A solution for funding the development of technology in oilwell drilling

This article proposes a novel methodology to solve an existing gap in benchmark definition by the adoption of statistically defined benchmarks as references to test products or technical procedures. In a win–win partnership, remuneration is made upon realistic bases of comparison being proportional to existing risks. However, establishing values for benchmarks is rarely unanimous if asked to different persons involved in drilling analysis. Conventional benchmarking, which enhances few results and leaves aside poor operational performances, produces references that do not properly represent the geological environment. Nonetheless, when testing new products, it serves as reference to remunerate suppliers. The review of an optimization program, which resulted in a world record of drilling rate of penetration, reveals the financial magnitude of the savings produced, proposing the method discussed as a reliable solution to the development of technology.publishedVersio

Identification of impact aroma compounds in Eugenia uniflora L. (Brazilian Pitanga) leaf essential oil

The leaf essential oil of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) was extracted by Clevenger apparatus and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaves were collected and immediately extracted for five consecutive days at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. No variance in the oil yields were observed in the period. Furanodiene and its rearrangement product, furanoelemene (or curzerene, 50.2%), beta-elemene (5.9%) and alpha-cadinol (4.7%) were identified as the most abundant compounds. GC-Olfatometry (GC-O) associated to Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis (AEDA) allowed the identification of nine active aroma compounds, where furanodiene (along with furanoelemene, FD 1024), beta-elemene (FD 256) and (E,E)-germacrone (FD 256) were characterized as the main impact aroma compounds in the odor of this essential oil. Those substances were collected through a sniffing port adapted on the GC allowing to obtain a typical essence of pitanga as indicated by comparative olfatometric analysis

Green and roasted arabica coffees differentiated by ripeness, process and cup quality via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry fingerprinting

Direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in both the negative ESI(-)-MS and positive ESI(+)-MS ion modes are investigated to differentiate green and roasted Arabica coffees with different stages of ripeness (green, ripe and overripe), post-harvesting process (dry, wet and semi-wet) and coffees with different cup qualities. In the ESI(-)-MS of green coffees, ions from deprotonated fatty acids and chlorogenic acids are the most important for ripeness discrimination. In the ESI(+)-MS, maturity is differentiated by ions from protonated caffeine, chlorogenic acids and K+ adducts of fatty acids. To differentiate between post-harvesting process in both ionization modes, ions from fatty acids, chlorogenic acids, sugars and carboxylic acids generated in the fermentation process are the most representative. Roasted Arabica coffees are also well discriminated: in the ESI(-)-MS, ions from chlorogenic acids and short-chain organic acids derived from sugars are important. In the ESI(+)-MS, discrimination are mainly performed by low m/z ions such as protonated pyridine and alkylpiridines formed via trigonelline degradation. Both ESI(+)-MS and ESI(-)-MS are able to differentiate cup quality for Arabica roasted coffees and the ions used to perform discrimination are the same ones described in ripeness and post-harvesting processes.A habilidade da técnica de espectrometria de massas com infusão direta e ionização por eletronebulização (IES-EM), nos modos de íons positivos e negativos, foi avaliada na diferenciação de cafés Arábica verdes e torrados e com diferentes estágios de amadurecimento (verde, maduro e passado), processo pós-colheita (seco, úmido e semi-úmido) e cafés classificados por prova de xícara. No modo negativo, a análise dos cafés verdes mostrou que os íons correspondentes aos ácidos graxos e ácidos clorogênicos desprotonados são os mais importantes para a discriminação da maturidade. No modo positivo, a maturidade é diferenciada através de íons correspondentes a cafeína, ácidos clorogênicos protonados e adutos de K+ de ácidos graxos. Na diferenciação da pós-colheita, em ambos os modos de ionização, são mais importantes os íons correspondentes aos ácidos graxos, ácidos clorogênicos, açúcares e ácidos carboxílicos formados da fermentação. Cafés Arábica torrados também são discriminados com eficiência. No modo negativo, são importantes os íons correspondentes aos ácidos clorogênicos e ácidos orgânicos de cadeia curta, derivados de açúcares. No modo positivo, a discriminação é realizada por íons de baixa m/z tais como piridina e alquil piridinas protonadas, formadas através da degradação da trigonelina. Ambos os IES(+)-EM e IES(-)-EM são capazes de discriminar diferentes cafés Arábica torrados classificados por prova de xícara e os íons que permitem esta diferenciação são os mesmos descritos para a maturidade e processos pós-colheita.313321Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

SARS-CoV-2 uses CD4 to infect T helper lymphocytes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a major global outbreak of respiratory tract disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects mainly lungs and may cause several immune-related complications, such as lymphocytopenia and cytokine storm, which are associated with the severity of the disease and predict mortality. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in immune system dysfunction is still not fully understood. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infects human CD4+ T helper cells, but not CD8+ T cells, and is present in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T helper cells of severe COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) directly binds to the CD4 molecule, which in turn mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in T helper cells. This leads to impaired CD4 T cell function and may cause cell death. SARS-CoV-2-infected T helper cells express higher levels of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity. Thus, CD4-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of T helper cells may contribute to a poor immune response in COVID-19 patients.</p

SARS-CoV-2 uses CD4 to infect T helper lymphocytes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a major global outbreak of respiratory tract disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects mainly lungs and may cause several immune-related complications, such as lymphocytopenia and cytokine storm, which are associated with the severity of the disease and predict mortality. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in immune system dysfunction is still not fully understood. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infects human CD4+ T helper cells, but not CD8+ T cells, and is present in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T helper cells of severe COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) directly binds to the CD4 molecule, which in turn mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in T helper cells. This leads to impaired CD4 T cell function and may cause cell death. SARS-CoV-2-infected T helper cells express higher levels of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity. Thus, CD4-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of T helper cells may contribute to a poor immune response in COVID-19 patients.</p