Thermal behaviour of succinic acid, sodium succinate and its compounds with some bivalent transitions metal ions in dynamic N2 and CO2 atmospheres

Thermal stability and thermal decomposition of succinic acid, sodium succinate and its compounds with Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) were investigated employing simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) in nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres and TG-FTIR in nitrogen atmosphere. On heating, in both atmospheres the succinic acid melt and evaporate, while for the sodium succinate the thermal decomposition occurs with the formation of sodium carbonate. For the transition metal succinates the final residue up to 1180 ºC in N2 atmosphere was a mixture of metal and metal oxide in no simple stoichiometric relation, except for Zn compound, where the residue was a small quantity of carbonaceous residue. For the CO2 atmosphere the final residue up to 980 ºC was: MnO, Fe3O4, CoO, ZnO and mixtures of Ni, NiO and Cu, Cu2O.

Evaluation of the efficacy of hydrated sodium aluminosilicate in the prevention of aflatoxin-induced hepatic cancer in rainbow trout

The use of aluminum silicates for decontaminating animal feed containing aflatoxins has yielded encouraging results in chicken and turkey poults. In contrast, very few studies have tested these substances in aquaculture. In this work, we investigated the efficacy of a trout diet containing 0.5% hydrated sodium aluminosilicate (HSAS) in protecting against contamination with aflatoxin B1. Trout were reared on these diets for one year and the experimental groups were examined monthly for hepatic presumptive preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Regardless of the presence of HSAS, all of the fish that received aflatoxin in their diet have shown hepatic lesions indicative of a carcinogenic process, presenting also the development of cancer in some fish. The concentration of HSAS used in this study was ineffective in preventing the onset of hepatic lesions induced by aflatoxin B1 in rainbow trout.

PET Imaging of Osteomyelitis. Feasibility of 18F-FDG, 68Ga-Chloride and 68Ga-DOTAVAP-P1 Tracers in Staphylococcal Bone Infections

Due to technical restrictions of the database system the title of the thesis does not show corretly on this page. Numbers in the title are in superscript. Please see the PDF-file for correct title. ---- Osteomyelitis is a progressive inflammatory disease of bone and bone marrow that results in bone destruction due to an infective microorganism, most frequently Staphylococcus aureus. Orthopaedic concern relates to the need for reconstructive and trauma-related surgical procedures in the fast grow¬ing population of fragile, aged patients, who have an increased susceptibility to surgical site infections. Depending on the type of osteomyelitis, infection may be acute or a slowly progressing, low-grade infection. Peri-implant infections lead to implant loosening. The emerging antibiotic resistance of com¬mon pathogens further complicates the situation. With current imaging methods, significant limitations exist in the diagnosing of osteomyelitis and implant-related infections. Positron emission tomography (PET) with a glucose analogue, 18F-fluoro¬deoxyglucose (18F-FDG), seems to facilitate a more accurate diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis. The method is based on the increased glucose consumption of activated inflammatory cells. Unfortunately, 18F-FDG accumulates also in sterile inflammation regions and causes false-positive findings, for exam¬ple, due to post-operative healing processes. Therefore, there is a clinical need for new, more infection-specific tracers. In addition, it is still unknown why 18F-FDG PET imaging is less accurate in the detec¬tion of periprosthetic joint infections, most frequently due to Staphylococcus epidermidis. This doctoral thesis focused on testing novel PET tracers (68Ga-chloride and 68Ga-DOTAVAP-P1) for early detections of bone infections and evaluated the role of pathogen-related factors in the appli¬cations of 18F-FDG PET in the diagnostics of bone infections. For preclinical models of S. epidermidis and S. aureus bone/implant infections, the significance of the causative pathogen was studied with respect to 18F-FDG uptake. In a retrospective analysis of patients with confirmed bone infections, the significance of the presence or absence of positive bacterial cultures on 18F-FDG uptake was evalu¬ated. 18F-FDG and 68Ga-chloride resulted in a similar uptake in S. aureus osteomyelitic bones. However, 68Ga-chloride did not show uptake in healing bones, and therefore it may be a more-specific tracer in the early post-operative or post-traumatic phase. 68Ga-DOTAVAP-P1, a novel synthetic peptide bind¬ing to vascular adhesion protein 1 (VAP-1), was able to detect the phase of inflammation in healing bones, but the uptake of the tracer was elevated also in osteomyelitis. Low-grade peri-implant infec¬tions due to S. epidermidis were characterized by a low uptake of 18F-FDG, which reflects the virulence of the causative pathogen and the degree of leukocyte infiltration. In the clinical study, no relationship was found between the level of 18F-FDG uptake and the presence of positive or negative bacterial cul¬tures. Thus 18F-FDG PET may help to confirm metabolically active infection process in patients with culture-negative, histologically confirmed, low-grade osteomyelitis.

