Effect of the presence of surfactant and ionic liquids on the esterification of oleic acid catalyzed by immobilized lipase

Ionic liquids (ILs) and surfactants are widely used in order to increase the catalytic efficiency of lipases. In this sense, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of different ionic liquids (C4MIM.Ac, C4MIM.HSO4, C4MIM.TF2N, C4MIM.BF4, C12MIM.I, and C12MIM.Cl), Aliquat 336 and di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) as adjuvants in the esterification of oleic acid with different alcohols catalyzed by Novozyme 435. First of all, it evaluates the effect of alkyl chain length of the alcohol and the positioning of the hydroxyl group. The selection of additives, made with isopropyl alcohol, pointed AOT and C4MIM.Ac as adjuvants effective on the potential of esterification of the enzyme (an increase of 35% in the potential of esterification). Using methanol, ethanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol, the C4MIM.Ac was proven not to be efficient, while the AOT shows adjuvant effect in the esterification of oleic acid with methanol (increasing in catalytic efficiency of enzyme in 21%).Key words: Esterification, di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT), Ionic Liquids, Novozyme 435

Which game narratives do adolescents of different gameplay and sociodemographic backgrounds prefer? a mixed-methods analysis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate which narrative elements of digital game narratives are preferred by the general adolescent population, and to examine associations with gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and gameplay frequency. Further, the study aims to discuss how results can be translated to serious digital games. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adolescents were recruited through school to complete a survey on narrative preferences in digital games. The survey included questions on sociodemographic information, frequency of gameplay, and an open-ended question on what could be an appealing narrative for them. Data were analyzed in a mixed-methods approach, using thematic analysis and chi-square analyses to determine narrative preferences and the associations between game narrative elements and player characteristics (gender, SES, and frequency of gameplay). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 446 adolescents (12-15 years old) who described 30 narrative subthemes. Preferences included human characters as protagonists; nonhuman characters only as antagonists; realistic settings, such as public places or cities; and a strong conflict surrounding crime, catastrophe, or war. Girls more often than boys defined characters by their age, included avatars, located the narrative in private places, developed profession-related skills, and included a positive atmosphere. Adolescents of nonacademic education more often than adolescents of academic education defined characters by criminal actions. Infrequent players more often included human characters defined by their age than frequent players. After performing a Bonferroni correction, narrative preferences for several gender differences remained. CONCLUSION: Different narrative elements related to subgroups of adolescents by gender, SES, and frequency of gameplay. Customization of narratives in serious digital health games should be warranted for boys and girls; yet, further research is needed to specify how to address girls in particular

Reproductive characteristics of citrus rootstocks grown under greenhouse and field environments

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible effect of environmental factors on meiosis, meiotic index, pollenviability and in vitro germination of pollen from stock plants of the rootstocks Trifoliate, ‘Swingle’, ‘Troyer’, ‘Fepagro C13’, ‘FepagroC37’ and ‘Fepagro C41’ grown in a protected environment in comparison with stock plants grown in the field. The results showed thatvalues for the characteristics analyzed in 2008, 2009 and 2010 were always higher in the field than in the greenhouse conditions. Inthe field, the average of normal meiotic cells was 60.05%, 44.44% and 60.12%, respectively, and in the greenhouse, 52.75%, 30.95%and 52.82%, respectively. Mean pollen viability in the field was 90.28%, 56.23% and 74.74%, and, in the greenhouse, 64.25%, 41.41%and 66.71%, respectively. As temperature oscillations were higher in the greenhouse than in the field, we suggest that this negativelyaffects the reproductive characteristics analyzed

Quantas medidas de pressões respiratórias são necessárias para se obterem medidas máximas em pacientes com tetraplegia? ¿Cuántas maniobras son necesarias para llegar a las presiones máximas en pacientes con tetraplejía? How many maneuvers of respiratory pressures are required to obtain maximal values in patients with quadriplegia?

