Modelling the kinetics of thermal inactivation of apple polyphenoloxidase

The enzymatic browning of fruits and vegetables caused by mechanical injury during postharvest storage or processing is initiated by the catalytic action of polyphenoloxidase (PPO). A bleaching treatment prior to processing is still considered mostly effective in inhibiting the catalytic activity of PPO, and thus controlling undesirable enzymatic browning. In this work, different mathematical routines were assessed in terms of their adequacy to describe the thermal inactivation of PPO from Golden apples over a range of temperatures from 62.5 to 72.5 ºC. The classical approach to kinetic modelling of the decay activity of apple PPO, commonly reported to follow a first-order model, employs a two-step procedure, in which the model parameters are individually obtained, by each temperature studied, using non-linear or linear regressions. Thereafter, the estimated parameters are further used to calculate their temperature dependence. Alternatively, a one-step method provides a regression fit to all experimental data sets, with the temperature dependence equation being directly built in the kinetic model. This fitting technique thus, (a) avoids the estimation of intermediate parameters and, (b) substantially increases the degrees of freedom and hence the precision of parameters’ estimates. Within this issue was further explored the logarithmic transformation of the mathematical equations used on the adequacy of the model to describe experimental data. In all cases non-weighted least-squares regression procedures were used. Both the examination and criticism of the current modelling strategies were done by assessing statistical data obtained, such as the confidence intervals of the estimates, correlation coefficients, sum of squares, and residuals normality

High Efficacy of Two Artemisinin-Based Combinations (Artesunate + Amodiaquine and Artemether + Lumefantrine) in Caala, Central Angola.

In April 2004, 137 children 6-59 months of age with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria (Caala, Central Angola) were randomized to receive either artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) or artesunate + amodiaquine (ASAQ). After 28 days of follow-up, there were 2/61 (3.2%) recurrent parasitemias in the Coartem group and 4/64 (6.2%) in the ASAQ group (P = 0.72), all classified as re-infections after PCR genotyping (cure rate = 100% [95%CI: 94-100] in both groups). Only one patient (ASAQ group) had gametocytes on day 28 versus five (Coartem) and three (ASAQ) at baseline. Compared with baseline, anemia was significantly improved after 28 days of follow-up in both groups (Coartem: from 54.1% to 13.4%; ASAQ: from 53.1% to 15.9%). Our findings are in favor of a high efficacy of both combinations in Caala. Now that Coartem has been chosen as the new first-line anti-malarial, the challenge is to insure that this drug is available and adequately used

Effect of Water Content on the Thermal Inactivation Kinetics of Horseradish Peroxidase Freeze-Dried from Alkaline pH

The thermal inactivation of horseradish peroxidase freeze-dried from solutions of different pH (8, 10 and 11.5, measured at 25 C) and equilibrated to different water contents was studied in the temperature range from 110 to 150 C. The water contents studied (0.0, 1.4, 16.2 and 25.6 g water per 100 g of dry enzyme) corresponded to water activities of 0.0, 0.11, 0.76 and 0.88 at 4 C. The kinetics were well described by a double exponential model. The enzyme was generally more stable the lower the pH of the original solution, and for all pH values, the maximum stability was obtained at 1.4 g water/100 g dry enzyme. Values of z were generally independent of water content and of the pH of the original solution, and in the range of 15–25 °C, usually found in neutral conditions, with the exception of the enzyme freeze dried from pH 11.5 and equilibrated with phosphorus pentoxide, where a z-value of the stable fraction close to 10 C was found

Quasi-one-dimensional system as a high-temperature superconductor

It is well-known that quasi-one-dimensional superconductors suffer from the pairing fluctuations that significantly reduce the superconducting temperature or even completely suppress any coherent behavior. Here we demonstrate that a coupling to a robust pair condensate changes the situation dramatically. In this case the quasi-one-dimensional system can be a high temperature superconductor governed by the proximity to the Lifshitz transition at which the Fermi level approaches the lower edge of the single-particle spectrum.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Carcinoma da Tiróide em Crianças e Jovens Adultos: Revisão Retrospectiva de 19 Casos

Introduction: Thyroid carcinoma is rare in children and young adults. Most of management guidelines are based in data from adult population. Several controversies remain regarding the aggressiveness of clinical presentation and therapeutic approach. Objective: To evaluate all differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients with less than 20 years-old at presentation reflecting the experience of our unit in relation to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of this clinical entity. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective review of clinical records of all children and young adults followed at Oncology Consultation of Department of Endocrinology of Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra between 1996 and 2012. Results: Nineteen patients with mean age of 16 years old were followed, 13 girls and 6 boys. None of the patients had previous neck irradiation. A palpable cervical mass was the presenting complaint in 84.6%. FNA was performed in 15 patients and was diagnostic or suspicious of malignancy in 71.4%. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 18 cases (94.7%). Papillary carcinoma was identified in all. Vascular invasion and multicentry occurred in 21.1%. Mean tumor size was 2.5cm. Cervical lymph node involvement was diagnosed in 31.6% and distant metastases in 5.2%. The majority of patients (18 in 19) were classified as stage I disease. All patients received thyroxine suppressive therapy and postoperative radioiodine ablation was given to 84.2% (mean dose 85.7mCi). During mean follow-up of almost 6 years, 16 patients remain disease free. Conclusion: In our series, cervical lymph node and distant metastases rates were similar to that found in adult population. Overall prognosis was very good

Decomposição de resíduos de milho e soja em função do tempo e do manejo do solo.

A evolução da decomposição dos resíduos culturais é um aspecto muito complexo, ainda pouco conhecido e estudado, porém de grande importância na compreensão de processos como a formação da matéria orgânica e a manutenção da fertilidade e sustentabilidade dos solos. A sua velocidade de decomposição determina o tempo de permanência da cobertura morta na superfície do solo, sendo variável conforme a constituição dos diferentes tecidos vegetais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a obtenção de equações matemáticas, que expliquem a evolução da dinâmica de decomposição de resíduos de milho e soja, em semeadura direta e convencional, utilizando- se dados de um ensaio de longa duração (12 anos) conduzido no campo experimental da Embrapa Soja, em Londrina, PR. Foram obtidas equações exponenciais, que mostraram semelhanças na velocidade de decomposição dos resíduos de milho e soja e níveis de decomposição mais elevados em semeadura convencional,tanto para o milho quanto para a soja.bitstream/item/31179/1/Boletim-PD-3.pd

Decomposição de resíduos de aveia e trigo em função do tempo e do manejo do solo.

O uso excessivo de máquinas e implementos agrícolas causou sérios problemas de compactação, erosão, redução dos níveis de matéria orgânica e fertilidade dos solos. Neste cenário, estudos sobre a evolução da decomposição de resíduos de culturas são importantes para a compreensão de processos como o da formação da matéria orgânica, crucial para a manutenção da fertilidade e sustentabilidade dos solos. Foram conduzidos estudos da dinâmica da decomposição de resíduos de aveia e trigo, em semeadura direta e convencional, utilizando-se dados de 13 anos de um ensaio conduzido no campo experimental da Embrapa Soja, em Londrina, PR. Foram obtidas equações exponenciais, que mostraram a melhor representação do processo de decomposição ao longo do tempo. A velocidade de decomposição foi elevada nas primeiras semanas, para ambas as culturas, sendo observados níveis de decomposição mais elevados em semeadura convencional quando em comparação com o plantio direto, tanto para a aveia quanto para o trigo.bitstream/CNPSO-2010/30849/1/Boletim4.pd