Morphology and structure of acorn starches isolated by enzymatic and alkaline methods

Research articleMorphology and structure of starch from fruits of two acorns species, Quercus rotundifolia Lam. (QR) and Quercus suber Lam. (QS), isolated by enzymatic (ENZ) and alkaline (A3S) methods were studied. Acorn starches granules presented a round and oval shape, consisting of medium/small granules, with a mean granule size ranging between 9 and 13 μm. Isolated acorn starches appear as light grayish-brown in naked eye, with high values of L* for starches isolated by the ENZ method, and QR starches were duller than QS. No differences were observed for all the samples in FTIR spectra results. Acorn starches showed a C-type pattern, with a relative crystallinity between 43.1 and 46.6%. The 13C CP/MAS NMR spectra are different for the used isolation methods but are similar for both acorn species. However, acornisolated starches presented a predominant A-type allomorph packing type, and the A3S starches showed a higher degree of crystalline material. Those differences in the structure of acorn starches would be helpful to better understand the relationships among structure and functional properties for a possible potential industrial application of chestnut starchesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Subsidence Hazard in Limestone Cavities: The Case of “Grutas da Moeda”

“Grutas da Moeda” are natural touristic caves, located in the plateau of São Mamede, 5 minutes away from the Sanctuary of Fátima. They have been opened to the public since 1974, and receives about 75,000 visitors per year, from 76 nationalities. They are inserted in the “Maciço Calcário Estremenho”, composed by limestone deposits of the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian), corresponding to the Serra de Aire formation and Upper Jurassic limestone deposits corresponding to the Cabaços and Montejunto formations. The geological risk assessment is fundamental to guarantee the safety of its visitors and workers, therefore it is intended to develop methodologies of geotechnical monitoring in order to collect data to understand the risks that may be associated with this natural cavity and to identify critical areas of collapse. In the caves there are four main alignments (faults / joints), N35ºW, N150ºE, N75ºE and N100ºE, which assume a parallelism with the development of the caves. The trend of the layers in the cave are approximately N30ºE pending 17ºSE. In the year 2015, a geophysical study was carried out in the caves, using the 3D electrical resistivity method and, for one of the areas in particular, the georadar method. The georadar method allowed to map the anomalies corresponding to empty spaces that have been identified with the 3D electrical resistivity technique. This paper presents the results obtained, as well as proposals for geotechnical measures to mitigate the risk of collapse subsidence.GeoBioTe

Quality Of Life Of Esophagectomized Patients: Adenocarcinoma Versus Squamous Cell Carcinoma [qualidade De Vida De Doentes Esofagectomizados: Adenocarcinoma Versus Carcinoma Epidermoide]

