Application of the Hsu model to soybean grain hydration

A comparative analysis of the theoretical-experimental study, developed by Hsu on the hydration of Amsoy 71 soybean grain, was performed through several soaking experiments using CD 202 soybean at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 °C, measuring moisture content over time. The results showed that CD 202 soybean equilibrium moisture content, Xeq, does not depend on temperature and is 21% higher than that found by Hsu, suggesting that soybean cultivar exerts great influence on Xeq. The Hsu model was numerically solved and its parameters were adjusted by the least squares method, with maximum deviations of +/- 10% relative to the experimental values. The limiting step in the mass transfer process during hydration corresponds to water diffusion inside the grain, leading to radial moisture gradients that decrease over time and with an increase in temperature. Regardless of the soybean cultivar, diffusivity increases as temperature or moisture content increases. However, the values of this transport property for Amsoy 71 were superior to those of CD 202, very close at the beginning of hydration at 20 °C and almost three times higher at the end of hydration at 50 °C.

Two novel reports of semidry stigmatic surface in Asteraceae

Research documents related to the morphology and function of style branches and stigmatic surface of Asteraceae are still rather few, and the literature reports are thus controversial. We report in the present study that the stigmatic surfaces of two non-related species of Asteraceae (Lessingianthus grandiflorus and Lucilia lycopodioides) have features of semidry stigmas. Sporodermis of both species was also analyzed so that we could understand how the stigmatic surface works during pollen deposition and rehydration. Stylar branches and pollen grains (sporodermis) were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and histochemistry techniques. The inner and marginal bands of stylar branches in these species display intermediary features between the dry and wet types of stigma: the cuticle characterizes the dry stigma and cells with secretory activity characterize the wet stigma; these showed differences from what has been described to the Asteraceae family, where stigmatic surface of species from several tribes is considered dry. Pollen grains are medium-size to large with exine ornamentation (echinate and echinolophate) and abundant secretion which latter characterizes pollenkitt. We can assume that two processes might help pollen grain hydration on stigmatic surface in Lessingianthus grandiflorus and Lucilia lycopodioides: (1) the presence of pollenkitt, as observed in the secretory content inside exine cavities and around pollen grains; and (2) the secretory activity of stigmatic surface cells, whose secretion accumulates among intercellular and subcuticular spaces and leads to cuticle disruption during the floral receptive phase. Our results suggest that ultrastructural and histochemical studies should be considered when describing stigmatic surface and that the ""semidry"" feature within Asteraceae should be investigated still more in detail, so that the taxonomic or adaptation value of this trait in the family can be verified. (C) 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Produtividade e características tecnológicas de cultivares de feijão em resposta à calagem superficial em plantio direto

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação superficial de calcário em plantio direto, na produtividade e nas características tecnológicas dos grãos de cultivares de feijão. O trabalho foi desenvolvido durante dois anos agrícolas, em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, em condições de sequeiro. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram representadas por cultivares de feijão (Carioca, IAC Carioca Eté, Pérola, IAPAR 81 e Campeão 2) e as subparcelas formadas pelas doses de calcário dolomítico (sem aplicação de calcário; 1,8; 3,6 e 5,4 t ha-1). As cultivares de feijão tiveram desenvolvimento produtivo distinto em função das doses de calcário aplicadas superficialmente no sistema plantio direto. A cultivar Campeão 2 foi mais produtiva nos dois anos de experimentação e a cultivar IAPAR 81 respondeu linearmente ao aumento das doses de calcário no segundo ano agrícola. Houve efeito da interação dos fatores cultivares x doses de calcário para o tempo de cozimento, nos dois anos de experimentação, com aumento dessa característica na cultivar IAPAR 81, em função do incremento das doses de calcário. Comportamento semelhante foi obtido pela cultivar Pérola, porém apenas no segundo ano agrícola. O teor de proteína bruta variou de 210 a 230 g kg-1 e a relação de hidratação ficou próxima de 2,0 não sendo influenciados pelas doses de calcário e pelas cultivares de feijão.

Two novel reports of semidry stigmatic surface in Asteraceae

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

Produtividade e característica tecnológica de grãos em feijoeiro adubado com nitrogênio e molibdênio

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adubação com nitrogênio e molibdênio, na produtividade e nas características tecnológicas dos grãos de feijão. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4x2, constituído por doses de nitrogênio em cobertura (0, 30, 60 e 120 kg ha-1), aliado à aplicação ou não de molibdênio por via foliar (0 e 80 g ha-1), com quatro repetições. A semeadura do feijão, cultivar Pérola, foi realizada em condições de sequeiro e no sistema de plantio direto. A adubação nitrogenada em cobertura e a molíbdica via foliar não influenciam a produtividade, mas interferem na característica tecnológica dos grãos de feijão. O teor de proteína bruta, o tempo de cozimento e o tempo para a máxima hidratação dos grãos aumentam com as doses de nitrogênio em cobertura. O tempo de cozimento é maior, à medida que há incremento de nitrogênio aplicado em cobertura, com uso de molibdênio via foliar. O uso de molibdênio via foliar proporciona o menor tempo para a máxima hidratação de grãos.

