Clusters of Galaxies: New Results from the CLEF Hydrodynamics Simulation

Preliminary results are presented from the CLEF hydrodynamics simulation, a large (N=2(428)^3 particles within a 200 Mpc/h comoving box) simulation of the LCDM cosmology that includes both radiative cooling and a simple model for galactic feedback. Specifically, we focus on the X-ray properties of the simulated clusters at z=0 and demonstrate a reasonable level of agreement between simulated and observed cluster scaling relations.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Advances in Space Research (proceedings of the COSPAR 2004 Assembly, Paris

Comparison of ambient solvent extraction methods for the analysis of fatty acids in non-starch lipids of flour and starch

BACKGROUND: Lipids are minor components of flours, but are major determinants of baking properties and end-product quality. To the best of our knowledge, there is no single solvent system currently known that efficiently extracts all non-starch lipids from all flours without the risk of chemical, mechanical or thermal damage. This paper compares nine ambient solvent systems (monophasic and biphasic) with varying polarities: Bligh and Dyer (BD); modified Bligh and Dyer using HCl (BDHCL); modified BD using NaCl (BDNaCl); methanol–chloroform–hexane (3:2:1, v/v); Hara and Radin (hexane–isopropanol, 3:2, v/v); water-saturated n-butanol; chloroform; methanol and hexane for their ability to extract total non-starch lipids (separated by lipid classes) from wheat flour (Triticum aestivum L.). Seven ambient extraction protocols were further compared for their ability to extract total non-starch lipids from three alternative samples: barley flour (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize starch (Zea mays L.) and tapioca starch (Manihot esculenta Crantz). RESULTS: For wheat flour the original BD method and those containing HCl or NaCl tended to extract the maximum lipid and a significant correlation between lipid extraction yield (especially the glycolipids and phospholipids) and the polarity of the solvent was observed. For the wider range of samples BD and BD HCl repeatedly offered the maximum extraction yield and using pooled standardized (by sample) data from all flours, total non-starch lipid extraction yield was positively correlated with solvent polarity (r=0.5682,P<0.05) and water ratio in the solvent mixture (r=0.5299,P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In general, BD-based methods showed better extraction yields compared to methods without the addition of water and, most interestingly, there was much greater method dependence of lipid yields in the starches when compared to the flour samples, which is due to the differences in lipid profiles between the two sample types (flours and starches)

TiO2-MWCNT Nanohybrid: Cytotoxicity, protein corona formation and cellular internalisation in RTG-2 fish cell line

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2-MWCNT) nanohydrid has an enhanced photocatalytic activity across the visible light with promising applications in environmental remediation, solar energy devices and antimicrobial technologies. However, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicological effects of TiO2-MWCNT towards safe and sustainable development of nanohybrids. In this work, we studied the cytotoxicity, protein corona formation and cellular internalisation of TiO2-MWCNT on fibroblasts derived from gonadal rainbow trout tissue (RTG-2) for the first time. This nanohydrid did not show any toxicity effect on RTG-2 cells up to 100 mg L-1 after 24 h of exposure as monitored by alamar blue, neutral red and trypan blue assays (in presence or absence of foetal bovine serum, FBS). Futhermore, cryo-transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that TiO2 particles is attached on nanotube surface after FBS-protein corona formation in cell culture medium. Raman spectroscopy imaging showed that TiO2-MWCNT can be internalised by RTG-2 cells. This work is a novel contribution towards better understanding the nanobiointeractions of nanohydrids linked to their in vitro effects on fish cells in aquatic nanoecotoxicology

Serologic Survey of Hantavirus Infection, Brazilian Amazon

Federal University of Maranhão. São Luís, MA, Brazil.Federal University of Maranhão. São Luís, MA, Brazil.Federal University of Maranhão. São Luís, MA, Brazil.Federal University of Maranhão. São Luís, MA, Brazil.Federal University of Maranhão. São Luís, MA, Brazil.Federal University of Maranhão. São Luís, MA, Brazil.State Department of Health. São Luís, MA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA RESISTÊNCIA AO DESGASTE DA LIGA DE ALUMÍNIO SAE 305 APÓS PROCESSO DE ANODIZAÇÃO

A baixa dureza e resistência ao desgaste do alumínio e suas ligas são fatores de restrição à aplicação dos mesmos. No entanto, nas últimas décadas, vários tratamentos superficiais têm sido desenvolvidos possibilitando diversificar a aplicabilidade das ligas de alumínio, notadamente nas indústrias automotiva e aeroespacial. O presente trabalho pretende estudar o comportamento da Anodização sobre a resistência ao desgaste superficial da liga de alumínio SAE 305. O estudo comparativo foi realizado através de ensaios de desgaste por deslizamento recíproco, na configuração esfera-sobre-plano. Para todos os ensaios foi adotada uma carga normal de contato de 10 N, com uma faixa de deslocamento de 4 mm, uma frequência de oscilação linear de 8 Hz, e dois tempos de duração de ensaio (30 minutos e 60 minutos). O desgaste das amostras foi mensurado através da perda volumétrica utilizando microscopia confocal de varredura a laser. Os resultados mostraram que as amostras da liga de alumínio anodizado tiveram suave aumento na resistência em relação às amostras sem revestimento. Os resultados foram discutidos em termos dos mecanismos de desgaste, que foram caracterizados através de análise utilizando microscopia confocal de varredura a laser. Palavras-chave: Resistência ao desgaste, Liga de alumínio SAE 305, Alumínio anodizad

Chemical degradation kinetics of fibrates: bezafibrate, ciprofibrate and fenofibrate

ABSTRACT Fibrates are drugs used for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and for the prevention of atherosclerosis. Three drugs in the fibrate class, ciprofibrate, fenofibrate and bezafibrate, were chosen for this study because their raw materials are readily available and because scientific publications on these compounds is limited. To evaluate their intrinsic stability, the drugs were exposed to a test condition (temperature, oxidation, UV light exposure, hydrolysis at different pH values and metal ions in solution) and then were subjected to analysis by HPLC. The samples were run on a C18 column, with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1 in a mobile phase consisting of methanol: 0.01 % phosphoric acid v/v (80:20), with variable detection wavelengths in the UV spectra. The analysis methodology showed satisfactory performance parameters. The three drugs were very unstable, degrading in each of the conditions evaluated. The test conditions of acid and basic hydrolysis showed the most significant degradation. The results demonstrated that the drugs in this class are unstable. Based on these experimentally determined degradation kinetics, it is easy to understand and emphasize the importance of the lack of liquid dosage forms on the market for fibrates because of their instability