Microbial Production Of Propionic And Succinic Acid From Sorbitol Using Propionibacterium Acidipropionici

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Three sequential fermentative batches were carried out with cell recycle in four simultaneously operating bioreactors maintained at pH 6.5, 30 degrees C, and 100 rpm. P. acidipropionici ATCC 4875 was able to produce propionic and succinic acid from sorbitol. The concentration of propionic acid decreased slightly from 39.5 +/- 5.2 g L-1 to 34.4 +/- 1.9 g L-1, and that of succinic acid increased significantly from 6.1 +/- 2.1 g L-1 to 14.8 +/- 0.9 g L-1 through the sequential batches. In addition, a small amount of acetic acid was produced that decreased from 3.3 +/- 0.4 g L-1 to 2.0 +/- 0.3 g L-1 through the batches. The major yield for propionic acid was 0.613 g g(-1) in the first batch and succinic acid it was 0.212 g g(-1) in the third batch. The minor yield of acetic acid was 0.029 g g(-1), in the second and third batches.5Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)BRASKEM S/AFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [2011/51861-9

Effect Of Immobilized Cells In Calcium Alginate Beads In Alcoholic Fermentation.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were immobilized in calcium alginate and chitosan-covered calcium alginate beads and studied in the fermentation of glucose and sucrose for ethanol production. The batch fermentations were carried out in an orbital shaker and assessed by monitoring the concentration of substrate and product with HPLC. Cell immobilization in calcium alginate beads and chitosan-covered calcium alginate beads allowed reuse of the beads in eight sequential fermentation cycles of 10 h each. The final concentration of ethanol using free cells was 40 g L-1 and the yields using glucose and sucrose as carbon sources were 78% and 74.3%, respectively. For immobilized cells in calcium alginate beads, the final ethanol concentration from glucose was 32.9 ± 1.7 g L-1 with a 64.5 ± 3.4% yield, while the final ethanol concentration from sucrose was 33.5 ± 4.6 g L-1 with a 64.5 ± 8.6% yield. For immobilized cells in chitosan-covered calcium alginate beads, the ethanol concentration from glucose was 30.7 ± 1.4 g L-1 with a 61.1 ± 2.8% yield, while the final ethanol concentration from sucrose was 31.8 ± 6.9 g L-1 with a 62.1 ± 12.8% yield. The immobilized cells allowed eight 10 h sequential reuse cycles to be carried out with stable final ethanol concentrations. In addition, there was no need to use antibiotics and no contamination was observed. After the eighth cycle, there was a significant rupture of the beads making them inappropriate for reuse.33

Effect of zeolite nanomaterials in methanogenic communities

Recently, the application of zeolite structures in methanogenic communities has attracted significant attention, since they may enhance the anaerobic digestion process, by affecting specifically the methanogenic activity of the sludges1. Zeolites are solid inorganic crystalline materials comprised of silicon, aluminum and oxygen in the three-dimensional structure. The building blocks become arranged in a periodic way to form channels and cages on a nano- and subnanometer scale of strictly regular dimensions, named micropores. The presence of the aluminum in the zeolite framework create a negative charge in the lattice, which can be balanced by the exchangeable cations, as sodium or metal ions.2 In this study, commercial zeolite structures (ZSM5, USY, NaX and NaY) with different particle sizes and different exchangeable cations (Co, Cu, Zn, Fe) were used in order to investigate their effect towards the specific methanogenic activity, both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic, of anaerobic sludge. In the acetoclastic methanogenic activity, NaY modified with Cobalt (CoY) decreased the activity in comparison with the control (without zeolite). The remaining zeolites (ZSM5, USY, NaX and NaY), even when modified with metal ions (Zn, Fe, Cu), seems to have no effect on this methanogenic pathway. On the other hand, the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was improved by the presence of NaY (109 %), which did not happen in the presence of ZSM5 and USY zeolites. Additionally, the effect of different zeolite concentration was accessed. Overall, the increase of zeolite concentration from 1 g/L to 5 g/L resulted in a higher inhibition towards the methanogenic activity. In addition, the application of these nanomaterials can be evaluated in pure cultures of methanogens, in order to understand and fine-tune the best zeolite nanomaterial concentration that may improve the specific methanogenic activity.We thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for financial support through Centre of Chemistry (UID/QUI/00686/2013 and UID/QUI/0686/2016) and BioTecNorte (operation NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004), and through Centre of Biological -engineering (UIDB/04469/2020 unit). Cátia S. N. Braga holds a grant SFRH/BD/132003/2017 funded by FCT and European Union (EU), through the Portuguese State Budget and the European Social Fund under the scope of Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Delivering beneficial microorganisms for corals: rotifers as carriers of probiotic bacteria

