Desenvolvimento de formulações para produção de grés porcelanato a partir de matérias-primas da região da bacia do Parnaíba

Brazil is a great ceramic raw materials productor because of the its big number of clay deposits, in various areas of the ceramic industry. Although, the majority of the natural reservations are unknown or not studied yet, so there is no scientific technical dates that can guide their usage and industrial application, as well as the racional and optimazed way of usage by the industrial sector. The state of Maranhão has a gigant mineral wealth as esmectite, bentonite, kaolin, clays, feldspates, marine salt, iron and others, but produce only products with small agregated value compared to the porcelanato, one of the most expensives ceramic cover tiles, the reason for that is the low water absorption (lower than 0,5%), beside present amazing tecnicals features, like mechanical resistence. The main objective of the work is to do the characterization of four clays, with the finallity of find an application by the results and develop formulations to produce porcelanato using these raw materials from Timon-MA. For this were made the raw materials characterization using X ray fluorecence; X ray diffraction; Differencial thermal analysis; Dilatometric analysis and Tecnological properties, planing three formulations that were sinterized at six different temperatures: 1150, 1170, 1190, 1210, 1230 and 1250ºC for 7 minutes. After the sinteratization, the samples were submitted to tension resistance analysis. Were attained two formulations with the requested properties to produce porcelanato

Demonstration of the interactions between aromatic compound-loaded lipid nanocapsules and Acinetobacter baumannii bacterial membrane

International audience

Sensing parasites: proteomic and advanced bio-detection alternatives

[EN] Parasitic diseases have a great impact in human and animal health. The gold standard for the diagnosis of the majority of parasitic infections is still conventional microscopy, which presents important limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity and commonly requires highly trained technicians. More accurate molecular-based diagnostic tools are needed for the implementation of early detection, effective treatments and massive screenings with high-throughput capacities. In this respect, sensitive and affordable devices could greatly impact on sustainable control programmes which exist against parasitic diseases, especially in low income settings. Proteomics and nanotechnology approaches are valuable tools for sensing pathogens and host alteration signatures within micro fluidic detection platforms. These new devices might provide novel solutions to fight parasitic diseases. Newly described specific parasite derived products with immune-modulatory properties have been postulated as the best candidates for the early and accurate detection of parasitic infections as well as for the blockage of parasite development. This review provides the most recent methodological and technological advances with great potential for biosensing parasites in their hosts, showing the newest opportunities offered by modern “-omics” and platforms for parasite detection and control.

Estudo de massa cerâmica triaxial visando à otimização do ciclo de queima da indústria de cerâmica estrutural

Over recent years the structural ceramics industry in Brazil has found a very favorable market for growth. However, difficulties related to productivity and product quality are partially inhibiting this possible growth. An alternative for trying to solve these problems and, thus, provide the pottery industry the feasibility of full development, is the substitution of firewood used in the burning process by natural gas. In order to contribute to this process of technological innovation, this paper studies the effect of co-use of ceramic phyllite and kaolin waste on the properties of a clay matrix, verifying the possible benefits that these raw materials can give to the final product, as well as the possibility of such materials to reduce the heat load necessary to obtain products with equal or superior quality. The study was divided into two steps: characterization of materials and study of formulations. Two clays, a phyllite and a residue of kaolin were characterized by the following techniques: laser granulometry, plasticity index by Atterberg limits, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, mineralogical composition by Rietveld, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. To study the formulations, specifically for evaluation of technological properties of the parts, was performed an experimental model that combined planning involving a mixture of three components (standard mass x phyllite x kaolin waste) and a 23 factorial design with central point associated with thermal processing parameters. The experiment was performed with restricted strip-plot randomization. In total, 13 compositional points were investigated within the following constraints: phyllite ≤ 20% by weight, kaolin waste ≤ 40% by weight, and standard mass ≥ 60% by weight. The thermal parameters were used at the following levels: 750 and 950 °C to the firing temperature, 5 and 15 °C/min at the heating rate, 15 and 45min to the baseline. The results showed that the introduction of phyllite and/or kaolin waste in ceramic body produced a number of benefits in properties of the final product, such as: decreased absorption of water, apparent porosity and linear retraction at burn; besides the increase in apparent specific mass and mechanical properties of parts. The best results were obtained in the compositional points where the sum of the levels of kaolin waste and phyllite was maximal (40% by weight), as well as conditions which were used in firing temperatures of 950 °C. Regarding the prospect of savings in heat energy required to form the desired microstructure, the phyllite and the residue of kaolin, for having small particle sizes and constitutions mineralogical phases with the presence of fluxes, contributed to the optimization of the firing cycle.

