Modificação da fração lignocelulósica durante o processo de compostagem do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar

O crescimento na produção brasileira de cana-de-açúcar devido, principalmente, à obtenção de açúcar e álcool é motivado pelo aumento na exportação deste subproduto e produção de veículos bicombustíveis, respectivamente. Desta maneira, há maior geração de bagaço, embora possuindo inúmeras utilidades, muitas vezes existe um excesso remanescente do total gerado. Assim, são necessários estudos que viabilizem o uso deste resíduo. Neste trabalho foi estudada a modificação da fração lignocelulósica durante o processo de compostagem e biodigestão anaeróbia do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar. Amostras foram coletadas em diferentes períodos para ambos os processos (0 (cru), 7; 45; 60; 90; 120; 272 dias; 1 ano e 1 ano e 2 meses) e acompanhadas por meio de parâmetros como: pH, umidade, temperatura, presença de metais e demanda química de oxigênio. A caracterização foi feita com o auxílio de técnicas termoanalíticas (TG/DTG/DTA e DSC) e espectroscopia na região do infravermelho. As amostras provenientes dos processos aeróbios e anaeróbios foram submetidas às extrações de lignina, utilizando-se dioxano/HCl (9:1) e, de celulose e hemicelulose, as quais foram obtidas do resíduo sólido resultante da extração de lignina. O comportamento térmico e espectros de infravermelho dessas substâncias foram avaliados e, comparadas suas degradações e modificações na ausência e presença de oxigênio. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a digestão anaeróbia é mais lenta que a compostagem na decomposição de seus constituintes, principalmente, lignina e celulose/hemicelulose, fato comprovado por suas respectivas curvas de Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC); além da constatação de modificações nas estruturas de lignina e celulose ao longo dos dois processos, bem como, fortes evidências...The growth in the Brazilian sugarcane production, mainly, due to obtain sugar and alcohol is motivated by the increase in export of this subproduct and production of flex-fuel vehicles, respectively. This way, there is a larger bagasse generation, although having many uses, often there is an excess remaining of the total generated. Thus, studies are needed that allow the use of this waste. The modification lignocellulosic fraction during composting and anaerobic biodigestion process of sugarcane bagasse was studied in this work. Samples were collected in different periods for both process (0 (raw); 7; 45; 60; 90; 120; 272 days and 1 year and 1 year and 2 months) and monitored by parameters, such as: pH, humidity, temperature, presence of metals and chemical oxygen demand. The characterization was made with help of thermoanalytical techniques (TG/DTG/DTA e DSC) and infrared spectroscopy. The samples from aerobic and anaerobic process were submitted to lignin extraction, using dioxane/ HCl (9:1), and hemicelluloses/cellulose extraction which were obtained from solid residue resulting of lignin extraction. The thermal behavior and infrared spectra from these substances were evaluated and then compared their degradation and changes in the oxygen presence and absence. The obtained results have showed that anaerobic digestion is slower than composting in its constituents decomposition, mainly, lignin and cellulose/hemicellulose, as demonstrated by their respective curves of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC); besides verifying changes in the cellulose and lignin structures through the two process, as well as, strong evidences of lignin in the cellulose extract and, rare assignments of cellulose to lignin extracted. Concerning to humification, a greater tendency for composting samples was observed, mainly... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Extração e identificação de material lignocelulósico presente durante o processo de compostagem