Objective: To evaluate and compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing esophagectomy for treatment of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in postoperative patients submitted to esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (ACA) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), using the SF-36 questionnaire applied in 24 patients (10 ACAs and 14 SCCs), from the 5th months postoperatively, including clinical symptoms and weight change. Results: The assessment of QOL showed the best functional capacity (p = 0.018) in the ACA group. There was a correlation between the domains "mental health" and "Role of Emotions" (p = 0.003) and between "pain" and "physical aspects limitation" (p = 0.003) in both histological types. Weight loss was greater in ACA (45.9 kg), with no significant difference between current BMI (p> 0.66). Dysphagia was reported by 83.3% of patients, anorexia by58.3%, chewing difficulty by 42%, nausea and vomiting by 41.7% and diarrhea by 29.2%, with no correlation with QOL reported (p> 0.05). Conclusion: The highest score for functional capacity indicates that ACA patients were able to perform all types of physical activity, including the more demanding, at a higher level than patients with SCC. Some symptoms persisted postoperatively, but did not affect the quality of life of patients.40139Corley, D.A., Buffler, P.A., Oesophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas: Analysis of regional variation using the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents database (2001) Int J Epidemiol, 30 (6), pp. 1415-1425Jankowski, J.A., Perry, I., Harrison, R.F., Gastro-oesophageal cancer: Death at the junction (2000) BMJ, 321 (7259), pp. 463-464Tercioti, V., Lopes, L.R., Coelho Neto, J.S., Andreollo, N.A., New aspects of the neo-adjuvant therapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A review of medical literature (2009) ABCD, Arq Bras Cir Dig, 22 (1), pp. 33-40Steffen, A., Schulze, M.B., Pischon, T., Dietrich, T., Molina, E., Chirlaque, M.D., Anthropometry and esophageal cancer risk in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (2009) Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 18 (7), pp. 2079-2089de Boer, A.G., van Lanschot, J.J., van Sandick, J.W., Hulscher, J.B., Stalmeier, P.F., de Haes, J.C., Quality of life after transhiatal compared with extended transthoracic resection for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (2004) J Clin Oncol, 22 (20), pp. 4202-4208Cense, H.A., Visser, M.R., van Sandick, J.W., de Boer, A.G., Lamme, B., Obertop, H., Quality of life after colon interposition by necessity for esophageal cancer replacement (2004) J Surg Oncol, 88 (1), pp. 32-38Blazeby, J.M., Farndon, J.R., Donovan, J., Alderson, D., A prospective longitudinal study examining the quality of life of patients with esophageal carcinoma (2000) Cancer, 88 (8), pp. 1781-1787Rosmolen, W.D., Boer, K.R., de Leeuw, R.J., Gamel, C.J., van Berge Henegouwen, M.I., Bergman, J.J., Quality of life and fear of cancer recurrence after endoscopic and surgical treatment for early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus (2010) Endoscopy, 42 (7), pp. 525-531de Boer, A.G., Genovesi, P.I., Sprangers, M.A., van Sandick, J.W., Obertop, H., van Lanschot, J.J., Quality of life in long-term survivors after curative transhiatal oesophagectomy for oesophageal carcinoma (2000) Br J Surg, 87 (12), pp. 1716-1721McLarty, A.J., Deschamps, C., Trastek, V.F., Allen, M.S., Pairolero, P.C., Harmsen, W.S., Esophageal resection for cancer of the esophagus: Long- term function and quality of life (1997) Ann Thorac Surg, 63 (6), pp. 1568-1572Kirby, J.D., Quality of life after oesophagectomy: The patients' perspective (1999) Dis Esophagus, 12 (3), pp. 168-171(1993) El Estado Físico: Uso E Interpretación De La Antropometria, , OMS, Informe de un comité de Expertos de la OMS. Serie de informes técnicos 854, Genebra: OMSLipschitz, D.A., Screening for nutritional status in the elderly (1994) Prim Care, 21 (1), pp. 55-67Ware Jr., J.E., Sherbourne, C.D., The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection (1992) Med Care, 30 (6), pp. 473-483Ciconelli, R.M., Ferraz, M.B., Santos, W., Meinão, I., Quaresma, M.R., Tradução para a lingua portuguesa e validação do questionário genérico de avaliação de qualidade de vida SF-36 (Brasil SF-36) (1999) Rev Bras Reumatol, 39 (3), pp. 143-150Aaronson, N.K., Muller, M., Cohen, P.D., Essink-Bot, M.L., Fekkes, M., Sanderman, R., Translation, validation, and norming of the Dutch language version of the SF-36 Health Survey in community and chronic disease populations (1998) J Clin Epidemiol, 51 (11), pp. 1055-1068Jung, K.W., Talley, N.J., Romero, Y., Katzka, D.A., Schleck, C.D., Zinsmeister, A.R., Epidemiology and natural history of intestinal metaplasia of the gastroesophageal junction and Barrett's esophagus: A population-based study (2011) Am J Gastroenterol, 106 (8), pp. 1447-1455Modena, S.F., Meirelles, L.R., Araujo, M.R., Are the nitrites important in a Genesis of the adenocarcinoma associated to the Barrett esophagus? (2008) ABCD, Arq Bras Cir Dig, 21 (3), pp. 124-129Cooper, G.S., Yuan, Z., Chak, A., Rimm, A.A., Association of prediagnosis endoscopy with stage and survival in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia (2002) Cancer, 95 (1), pp. 32-38Schembre, D., Arai, A., Levy, S., Farrel-Ross, M., Low, D., Quality of life esophagectomy and endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia (2010) Dis Esophagus, 23 (6), pp. 458-464Sundelöf, M., Ye, W., Dickman, P.W., Lagergren, J., Improved survival in both histologic types of oesophageal cancer in Sweden (2002) Int J Cancer, 99 (5), pp. 751-754Brown, L.F., Kroenke, K., Theobald, D.E., Wu, J., (2011) Comparison of SF-36 Vitality Scale and Fatigue Symptom Inventory In Assessing Cancer-related Fatigue, 19 (8), pp. 1255-1259Zieren, H.U., Jacobi, C.A., Zieren, J., Müller, J.M., Quality of life following resection of oesophageal carcinoma (1996) Br J Surg, 83 (12), pp. 1772-1775Djärv, T., Lagergren, J., Blazeby, J.M., Lagergren, P., Long-term health-related quality of life following surgery for oesophageal cancer (2008) Br J Surg, 95 (9), pp. 1121-1126Tercioti Júnior, V., Lopes, L.R., Coelho Neto, J.S., Carvalheira, J.B., Andreollo, N.A., Eficácia local e complicações da terapêutica neoadjuvante no carcinoma epidermoide: Radioterapia versus ra-dioterapia associada à quimioterapia (2011) Rev Col Bras Cir, 38 (4), pp. 227-234Steinglass, P., Ostroff, J.S., Steinglass, A.S., Multiple family groups for adult cancer survivors and their families: A 1-day workshop model (2011) Fam Process, 50 (3), pp. 393-40