Características agronômicas e tecnológicas de genótipos de feijão do grupo comercial Carioca

Cultivars with high yield, adaptability and desirable technological characteristics are a must. The objective of this work was to evaluate agronomic and technologic characters of common bean genotypes from carioca commercial group. Genotypes were cultivated in water growing season, in 2001 and 2002. The experimental design was by randomized blocks with 29 genotypes and four replications. The IAC-Carioca, FT-Bonito, Rudá, Porto Real, CNFC 8008, CNFC 8011, CNFC 8012, CNFC 8013 and CNFC 8156 genotypes yielded above the average. The genotypes IAC-Carioca, CNFC 8012 and CNFC 8156 presented the best results with 3,000 kg ha-1 and 20 minutes cooking time.

Desempenho produtivo e qualidade pós-colheita de genótipos de feijão do grupo comercial carioca cultivados na época de inverno-primavera

The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance and grain quality, especially the grain technological characteristics in the common bean genotypes, cultivated in winter-spring season. The experiment was carried out in Jaboticabal-SP, in a Rhodic Hapludox. The experimental design was a randomized block with 17 treatments (genotypes) with three replications. The plots had been composed for 17 carioca common bean group genotypes (Pérola, BRS Cometa, BRS Pontal, IPR Juriti, CNFC 10703, CNFC 10713, CNFC 10716, CNFC 10721, CNFC 10729, CNFC 10733, CNFC 10742, CNFC 10753, CNFC 10757, CNFC 10758, CNFC 10762, CNFC 10763 and CNFC 10813). BRS Pontal and CNFC 10716 showed simultaneously the higher number of per plant and grain yield. The technological characteristics more expressive was verified in CNFC 10703, CNFC 10713, CNFC 10758, CNFC 10813 and CNFC 10716 genotypes, principally about the protein content, cooking time and grain hydration capacity. The CNFC 10716 genotype detached as promissory, because their elevated agronomic performance and satisfactory technological characteristics.

Resposta de cultivares de feijão-caupi a calagem

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Extração e caracterização de amido de quinoa, cañihua e Mirabilis jalapa

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Microstructuration induced differences in the thermo-optical and luminescence properties of Nd:YAG fine grain ceramics and crystals

The temperature and compositional dependences of thermo- optical properties of neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) crystals and fine grain ceramics have been systematically investigated by means of time- resolved thermal lens spectrometry. We have found that Nd:YAG ceramics show a reduced thermal diffusivity compared to Nd:YAG single crystals in the complete temperature range investigated (80-300 K). The analysis of the time- resolved luminescent properties of Nd(3+) has revealed that the reduction in the phonon mean free path taking place in Nd:YAG ceramics cannot be associated with an increment in the density of lattice defects, indicating that phonon scattering at grain boundaries is the origin of the observed reduction in the thermal diffusivity of Nd: YAG ceramics. Finally, our results showed the ability of the time- resolved thermal lens to determine and optimize the thermo- optical properties of Nd: YAG ceramic based lasers. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2975335]

Hydration and N-acetylcysteine in acute renal failure caused by iodinated contrast medium: an experiment with rats

Background: The involvement of nephrotoxic agents in acute renal failure (ARF) has increased over the last few decades. Among the drugs associated with nephrotoxic ARF are the radiologic contrast media whose nephrotoxic effects have grown, following the increasing diagnostic use of these agents. Methods: We evaluated the effect of iodinated contrast (IC) medium, administered in combination, or not, with hyperhydration or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), on creatinine clearance, production of urinary peroxides and renal histology of rats. Adult Wistar rats treated for 5 days were divided into the following groups: control (saline, 3 ml/kg/day, intraperitoneally [i.p.]), IC (sodium iothalamate meglumine, 3 ml/kg/day i.p.), IC + water (12 mL water, orally + IC, 3 ml/kg/day i.p. after 1 hour), IC + NAC (NAC, 150 mg/kg/day, orally + IC, 3 ml/kg/day i.p. after 1 hour) and IC + water + NAC. Results: IC medium reduced renal function, with maintenance of urinary flow. Hyperhydration did not reduce the nephrotoxic effect of the IC agent, which was observed in the group IC + NAC. The combination of hyperhydration and NAC had no superior protective effect compared with NAC alone. An increase in urinary peroxides was observed in the IC group, with NAC or water or the combination of both reducing this parameter. Histopathologic analysis revealed no significant alterations. Conclusions: In summary, given 5 days previously, NAC was found to be more effective than hyperhydration alone in the prevention of contrast-induced acute renal failure.