Enteral fluid therapy through nasogastric tube in rumen cannulated goats

This paper reports the effects of fluid therapy in goats through nasogastric route with an electrolyte solution composed by concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride similar to goat plasma (140mmol/L of Na+, 4.5mmol/L of K+, 110mmol/L of Cl-). Four Alpine Chamoisee goats, two of them with evident leakage of the rumen cannulas, were used in a crossover experimental design of two periods and two groups. In one group the two goats were submitted to a treatment protocol to induce dehydration before the fluid therapy, whereas the other group was not. Fluid therapy consisted supplying 10mL/kg/h of the electrolyte solution during 8 hours. No signs of discomfort or stress were observed. The dehydration model employed caused a mild dehydration indicated by decrease in feces humidity, body weight and abdominal circumference, and increase in plasma total solids concentration. During fluid therapy globular volume and plasma total solids decreased, whereas % body weight and abdominal circumference increased. No signs of hyperhydration were observed and serum electrolytes (Na+, Cl-, K+) presented no significant alterations in both groups. Fluid therapy proposed in this study was efficient to treat dehydration, even for rumen cannulated animals with evident leakage, and can be administrated safely with no electrolyte imbalance.

Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound study of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

The aim of the present study was the ultrasound characterization of the abdominal and pelvic regions of five maned wolves kept in captivity at the Triage Center of Wild Animals of the Federal University of Viçosa (Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres, Universidade Federal de Viçosa). This characterization included descriptions of ultrasonographic aspects and measurements of various structures using B-mode ultrasound. Biometric data were collected to assess the existence of significant linear correlations between these measurements and the measurements obtained by ultrasound. Additionally, hematological and serum biochemistry evaluations of the animals were performed. The ultrasound findings were similar to those available in the literature on domestic dogs, which were used for comparison as a result of the lack of published data regarding maned wolves. The latter species showed characteristics closely resembling those of the former, differing in the spleen and left renal cortex echogenicities, in the appearance of the prostatic and testicular regions and in the hepatic portal vein morphology. In the current study, the biometric values were similar to those previously published; however, no data regarding thoracic perimeter, modified crown-rump length or thoracic depth were found in the literature for this Canidae species. Statistical analysis showed the existence of a strong negative correlation between the modified crown-rump length and left renal length, between the modified crown-rump length and the right renal volume, between the thoracic perimeter and the height at the cranial pole of the left adrenal gland and between the thoracic perimeter and the height at the caudal pole of the left adrenal gland. Laboratory findings, including segmented neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte and lymphocyte counts and the serum levels of glucose, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, urea, total protein, globulin, creatine phosphokinase, triglyceride, sodium, phosphate, potassium and chloride, were inconsistent with values found by other authors. The ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging method that must be further explored in the medicine of wild animals; therefore, additional research in this area is required.

Effect of exposure to sublethal concentrations of sodium cyanide on the carbohydrate metabolism of the Indian Major Carp Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)

Experiments were designed to study in-vivo effects of sodium cyanide on biochemical endpoints in the freshwater fish Labeo rohita. Fish were exposed to two sublethal concentrations (0.106 and 0.064mg/L) for a period of 15 days. Levels of glycogen, pyruvate, lactate and the enzymatic activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), phosphorylase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (AcP) were assessed in different tissues (liver, muscle and gills). Result indicated a steady decrease in glycogen, pyruvate, SDH, ALP and AcP activity with a concomitant increase in the lactate, phosphorylase, LDH and G6PD activity in all selected tissues. The alterations in all the above biochemical parameters were significantly (p<0.05) time and dose dependent. In all the above parameters, liver pointing out the intensity of cyanide intoxication compare to muscle and gills. Study revealed change in the metabolic energy by means of altered metabolic profile of the fish. Further, these observations indicated that even sublethal concentrations of sodium cyanide might not be fully devoid of deleterious influence on metabolism in L. rohita.

