in this study. Then two natural gas compositions were studied, the first being a standard gas mixture gravimetrically synthesized and, second, a mixture of processed natural gas. These experimental data were also compared with the results presented by UniSim process simulator and the thermodynamic model implemented. However, data from the manual analysis results indicated significant differences in temperature, these differences were attributed to the formation of dew point of water, as we observed the appearance of moisture on the mirror surface cooling equipment

Preparo de amostras e métodos para a determinação do teor de óleo essencial de frutos de limoeiro

Objetivou-se avaliar alternativas de preparo da amostra e os métodos quantitativos para a determinação do teor de óleo em frutos de limão. Os tratamentos foram avaliados por meio do delineamento estatístico inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2x2x6, com quatro repetições, sendo duas variedades-copa de limoeiro verdadeiro ('Siciliano' e 'Eureka'), dois métodos analíticos para a determinação do teor de óleo (Scott e Clevenger) e seis formas de preparo dos frutos para análise (análise do fruto inteiro; frutos cortados na longitudinal e análise de ¼; frutos cortados na longitudinal e análise de ¹/2; frutos cortados ao meio e análise da parte superior; frutos cortados ao meio e análise da parte inferior; e análise de ²/8 do fruto). O método denominado de Clevenger foi o mais eficiente na determinação do teor de óleo essencial, e as formas de preparo de amostras ½ inferior, ½ superior, ¼ longitudinal e ½ longitudinal dos frutos proporcionaram valores superiores de óleo essencial.

Comparação entre métodos para determinação de carbono orgânico em amostras de solo mensuradas por volume ou massa

O uso da massa (g) ou do volume (cm³) como medida da quantidade de solo para determinação do teor de C orgânico do solo (COS), bem como a utilização de diferentes métodos de determinações analíticas empregados para essa mesma finalidade, pode alterar diretamente a interpretação dos resultados. Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar os métodos colorimétricos e titulométricos de determinação de matéria orgânica em três solos com diferentes texturas, tomando-se as amostras por massa (pesagem) e por volume (cachimbagem). Houve variação no teor de COS entre os métodos estudados para um mesmo solo. O uso da massa e do volume alterou diretamente a interpretação dos teores de matéria orgânica no solo. Há variações nos métodos de determinação de COS entre solos de diferentes texturas.

Desenvolvimento de protótipo de coletor automático destinado à coleta de amostras de água em corpos aquáticos para análise em laboratório

The aim of this approach is to describe the design and construction of a low-cost automated water sampler prototype. In recent years, there is an increasing need on the use of automated equipments for hydro climatic variables to be use in urban and rural environments. Such devices are always used to provide measured information which is of crucial importance on the development of water resources strategies at watershed scale. Actually, many research and water public institutions have been using these kinds of equipments. In most of the cases, automated equipments are expensive and need to be imported, generating a situation of technologic dependency. The prototype is based on an electronic system which controls a peristaltic pump functioning, five solenoid valves and an ultrasonic sensor connected to a datalloger. An interface with the user allows communication with a PC, when the equipment functioning parameters can be provided. The equipment has a hydraulic module composed by a 12V peristaltic pump connected to a distribution circuit composed by five solenoid valves, one of them being used to clean the circuit before each sampling procedure. Samples are collected by four 1.95 polyethylene bottles. The sampler body was made of acrylic material, with a cylindrical shape, and dimensions 0.72 m and 0.38 m height and diameter, respectively. The weight of the equipment without samples is approximately 15 kg, which infers to its portability. The prototype development total cost budget was approximately US$ 1,560.00. Laboratory tests aimed to evaluate the equipment performance and functioning demonstrated satisfactory results

Análise molecular dos éxons 8 a 11 do gene da p53 em amostras de câncer de colo de útero no Rio Grande do Norte

Mutations on TP53 gene are common in human cancer but not in cervical cancer where they are rarely found and the inactivation and degradation of p53 protein are attributed to the action of E6 viral oncogene from high risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Analysis of cervical cancer cell lines suggests that HPV negative samples shows mutation on TP53, but clinical approaches didn t confirmed this hypothesis. However, in most TP53 mutations studies on cervical cancer, only the exons 5 to 8 were analyzed. Approximately 90% of mutations described are on this region. Recent studies on several cancer suggests that mutation frequency in the other exons must be considered. The aim of this work was to verify whether mutations on coding and non-coding regions occur in cancer tissue from cervical cancer in patients from Rio Grande do Norte using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) as screening tool. Exons 8 to 11 were analyzed including some introns from 80 tumor samples and 8 peripheral blood samples from healthy women. DNA were submitted to PCR using primers with GC clamp on the end of one of them. The results were observed for each region after DGGE and silver staining. It was observed no amplified fragment with different migration profile from those obtained from DNA of peripheral blood. These results agree with those from literature where TP53 mutations in cervical cancer have been described in a very low frequency

Desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para caracterização de amostras de sedimento: Rio Jundiaí RN

The study of sediment in water bodies presents great environmental importance, because of its ability to adsorb the pollutants, they may facilitate the understanding of the history of the current quality of the water system. Depending on how it is done the collection, analysis can show both a recent contamination as old. The detailed characterization of the sediment may reveal details that can understand how each type of pollutant interacts with the material given its composition. In this work it has developed a systematic methodology to characterize samples of sediment, with the aim to understand how a series of metal is distributed in different size fractions of the sediment. This study was conducted in five samples of sediment (P1, P2, P3a, P3B and P3c) collected in Jundiaí river, one of the most important tributaries of the river Potengi in the region of Macaíba, RN. The characterization was made with the samples previously sieved into meshes with different granulometries (+8#, -8+16#, -16+65# - 65+100#,-100+200#,-200+250# and -250#), using the following techniques: Analysis of specific surface area by BET method, determining the levels of organic matter (OM%) and humidity through the gravimetry and Analysis Thermogravimetric (TG), Infrared Spectroscopy in a Fourier transform (FTIR ), Analysis of X ray diffraction (XRD), analysis of heavy metals by optical emission spectrometry with the Argon Plasma (ICP-OES). The analyzed elements were Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn and P. In addition to the techniques of characterization above, was also made the rebuilding of the samples P1, P2 and P3B in relation to the levels of organic matter and concentration of heavy metals. Then, the results of the recomposed samples were compared with those obtained in crude samples, showing great consistency. The gravimetry, used in determining the levels of organic matter, was not considered an appropriate method because the clay minerals present in the sediment samples analyzed fall apart in the same range of temperature (550-600 0C) used in roasting (600 0C). The results also showed the trend of organic matter and heavy metals to focus on the thin fractions, although the largest concentrations of metals are in intermediate fractions

Ferramentas quimiométricas aplicadas a classificação de amostras de leite em pó e quantificação de proteínas

In this work we used chemometric tools to classify and quantify the protein content in samples of milk powder. We applied the NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy combined with multivariate techniques. First, we carried out an exploratory method of samples by principal component analysis (PCA), then the classification of independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA). Thus it became possible to classify the samples that were grouped by similarities in their composition. Finally, the techniques of partial least squares regression (PLS) and principal components regression (PCR) allowed the quantification of protein content in samples of milk powder, compared with the Kjeldahl reference method. A total of 53 samples of milk powder sold in the metropolitan areas of Natal, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro were acquired for analysis, in which after pre-treatment data, there were four models, which were employed for classification and quantification of samples. The methods employed after being assessed and validated showed good performance, good accuracy and reliability of the results, showing that the NIR technique can be a non invasive technique, since it produces no waste and saves time in analyzing the samples

Avaliação da influência da matéria orgânica, na determinação quantitativa de metais em amostras de sedimento, por espectrometria de absorção atômica e análise de metais traços por fluorescência de raios-X

The proposal of this work is to evaluate the influence of the organic matter on the results of the analyses of the metals (Zn, Pb, Al, Cu, Cr, Fe, Cd e Ni) for Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), so much in the extraction stage as in the reading using for that the chemometrics. They were used for this study sample of bottom sediment collected in river Jundiaí in the vicinity of the city of Macaíba-RN, commercial humus and water of the station of treatment of sewer of UFRN. Through the analyses accomplished by EAA it was verified that the interference of the organic matter happens in the extraction stage and not in the reading. With relationship to the technique of X Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRFS), the present work has as intended to evaluate the viability of this technique for quantitative analysis of trace metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr and Pb) in having leached obtained starting from the extraction with acqua regia for an aqueous solution. The used samples constitute the fine fraction (<0.063 mm) of sediments of swamp of the river Jundiaí. The preparation of tablets pressed starting from the dry residue of those leached it allowed your analysis in the solid form. This preliminary study shows that, in the case of the digestion chemistry partially of the fine fractions of bottom sediments used for environmental studies, the technique of applied EFRX to the analysis of dry residues starting from having leached with acqua regia, compared her it analyzes of the leached with ICP-OES, it presents relative mistakes for Cu, Pb, Sr and Zn below 10%

