Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Trimyema koreanum n. sp., a Ciliate from the Hypersaline Water of a Solar Saltern

A new ciliate, Trimyema koreanum n. sp., isolated from hypersaline water (salinity of 293 parts per thousand) from a solar saltern in Korea, was investigated using live observation, protargol impregnation, and gene sequencing. Trimyema koreanum is about 30 x 13 mu m in vivo, has usually 23 longitudinal ciliary rows forming two distinct ciliary girdles visible both in vivo and in protargol impregnation. A third indistinct ciliary girdle as well as a girdle of mucocysts is distinguishable only in impregnated cells. We suggest T. koreanum as a new species, differing from the most similar species, T. marinum, by the presence of two distinct ciliary girdles (T. marinum usually has six ciliary girdles clearly visible in living cells and three anterior spirals that encircle the cell completely). Although the number of known 18S rRNA sequences in the genus Trimyema was limited, the Trimyema group including T. koreanum forms a strong clade. The phylogenetic position confirms that the isolate belongs to the genus Trimyema and is different from previously sequenced species. Trimyema koreanum is able to consume both prokaryotes and small eukaryotes (specifically, the alga Dunaliella sp.).

Salt-assisted acid hydrolysis of chitosan to oligomers under microwave irradiation

The effect of inorganic salts such as sodium chloride on the hydrolysis of chitosan in a microwave field was investigated. While it is known that microwave heating is a convenient way to obtain a wide range of products of different molecular weights only by changing the reaction time and/or the radiation power, the addition of some inorganic salts was shown to effectively accelerate the degradation of chitosan under microwave irradiation. The molecular weight of the degraded chitosan obtained by microwave irradiation was considerably lower than that obtained by traditional heating. Moreover, the molecular weight of degraded chitosan obtained by microwave irradiation assisted under the conditions of added salt was considerably lower than that obtained by microwave irradiation without added salt. Furthermore, the effect of ionic strength of the added salts was not linked with the change of molecular weight. FTIR spectral analyses demonstrated that a significantly shorter time was required to obtain a satisfactory molecular weight by the microwave irradiation-assisted inorganic salt method than by microwave irradiation without inorganic salts and conventional technology. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coletor solar para desinfestação de substratos para produção de mudas sadias.

Um equipamento, denominado coletor solar, foi desenvolvido para desinfestar substratos utilizados para produção de mudas em viveiros de plantas, com o uso da energia solar. O coletor tem a finalidade de controlar as doenças causadas por microrganismos habitantes do solo em substituição a produtos químicos que contaminam o ambiente e causam riscos aos agricultores. O equipamento consiste, basicamente, de uma caixa de madeira com tubos metálicos e uma cobertura de plástico transparente, que permite a entrada dos raios solares. O solo é colocado nos tubos pela abertura superior e, após o tratamento de um dia de radiação plena, é retirado pela inferior, através do efeito da gravidade, e pode ser imediatamente utilizado. O equipamento, quando comparado com outros sistemas tradicionais de desinfestação (autoclaves, fornos à lenha ou aplicação de brometo de metila) apresenta diversas vantagens: não consome energia elétrica ou lenha, é de fácil manutenção e construção, não apresenta riscos para o operador e tem baixo custo. Além disso, o uso do coletor permite a sobrevivência de microrganismos termotolerantes benéficos que impedem a reinfestação pelo patógeno, o que não ocorre nos tratamentos com brometo de metila e autoclaves que esterilizam o solo, criando um ?vácuo biológico?.

Radiação solar em Sete Lagoas, MG.

2006

Estimativa da radiação solar global diária em Sete Lagoas, MG baseada em dados de insolação.

2008

Multistep Methods for Integrating the Solar System

High order multistep methods, run at constant stepsize, are very effective for integrating the Newtonian solar system for extended periods of time. I have studied the stability and error growth of these methods when applied to harmonic oscillators and two-body systems like the Sun-Jupiter pair. I have also tried to design better multistep integrators than the traditional Stormer and Cowell methods, and I have found a few interesting ones.

Salt-assisted acid hydrolysis of starch to D-glucose under microwave irradiation

The effect of inorganic salts on the hydrolysis of starch in a microwave field was investigated and it was found that some inorganic salts can effectively accelerate the acid hydrolysis of starch. The yield of D-glucose reached 111 wt% (equal to the theoretical yield). (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimativa diária da radiação solar incidente com base no número de horas de brilho solar para a região de Bento Gonçalves, RS.

2006

Estimativa do saldo de radiação no noroeste paulista com base na radiação solar incidente.

2006

Accelerated partial irradiation for breast cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 8653 women in eight randomized trials

Background and purpose: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is the strategy that allows adjuvant treatment delivery in a shorter period of time in smaller volumes. This study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of APBI in breast cancer compared with whole-breast irradiation (WBI). Material and methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of WBI versus APBI. Two authors independently selected and assessed the studies regarding eligibility criteria. Results: Eight studies were selected. A total of 8653 patients were randomly assigned for WBI versus APBI. Six studies reported local recurrence outcomes. Two studies were matched in 5 years and only one study for different time of follow-up. Meta-analysis of two trials assessing 1407 participants showed significant difference in the WBI versus APBI group regarding the 5-year local recurrence rate (HR = 4.54, 95% CI: 1.78-11.61, p = 0.002). Significant difference in favor of WBI for different follow-up times was also found. No differences in nodal recurrence, systemic recurrence, overall survival and mortality rates were observed. Conclusions: APBI is associated with higher local recurrence compared to WBI without compromising other clinical outcomes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.