INTRODUÇÃO: pressões inspiratórias (PImax) ou expiratórias (PEmax) máximas constituem um método simples e não-invasivo para avaliação da força de músculos respiratórios e auxiliam na identificação de fraqueza dos músculos respiratórios, presente em diversas doenças e situações clínicas, como a tetraplegia. OBJETIVO: avaliar o número de manobras necessárias para atingir as pressões máximas em pacientes com tetraplegia. MÉTODOS: oito pacientes com tetraplegia (sete homens), média de idade de 37,8±11,96 anos, com diagnóstico de lesão raquimedular cervical completa realizaram 10 medidas de PImax e PEmax nas posições sentada e deitada, totalizando 320 medidas. Os dados foram comparados pelo teste de Wilcoxon (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: os valores obtidos na primeira e na décima medida de PImax na posição sentada variaram de 74,1±15,1 a 74,8±19,8 cmH2O e de PEmax de 32,4±6,8 a 32,4±9,0 cmH2O; na posição deitada, de 76,5±18,6 a 91,1±13,3 cmH2O (p<0,05) e de 32,5±5,8 a 32,9±5,1 cmH2O, respectivamente. Os resultados das 3 e 5 primeiras medidas com 10 medidas de PImax na posição sentada foram 81,1±19,5; 81,5±18,8 e 83,0±18,9 cmH2O e de PEmax 35,0±8,2; 35,3±7,9 e 36,8±8,0 cmH2O. A PImax na posição deitada foi 90,3±17,8; 94,6±16,0 e 97,4±17,8 cmH2O (p<0,05) e a PEmax 33,3±5,8; 35,6±5,4 e 36,9±4,9 cmH2O. O maior valor ocorreu a partir da 6ª medida em 40% dos testes. CONCLUSÕES: para obtenção de valores máximos de pressões respiratórias em pacientes com tetraplegia, é necessária a repetição de ao menos 10 medidas em cada avaliação.<br>INTRODUCCIÓN: las presiones inspiratorias (PImax) y espiratorias (PEmax) máximas constituyen un método simple y no invasivo para evaluar la fuerza de los músculos respiratorios, y ayudan a identificar la debilidad de los músculos respiratorios presente en diferentes enfermedades y situaciones clínicas, como la tetraplejía. OBJETIVO: evaluar el número de maniobras necesarias para llegar a las presiones máximas en pacientes con tetraplejía. MÉTODOS: fueron incluidos ocho pacientes con tetraplejía (siete hombres), con edad media de 37,8±11,96 años y diagnóstico de lesión cervical raquis medular completa, a lo que se le realizaron 10 mediciones de PImax y PEmax en posición sentado y acostado, totalizando 320 mediciones. Los datos fueron comparados por el test de Wilcoxon (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: las medidas obtenidas en la primera y decima medición en posición sentada variaron de 74,1±15,1cmH2O a 74,8±19,8 cmH2O para PImax y de 32,4±6,8 cmH2O a 32,4±9,0 cmH2O para PEmax; y en posición acostada de 76,5±18,6 cmH2O a 91,1±13,3 cmH2O (p<0,05) y de 32,5±5,8 cmH2O a 32,9±5,1 cmH2O, respectivamente. Los resultados en posición sentada de PImax de las 3 y 5 primeras mediciones de las 10 mediciones fueron 81,1±19,5 cmH2O; 81,5±18,8 cmH2O y 83,0±18,9 cmH2O; y de PEmax 35,0±8,2 cmH2O; 35,3±7,9 cmH2O e 36,8±8,0 cmH2O. La PImax en posición acostada fue de 90,3±17,8 cmH2O; 94,6±16,0 cmH2O y 97,4±17,8 cmH2O (p<0,05) y la PEmax fue de 33,3±5,8 cmH2O; 35,6±5,4 cmH2O y 36,9±4,9 cmH2O. El mayor valor ocurrió a partir de la sexta medida en el 40% de los testes. CONCLUSIONES: para obtener valores máximos de presiones respiratorios en pacientes con tetraplejía, es necesario repetir por lo menos 10 veces las mediciones en cada evaluación.<br>INTRODUCTION: maximum inspiratory (IPmax) and expiratory (EPmax) pressures constitute a simple noninvasive method for evaluation of respiratory muscle strength which helps in the identification of muscle weakness usually present in several diseases and clinical situations, such as quadriplegia. OBJECTIVE: to assess the number of maneuvers needed to achieve maximum pressures in patients with quadriplegia. METHODS: eight quadriplegic patients (seven men) with mean age of 37.8 ± 11.96 years old and presenting with diagnosis of complete spinal cord lesion were submitted to 10 measurements of IPmax and EPmax in both seated and supine positions, totalizing 320 measurements. Data were compared by using the Wilcoxon's test (p<0.05). RESULTS: the 1st and 10th measurements of IPmax and EPmax for seated position ranged from 74.1±15.1 to 74.8±19.8 cmH2O and 32.4±6.8 to 32.4±9.0 cmH2O, respectively; whereas for supine position such measurements ranged from 76.5±18.6 to 91.1±13.3 cmH2O (p<0.05) and 32.5±5.8 to 32.9±5.1 cmH2O, respectively. The results regarding the 3rd and 5th measurements of IPmax for seated position were 81.1±19.5, 81.5±18.8, and 83.0±18.9 cmH2O; whereas EPmax had 35.0±8.2; 35.3±7.9, and 36.8±8.0 cmH2O. IPmax values for seated position were 90.3±17.8, 94.6±16.0, and 97.4±17.8 cmH2O (p<0.05), whereas EPmax had 33.3±5.8, 35.6±5.4, and 36.9±4.9 cmH2O. The highest value occurred from the 6th measurement in 40% of the tests. CONCLUSIONS: To obtain maximum values for respiratory pressures in quadriplegic patients, it is necessary to repeat the measurements at least 10 times for each evaluation