Entropic analysis of human body’s longevity as a function of physical activity level

Abstract The literature reveals the application of the laws of thermodynamics for predicting life span and the effects of the physical activity level on longevity. But the vastly simplified literature models seem to suggest a reduction in duration of life with increased activity level, which is the opposite of medical recommendations, that means that exercises increase the longevity. The main objectives of this paper are to re-present the previous model, check and confirm the previous results and improve the model by formulating a simplified phenomenological relation between life span, specific entropy generation of the body (SEG-life, in MJ/kg.K) and physical activity level. The model was validated considering different individuals. In this study, it is suggested that the principle of cumulative entropy generation limit should be relaxed in function of lifestyle and type of exercise performed during life, differently from what it is defined by the literature. So, it is proposed a relax to the limit on SEG-life as a result of various physical activity levels

Perfil epidemiológico do câncer de laringe no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to document the distribution and pattern of behavior of this tumor among our patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with diagnosis of laryngeal cancer seen in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre between 1990 to1996 was carried out.RESULTS: There were 242 cases, the majority of whom were from the white race (94,2%). The peak incidence was in the seventh decade of life and male to femaleratio was 15:1. The most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (98,76%) and by site, glottic involvement was the most frequent (44,7%), and so themost common symptom at presentation was hoarseness (76,5%). Supraglottic tumors presented, mainly, with dysphagia and the transglottics with dyspnea. As to staging, 43,3% were in IV stage at the diagnosis. The supraglottic tumors were, mainly, in the stage IV (38,3%), while the majority of glottic tumors (74,2%) were in the stage I, its reflect a worse prognosis for the supraglottic tumors. The total surgery was the mostfrequent treatment performed (50,7%).CONCLUSIONS: The laryngeal cancer diagnosis in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre is done at a late stage, making the patient’s prognosis really reserved.OBJETIVO: O objetivo foi documentar a distribuição e o padrão de comportamento deste tumor entre os nossos pacientes.MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo dos pacientes com diagnóstico de câncer de laringe atendidos no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre entre 1990 e 1996.RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados 242 casos, a maioria da raça branca (94,2%). A divisão por faixa etária mostrou um pico do ocorrência na sétima década de vida e a proporção de homens em relação à mulheres foi de 15:1. O tipo histológico maiscomum foi carcinoma epidermóide (98,76%) e o sítio mais freqüentemente acometido foi a glote (44,7%), conseqüentemente, o sintoma mais comum na apresentação foi a disfonia (76,5%). Os pacientes com tumores na supraglote apresentaram, principalmente, disfagia e, aqueles com tumores transglóticos, dispnéia. Quanto ao estadiamento, 43,2% estavam no estágio IV no momento do diagnóstico. Os tumores localizados na supraglote estão relacionados com pior prognóstico, nesta amostra 38,3% dos pacientes com câncer na supraglote estavam no estágio IV, enquanto quea maioria dos tumores glóticos (74,2%) estavam no estágio I. A cirurgia total foi o tratamento mais realizado (50,7%).CONCLUSÃO: O diagnóstico do câncer de laringe no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre é feito, em sua maior parte, em estágio avançado, tornando o prognóstico desses pacientes bastante reservado

Study of Thermo--Oxidative Stabilization for Strips and Bundles of Polyacrylonitrile Fibers

Stabilization is one of the expensive and critical steps in the manufacture of carbon fibers. It involves complex chemical reactions and physical structure changes. Modeling and simulation are successfully utilized in order to know the stabilization behavior and minimize the cost of experimental tests. In this work a mathematical model of stabilization step is presented for a polyacrylonitrile strip. Differential equations describe the chemical reactions, oxygen diffusion and heat transfer occurring inside the strip. They are resolved by Orthogonal Collocation and Semi implicit Runge - Kutta Method. The results of temperatures and concentrations profiles as a function of the stabilization time are analyzed and compared with a simulation obtained for a bundle of polyacrylonitrile fibers. This investigation indicates that heat transfer in the strip is better than in the bundle and consequently the exothermic reactions are controlled.Os estudos relacionados ao processo de fabricação de fibras de carbono indicam que a etapa de estabilização termo-oxidativa das fibras precursoras é limitante, envolvendo reações químicas complexas e mudanças na estrutura física das fibras. Com o objetivo de se conhecer melhor a etapa de estabilização e eliminar gastos em testes experimentais, a modelagem e a simulação surgem para tentar otimizar este processo. Apresenta-se neste trabalho um modelo matemático para a etapa de estabilização de uma fita de fibras de poliacrilonitrila. As equações do modelo descrevem as principais reações químicas de estabilização, a difusão de oxigênio e a transferência de calor na fita. Para a resolução do modelo foi desenvolvido um programa computacional na linguagem Fortran, utilizando os métodos de Colocação Ortogonal e Runge¾ Kutta Semi-implícito. Foram obtidos resultados de temperaturas e concentrações na fita de fibras de poliacrilonitrila em função do tempo de estabilização e da posição na espessura da fita. Estes resultados foram analisados e comparados com os simulados em um feixe de fibras de poliacrilonitrila e indicaram que a transferência de calor na fita é melhor do que no feixe e conseqüentemente as reações exotérmicas são mais controladas.171179Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Removal of tetracycline from contaminated water by Moringa oleifera seed preparations