The use of Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) to increase the resistance of corals to environmental stress has proven to be effective in laboratory trials. Because direct inoculation of BMCs in larger tanks or in the field can be challenging, a delivery mechanism is needed for efficient transmission of the BMC consortium. Packaged delivery mechanisms have been successfully used to transmit probiotics to other organisms, including humans, lobsters, and fish. Here, we tested a method for utilizing rotifers of the species Brachionus plicatilis for delivery of BMCs to corals of the species Pocillopora damicornis. Epifluorescence microscopy combined with a live/dead cell staining assay was used to evaluate the viability of the BMCs and monitor their in vivo uptake by the rotifers. The rotifers efficiently ingested BMCs, which accumulated in the digestive system and on the body surface after 10 min of interaction. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the adherence of BMCs to the rotifer surfaces. BMC-enriched rotifers were actively ingested by P. damicornis corals, indicating that this is a promising technique for administering coral probiotics in situ. Studies to track the delivery of probiotics through carriers such as B. plicatilis, and the provision or establishment of beneficial traits in corals are the next proof-of-concept research priorities

A Estratégia Da Aprendizagem Baseada Em Equipes Em Um Curso De Direito

O Curso de Direito da FADITU, assim como a maioria das Escolas de Direito brasileiras, utiliza extensivamente a Educação Tradicional no ensino-aprendizagem. Buscando aproximar os discentes e principalmente os docentes de formas ativas de aprendiza-gem planejou-se, no segundo semestre do ano de 2011, um momento na grade curri-cular de cada série do curso, denominada “oficina”, em que se utilizou a estratégia da Aprendizagem Baseada em Equipes (ABE), do inglês, Team Based Learning (TBL) como condutora do processo ensino-aprendizagem, pois ela possibilita a um professor tra-balhar com um grande grupo de estudantes, realidade de nossa instituição e de muitas no Brasil. Essa formatação permitiu aplicá-la nessa experiência no Curso de Direito da FADITU, na qual todas as disciplinas trabalharam de forma integrada, tendo como base uma mesma temática e utilizando-se do TBL

