SEARCHING for NEW YELLOW SYMBIOTIC STARS: POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION of StHα63

Yellow symbiotic stars are useful targets for probing whether mass transfer has happened in their binary systems. However, the number of known yellow symbiotic stars is very scarce. We report spectroscopic observations of five candidate yellow symbiotic stars that were selected by their positions in the 2MASS (J - H) versus (H - K) diagram and which were included in some emission-line catalogs. Among the five candidates, only StHα63 is identified as a new yellow symbiotic star because of its spectrum and its position in the [TiO]-[TiO] diagram, which indicates a K4-K6 spectral type. In addition, the derived electron density (∼10 cm) and several emission-line intensity ratios provide further support for that classification. The other four candidates are rejected as symbiotic stars because three of them actually do not show emission lines and the fourth one only Balmer emission lines. We also found that the WISE W3-W4 index clearly separates normal K-giants from yellow symbiotic stars and therefore can be used as an additional tool for selecting candidate yellow symbiotic stars.L.F.M. acknowledges partial support by grants AYA2011-30228-C03.01 and AYA2014-57369-C3-3-P of the Spanish MINECO, both co-funded by FEDER funds.Peer Reviewe

Biologically-active compounds from Brazilian lichens and their affinity with ether

It can be obtained from lichens biologically-active extracts and pure substances, many of them of phenolic nature. They are usually obtained by using organic solvents, such as diethyl ether. In this paper the usefulness of ether for the obtainment of crude extracts and the subsequent purification of pure substances from Brazilian lichen is reviewed, as well as alternatives to their production through cells or thallus immobilization in bioreactors and their entrapment in inert matrix

Valorization of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) with high quartz content as pozzolanic material in portland cement mixtures

[EN] Portland cement (OPC) production is one of the most contaminating greenhouse gas producing activities. In order to reduce OPC consumption, several alternatives are being assessed, and the use of pozzolanic material is one of them. This paper presents study on the reactivity of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), a residue from sugarcane industry, as a pozzolanic material. In order to evaluate SCBA reactivity, it was mixed in pastes with hydrated lime and OPC, which were microstructurally characterised. These studies showed that SCBA presents some pozzolanic characteristics. Studies on mortars in which OPC was replaced by SCBA in the range 10¿30% were also carried out. Replacement in the range 15¿20% yielded the best behaviour in terms of compressive strength. Finally, it can be concluded this ash could be valorised despite its relative low pozzolanic reactivity.[ES] Valorización de la ceniza de bagazo de azúcar (SCBA) con alto contenido de cuarzo como material puzolánico en mezclas de cemento Portland. La producción de cemento Portland (OPC) presenta una elevada emisión de CO2. Con el objeto de reducir el consumo de OPC, se están evaluando algunas alternativas, y el uso de materiales puzolánicos es una de ellas. En este trabajo se presenta el estudio de la reactividad de la ceniza de bagazo de caña de azúcar (SCBA) como material puzolánico, un residuo procedente de la industria de la caña de azúcar. Al objeto de evaluar la reactividad de SCBA, se realizaron pastas con cal hidratada y con OPC, las cuales fueron caracterizadas microestructuralmente. Estos estudios mostraron que SCBA presenta una cierta característica puzolánica. Se llevaron a cabo estudios en morteros en los que OPC se sustituyó por SCBA en el intervalo de 10-30%. La sustitución en el intervalo 15-20% produjo el mejor comportamiento en términos de resistencia a compresión. Finalmente, se puede concluir que esta ceniza puede ser valorizada a pesar de su baja reactividad puzolánica.The authors would like to thank the Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte of Spain (Cooperacion Interuniversitaria Program with Brazil, Project PHB-2011-0016-PC), CAPES-Brazil (Project CAPES/DGU No. 266/12), CNPq (Project 401724/2013-1) and Electron Microscopy Service of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Pereira, A.; Moraes, J.; Bassan De Moraes, M.; Akasaki, J.; Tashima, M.; Soriano Martinez, L.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.... (2018). Valorization of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) with high quartz content as pozzolanic material in portland cement mixtures. Materiales de Construcción. 68(330):153-163. https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2018.00617S153163683301. World cement production. 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UNICA – União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar Website; http://www.unicadata.com. br/index.php?idioma=220. A Geração Termoelétrica com a Queima do Bagaço de Cana-de-Açúcar no Brasil. CONAB – Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento; http://www.agricultura.gov.br/assuntos/sustentabilidade/agroenergia/arquivos-termoeletrica-com-a-queima-do-bagaco-de-cana-de-acucar/termoeletrica-com-a-queima-do-bagaco-de-cana-de-acucar-no-brasil-safra-2009-2010.pdf21. Cortez, L.A.B.; Gómez, E.O. (1998) A method for exergy analysis of sugarcane bagasse boilers. Braz. J. Chem. Eng. 15 [1].22. Souza, A.E.; Teixeira, S.R.; Santos, G.T.A.; Costa, F.B.; Longo, E. (2011) Reuse of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) to produce ceramic materials. J. Environ. Manage. 92, 2774–80.23. Hofsetz, K.; Silva, M.A. (2012) Brazilian sugarcane bagasse: Energy and non-energy consumption. Biomass Bioenerg 46, 564–573.24. Cordeiro, G.C.; Toledo Filho, R.D.; Tavares, L.M.; Fairbairn, E.M.R. 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Phenotypic Diversity for Seed Mineral Concentration in North American Dry Bean Germplasm of Middle American Ancestry

