Characterization of Acrocarpus fraxinifolius wood submitted to heat treatment

Aiming to provide greater visibility for the wood species Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, the present study sought to analyze the influence of heat treatment on an industrial scale applied to wood species, also popularly known as Indian cedar. The heat treatment was carried out in an autoclave, with temperature and pressure control, and with saturated steam injection, for temperatures 155 ºC, 165 ºC, 175 ºC, and 185 ºC. Physical, chemical, and mechanical tests were carried out for the analyzed wood. The content of holocellulose and total lignin decreased, while the content of extractives showed a substantial increase. The density increased after the heat treatment, however the treated wood showed cracks, and these cracks influenced the significant loss of the values of the mechanical properties of compression, tension, and flexion. The shear showed strength gain for the temperature of 155 ºC, and the wood treated at 165 ºC was equivalent to untreated wood. The woods submitted to temperatures of 175 ºC and 185 ºC presented strength losses. The heat treatment in question contributes to increase the visibility, use and market value of wood

Preserving Geometry and Topology for Fluid Flows with Thin Obstacles and Narrow Gaps

© ACM, 2016. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of ACM for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Azevedo, V. C., Batty, C., & Oliveira, M. M. (2016). Preserving Geometry and Topology for Fluid Flows with Thin Obstacles and Narrow Gaps. Acm Transactions on Graphics, 35(4), 97. https://doi.org/10.1145/2897824.292591Fluid animation methods based on Eulerian grids have long struggled to resolve flows involving narrow gaps and thin solid features. Past approaches have artificially inflated or voxelized boundaries, although this sacrifices the correct geometry and topology of the fluid domain and prevents flow through narrow regions. We present a boundary-respecting fluid simulator that overcomes these challenges. Our solution is to intersect the solid boundary geometry with the cells of a background regular grid to generate a topologically correct, boundary-conforming cut-cell mesh. We extend both pressure projection and velocity advection to support this enhanced grid structure. For pressure projection, we introduce a general graph-based scheme that properly preserves discrete incompressibility even in thin and topologically complex flow regions, while nevertheless yielding symmetric positive definite linear systems. For advection, we exploit polyhedral interpolation to improve the degree to which the flow conforms to irregular and possibly non-convex cell boundaries, and propose a modified PIC/FLIP advection scheme to eliminate the need to inaccurately reinitialize invalid cells that are swept over by moving boundaries. The method naturally extends the standard Eulerian fluid simulation framework, and while we focus on thin boundaries, our contributions are beneficial for volumetric solids as well. Our results demonstrate successful one-way fluid-solid coupling in the presence of thin objects and narrow flow regions even on very coarse grids.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canad

Non-coding RNAs in schistosomes: an unexplored world

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) were recently given much higher attention due to technical advances in sequencing which expanded the characterization of transcriptomes in different organisms. ncRNAs have different lengths (22 nt to >1, 000 nt) and mechanisms of action that essentially comprise a sophisticated gene expression regulation network. Recent publication of schistosome genomes and transcriptomes has increased the description and characterization of a large number of parasite genes. Here we review the number of predicted genes and the coverage of genomic bases in face of the public ESTs dataset available, including a critical appraisal of the evidence and characterization of ncRNAs in schistosomes. We show expression data for ncRNAs in Schistosoma mansoni. We analyze three different microarray experiment datasets: (1) adult worms' large-scale expression measurements; (2) differentially expressed S. mansoni genes regulated by a human cytokine (TNF-α) in a parasite culture; and (3) a stage-specific expression of ncRNAs. All these data point to ncRNAs involved in different biological processes and physiological responses that suggest functionality of these new players in the parasite's biology. Exploring this world is a challenge for the scientists under a new molecular perspective of host-parasite interactions and parasite development.RNAs não codificadores (ncRNAs) têm sido recentemente objeto de atenção muito maior devido aos avanços técnicos no sequenciamento que expandiram a caracterização dos transcritomas em diferentes organismos. ncRNAs possuem diferentes comprimentos (22 nt a >1.000 nt) e mecanismos de ação que essencialmente compreendem uma sofisticada rede de regulação de expressão gênica. A publicação recente dos genomas e transcritomas dos esquistossomos aumentou a descrição e caracterização de um grande número de genes do parasita. Aqui nós revisamos o número de genes preditos e a cobertura das bases do genoma em face dos ESTs públicos disponíveis, incluindo uma avaliação crítica da evidência e caracterização de ncRNAs em esquistossomos. Nós mostramos dados de expressão de ncRNAs em Schistosoma mansoni. Nós analisamos três conjuntos diferentes de dados de experimentos com microarranjos: (1) medidas de expressão em larga escala de vermes adultos; (2) genes diferencialmente expressos de S. mansoni regulados por uma citocina humana (TNF-α) no parasita em cultura; e (3) expressão estágio-especifica de ncRNAs. Todos estes dados apontam para ncRNAs envolvidos em diferentes processos biológicos e respostas fisiológicas que sugerem funcionalidade destes novos personagens na biologia do parasita. Explorar este mundo é um desafio para os cientistas sob uma nova perspectiva molecular da interação parasita-hospedeiro e do desenvolvimento do parasita.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)SEtTReNDCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Patients with multiple sclerosis do not necessarily consume more alcohol or tobacco than the general population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Essential role of the czc determinant for cadmium, cobalt and zinc resistance in Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAl 5