Metabolic evaluation of Crioulo horses participating in competitions of 750 km

The Crioulo breed of horses performs in one of the most physically demanding equestrian competitions, the Marcha de Resistência, which is a contest in which the horses run 750 km in 15 days. The study's aim was to characterize the metabolic responses during this period. We evaluated eleven Crioulo horses in the competition, specifically, two males and nine females. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before the contest and on the 4th, 9th, 11th, 14th and 15th days of competition. We evaluated CK, AST, LDH, glucose, lactate, urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, total calcium, ionized calcium, total protein, hematocrit and the white blood cell count. At the end of the competition, the mean values of serum AST were 1151±358 IU/ L the mean LDH values were 7418±1695 IU/L and CK was 13,867±3998UI /L. There was a significant increase in urea, creatinine and lactate (p<0.0001). A decrease in the mean values of chloride, sodium, potassium, and total and ionized calcium was observed (p≤0.0002). An evaluation of the total leukocytes and segmented neutrophils (p≤0.0002) revealed their increased values, and decreased values were observed for hematocrit, plasma protein and total lymphocytes (p≤0.0003). The values of glucose, on average, remained constant. Based on these data, we conclude that the Marcha de Resistência competition necessitated a high muscular demand and the depletion of energy and electrolytes, suggesting an inflammatory process in the animals evaluated.

Ammonia regeneration in nickel matte chloride leaching

Ammonia can be used as a pH controller in chloride-based metal recovery processes. In chloride conditions, ammonia reacts to ammonium chloride which can be regenerated back to ammonia with lime. Although the regeneration process itself has been known for a long time, the concentrations, non-reacting species, conditions, and even goals are different when comparing the ammonia regeneration process in different industries. The main objective of this thesis was to study the phenomena, equipment, and challenges in ammonia regeneration in the nickel process and to make a preliminary process design. The study concentrated on the regeneration and recovery units. The thesis was made by process simulation and laboratory tests using the current processes as initial information. The results were combined from all of the information obtained during the studies to provide a total process solution, which can be used as a basis when designing an ammonia regeneration process to be used in industry. In particular, it was possible to determine ammonia recovery with a stripping column and the achievement of the desired ammonia water product within the scope of this thesis. The required mass flows and process conditions were also determined. The possible challenges and solutions or further studies to overcome them were provided as well to ease the prediction and design of the ammonia regeneration process in the future. On the basis of the results of this thesis, the ammonia regeneration process can be developed further and implemented in the nickel chloride leaching process.

Sodium bicarbonate as prevention of metabolic acidosis in sheep submitted to experimental ruminal acidosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of sodium bicarbonate on systemic acidosis due to ruminal acidosis, which was induced by ingestion of concentrate after prolonged fasting. Fourteen sheep were divided into three experimental groups: control group (Cg), with four sheep, submitted to fasting without development of ruminal acidosis; no-treated group (NTg), with five sheep with rumen acidosis without preventive treatment; and treated group (Tg), with five sheep with rumen acidosis and preventively treated with sodium bicarbonate. Assessments of ruminal pH and arterial hemogasometry were performed for 48 hours after ingestion of the concentrate. There was a reduction in the ruminal pH in all groups, whereas the Cg showed a reduction only after 24 hours. A reduction in the arterial pH, bicarbonate and base excess in all groups was also noted, indicating systemic metabolic acidosis, but the NTg presented the greatest alteration. It is concluded that sodium bicarbonate prevents systemic metabolic acidosis, reducing its severity in sheep subjected to ruminal acidosis.

Seleção de plantas com potencial para fitorremediação de solos contaminados com o herbicida trifloxysulfuron sodium

Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar plantas tolerantes ao trifloxysulfuron sodium, visando utilizá-las em programas de fitorremediação. Foram avaliadas dez espécies: Medicago sativa, Avena strigosa, Crotalaria juncea, Canavalia ensiformis, Helianthus annus, Dolichus lablab, Stylosantes guianensis, Mucuna deeringiana, Raphanus sativus e Eleusine indica. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas, sendo utilizadas três repetições. O fator aplicado na parcela principal foram as doses de trifloxysulfuron sodium (0,00; 3,75; 7,50; e 15,00 g ha-1) e, na subparcela, as épocas de avaliação [15, 30, 45 e 60 dias após a semeadura (DAS)]. Foram avaliados a altura de plantas, os sintomas de toxicidade e, aos 60 DAS, também a biomassa seca da parte aérea, das raízes e total das plantas. Verificou-se que todas as espécies sobreviveram à presença do trifloxysulfuron sodium no solo, mesmo quando aplicado em dose duas vezes maior que a recomendada (15,00 g ha-1), porém M. deeringiana, D. lablab, C. juncea e S. guianenesis foram as espécies que apresentaram maior tolerância ao herbicida, indicando potencial para uso em programas de fitorremediação de trifloxysulfuron sodium em solos.