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds are a major protein, carbohydrate, and mineral source in the human diet of peoples in multiple regions of the world. Seed mineral biofortification is an ongoing objective to improve this important food source. The objective of this research was to assess the seed mineral concentration of five macroelements and eight microelements in a large panel (n = 277) of modern race Durango and race Mesoamerica genotypes to determine if variability existed that could be exploited for targeted seed biofortification. Varieties that derive from these races are found in many diets throughout the world. The panel was grown in replicated trials under typical production conditions in the major bean growing regions of the United States, and a subset of the panel was also grown in replicated trials at three locations under control and terminal drought conditions. Except for K, seed mineral concentrations were higher for race Mesoamerica genotypes. Significantly higher seed concentrations for the majority of the minerals were observed for white-seeded genotypes and race Durango genotypes with the now preferred indeterminate, upright growth habit. Modern genotypes (since 1997) had equal or increased mineral concentrations compared with older genotypes. Drought affected mineral content differentially, having no effect on the microelement content but increased Co, Fe, and Ni concentrations. The correlation of Ca and Mn concentrations suggests that these elements may share seed deposition mechanisms. The high heritability for seed mineral concentration implies that breeding progress can be achieved by parental selection from this panel

Diet and lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ibero-American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Spain

This study aimed to evaluate changes in dietary and lifestyle habits during the period of confinement due to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ibero-American countries. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted with 6,325 participants of both genders (68% women), over 18 years of age and from five countries: Brazil (N = 2,171), Argentina (N = 1,111), Peru (N = 1,174), Mexico (N = 686), and Spain (N = 1,183). Data were collected during the year 2020, between April 01 and June 30 in Spain and between July 13 and September 26, in the other countries studied using a self-administered online survey designed for the assessment of sociodemographic, employment, physical activity, health status, and dietary habits changes. Most participants (61.6%), mainly those from Spain, remained constant, without improving or worsening their pattern of food consumption. Among those who changed, a pattern of better eating choices prevailed (22.7%) in comparison with those who changed toward less healthy choices (15.7%). Argentina and Brazil showed the highest proportion of changes toward a healthier pattern of food consumption. Peruvians and Mexicans were less likely to make healthy changes in food consumption (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.4–0.6 and OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.4–0.8, respectively), when compared to Argentinians. Most respondents did not change their pattern of meal consumption, but those who did reduced their consumption of main meals and increased intake of small meals and snacks. Although most participants affirmed to be doing physical activity at home, about one-half reported perception of weight gain. Individuals with alterations in sleep pattern (either by increasing or decreasing sleep time) were more likely to change their diets to a healthier pattern. In contrast, individuals with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and those who reported feeling anxious were more likely to perform changes to a less healthy eating pattern (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.2–2.3 and OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.1–1.4, respectively). In conclusion, although most participants remained constant in their eating habits, lifestyle changes and anxiety feelings were reported. Among those who changed patterns of food consumption, healthier choices prevailed, with differences between countries. However, there were alterations in the distribution of meals, with higher consumption of snacks and small meals. These results can be used to guide policies to prevent deleterious consequences that may affect the incidence of chronic diseasesWe acknowledge the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) which provided MCBM a productivity fellowship and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) which granted OE-M a Ph.D. scholarship. The project developed in Spain was supported by the Program of R&D activities between research groups of the Community of Madrid in Social Sciences and Humanities, co-financed with the European Social Fund (H2019/HUM-5802

Preparation and scale up of extended-release tablets of bromopride

Reproducibility of the tablet manufacturing process and control of its pharmaceutics properties depends on the optimization of formulation aspects and process parameters. Computer simulation such as Design of Experiments (DOE) can be used to scale up the production of this formulation, in particular for obtaining sustained-release tablets. Bromopride formulations are marketed in the form of extended-release pellets, which makes the product more expensive and difficult to manufacture. The aim of this study was to formulate new bromopride sustained release formulations as tablets, and to develop mathematical models to standardize the scale up of this formulation, controlling weight and hardness of the tablets during manufacture according to the USP 34th edition. DOE studies were conducted using Minitab(tm) software. Different excipient combinations were evaluated in order to produce bromopride sustained-release matrix tablets. In the scale-up study, data were collected and variations in tableting machine parameters were measured. Data were processed by Minitab(tm) software, generating mathematical equations used for prediction of powder compaction behavior, according to the settings of the tableting machine suitable for scale-up purposes. Bromopride matrix tablets with appropriate characteristics for sustained release were developed. The scale-up of the formulation with the most suitable sustained release profile was established by using mathematical models, indicating that the formulation can be a substitute for the pellets currently marketed