Modelação de taxas de resgate em seguros de vida

Mestrado em Ciências Actuariais

Marine photosynthetic organisms from the Portuguese coast as sources of antitumoural compounds

Dissertação de Mestrado, Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, 2016

Valorização integrada de resíduos e subprodutos da extração do azeite: extração e caraterização de compostos bioativos do bagaço de azeitona

Dissertação de Mestrado, Tecnologia de Alimentos, Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016

Reconfiguração dinâmica de estratégias distribuídas em dispositivos foundation fieldbus para a otimização de processos na indústria do petróleo

The petrochemical industry has as objective obtain, from crude oil, some products with a higher commercial value and a bigger industrial utility for energy purposes. These industrial processes are complex, commonly operating with large production volume and in restricted operation conditions. The operation control in optimized and stable conditions is important to keep obtained products quality and the industrial plant safety. Currently, industrial network has been attained evidence when there is a need to make the process control in a distributed way. The Foundation Fieldbus protocol for industrial network, for its interoperability feature and its user interface organized in simple configuration blocks, has great notoriety among industrial automation network group. This present work puts together some benefits brought by industrial network technology to petrochemical industrial processes inherent complexity. For this, a dynamic reconfiguration system for intelligent strategies (artificial neural networks, for example) based on the protocol user application layer is proposed which might allow different applications use in a particular process, without operators intervention and with necessary guarantees for the proper plant functioning

Análise de um queimador infravermelho funcionando com combustível híbrido : GLP/Bio-óleo

Biomass is considered the largest renewable energy source that can be used in an environmentally sustainable. From the pyrolysis of biomass is possible to obtain products with higher energy density and better use properties. The liquid resultant of this process is traditionally called bio-oil. The use of infrared burners in industrial applications has many advantages in terms of technical-operational, for example, uniformity in the heat supply in the form of radiation and convection, with a greater control of emissions due to the passage of exhaust gases through a macroporous ceramic bed. This paper presents a commercial infrared burner adapted with an ejector proposed able to burn a hybrid configuration of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and bio-oil diluted. The dilution of bio-oil with absolute ethanol aimed to decrease the viscosity of the fluid, and improving the stability and atomization. It was introduced a temperature controller with thermocouple modulating two stages (low heat / high heat), and solenoid valves for fuels supply. The infrared burner has been tested, being the diluted bio-oil atomized, and evaluated its performance by conducting energy balance. The method of thermodynamic analysis to estimate the load was used an aluminum plate located at the exit of combustion gases and the distribution of temperatures measured by thermocouples. The dilution reduced the viscosity of the bio-oil in 75.4% and increased by 11% the lower heating value (LHV) of the same, providing a stable combustion to the burner through the atomizing with compressed air and burns combined with LPG. Injecting the hybrid fuel there was increase in the heat transfer from the plate to the environment in 21.6% and gain useful benefit of 26.7%, due to the improved in the efficiency of the 1st Law of Thermodynamics of infrared burner

Effect of Prunella vulgaris L extract on hyperprolactinemia in vitro and in vivo

Purpose: To investigate the anti-hyperprolactinemic activity of Prunella vulgaris L. extract (PVE) in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Rats were given intraperitoneal (i. p.) metoclopramide (MCP, 150 mg/kg daily) for 10 days to prepare hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL) model. Bromocriptine was used as positive control drug. High (5.6 g/kg), medium (2.8 g/kg) and low (1.4 g/kg) doses of PVE were administered to hyperPRL rats. The effect of PVE on serum prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), progesterone (PGN), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were investigated in the rats. MMQ cells derived from rat pituitary adenoma cells and GH3 cells from rat pituitary lactotropictumoral cells were used for in vitro experiments. The effect of PVE on PRL secretion were studied in MMQ cells and GH3 cells respectively. Results: Compared with the control group (446.21 ± 32.43 pg/mL), high (219.23 ± 10.62 pg/mL) and medium (245.47 ± 13.52 pg/mL) reduced PRL level of hyperPRL rats significantly (p 0.05). In MMQ cells, treatment with 5 mg/mL PVE or 10 mg/mL PVE) significantly suppressed PRL secretion and synthesis at 24h compared with controls (p < 0.01). Consistent with D2- action, PVE did not affect PRL in rat pituitary lactotropic tumor-derived GH3 cells that lack the D2 receptor expression, compared with controls. Conclusion: PVE showed anti-hyperPRL activity and can potentially be used for the treatment of hyperprolactinemi, but further studies are required to ascertain this