Neste trabalho foram estudados a extração e identificação de material lignocelulósico presente durante o processo de compostagem de Resíduos Sólidos Domiciliares (R.S.D). Amostras foram recolhidas em diferentes estágios de compostagem: cru (ou 0 dias), 15; 30; 60; 90 e 120 dias e realizadas suas respectivas extrações de lignina e celulose. Anteriormente à extração de lignina do composto, foi necessária a realização de duas extrações: aquosa e lipídica, a fim de que o máximo de substâncias solúveis e ácidos graxos fossem removidos previamente à extração de lignina, sendo que nesta, utilizou-se uma mistura de HCl/dioxano (9:1) para tal fim. Enquanto que para a extração de celulose do composto foi utilizada solução de NaOH ( hidróxido de sódio a 4%). Curvas de Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC) foram obtidas paras as diversas amostras de composto; para celulose e lignina extraídas do mesmo, em diferentes períodos de compostagem. A caracterização de lignina do composto foi feita, também por diferentes técnicas: Termogravimetria (TG), Infravermelho (IV) e Ultravioleta (UV). Os resultados obtidos pelas curvas DSC do composto, lignina e celulose mostraram que os dois últimos estavam presentes do início ao final da compostagem. No entanto, seus perfis não eram mais de lignina e celulose, mas sim, de material tipo-lignina e tipo-celulose, já que estes sofreram decomposição, combinação ou transformação em suas estruturas durante todo o processo; o que pode ser evidenciado, principalmente para material tipo-lignina, com as análises de Infravermelho e Ultravioleta.The extraction and identification of lignincellulosic material during the composting process of domiciliar solid residues (RSD) were studied in this work. Samples were collected in different composting steps: raw (or 0 days), 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days, lignins and cellulose extractions were performed. Previously to the compost´s lignin extraction, it was necessary aqueous and lipidic extractions so that the maximum of soluble substances and fatty acids were removed before lignin extraction. In this process was used HCl: dioxane (9:1) mixture, while to the compost´s cellulose extraction was used (4% NaOH solution). DSC curves were obtained to several compost samples; to cellulose and lignin extracted from the same compost in different composting periods. The lignin extracted from the compost was also analysed through several techniques: Thermogravimetry (TG), Infra Red (IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. The obtained results through DSC curves of compost, lignin and cellulose showed that the last two ones were presented from the beginning to the end of composting process. However their structures weren´t of lignin and cellulose anymore, but a material like-lignin and likecellulose, because they undergone decomposition, combination and transformation in their structures during all process, which could be evidencied, mainly to like-lignin material, with the IR and UV analyses.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

A pilot study to improve pain phenotyping in head and neck cancer patients

Pain associated with head and neck cancer (HNC) is difficult to manage and reduces quality of life. It has been increasingly recognized that HNC patients exhibit a wide range of pain symptoms. Here we developed an orofacial pain assessment questionnaire and conducted a pilot study to improve pain phenotyping in HNC patients at the diagnosis. The questionnaire captures the following pain characteristics: pain intensity, location, quality, duration, and frequency; the impact of pain on daily activities; changes in smell and food sensitivities. Twenty-five HNC patients completed the questionnaire. 88% patients reported pain at the site of tumor; 36% reported multiple pain sites. All patients with pain reported at least one neuropathic pain (NP) descriptor, 54.5% reported at least two NP descriptors. The most common descriptors were “burning” and “pins and needles”. Most patients reported increased pain to sour or hot/spicy food/drinks, and to food with coarse/hard textures. Patients exhibited impaired oral function, especially chewing, talking, mouth/jaw opening, and eating. Tumor progression has a significant impact on pain. Nodal metastasis is linked to pain at multiple body sites. Patients with advanced tumor staging experience greater pain at the primary tumor site, when exposed to hot or spicy food/drinks or food with hard/coarse texture, or when eating or chewing. We conclude that HNC patients experience a wide range of pain symptoms with altered mechanical, chemical, and temperature sensation. Improved phenotyping and stratification of pain in HNC patients will help address the underlying etiology, which may enable personalized therapeutic approaches in the future

Thermal behavior of lignin and cellulose from waste composting process

The lignin and cellulose were extracted from reference material (leaves and twigs) and food of compost at different times composting: zero (raw), 30, and 120 days. According to thermogravimetric analysis and its derivative and differential scanning calorimetry curves for these samples, were verified during composting process there were considerable changes in its thermal profiles, as well as, characteristics lignin in cellulose samples and cellulose in lignin samples. These features were found by fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. © 2012 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary

Social isolation stress facilitates chemically induced oral carcinogenesis.

Social isolation has affected a large number of people and may lead to impairment of physical and mental health. Although stress resulting from social isolation may increase cancer progression, its interference on tumorigenesis is poorly known. In this study, we used a preclinical model to evaluate the effects of social isolation stress on chemically induced oral carcinogenesis. Sixty-two 21-day-old male Wistar rats were divided into isolated and grouped groups. After 90 days of age, the rats from both groups underwent oral carcinogenesis with 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) for 20 weeks. All rats were assessed for depressive-like behavior and euthanized for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) diagnosis and measurement of inflammatory mediators in the tumor microenvironment. Social isolation stress increased the OSCC occurrence by 20.4% when compared to control. Isolated rats also showed higher tumor volume and cachexia than the grouped rats. Social isolation did not induce changes in the depressive-like behavior after carcinogenic induction. Tumors from stressed rats had increased levels of the inflammatory mediators, TNF-alpha, IL1-beta and MCP-1. The concentrations of TNF-alpha and MCP-1 were significantly increased in the large tumors from isolated animals. Higher tumor levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL1-beta and MCP-1 were positively correlated with OSCC growth. This study provides the first evidence that social isolation stress may facilitate OSCC occurrence and tumor progression, an event accompanied by increased local levels of inflammatory mediators