Activity of some isoenzymatic systems in stored coffee grains

Considering the worldwide consumption of coffee, it is natural that throughout the history many people have dedicated the research to markers that contribute somehow on gauging its quality. This research aimed to evaluate the biochemical performance of arabica coffee during storage. Coffee in beans (natural) and in parchment (pulped) dried in concrete terrace and in dryer with heated air were packed in jute bags and stored in not controlled environmental conditions. Enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, esterase and lipoxygenase in coffee grains were evaluated at zero, three, six, nine and twelve months by means of electrophoresis. Independently of the drying method, the activity of isoenzymatic complexes highlighted deteriorative processes in stored grains of coffee. The treatments 60/40º C and 60º C used to reduce the water content imposed a greater stress condition, accelerated metabolism of natural coffee in the storage with decreased activity of defense mechanisms due to latent damage in these grains. Natural coffees are more sensible to high drying temperatures and its quality reduces faster than pulped coffee in the storage.

Phytase production by Rhizopus microsporus var. microsporus biofilm: characterization of enzymatic activity after spray drying in presence of carbohydrates and nonconventional adjuvants

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

Fuzzy Index for Public Supply Water Quality

Human population growth and increased industrial activity in recent decades have contributed to a range of environmental problems, including the contamination of groundwater and surface water. In order to help in the management of these resources, water quality indices are used as tools to summarize multiple parameters and express them in the form of a single number. The ability to provide both an integrated assessment of changes in environmental variables, as well as performance tracking, has resulted in such indices being increasingly employed in surface water monitoring programs. The aim of this study was to develop an Index for Public Supply Water Quality (IPS) using a fuzzy inference methodology. Linguistic systems generally provide satisfactory tools for qualitative purposes, enabling the inclusion of descriptive variables with reduced loss of individual information. Validation of the technique was achieved by analysis of measurement data obtained for the Sorocaba River, provided by CETESB. The new procedure proved more rigorous, compared to classical IPS. It could be readily applied in the evaluation of other water bodies, or be adjusted to incorporate additional parameters also considered important for the assessment of water quality.

The effect of chronic treatment with fluoride on salivary activity, tooth, and bone in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Chemopreventive activity of apple extract following medium-term oral carcinogenesis assay induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

An integrable evolution equation for surface waves in deep water

In order to describe the dynamics of monochromatic surface waves in deep water, we derive a nonlinear and dispersive system of equations for the free surface elevation and the free surface velocity from the Euler equations in infinite depth. From it, and using a multiscale perturbative method, an asymptotic model for small wave steepness ratio is derived. The model is shown to be completely integrable. The Lax pair, the first conserved quantities as well as the symmetries are exhibited. Theoretical and numerical studies reveal that it supports periodic progressive Stokes waves which peak and break in finite time. Comparison between the limiting wave solution of the asymptotic model and classical results is performed.

Development and characterization of biocompatible isotropic and anisotropic oil-in-water colloidal dispersions as a new delivery system for methyl dihydrojasmonate antitumor drug

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Myrcia bella Leaf Extract Presents Hypoglycemic Activity via PI3k/Akt Insulin Signaling Pathway

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

Investigation of DMSO-Induced Conformational Transitions in Human Serum Albumin Using Two-Dimensional Raman Optical Activity Spectroscopy

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

Hancornia speciosa latex for biomedical applications: physical and chemical properties, biocompatibility assessment and angiogenic activity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Eugenia calycina Cambess extracts and their fractions: Their antimicrobial activity and the identification of major polar compounds using electrospray ionization FT-ICR mass spectrometry

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sound absorption coefficient in situ: An alternative for estimating soil loss factors

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils

Natural products have been studied aiming to understand their biological properties. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of twenty-seven essential oils (EOs) used in aromatherapy procedures, a natural therapy with great emphasis currently used against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The agar dilution method was carried out and minimal inhibitory concentration against 50% and 90% of strains (MIC50% and MIC90% values) were reported. The S.aureus strains were highly susceptible with MIC90% from 0.21mg/mL to black pepper (Piper nigrum) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) to 26.52mg/mL with copaiba (Copaifera officinalis) EO. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) EOs were effective against E.coli (2.0mg/mL) while the S.aromaticum EO was against P.aeruginosa (8.29mg/mL). Thus, the higher susceptibility of Gram-positive bacteria when compared with Gram-negative strains was found, and a large variability in the potential antibacterial has also been observed.

Antibiofilm activity of irrigating solutions associated with cetrimide. Confocal laser scanning microscopy

AimTo evaluate the antibiofilm activity of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX) solutions associated with cetrimide (CTR), and QMiX using confocal laser scanning microscopy.MethodologyEnterococcus faecalis (ATCC- 29212) biofilms were induced on bovine dentine blocks for 14days. The dentine blocks containing biofilm were immersed for 1min in the following solutions: 2.5% NaOCl; 2.5% NaOCl+0.2% CTR; 2% CHX; 2% CHX+0.2% CTR; 0.2% CTR; QMiX. After contact with the solutions, the dentine blocks were stained with Live/Dead((R)) BacLight for analysis of the remaining biofilm using confocal laser scanning microscope. Images were evaluated using the BioImage_L software to determine the total biovolume (m(3)), the green biovolume (live cells) (m(3)) and the percentage of substrate coverage (%). The data were subjected to nonparametric statistical test using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests at 5% significance level.ResultsAfter exposure to irrigants, the total biovolume observed for CHX, CHX+CTR, CTR, QMiX was similar to distilled water (P>0.05). NaOCl and NaOCl+CTR had the lowest total and green biovolume. The CTR and QMiX had intermediate green biovolume, with greater antibacterial activity than CHX and CHX+CTR (P<0.05). The NaOCl and NaOCl+CTR solutions were associated with microorganism removal and substrate cleaning ability.ConclusionsNaOCl and NaOCl+CTR solutions were effective on microorganism viability and were able to eliminate biofilm. The addition of cetrimide did not influence antibacterial activity.

Systematic Screening of Plant Extracts from the Brazilian Pantanal with Antimicrobial Activity against Bacteria with Cariogenic Relevance

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