Fitorremediação do herbicida trifloxysulfuron sodium

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de espécies vegetais na fitorremediação do herbicida trifloxysulfuron sodium em solos, utilizando o milho como planta indicadora. Os tratamentos foram compostos pela combinação de espécies (Calopogonium muconoides, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis, Vicia sativa, Cajanus cajan, Canavalia ensiformis, Helianthus annus, Dolichus lablab, Pennisetum glaucum, Stylosantes guianensis, Mucuna deeringiana, Mucuna cinereum, Mucuna aterrima, Raphanus sativus e Lupinus albus), semeadas anteriormente à cultura do milho, mais um tratamento controle (sem cultivo prévio) e três doses do herbicida trifloxysulfuron sodium (0,00; 3,75; e 15,00 g ha-1). O delineamento experimental usado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial, sendo utilizadas três repetições. A semeadura das espécies vegetais nos vasos foi feita no dia seguinte à aplicação do trifloxysulfuron sodium. Após 80 dias da semeadura, as espécies vegetais foram cortadas na altura do coleto, descartando-se a sua parte aérea. A seguir, foi realizada a semeadura do milho (cultivar AG-122). Aos 45 dias após a emergência das plantas de milho foram avaliadas a altura de plantas e a sua biomassa seca da parte aérea. Verificou-se que as espécies M. aterrima e C. ensiformis foram eficientes na descontaminação do herbicida trifloxysulfuron sodium em solo.

Controle de plantas daninhas através da palha de cana-de-açúcar associada à mistura dos herbicidas trifloxysulfuron sodium + ametrina

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da palha de cana-de-açúcar resultante da colheita sem queima e da mistura comercial dos herbicidas trifloxysulfuron sodium + ametrina, na emergência e no acúmulo de biomassa seca de nove espécies de plantas daninhas. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, sendo três quantidades de palha resultantes da colheita da cana-de-açúcar sem queima (0, 10 e 15 t ha-1), e três doses da mistura formulada dos herbicidas trifloxysulfuron sodium + ametrina (0, 1,75 e 2,00 kg ha-1), aplicados em condições de pós-emergência das plantas daninhas. As densidades das plantas daninhas foram avaliadas aos 15, 60 e 90 dias após a aplicação (DAA) da mistura dos herbicidas, e a biomassa seca das plantas daninhas, aos 90 DAA. A presença de palha sobre o solo suprimiu as densidades das populações de Brachiaria plantaginea, Digitaria horizontalis, Panicum maximum, Sida glaziovii e Amaranthus hybridus a níveis de infestação considerados satisfatórios de controle. A palhada também reduziu as populações de Senna obtusifolia, Ipomoea hederifolia, I. grandifolia e I. nil, porém em níveis insatisfatórios de controle. A mistura de herbicidas nas doses estudadas controlou todas as espécies de plantas daninhas avaliadas. Na presença da palha, o controle das plantas de S. obtusifolia, I. nil, I. hederifolia e I. grandifolia somente foi satisfatório quando foi aplicada a mistura de herbicidas. Para o controle de P. maximum, houve vantagem na integração dos dois métodos de controle, em relação à aplicação isolada da menor quantidade de palha estudada ou à aplicação da mistura de herbicidas.

Potencial de espécies vegetais para a remediação do herbicida trifloxysulfuron-sodium

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de espécies vegetais na remediação do herbicida trifloxysulfuron-sodium em solos, utilizando o feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris) como planta indicadora. Os tratamentos foram compostos pela combinação entre as espécies Calopogonium mucunoides, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis, Vicia sativa, Cajanus cajan, Canavalia ensiformis, Medicago sativa, Dolichus lab lab, Penisetum glaucum, Stylosantes guianensis, Mucuna deeringiana, Mucuna cinereum, Mucuna aterrima, Raphanus sativus e Lupinus albus. Todas as espécies foram semeadas em vasos no dia seguinte à aplicação do trifloxysulfuron-sodium em três doses (0,00; 3,75; e 15,00 g ha-1). Após 80 dias da semeadura, as espécies vegetais foram cortadas na altura do coleto e a parte aérea destas descartada. A seguir, foi realizada a semeadura do feijão (cultivar Pérola). Aos 45 dias após a emergência das plantas de feijão avaliaram-se a altura e a massa seca da parte aérea das plantas. Melhor eficiência na descontaminação do trifloxysulfuron-sodium em solo foi obtida pelas espécies M. aterrima e C. ensiformis.