Multidimensional continued fractions, dynamical renormalization and KAM theory

The disadvantage of `traditional' multidimensional continued fraction algorithms is that it is not known whether they provide simultaneous rational approximations for generic vectors. Following ideas of Dani, Lagarias and Kleinbock-Margulis we describe a simple algorithm based on the dynamics of flows on the homogeneous space SL(2,Z)\SL(2,R) (the space of lattices of covolume one) that indeed yields best possible approximations to any irrational vector. The algorithm is ideally suited for a number of dynamical applications that involve small divisor problems. We explicitely construct renormalization schemes for (a) the linearization of vector fields on tori of arbitrary dimension and (b) the construction of invariant tori for Hamiltonian systems.Comment: 51 page

A fileira das plantas aromáticas e medicinais em Portugal : transformação e distribuição

Esta comunicação insere-se no âmbito do projecto Agro nº 800 “ Rede Nacional para a Conservação e Utilização de Plantas Aromáticas e Medicinais” e pretende analisar a fileira PAM em Portugal, com o objectivo de conhecer os agentes intervenientes, as operações técnicas realizadas, o grau de integração entre agentes, a organização interna da fileira e suas articulações com o exterior. Neste sentido foram efectuados inquéritos a produtores, transformadores e distribuidores de PAM e seus derivados. Aqui serão abordados, exclusivamente, os dados referentes à distribuição e comercialização. Os dados recolhidos mostram uma desarticulação quase total da fileira. Apesar de se verificarem alguns casos de integração vertical, de modo geral, o grau de integração entre a produção e os sectores de transformação e distribuição é muito ténue e as relações comerciais caracterizam-se por uma ausência de vínculo contratual. A produção nacional sofre uma forte concorrência externa, patente na disparidade de preços das matérias-primas de origem nacional e estrangeira. Assim sendo, verifica-se que a indústria transformadora praticamente não utiliza matéria-prima de origem nacional o que constitui um estrangulamento à produção de PAM. O sector da distribuição é o elemento mais dinâmico da fileira e o que mais contribui para a geração de valor

Dor abdominal recorrente: quando suspeitar de crise epiléptica?

Recurrent episodes of abdominal pain are common in childhood. Among the diagnostic possibilities are migraine and abdominal epilepsy (AE). AE is an infrequent syndrome with paroxystic episodes of abdominal pain, awareness disturbance, EEG abnormalities and positive results with the introduction of antiepileptic drugs. We present one 6 year-old girl who had short episodes of abdominal pain since the age of 4. The pain was followed by cry, fear and occasionally secondary generalization. MRI showed tumor in the left temporal region. As a differential diagnosis, we report a 10 year-old boy who had long episodes of abdominal pain accompanied by blurring of vision, vertigo, gait ataxia, dysarthria, acroparesthesias and vomiting. He received the diagnosis of basilar migraine. In our opinion, AE is part of a large group (partial epilepsies) and does not require a special classification. Pediatric neurologists must be aware of these two entities that may cause abdominal pain.Episódios recorrentes de dor abdominal são freqüentes na infância e entre as causas neurológicas há migrânea e epilepsia abdominal (EA). EA é uma síndrome que consiste de episódios paroxísticos de dor abdominal associada à alteração de consciência, anormalidades eletrencefalográficas e boa resposta à terapia anticonvulsivante. Apresentamos uma menina de 6 anos que tinha desde os 4 anos episódios de curta duração de dor abdominal, seguidos por choro, medo e ocasional generalização secundária. A RM mostrou a presença de um tumor em região temporal esquerda. Como diagnóstico diferencial, apresentamos um menino de 10 anos que há 12 meses referia episódios de dor abdominal de longa duração acompanhados por turvação visual, vertigem, marcha atáxica, disartria, acroparestesia e vômito, recebendo posteriormente o diagnóstico de migrânia basilar. Em nossa opinião, EA faz parte de um grande grupo (epilepsias parciais) e não requer uma classificação especial. O neuropediatra deve estar alerta para essas duas entidades que podem cursar com dor abdominal.62863

