ENERGETIC ESTIMATION OF HEAT-RECOVERY COKE OVEN

Worldwide, steel production insistently seeks energy strength, pointing out the precision of application of all energy from the raw material with the objective of increasing production with quality and economically viable. In this sense, the energy assessment is the basis adopted to decide on the manufacture of coke in the industry. With this argument, this paper presents an energy analysis of Heat Recovery furnaces through calorific value, a method specified by the Energy Research Company of Brazil and the Brazilian Association of Metals and Materials for application in calculations in a productive environment. The data of the basic raw materials for the production of coke, the technological analysis and the energy estimation in the manufacture of coke in Coke Ovens Heat Recovery can be found in the proposed method. The present work presents result that demonstrate that the active and efficient use of the calorific value of metallurgical coal produces an energy quality coke for the manufacture of pig iron in the blast furnace.

Characterization of an FTLD-PDB family with the coexistence of SQSTM1 mutation and hexanucleotide (G4C2) repeat expansion in C9orf72 gene

The C9orf72 expansion is considered a major genetic cause of familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in several patients' cohorts. Interestingly, C9orf72 expansion carriers, present also abundant neuronal p62-positive inclusions. Although p62/SQSTM1 mutations were initially associated with Paget disease of bone (PDB), they have been also identified in FTD. We describe an FTD-PDB family in which the proband presented with behavioral FTD phenotype and concomitant Paget disease. The molecular genetic analysis revealed the co-occurrence of 2 mutations; the pathogenic C9orf72 expansion and p.P392L heterozygous missense mutation in SQSTM1 gene. Amongst the 6 family members analyzed, the p.P392L SQSTM1 mutation segregated as expected with PDB, whereas the C9orf72 expansion segregated with frontal cognitive impairment or dementia in all but one carrier. The coexistence of these conditions could be underestimated since neither patients with FTD nor patients with PDB undergo bone scintigraphy or cognitive assessment, respectively. The number of cases with double mutations could also be over looked as the molecular strategy adopted in most laboratories ends with the identification of one pathogenic mutation in one of the known causative genes. Therefore, we advocate for further clinical and molecular evaluation in suspect cases

Avaliação da produção de frutíferas cultivadas em barragem subterrânea com a aplicação de água suplementar.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produtividade de espécies frutíferas cultivadas em barragem subterrânea utilizando-se água suplementar nos períodos de estiagem e de ocorrência de veranicos

Oxidative stress involving changes in Nrf2 and ER stress in early stages of Alzheimer's disease

AbstractOxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. In this study we analyzed whether oxidative stress involving changes in Nrf2 and ER stress may constitute early events in AD pathogenesis by using human peripheral blood cells and an AD transgenic mouse model at different disease stages. Increased oxidative stress and increased phosphorylated Nrf2 (p(Ser40)Nrf2) were observed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Moreover, we observed impaired ER Ca2+ homeostasis and increased ER stress markers in PBMCs from MCI individuals and mild AD patients. Evidence of early oxidative stress defense mechanisms in AD was substantiated by increased p(Ser40)Nrf2 in 3month-old 3xTg-AD male mice PBMCs, and also with increased nuclear Nrf2 levels in brain cortex. However, SOD1 protein levels were decreased in human MCI PBMCs and in 3xTg-AD mice brain cortex; the latter further correlated with reduced SOD1 mRNA levels. Increased ER stress was also detected in the brain cortex of young female and old male 3xTg-AD mice. We demonstrate oxidative stress and early Nrf2 activation in AD human and mouse models, which fails to regulate some of its targets, leading to repressed expression of antioxidant defenses (e.g., SOD-1), and extending to ER stress. Results suggest markers of prodromal AD linked to oxidative stress associated with Nrf2 activation and ER stress that may be followed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Inibição da germinação de esporos de Hemileia vastatrix com extratos de pimentas (Capsicum sp).

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se testar 48 extratos(25 alcoólicos (AL) e 23 aquosos(AQ)) obtidos a partir de sementes(s), folhas(fo) e frutos(fr) das variedades: ? Bode Amarela?, ?de Gaúcho?, ?Peito-de-Moça?, ?Jurema?, ?Amarela?, ?Acerola?, ?Chifre de Gazela?, ?Carrapeta?, ?Mexicana Roxa Comprida?, ?Mexicana Roxa Pequena?, ?Dedo-de-Moça?, ?dos Desejos?, ?Pitanga Amarela?, ?Biquinho?, ?Síria?, ?Tororó?, ?Três Quinas? e?Bode Vermelha?. Para tanto 10 ml do extrato foi incorporado a ágar-água semi-sólido (90ml) e vertido em placas de Petri

ESPRESSO: The next European exoplanet hunter

The acronym ESPRESSO stems for Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations; this instrument will be the next VLT high resolution spectrograph. The spectrograph will be installed at the Combined-Coud\'e Laboratory of the VLT and linked to the four 8.2 m Unit Telescopes (UT) through four optical Coud\'e trains. ESPRESSO will combine efficiency and extreme spectroscopic precision. ESPRESSO is foreseen to achieve a gain of two magnitudes with respect to its predecessor HARPS, and to improve the instrumental radial-velocity precision to reach the 10 cm/s level. It can be operated either with a single UT or with up to four UTs, enabling an additional gain in the latter mode. The incoherent combination of four telescopes and the extreme precision requirements called for many innovative design solutions while ensuring the technical heritage of the successful HARPS experience. ESPRESSO will allow to explore new frontiers in most domains of astrophysics that require precision and sensitivity. The main scientific drivers are the search and characterization of rocky exoplanets in the habitable zone of quiet, nearby G to M-dwarfs and the analysis of the variability of fundamental physical constants. The project passed the final design review in May 2013 and entered the manufacturing phase. ESPRESSO will be installed at the Paranal Observatory in 2016 and its operation is planned to start by the end of the same year.Comment: 12 pages, figures included, accepted for publication in Astron. Nach