Purchasing management in a tertiary teaching hospital: a case study

Modelo do Estudo: Estudo de Caso. Objetivo do Estudo: O presente trabalho visou estudar o processo de compras e programação de materiais de um hospital público de ensino de nível terciário e analisar os perfis de itens de materiais de consumo faltantes em determinado período, com a finalidade de identificar como ferramentas de gestão de materiais podem ajudar na definição de políticas de compras e estoque. Metodologia: O estudo foi elaborado com base em análises qualitativas e quantitativas. As primeiras foram feitas por meio de coleta de dados relativos ao entendimento dos processos e estrutura interna da Divisão de Materiais do Hospital através de observação e entrevistas semiestruturadas entre o período de setembro a novembro de 2013. A relação dos itens faltantes em 2012 e 2013 foi obtida através do sistema de informação da instituição e a partir destes dados foram feitas as análises quantitativas dos perfis destes itens segundo as classificações ABC e VEN (ou XYZ). Resultado: Os resultados apontam que dos 8.595 itens de materiais de consumo do Hospital apenas 5% em quantidade são classificados como A na curva ABC, no entanto tais itens correspondem a 42% em valores. Já os itens vitais representam 49% do valor e 46% em termos de quantidade. Quando analisadas em conjunto, as duas curvas apontam que a maioria das quantidades de materiais de consumo do Hospital são classificados como vitais da curva C (36,35%) e os itens não essenciais da curva A representam tanto em valor como em quantidade a menor parcela de materiais. O perfil dos itens faltantes em 2012 e 2013 são semelhantes, o maior índice de faltas está nos itens vitais da curva C e a menor nos itens não essenciais da curva A. Conclusão: Por meio do estudo foi possível concluir que a definição de políticas de compras e estoques que analisem não somente recursos econômicos, mas também a criticidade dos itens para o funcionamento dos processos é fundamental, principalmente levando em consideração o atual contexto das organizações de saúde públicas, a fim de melhor otimizar recursos e minimizar faltas.Model Study: Case Study. Purpose of the Study: This study aims to explore the purchasing materials process in a tertiary teaching hospital and analyze the missing items profiles in a given period in order to identify how materials management tools can help optimizing purchasing and inventory policies. Methodology: The study was based on qualitative and quantitative analyses. The first was made by means of collecting data to understand both processes and internal structure of the Materials Division through observation and semi-structured interviews between September-November 2013. A list of missing items in 2012 and 2013 was obtained from system information in order to analyze the profiles of these items according to the ABC and VEN (or XYZ) ratings. Results: The results show that out of 8,595 items of consumable materials, only 5 % in volume are classified as A in ABC curve, however such items correspond to 42 % in value. On the other hand, vital items represent 49 % on value and 46 % in terms of quantity. When analyzed together, the two curves show that most quantities of consumables materials are classified as vital from the C curve (36.35%) whereas non-essential items from the A curve represent both in value and in volume the smallest amount portion of materials. The missing items profile in 2012 and 2013 were similar, the highest rate of faults is from vital and C curve materials and the smaller, of nonessentials of the A curve. Conclusion: Through the study, it can be concluded that the definition of procurement policies inventories from the analyses of not only economic resources, but also item’s criticality to processes is essential, especially considering the current context of public health organizations, in order to optimize resources and minimize materials faults

Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire (CASQ) for Brazilian Patients: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation Study

Background Appetite and symptoms, conditions generally reported by the patients with cancer, are somewhat challenging for professionals to measure directly in clinical routine (latent conditions). Therefore, specific instruments are required for this purpose. This study aimed to perform a cultural adaptation of the Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire (CASQ), into Portuguese and evaluate its psychometric properties on a sample of Brazilian cancer patients. Methods This is a validation study with Brazilian cancer patients. The face, content, and construct (factorial and convergent) validities of the Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire, the study tool, were estimated. Further, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted. The ratio of chi-square and degrees of freedom (χ2 /df), comparative fit index (CFI), goodness of fit index (GFI) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were used for fit model assessment. In addition, the reliability of the instrument was estimated using the composite reliability (CR) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α), and the invariance of the model in independent samples was estimated by a multigroup analysis (Δχ2). Results Participants included 1,140 cancer patients with a mean age of 53.95 (SD = 13.25) years; 61.3% were women. After the CFA of the original CASQ structure, 2 items with inadequate factor weights were removed. Four correlations between errors were included to provide adequate fit to the sample (χ2 /df = 8.532, CFI = .94, GFI = .95, and RMSEA = .08). Themodel exhibited a low convergent validity (AVE = .32). The reliability was adequate (CR = .82 α = .82). The refined model showed strong invariance in two independent samples (Δχ2 : λ: p = .855; i: p = .824; Res: p = .390). A weak stability was obtained between patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy (Δχ2 : λ: p = .155; i: p < .001; Res: p < .001), and between patients undergoing chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and palliative care (Δχ2 : λ: p = .058; i: p < .001; Res: p < .001). Conclusion The Portuguese version of the CASQ had good face and construct validity and reliability. However, the CASQ still presented invariance in independent samples of Brazilian patients with cancer. However, the tool has low convergent validity and weak invariance in samples with different treatment