The mechanisms of cadmium, cobalt and zinc resistance were characterized in the plant-growth-promoting bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAl 5. The resistance level of the wild-type strain was evaluated through the establishment of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the soluble compounds CdCl2·H2O, CoCl2·6H2O and ZnCl2. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAl 5 was resistant to high concentrations of Cd, Co and Zn, with MICs of 1.2, 20 and 20 mM, respectively. Screening of an insertion library from transposon EZ-Tn5<R6Kyori/KAN-2> in the presence of ZnO revealed that the mutant GDP30H3 was unable to grow in the presence of the compound. This mutant was also highly sensitive to CdCl2·H2O, CoCl2·6H2O and ZnCl2. Molecular characterization established that the mutation affected the czcA gene, which encodes a protein involved in metal efflux. In silico analysis showed that czcA is a component of the czcCBARS operon together with four other genes. This work provides evidence of the high tolerance of G. diazotrophicus PAl 5 to heavy metalsand that czc is a determinant for metal resistance in this bacterium. [Int Microbiol 2012; 15(2):69-78

Drugs for relief of pain in patients with sciatica: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of analgesic and adjuvant pain drugs typically administered in primary care for the management of patients with sciatica

Collagen and Elastic Fibers in Odontogenic Entities: Analysis Using Light and Confocal Laser Microscopic Methods

Dentigerous cyst (DC) and keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KOT) are odontogenic lesions arising from epithelial elements, such as those observed in dental follicles (DF), that have been part of the tooth forming apparatus. These lesions show different clinical and histological characteristics, as well as distinct biological behavior. This study aimed to qualify and quantify collagen and elastic fibers by means of histochemical techniques with light and confocal laser microscopic methods in three odontogenic entities. Eleven DF, 13 DC (n=10 with inflammation, n=3 without inflammation) and 13 KOT were processed to the following techniques: Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson’s Trichrome, Picrosirius, Direct Blue, and Orcein. DF and DC without inflammation exhibited collagen with similar characteristics: no parallel pattern of fiber orientation, thick fibers with dense arrangement, and absence of distinct layers. A comparison between DC with inflammation and KOT revealed similar collagen organization, showing distinct layers: thin collagen fibers with loose arrangement near the epithelium and thick fibers with dense arrangement in distant areas. The only difference found was that KOT exhibited a parallel collagen orientation in relation to the odontogenic epithelia. It may be suggested that the connective tissue of DC is a reactive tissue, inducing an expansive growth associated with fluid accumulation and inflammatory process, which in turn may be present as part of the lesion itself. In KOT, loosely arranged collagen may be associated with the behavior of the neoplastic epithelium

CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES PRODUCED WITH RECYCLED COCONUT PITH

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo produzir briquetes com finos de carv\ue3o de res\uedduos de coco e avaliar a qualidade dos briquetes. Cascas de coco foram coletadas no APL de coco em Touros - RN. Ap\uf3s secagem ao ar livre por dois meses, as cascas foram carbonizadas em forno de alvenaria tipo \u201crabo quente JG\u201d e trituradas em moinho de martelo. O p\uf3 resultante foi peneirado, utilizando-se a fra\ue7\ue3o inferior a 40 mesh para produ\ue7\ue3o de briquetes em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado envolvendo 12 tratamentos (divididos em tr\ueas grupos) e tr\ueas repeti\ue7\uf5es. Como aglutinantes, foram empregados amido de milho e argila. Os tratamentos foram divididos em tr\ueas grupos, correspondendo cada grupo a uma propor\ue7\ue3o de argila, respectivamente 12, 15 e 18%, em rela\ue7\ue3o ao peso seco total do briquete. Em cada grupo, as propor\ue7\uf5es de amido foram de 6, 8, 10 e 12%. O p\uf3 de carv\ue3o foi misturado com a argila finamente triturada e a seguir foi adicionado o amido pr\ue9-gelatinizado em \ue1gua a 80\ub0C. A massa para cada tratamento foi misturada at\ue9 completa homogeneiza\ue7\ue3o, separando-se quantidades de 17 gramas de massa por repeti\ue7\ue3o. Os briquetes foram produzidos em briquetadeira de laborat\uf3rio, com press\ue3o de 1.500 psi e tempo de prensagem de quatro minutos. Foram avaliadas as seguintes propriedades dos briquetes: densidade aparente, poder calor\uedfico, composi\ue7\ue3o qu\uedmica imediata (umidade, teores de carbono fixo, mat\ue9rias vol\ue1teis e cinzas) e resist\ueancia \ue0 compress\ue3o. Os melhores tratamentos para fins comerciais foram os 12/12 e 12/15.The present work has the objective to produce briquettes by using fine charcoal from coconut wastes as raw material and evaluate the briquette quality. Coconut piths were collected at the city of Touros, in Rio Grande do Norte state. After a 2- month air drying, coconut pith was carbonized and hereafter ground in a hammer mill. The resulting charcoal powder was sieved and the fraction less than 40 mesh was used to produce briquettes according to an entirely randomized designed experiment involving 12 treatments and 3 replications. Starch and clay were employed as binders. The treatments were divided into 3 groups, each group corresponding to a proportion of clay, respectively 12, 15 and 18%, based on the total dry weight of the briquette. Within each group, the proportions of starch were 6, 8, 10 and 12%. The carbon powder was mixed with finely ground clay was added and then the pre-gelatinized starch in water at 80\ub0C. The mass for each treatment was mixed until homogeneous, separating quantities of 17grams of mass for each repetition. The briquettes were produced in a laboratory press (pressure of 1500psi and pressing time of 4 minutes). The briquettes were dried in an oven at 60\ub0C until constant weight. After drying, the properties of briquettes were evaluated: bulk density, high calorific value, immediate chemical composition (moisture content, fixed carbon, volatile matter and ash) and compressive strength. Best treatments for trading products were 12/12 e 12/15