Pirólise térmica e catalítica de resíduos de vácuo gerados no refino de petróleo

In this study, was used a very promising technique called of pyrolysis, which can be used for obtaining products with higher added value. From oils and residues, since the contribution of heavier oils and residues has intensified to the world refining industry, due to the growing demand for fuel, for example, liquid hydrocarbons in the range of gasoline and diesel. The catalytic pyrolysis of vacuum residues was performed with the use of a mesoporous material belonging the M41S family, which was discovered in the early 90s by researchers Mobil Oil Corporation, allowing new perspectives in the field of catalysis. One of the most important members of this family is the MCM-41, which has a hexagonal arrangement of mesopores with pore diameters between 2 and 10 nm and a high specific surface area, making it very promising for use as a catalyst in petroleum refining for catalytic cracking, and their mesopores facilitate the access of large hydrocarbon molecules. The addition of aluminum in the structure of MCM-41 increases the acidity of the material, making it more positive for application in the petrochemical industry. The mesoporous material of the type Al-MCM41 (ratio Si / Al = 50) was synthesized by hydrothermal method starting from the silica gel, NaOH and distilled water added to the gel pseudobohemita synthesis. Driver was used as structural CTMABr. Removal of organic driver (CTMABr) was observed by TG / DTG and FTIR, but this material was characterized by XRD, which was observed the formation of the main peaks characteristic of mesoporous materials. The analysis of adsorption / desorption of nitrogen this material textural parameters were determined. The vacuum residues (VR's) that are products of the bottom of the vacuum distillation tower used in this study are different from oil fields (regions of Ceará and Rio de Janeiro). Previously characterized by various techniques such as FTIR, viscosity, density, SARA, elemental analysis and thermogravimetry, which was performed by thermal and catalytic degradation of vacuum residues. The effect of AlMCM-41 was satisfactory, since promoted a decrease in certain ranges of temperature required in the process of conversion of hydrocarbons, but also promoted a decrease in energy required in the process. Thus enabling lower costs related to energy expenditure from degradation during processing of the waste

Las rutas alimentarias, herramienta para valorizar productos de las agroindustrias rurales. El caso de la ruta del queso Turrialba, Costa Rica

En la búsqueda de estrategias para el desarrollo de las zonas rurales, aparece la actividad del turismo como un instrumento de aplicación práctica que puede contribuir a generar procesos de desarrollo local que permitan complementar los ingresos agrícolas, crear nuevos puestos de empleo y evitar el despoblamiento rural.   El agroturismo y las rutas alimentarias entendidas como modalidades del turismo rural resultan de especial interés porque representan nuevas actividades en el medio rural que agregan valor a las producciones agroalimentarias en manos de pequeños productores y en especial a aquellas que emplean procesos artesanales de elaboración.   En el actual contexto de apertura comercial gobernada por los commoditties, el fast-food y las barreras sanitarias, la existencia de muchas pequeñas agroindustrias rurales se ve amenazada puesto que no alcanzan los niveles de productividad para competir en mercados globalizados. Muchas de esas empresas podrían tener una salida si logran articularse con el negocio del turismo rural, por medio de la prestación de productos y servicios para atender las demandas de los turistas interesados en conocer aspectos de la cultura agropecuaria y agroindustrial de una determinada región. Esta propuesta nos lleva a analizar las características generales del turismo rural, el agroturismo y las rutas alimentarias, así como la manera en que esos conceptos pueden aplicarse en un territorio específico, para potenciar procesos y productos con identidad, como es el caso del queso Turrialba en Costa Rica, alrededor del cual se propone la construcción de una ruta alimentaria como estrategia de desarrollo local y valorización de la agroindustria quesera artesanal.   ABSTRACT This paper takes us to analyze the general characteristics of rural tourism, agro-tourism and food routes and of how those concepts may be applied in specific territories, to promote processes and develop products with territories, to promote processes and develop products with territorial identity, as is the case of the Turrialba cheese in Costa Rica. Tourism appears to be an instrument of practical application that can contribute to generate processes of local development that helps to complement agricultural incomes, create new employments and avoid rural migration. Agro-tourism and food routes are of special interest since they represent new activities in the rural areas which add value to the agro-alimentary productions through the hands of small producers.

