A proposed through-flow inverse method for the design of mixed-flow pumps

A through-flow (hub-to-shroud) truly inverse method is proposed and described. It uses an imposition of mean swirl, i.e., radius times mean tangential velocity, given throughout the meridional section of the turbomachine as an initial design specification. In the present implementation, it is assumed that the fluid is inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational at inlet and that the blades are supposed to have zero thickness. Only blade rows that impart to the fluid a constant work along the space are considered. An application of this procedure to design the rotor of a mixed-flow pump is described in detail. The strategy used to find a suitable mean swirl distribution and the other design inputs is also described. The final blade shape and pressure distributions on the blade surface are presented, showing that it is possible to obtain feasible designs using this technique. Another advantage of this technique is the fact that it does not require large amounts of CPU time

Rodlet cells changes in Oreochromis niloticus in response to organophosphate pesticide and their relevance as stress biomarker in teleost fishes

Rodlet cells are frequently found in teleost fishes and although their role in organisms is not completely understood. The occurrence of these cells are related to stress and may undergo changes in contaminated environments, thereby allowing their use as biomarkers. This hypothesis is tested in the present study. Thirty specimens of Oreochromis niloticus were divided into three groups, two groups were exposed to organophosphate pesticide methyl parathion at nominal concentrations of 4 mgl-1 and 8 mgl-1 and one group was kept as control. After ten days, the gills were removed for microscopic study and the number and area of the rodlet cells were analyzed and compared with a well-established method of assessing histological damages in fishes. No significant differences were found in the area of the cells, but there were significant differences in the number of rodlet cells among examined concentrations. The present study provides evidence for the use of this new biomarker in teleost fishes and discusses some of the potential confounding factors of this approach

Stunpede : um sistema P2P para conectividade fim-a-fim transparente na internet usando túneis IPV6-sobre-UDP /

Orientador: Elias P.Duarte Jr.Dissertaçăo (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Cięncias Exatas, Programa de Pós-Graduaçăo em Informática. Defesa: Curitiba, 2008Inclui bibliografi

Intrachromosomal mapping of the human alpha-globin gene cluster

The aim of this study was twofold. Firstly, to confirm and, if possible, to narrow the regional localization of the human alpha-globin gene cluster on the short arm of chromosome 16. Secondly, to test the value of an experimental approach combining somatic cell genetics and recombinant DNA procedures for human gene mapping. Fourteen informative clones from somatic cell hybrids (derived from human fibroblasts fused with mouse LA9 cells) were produced and phenotypically characterized in terms of their human chromosome content by cytogenetic and isozyme analysis. The four human parental cell types used in this study carried a balanced translocation involving chromosome 16 and chromosomes 2, 5, 9 and 17. These had been cytogenetically interpreted as follows: t(2:16)(2q37:15q11), t ( 5 : 16)(5p11:16p11), t(9:16)(9q22: 16q22) , and t(16:17) (16q12:17p11) . The expression of the selectable marker APRT enabled the clones from somatic cell hybrids to be selected for and against the long arm of HC 16 (AA selection and DAP selection). Combining the cytogenetic and biochemical data on this panel of hybrid clones made it possible to assign APRT and DIA4 to 16q12q22 and PGP to 16p11pter. The DNAs from the hybrid clones, as well as those from both parental origins, were screened for the presence of the human alpha-globin gene cluster. Molecular hybridization on solid phase (Southern blotting) with a 32P-labelled human genomic DNA probe (the recombinant plasmid alphaP7(alpha1)) was used in the screening. A positive association (at a level of significance of 5%) between the presence/absence of the short arm of HC 16 and the presence/absence of the human alpha-globin gene cluster was found. It is therefore concluded that the experimental approach combining somatic cell hybridization and DNA hybridization on solid phase can be successfully applied to the intrachromosomal mapping of cloned single copy genes. The value of different methods such as molecular hybridization in solution, in situ molecular hybridization and trisomy mapping, in assigning single copy genes to chromosome regions is discussed taking the human alpha-globin gene cluster as the model system. The setting up of a bank of somatic cell hybrids and the molecular characterization and prenatal diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies are suggested as prospects for further work

ESTRUTURA DE MERCADO DE PRODUTOS LÃCTEOS NO MUNICÃPIO DE LAVRAS, MG

This study was carried out with the objective of characterizing the market structure and the commercialization of dairy products in the district of Lavras, MG, Brazil. For such study, agents were identified, their market conduct, and the prices paid and received were analyzed, as well as the volume of sales in the different market segments. It was verified that the products demanding greater technological resources, such as milk “longa vida†( “long-life†or UHT milk ) and milk sweets are the ones that feature the largest commercialization margins. In the retail segment, supermarkets feature, in average, the lowest margins in relation to their competitors, especially “longa vida†milk. In the consumer market of milk, the sterilized product is the most demanded kind with 36% of the total consumption, informal milk (without inspection) with 31% and milk “longa vida†with 28%. The consumers prefer the informal type because they believe it features better quality, price, distribution and payment services. By the Gini Index methodology, it was verified that there is a concentration in the distribution of milk in the wholesale and retail markets, especially in retail stores.Market structure, commercialization, dairy products.,

Subversion of Immunity by Leishmania amazonensis Parasites: Possible Role of Phosphatidylserine as a Main Regulator

Leishmania amazonensis parasites cause progressive disease in most inbred mouse strains and are associated with the development of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. The poor activation of an effective cellular response is correlated with the ability of these parasites to infect mononuclear phagocytic cells without triggering their activation or actively suppressing innate responses of these cells. Here we discuss the possible role of phosphatidylserine exposure by these parasites as a main regulator of the mechanism underlying subversion of the immune system at different steps during the infection

COMPOSIÇÃO FÍSICO-QUÍMICA, QUALIDADE FÍSICA E SENSORIAL DE CHIPS DE MANDIOQUINHA-SALSA

The arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft.) is a native culture of the Andean mountain ranges, the main types of processing the production of dehydrated mashed, flakes, flour, starch, pre-cooked, among others. The term chips is originally American and refers to thin slices of potato fried in oil or fat may be added various flavors late in the process. The aim of this work was to determine the physical and chemical composition, physical and sensory quality of fried chips of arracacha. The results showed that the root in nature has a high water content (73.51%), which together with microbiological and physical injuries, contributing to the reduction of its shelf life. However its solids content (26.4%) favored the production of fried chips, no significant changes were observed in the color parameters L * a * b * of ready compared to the raw material in nature, indicating minimal changes resulting from frying process. Although the fried chips has presented firmer texture when compared to the same product from raw materials similar in the scientific literature, this result did not influence the uptake by consumers whose scores for flavor, appearance, flavor and texture ranged 7-8, concerning hedonic terms "like moderately" and "liked" both to consumers male and female in age groups studied (10-50 years). The processing of root arracacha to obtain fried chips was promising for commercialization by their acceptance and purchase intent