Ocorrência de parasitos gastrintestinais em amostras fecais de felinos no município de Andradina, São Paulo

The purpose of this study was to verify the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from cats of the Andradina city, SP. This work was carried out from March to November of 2007, and used 51 cats delivered to the Center of Zoonoses Control of that city. Techniques of Willis and Faust were used in the fecal examination and resulted in detection of Ancylostoma spp. in 96.1% of the animals; Toxocara spp. in 43.1%; Cystoisospora spp. in 43.1%; Dipylidium caninum in 21.6% and Giardia spp. in 5.9% samples. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in 3.9% fecal samples by the use of malachite green negative stain. There was no significant association between the occurrence of endoparasites and consistency of fecal samples. The results confirm that these cats represent important hosts of parasites, some of those with high zoonotic potential.

Atividade antifúngica de óleos essenciais frente a amostras clínicas de Candida albicans isoladas de pacientes HIV positivos

Objetivou-se avaliar a atividade antifúngica dos óleos essenciais de Ocimum basilicum L. (manjericão), Cymbopogon martinii L. (palmarosa), Thymus vulgaris L. (tomilho) e Cinnamomum cassia Blume (canela da china) sobre cepas de Candida albicans isoladas de pacientes HIV positivos e cepa padrão (ATCC 76845). Quinze amostras clínicas de C. albicans (C1-C15) foram repicadas em ágar Sabouraud Dextrose, para confecção de suspensões em solução salina estéril (0,9%) contendo 1,5 x 10(6) UFC mL-1. As emulsões dos óleos essenciais foram preparadas em água destilada estéril e tween 80, com concentrações variando entre 1024 µg mL-1 e 4 µg mL-1. A ação antifúngica foi determinada por meio da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) utilizando-se a técnica da microdiluição. Foram utilizados como controles positivos a nistatina e o miconazol (50 µg mL-1). Os testes foram realizados em triplicata, sendo a CIM, a menor concentração capaz de inibir o crescimento das leveduras, observada por método visual de acordo com a turvação do meio de cultura. Para C. albicans (ATCC 76845), a CIM do óleo essencial de C. cassia foi 64 µg mL-1, enquanto para óleo de C. martinii foi 1024 µg mL-1. Para as cepas clínicas, verificou-se que a CIM de C. cassia para 80% das cepas foi 64 µg mL-1, sendo a variação dos valores da CIM entre 128 µg mL-1 e 64 µg mL-1. Observou-se que para 66,6% das amostras clínicas, a CIM de C. martinii foi 612 µg mL-1. Constatou-se que a nistatina não apresentou atividade frente às cepas clínicas (C1-C15), enquanto a atividade antifúngica do miconazol foi verificada em 100% das amostras. Não se constatou atividade antimicrobiana dos óleos essenciais de O. basilicum e T. vulgaris, nas concentrações avaliadas. Concluiu-se que os óleos essenciais de C. cassia e C. martinii, em diferentes concentrações, apresentam atividade antifúngica sobre cepas de C. albicans isoladas de pacientes HIV positivos e cepa padrão (ATCC 76845). Entretanto não foi observada inibição antimicrobiana para os óleos de O. basilicum e T. vulgaris.

Caracterização filogenética de amostras do vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) do Estado de São Paulo

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

Construção de célula eletroquímica para observação de amostras in situ em estereomicroscópio

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Determinação de parâmetros de validação de métodos cromatográficos para análise de 5-hidroximetilfurfural e açúcares em amostras de processo de produção de polímero biodegradável

A eficiência de métodos para análise de 5-hidroximetilfurfural por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção na região do ultravioleta e determinação de sacarose, glicose e frutose por cromatografia líquida com detecção por índice de refração foi avaliada. Após otimização das condições analíticas, os principais parâmetros de validação (linearidade, limite de quantificação, limite de detecção, recuperação, sensibilidade e precisão) foram determinados e demonstraram que os procedimentos analíticos podem ser aplicados para o controle do processo de produção de poli(3-hidroxibutirato).