Fractional Distillation of Organic Liquid Compounds Produced by Catalytic Cracking of Fats, Oils, and Grease

This work aims to investigate the fractional distillation of organic liquid products (OLP) obtained by catalytic cracking of palm oil (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) at 450°C, 1.0 atm, with 5, 10, and 15% (wt) Na2CO3, using a stirred tank reactor of 143 L. The fractional distillations of OLP were carried out in laboratory scale with and without reflux using columns of different heights, and a pilot‐packed distillation column with internal reflux. OLP and distillation fractions (gasoline, kerosene, light diesel, and heavy diesel) were physicochemically characterized for density, kinematic viscosity, acid value, saponification value, refractive index, flash point, and copper strip corrosion. The OLP and light diesel fractions were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). For the experiments in laboratory scale, the yields of distillates decrease along with column height, with and without reflux, while those of bottoms products increase. The yields of distillates and gas increase with increasing Na2CO3 content, while those of bottoms products decrease. The densities of gasoline, kerosene, and light diesel produced in laboratory scale with reflux superpose exactly those of kerosene, light diesel, and heavy diesel produced in laboratory scale without reflux. The kinematic viscosity decreases with increasing column height for the experiments in laboratory scale. The acid values of distillation fractions decrease along with the column height for the experiments with and without reflux. The FT‐IR of distillation fractions in pilot and laboratory scales identified the presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons and oxygenates. The GC‐MS analysis identified OLP composition of 92.84% (area) hydrocarbons and 7.16% (area) oxygenates. The light diesel fraction contains 100% hydrocarbons with an acid value of 0.34 mg KOH/g, proving the technical feasibility of OLP de‐acidification by the fractional distillation process

Telomeric Heterochromatin Propagation and Histone Acetylation Control Mutually Exclusive Expression of Antigenic Variation Genes in Malaria Parasites

SummaryMalaria parasites use antigenic variation to avoid immune clearance and increase the duration of infection in the human host. Variation at the surface of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes is mediated by the differential control of a family of surface antigens encoded by var genes. Switching of var gene expression occurs in situ, mostly from telomere-associated loci, without detectable DNA alterations, suggesting that it is controlled by chromatin structure. We have identified chromatin modifications at telomeres that spread far into telomere-proximal regions, including var gene loci (>50 kb). One type of modification is mediated by a protein homologous to yeast Sir2 called PfSir2, which forms a chromosomal gradient of heterochromatin structure and histone hypoacetylation. Upon activation of a specific telomere-associated var gene, PfSir2 is removed from the promoter region and acetylation of histone occurs. Our data demonstrate that mutually exclusive transcription of var genes is linked to the dynamic remodeling of chromatin

Desempenho reprodutivo, concentrações de progesterona e metabólitos lipídicos no pós-parto de vacas mestiças H/Z, submetidas a uma dieta hiperlipidêmica Reproductive performance, concentrations of progesterone and lipidic metabolites in the postpartum crossbred dairy cows submitted to a hyperlipidemic diet

Para avaliar o efeito de uma dieta hiperlipidêmica nos níveis séricos de metabólitos lipídicos e progesterona e no desempenho reprodutivo, 42 vacas mestiças foram submetidas a dois tratamentos: T1 (n=21) dieta-controle e T2 (n=21) dieta hiperlipidêmica, tendo como principal fonte de lipídios o grão de soja integral. Os intervalos médios para a primeira e segunda ovulações pós-parto foram 26,3 e 35,9 dias para os animais do T1 e 21,7 e 37,4 dias para os do T2. Os intervalos médios do parto ao início da atividade luteal, primeiro estro e primeiro ciclo estral normal foram, respectivamente, 29,9; 39,5; e 53,9 dias para T1 e 25,7; 33,3; e 52,3 dias para T2. A duração média do primeiro ciclo estral foi de 14,7 e 16,9 dias e do segundo de 19,8 e 19,5 dias para T1 e T2, respectivamente. As concentrações de progesterona nos ciclos estrais normais ocorridos durante o período de 90 dias pós-parto variaram de valores mínimos de 0,27 (T1) e 0,31 ng/mL (T2), nos dias 0 e 1 (dia 0 = ovulação), para valores máximos de 6,71 ng/mL (T1), nos dias 10 e 11, e 7,04 ng/mL (T2), nos dias -9 e --8, retornando a níveis basais (<1 ng/mL) nos dias -3 e -2. As concentrações médias de colesterol total e colesterol HDL para T1 e T2 foram, respectivamente, 100,74 e 67,3 mg/dL e 162,25 e 95,8 mg/dL. O efeito de hipercolesterolemia da dieta foi confirmado nesta pesquisa, mas sem nenhum aumento nas concentrações de progesterona e desempenho reprodutivo.<br>To evaluate the effect of a hiperlipidemic diet on the reproductive performance, lipidic metabolites and serum progesterone levels, 42 Holstein-Zebu crossbred cows were submitted to two treatments: T1 (n=21), control diet, and T2 (n=21), hyperlipidemic diet, consisting mainly on whole soybean. The mean intervals to the first and second postpartum ovulations were 26.3 and 35.9 days for animals of T1 and 21.7 and 37.4 days for those of T2. The average intervals from calving to onset of the luteal activity, first estrus and first normal estrus cycle length were respectively, 29.9, 39.5, and 53.9 days for T1 and 25.7, 33.3, and 52.3 days for T2. The average first estrus cycle was 14.7 and 16.9 days and of the second 19.8 and 19.5 days for T1 and T2, respectively. The concentrations of serum progesterone in the normal estrus cycles during the period of 90 days postpartum, varied from minimum values of 0.27 ng/mL (T1) to 0.31 ng/mL (T2) on the days 1 and 0 (day 0 = ovulation) to maximum values of 6.71 ng/mL (T1) on days 10 and 11 and 7.04 ng/mL (T2) on days -9 and --8, returning to basal levels (<1 ng/mL) on days -3 e -2. The total cholesterol and HDL average concentrations for T1 e T2 were 100.74 and 67.3 mg/dL (T1) and 162.25 and 95.8 mg/dL (T2) respectively. The hypercholesterolemic effect of the diet was confirmed, but without any increase in the concentration of progesterone and reproductive performance