The aim of this study was to evaluate tetracycline antibiotic (TA) removal from contaminated water by Moringa oleifera seed preparations. The composition of synthetic water approximate river natural contaminated water and TA simulated its presence as an emerging pollutant. Interactions between TA and protein preparations (extract; fraction and lectin) were also evaluated. TA was determined by solid phase extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry. Moringa extract and flour removed TA from water. Extract removed TA in all concentrations and better removal (40%) was obtained with 40 mg L1; seed flour (particles 5 mm (0.50 g L1) removed 55% of antibiotic. Interactions between TA and seed preparations were assayed by haemagglutinating activity (HA). Specific HA (SHA) of extract (pH 7) was abolished with tetracycline (5 mg L1); fraction (75%) and lectin HA (97%) were inhibited with TA. Extract SHA decreased by 75% at pH 8. Zeta potential (ZP) of extract 700 mg L1 and tetracycline 50 mg L1 , pH range 5 to 8, showed different results. Extract ZP was more negative (10.73 mV to 16.00 mV) than tetracycline ZP (0.27 mV to 20.15 mV); ZP difference was greater in pH 8. The focus of this study was achieved since moringa preparations removed TA from water and compounds interacting with tetracycline involved at least lectin binding sites. This is a natural process, which do not promote environmental damage.This work was supported by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia and POPH/FSE under Grant SFRH/BPD/37349/2007; the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) for fellowships (PMGP and LCBBC); the authors thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 [FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462] and the project 'BioInd - Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes,' REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER

SCI1 Is a Direct Target of AGAMOUS and WUSCHEL and Is Specifically Expressed in the Floral Meristematic Cells

The specified floral meristem will develop a pre-established number of floral organs and, thus, terminate the floral meristematic cells. The floral meristematic pool of cells is controlled, among some others, by WUSCHEL (WUS) and AGAMOUS (AG) transcription factors (TFs). Here, we demonstrate that the SCI1 (Stigma/style cell-cycle inhibitor 1) gene, a cell proliferation regulator, starts to be expressed since the floral meristem specification of Nicotiana tabacum and is expressed in all floral meristematic cells. Its expression is higher in the floral meristem and the organs being specified, and then it decreases from outside to inside whorls when the organs are differentiating. SCI1 is co-expressed with N. tabacum WUSCHEL (NtWUS) in the floral meristem and the whorl primordia at very early developmental stages. Later in development, SCI1 is co-expressed with NAG1 (N. tabacum AG) in the floral meristem and specialized tissues of the pistil. In silico analyses identified cis-regulatory elements for these TFs in the SCI1 genomic sequence. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoresis mobility shift assay demonstrated that both TFs interact with the SCI1 promoter sequence. Additionally, the luciferase activity assay showed that NAG1 clearly activates SCI1 expression, while NtWUS could not do so. Taken together, our results suggest that during floral development, the spatiotemporal regulation of SCI1 by NtWUS and NAG1 may result in the maintenance or termination of proliferative cells in the floral meristem, respectively.Fil: Cruz, Joelma O.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Abramo Barrera San Martin, Juca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentina. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lubini, Greice. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Strini, Edward J.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Sobral, Rómulo. Universidade do Minho; PortugalFil: Pinoti, Vitor F.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Pedro B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Thomé, Vanessa. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Quiapim, Andréa C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dornelas, Marcelo C.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Pranchevicius, Maria Cristina S.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Madueño, Francisco. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Costa, M. Manuela R.. Universidade do Minho; PortugalFil: Goldman, Maria Helena S.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Seedling production, cutting height and harvest interval in Melissa officinalis L.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de recipientes e composições de substratos na produção de mudas e da altura e intervalo de cortes na produção de melissa (Melissa officinalis L.) em estufa agrícola. No ensaio de mudas empregou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 4, com três repetições, onde se avaliou cinco composições de vermicomposto (V) e esterco bovino (E) (nas proporções 1V:0E, 2V:1E, 1V:1E, 1V:2E e 0V:1E) e quatro concentrações das composições no pó-de-coco (0; 20; 40 e 60%). No ensaio de altura e intervalo de corte utilizou-se o delineamento blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, com três repetições, em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram colocados os quatro intervalos de colheita (8; 9; 10 e 11 semanas após a primeira colheita) e nas subparcelas altura de corte (5 e 10 cm). No ensaio de mudas a presença de vermicomposto nos substratos resultou em mudas vigorosas. Quando se usou 60% de vermicomposto e 40% de pó de coco observou-se maior sistema radicular, seguido pelo substrato 26,7% de vermicomposto, 13,3% de esterco bovino e 60% de pó de coco, que também proporcionou mudas mais altas. No ensaio de altura e intervalo de corte, o corte a 5 cm de altura diminuiu a sobrevivência de plantas rebrotadas e não influenciou o peso seco de folha por planta. A colheita da rebrota pode ser feita 11 semanas após o primeiro corte._________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: The effect of recipients and substrate compositions was evaluated on seedling production, the height of cutting and harvest interval on the production of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) cultivated in greenhouse. For the transplants trial a randomized experimental design in factorial scheme 5 x 4 with three replications was used. Five compositions of vermicompost (V) and bovine manure (B) (1V:0B; 2V:1B; 1V:1B; 1V:2B; 0V:1B) and four concentrations of the compositions mixed with coconut dust (0; 20; 40; 60%). For the harvest interval essay a completely randomized block experimental design was used, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme with three replications using the split plot model. In the plots four harvest intervals (every 8; 9; 10 and 11 weeks) and in the split-plots two cutting heights (5 and 10 cm) were evaluated. In the seedling essay the presence of vermicompost on the substrate composition resulted in vigorous transplants. Better root system was observed in treatments using 60% of vermicompost and 40% of coconut dust followed by the substrate composed of 26.7% of vermicompost, 13.3% of bovine manure and 60% of coconut dust, which also proportioned highest plant height. In the regrowth essay the cutting at 5 cm of height resulted in a reduction of plant survival, and this fact did not affect the dry matter of leaves per plant. Harvesting of regrowth plants can be carried out eleven weeks after the first cutting