Sensibilidade de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar à mistura trifloxysulfuron-sodium + ametryn

O trabalho constou de dois ensaios e teve como objetivo avaliar a sensibilidade de 11 cultivares (SP80-1842, SP79-1011, SP81-3250, SP80-1816, RB855113, RB835486, RB845210, RB867515, RB928064, RB72454 e RB855536) e quatro clones (RB947643, RB855002, RB957712 e RB957689) de cana-de-açúcar à mistura pré-formulada dos herbicidas trifloxysulfuron-sodium (18,5 g kg-1) + ametryn (731,5 g kg-1), denominada Krismat®. Os cultivares e os clones foram cultivados em vasos em ambiente não-protegido. Em ambos os ensaios a mistura herbicida foi aplicada aos 60 dias após a brotação (DAB). No ensaio 1, a mistura herbicida foi aplicada em dose única de 2,00 kg ha-1 sobre todos os cultivares e clones, enquanto no ensaio 2 a mistura foi aplicada nas doses de 1,00, 2,00 e 6,00 kg ha¹ sobre os cultivares RB855113 e RB867515. Após a aplicação do herbicida e aos 45 dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos (DAT), por ocasião da colheita, foram feitas avaliações semanais de fitotoxicidade, avaliando-se também a biomassa seca da parte aérea dos 11 cultivares e dos quatro clones. As variáveis altura da planta, número de folhas, área foliar e biomassa seca da parte aérea e do caule foram avaliadas no segundo ensaio. O cultivar RB855113 apresentou alta sensibilidade à mistura herbicida; os genótipos SP80-1842, SP801816, SP79-1011 e RB957689 apresentaram sensibilidade média; e os demais mostraram boa tolerância a esse produto. Para o cultivar RB855113, o maior índice de toxidez foi observado no período de 20 a 27 DAT. Nesse período observou-se redução da altura da planta, do número de folhas, da área foliar e da biomassa seca da parte aérea e do caule com o aumento das doses do produto. O cultivar RB867515 apresentou-se tolerante às menores doses do herbicida, porém, na maior dose testada, ele se mostrou sensível, observando-se redução nas características avaliadas.

Fitorremediação de solo contaminado com trifloxysulfuron-sodium por mucuna-preta (Stizolobium aterrimum)

O emprego de espécies vegetais que apresentem capacidade fitorremediadora pode ser uma das alternativas para reduzir a persistência de agroquímicos no ambiente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a fitorremediação do herbicida trifloxysulfuron-sodium em campo, pela espécie Stizolobium aterrimum (mucuna-preta), em diferentes densidades populacionais. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram compostos por quatro densidades de plantio de mucuna-preta (0, 10, 25, e 40 plantas m-2), associadas a duas doses do trifloxysulfuron-sodium (0,00 e 15,00 g ha-1), aplicadas cinco dias após o preparo do solo para semeadura da mucuna-preta. As plantas fitorremediadoras foram mantidas na área por 65 dias. Após esse período, a área experimental foi novamente sulcada e fertilizada de acordo com a análise do solo, considerando as necessidades da cultura do feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris). Aos 45 dias após a semeadura do feijão, avaliou-se a altura e a biomassa seca da parte aérea das plantas. Ao final do ciclo da cultura, determinou-se, ainda, o rendimento de grãos, o número de vagens por planta e o peso de 100 sementes. O cultivo prévio de mucuna-preta nas densidades populacionais de 10, 25 ou 40 plantas m-2 proporcionou rendimento de grãos de feijão nas parcelas tratadas com trifloxysulfuron-sodium no solo semelhante ao obtido na área não-tratada. A densidade populacional mínima desse adubo verde que proporcionou maior rendimento de grãos à cultura do feijão foi de 25 plantas por metro quadrado.