Studies of MHC class I antigen presentation & the origins of the immunopeptidome

La présentation d'antigène par les molécules d'histocompatibilité majeure de classe I (CMHI) permet au système immunitaire adaptatif de détecter et éliminer les agents pathogènes intracellulaires et des cellules anormales. La surveillance immunitaire est effectuée par les lymphocytes T CD8 qui interagissent avec le répertoire de peptides associés au CMHI présentés à la surface de toutes cellules nucléées. Les principaux gènes humains de CMHI, HLA-A et HLA-B, sont très polymorphes et par conséquent montrent des différences dans la présentation des antigènes. Nous avons étudié les différences qualitatives et quantitatives dans l'expression et la liaison peptidique de plusieurs allotypes HLA. Utilisant la technique de cytométrie de flux quantitative nous avons établi une hiérarchie d'expression pour les quatre HLA-A, B allotypes enquête. Nos résultats sont compatibles avec une corrélation inverse entre l'expression allotypique et la diversité des peptides bien que d'autres études soient nécessaires pour consolider cette hypothèse. Les origines mondiales du répertoire de peptides associés au CMHI restent une question centrale à la fois fondamentalement et dans la recherche de cibles immunothérapeutiques. Utilisant des techniques protéogénomiques, nous avons identifié et analysé 25,172 peptides CMHI isolées à partir des lymphocytes B de 18 personnes qui exprime collectivement 27 allotypes HLA-A,B. Alors que 58% des gènes ont été la source de 1-64 peptides CMHI par gène, 42% des gènes ne sont pas représentés dans l'immunopeptidome. Dans l'ensemble, l’immunopeptidome présenté par 27 allotypes HLA-A,B ne couvrent que 17% des séquences exomiques exprimées dans les cellules des sujets. Nous avons identifié plusieurs caractéristiques des transcrits et des protéines qui améliorent la production des peptides CMHI. Avec ces données, nous avons construit un modèle de régression logistique qui prédit avec une grande précision si un gène de notre ensemble de données ou à partir d'ensembles de données indépendants génèrerait des peptides CMHI. Nos résultats montrent la sélection préférentielle des peptides CMHI à partir d'un répertoire limité de produits de gènes avec des caractéristiques distinctes. L'idée que le système immunitaire peut surveiller des peptides CMHI couvrant seulement une fraction du génome codant des protéines a des implications profondes dans l'auto-immunité et l'immunologie du cancer.

Firm-level trade creation and diversion of regional trade agreements in Thailand

Using highly detailed import data for Thailand, this paper examines firm-level trade creation and diversion of regional trade agreements (RTAs). Specifically, by focusing on firm-product pairs in which firms import a particular product from non-members but not from RTA members in the initial year of our sample, we empirically investigate the start of imports from RTA members under RTA schemes and the cessation of imports from non-members at the firm-level. We find that firms are more likely to stop importing products with low RTA tariff rates or high most-favored-nation tariff rates from non-members and to start importing such products from RTA member countries. However, from the quantitative point of view, there are very few firms that switch import sources from non-members to RTA members when facing the introduction of RTA schemes.

Studies of MHC class I antigen presentation & the origins of the immunopeptidome

La présentation d'antigène par les molécules d'histocompatibilité majeure de classe I (CMHI) permet au système immunitaire adaptatif de détecter et éliminer les agents pathogènes intracellulaires et des cellules anormales. La surveillance immunitaire est effectuée par les lymphocytes T CD8 qui interagissent avec le répertoire de peptides associés au CMHI présentés à la surface de toutes cellules nucléées. Les principaux gènes humains de CMHI, HLA-A et HLA-B, sont très polymorphes et par conséquent montrent des différences dans la présentation des antigènes. Nous avons étudié les différences qualitatives et quantitatives dans l'expression et la liaison peptidique de plusieurs allotypes HLA. Utilisant la technique de cytométrie de flux quantitative nous avons établi une hiérarchie d'expression pour les quatre HLA-A, B allotypes enquête. Nos résultats sont compatibles avec une corrélation inverse entre l'expression allotypique et la diversité des peptides bien que d'autres études soient nécessaires pour consolider cette hypothèse. Les origines mondiales du répertoire de peptides associés au CMHI restent une question centrale à la fois fondamentalement et dans la recherche de cibles immunothérapeutiques. Utilisant des techniques protéogénomiques, nous avons identifié et analysé 25,172 peptides CMHI isolées à partir des lymphocytes B de 18 personnes qui exprime collectivement 27 allotypes HLA-A,B. Alors que 58% des gènes ont été la source de 1-64 peptides CMHI par gène, 42% des gènes ne sont pas représentés dans l'immunopeptidome. Dans l'ensemble, l’immunopeptidome présenté par 27 allotypes HLA-A,B ne couvrent que 17% des séquences exomiques exprimées dans les cellules des sujets. Nous avons identifié plusieurs caractéristiques des transcrits et des protéines qui améliorent la production des peptides CMHI. Avec ces données, nous avons construit un modèle de régression logistique qui prédit avec une grande précision si un gène de notre ensemble de données ou à partir d'ensembles de données indépendants génèrerait des peptides CMHI. Nos résultats montrent la sélection préférentielle des peptides CMHI à partir d'un répertoire limité de produits de gènes avec des caractéristiques distinctes. L'idée que le système immunitaire peut surveiller des peptides CMHI couvrant seulement une fraction du génome codant des protéines a des implications profondes dans l'auto-immunité et l'immunologie du cancer.