The effect of agitation speed, enzyme loading and substrate concentration on enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose from brewer`s spent grain

Brewer`s spent grain components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) were fractionated in a two-step chemical pretreatment process using dilute sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide solutions. The cellulose pulp produced was hydrolyzed with a cellulolytic complex, Celluclast 1.5 L, at 45 degrees C to convert the cellulose into glucose. Several conditions were examined: agitation speed (100, 150 and 200 rpm), enzyme loading (5, 25 and 45 FPU/g substrate), and substrate concentration (2, 5 and 8% w/v), according to a 2(3) full factorial design aiming to maximize the glucose yield. The obtained results were interpreted by analysis of variance and response surface methodology. The optimal conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of brewer`s spent grain were identified as 100 rpm, 45 FPU/g and 2% w/v substrate. Under these conditions, a glucose yield of 93.1% and a cellulose conversion (into glucose and cellobiose) of 99.4% was achieved. The easiness of glucose release from BSG makes this substrate a raw material with great potential to be used in bioconversion processes.

Effect of hemicellulose and lignin on enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose from brewer`s spent grain

Enzymatic hydrolysis of brewer`s spent grain in three different forms: original (untreated), pretreated by dilute acid (cellulignin), and pretreated by a sequence of dilute acid and dilute alkali (cellulose pulp), was studied to verify the effect of hemicellulose and lignin on cellulose conversion into glucose. The hydrolysis was carried out using a commercial cellulase concentrate (Celluclast 1.5 L) in an enzyme/substrate ratio of 45 FPU/g, 2% (w/v) substrate concentration, 45 degrees C for 96 h. According to the results, the cellulose hydrolysis was affected by the presence of hemicellulose and/or lignin in the sample. The cellulose conversion ratio (defined as glucose yield + cellobiose yield) from cellulignin was 3.5-times higher than that from untreated sample, whereas from cellulose pulp such value was 4-times higher, correspondent to 91.8% (glucose yield of 85.6%). This best result was probably due to the strong modification in the material structure caused by the hemicellulose and lignin removal from the sample. As a consequence, the cellulose fibers were separated being more susceptible to the enzymatic attack. It was concluded that the lower the hemicellulose and lignin contents in the sample, the higher the efficiency of cellulose hydrolysis. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen peroxide bleaching of cellulose pulps obtained from brewer`s spent grain

Brewer`s spent grain (BSG) was evaluated for bleached pulp production. Two cellulose pulps with different chemical compositions were produced by soda pulping: one from the original raw material and the other from material pretreated by dilute acid. Both of them were bleached by a totally chlorine-free sequence performed in three stages, using 5% hydrogen peroxide in the two initial, and a 0.25 N NaOH solution in the last one. Chemical composition, kappa number, viscosity, brightness and yield of bleached and unbleached pulps were evaluated. The high hemicellulose (28.4% w/w) and extractives (5.8% w/w) contents in original BSG affected the pulping and bleaching processes. However, soda pulping of acid pretreated BSG gave a cellulose-rich pulp (90.4% w/w) with low hemicellulose and extractives contents (7.9% w/w and < 3.4% w/w, respectively), which was easily bleached achieving a kappa number of 11.21, viscosity of 3.12 cp, brightness of 71.3%, cellulose content of 95.7% w/w, and residual lignin of 3.4% w/w. Alkaline and oxidative delignification of acid pretreated BSG was found as an attractive approach for producing high-purity, chlorine-free cellulose pulp.

Effects of medium supplementation and pH control on lactic acid production from brewer`s spent grain

A cellulose pulp obtained by chemical pre-treatment of brewer`s spent grain was saccharified by a commercial cellulase preparation and the produced hydrolysate (50 g/l glucose) was fermented to lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii. The effects of pH control and nutrient supplementation of the hydrolysate on fermentation performance were investigated. Addition of 5g/l yeast extract enhanced the lactic acid volumetric productivity that attained 0.53 g/l h, value 18% higher than that obtained from non-supplemented hydrolysate. Addition of the MRS broth medium components (except the carbon source) was still better, providing a productivity of 0.79 g/l h. In all the cases, the lactic acid yield factor was of 0.7 g/g glucose consumed, but the fermentations stopped after 24 h due to the pH drop from 6.0 to 4.2, resulting in large amounts of residual glucose (38-41 g/l). Fermentation runs pH-controlled at 6.0 gave better results than those where the initial pH was not further controlled. The best result, 35.54 g/l lactic acid (0.99 g/g glucose consumed) was obtained during the pH-controlled fermentation of hydrolysate medium supplemented with MRS components. The volumetric productivity at the end of this fermentation was 0.59 g/l h, with a maximum of 0.82 g/l h during the first 12 h. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.