Development of biodegradable, cellulose-based, essential oil and chitosan drug delivery systems for cosmetic mask applications

The goal of this research was the development of cellulose-based biodegradable drug delivery systems solutions for cosmetic mask applications. Cellulose-based materials derived from natural renewable sources provide a sustainable alternative to nonwoven cosmetic masks derived from nondegradable fossil-based raw materials. An experimental design was executed to assemble the 3D cellulose fibres matrix and the water in oil emulsion comprising the active molecules from Mentha piperita L. Two types of biopolymeric additives were used, one derived from a nano/micro fibrillated cellulose pulp and another one including chitosan. A 3D computational simulation study was performed to enhance porosity and strength properties. The results indicated that the cosmetic face mask optimized prototypes, made from a biodegradable 3D matrix of cellulose fibres and active molecules, are suitable for dermic usePostprint (published version

Cracking Of Petroleum Residues By Reactive Molecular Distillation

It is known that the Brazilian oils are more heavy - super heavy - viscous, its operation is difficult, especially its production, including all stages - elevation, runoff and primary processing - in addition to their transfer, and refining itself. Studies indicate the existence of oil fields as heavy lifting and that the simple flow of the base of the pit to the surface seems impossible at first sight, especially in off-shore fields, compromising both technically and economically a project to produce a new field. Therefore, efforts are needed to develop alternatives aimed at reducing the API gravity, viscosity and sulfur content of extra-heavy oil, adding a higher commercial value for these oils. This work aims to study, propose and develop enhanced hybrid process that transforms the extra-heavy oil, or part thereof, in lighter crude oil to generate a mixture: lower sulfur content, lower density, lower viscosity, lower content of volatile (aromatics and asphaltenes), greater resistance to the processes of purification. The process studied is the Reactive molecular distillation with the addition of tetralin that suffer from high temperature cracking of molecules, providing protons that help the breakdown of asphaltenes and residues will suffer as a consequence physicochemical changes, such as those mentioned above. This way you can improve the problems associated with the deposition of asphaltenes at high temperatures. The conversion of light with immediate reduction of API gravity and sulfur content promoted a better use of extra-heavy oil and the DMR is a product of high-value oil and very interesting for the oil industry and the environment. The experimental work proposed in this study was conducted to cracking and separation of fractions and petroleum. The evaluation and characterization of the cracking results were obtained after analysis of properties such as density, viscosity, sulfur content, molar mass and mass balance of the currents. © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.42329334Erciyes, A.T., Ishikawa, H., Inuzuka, M., Hiraoka, S., Mori, H.E., Yamada, I., Vaporization of binary liquid mixtures from surface at reduced pressure (1987) Chem Eng Symp Series, 1, pp. A359-A371Moraes, E.B., Batistella, C.B., Torres Alvarez, M.E., Maciel Filho, R., Wolf Maciel, M.R., Evaluation of tocopherol recovery through simulation of molecular distillation process (2004) Appl Biochem Biotech, 114, pp. 689-711Noeres, C., Kenig, E.Y., Górak, A., Modelling of reactive separation processes (2003) Reactive Absorption and Reactive Distillation. Chem Eng Process, 42, pp. 157-178Duarte, F.A., Mello, P.A., Bizzi, C.A., Nunes, M.A.G., Moreira, E.M., Alencar, M.S., Motta, H.N., Flores, E.M.M., Sulfur removal from hydrotreated petroleum fractions using ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization process (2001) Fuel, 90, pp. 2158-216

Non-supersymmetric Attractors in Born-Infeld Black Holes with a Cosmological Constant

We investigate the attractor mechanism for spherically symmetric extremal black holes in Einstein-Born-Infeld-dilaton theory of gravity in four-dimensions, in the presence of a cosmological constant. We look for solutions analytic near the horizon by using perturbation method. It is shown that the values of the scalar fields at the horizon are only dependent on the charges carried by the black hole and are irrelevant in their asymptotic values. This analysis supports the validity of non-supersymmetric attractors in the presence of higher derivative interactions in the gauge fields part and in non-asymptotically flat spacetime.Comment: 18 pages, no figu