Platinum–Vanadium Oxide Nanotube Hybrids

The present contribution reports on the features of platinum-based systems supported on vanadium oxide nanotubes. The synthesis of nanotubes was carried out using a commercial vanadium pentoxide via hydrothermal route. The nanostructured hybrid materials were prepared by wet impregnation using two different platinum precursors. The formation of platinum nanoparticles was evaluated by applying distinct reduction procedures. All nanostructured samples were essentially analysed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. After reduction, transmission electron microscopy also made it possible to estimate particle size distribution and mean diameter calculations. It could be seen that all reduction procedures did not affect the nanostructure of the supports and that the formation of metallic nanoparticles is quite efficient with an indistinct distribution along the nanotubes. Nevertheless, the reduction procedure determined the diameter, dispersion and shape of the metallic particles. It could be concluded that the use of H2PtCl6 is more suitable and that the use of hydrogen as reducing agent leads to a nanomaterial with unagglomerated round-shaped metallic particles with mean size of 6–7 nm

Impactos ambientais do manejo agroecológico da caatinga no Rio Grande do Norte.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os impactos ambientais do manejo agroecológico da caatinga, em unidades de produção familiar no Rio Grande do Norte, pelo método Ambitec de produção animal - dimensão ambiental, desenvolvido pela Embrapa Meio Ambiente. Foram avaliadas sete unidades de produção familiar, em quatro projetos de assentamentos de reforma agrária do Município de Apodi, RN. Os dados para o levantamento foram obtidos por meio de questionários aplicados aos representantes das unidades produtivas familiares, que atribuíram, a cada variável estudada, um valor que representou a alteração proporcionada pela implementação da tecnologia. Após a inserção dos coeficientes de alteração de cada variável dos indicadores por unidade de produção, o coeficiente de impacto foi automaticamente calculado por meio da planilha Ambitec. O manejo agroecológico da caatinga resultou num impacto ambiental positivo, e suas maiores contribuições foram relacionadas aos efeitos positivos dos seguintes indicadores: capacidade produtiva do solo, uso de insumos materiais, qualidade do produto e diminuição da emissão de poluentes à atmosfera. Dois indicadores geraram efeitos negativos: o uso de energia e o uso de recursos naturais. Pela superioridade dos benefícios gerados, o manejo agroecológico da caatinga é uma inovação tecnológica geradora de impactos ambientais positivos