Crystal Field Triplets: A New Route to Non-Fermi Liquid Physics

A model for crystal field triplet ground states on rare earth or actinide ions with dipolar and quadrupolar couplings to conduction electrons is studied for the first time with renormalization group methods. The quadrupolar coupling leads to a new nontrivial, non-Fermi liquid fixed point, which survives in an intermediate valence Anderson model. The calculated magnetic susceptibility displays one parameter scaling, going as $T^{-\alpha}$ ($\alpha \approx 0.4$) at intermediate temperatures, reminiscent of the non-Fermi liquid alloy UCu_{5-x}Pd_x.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, REVTe

Comparative evaluation between the extenders TES-TRIS and ACP-112® and the association of Sálva Marajó oil (Lippia origanoides) in the quality of cryopreserved buffalo sperm.

For artificial insemination, it is essential to use frozen semen, however the freezing process causes deleterious changes to the structure and integrity of sperm membranes that compromise the function of sperm. To avoid this cellular damage, extenders and suitable substrates must be used to recover the highest possible number of viable cells post-thaw. To this end, in the first experiment, we evaluated three different extenders: TES-TRIS, which is widely used for buffaloes; and an extender composed of powdered coconut water-based (ACP-112®) with or without milk (ACP-112®-milk) for buffalo semen freezing. In the second experiment, we evaluated the effect of Lippia origanoides oil extract on protecting buffalo sperm against cryoinjury arising from freezing semen. Semen was collected from ten buffalo bulls (10 ejaculates/bull) and diluted in TES-TRIS (control), ACP-112® or ACP-112®-Milk in the first experiment. In the second experiment, the samples were diluted in the diluent with the best results for sperm quality obtained in experiment I, and 2.5 µg mL-1, 5 µg mL-1 or 10 µg mL-1 of the plant extract was added to treatments; and a control group containing only the diluent was also included. The fresh semen was analyzed for conventional features such as motility, concentration, morphology and viability. After thawing, the samples were evaluated again for motility, vigor and supra-vital staining, and then, were performed the of thermal-resistance test, hypoosmotic test and evaluated sperm membrane integrity with the fluorescent probes PI, FITC-PSA and JC-1 using flow cytometry. The data were submitted to ANOVA, and the results were compared by Tukey?s test at a significance of 5%. In the first experiment, the extender TES-TRIS showed better results for the various characteristics evaluated compared to ACP-112® and ACP-112®-Milk (P 0.05). Based on these data, we demonstrated the beneficial effects of TES-TRIS for post-thaw buffalo sperm quality; however, no protective effect was observed for buffalo sperm cryopreserved with the different tested concentrations of Lippia origanoides extract oil

Improvement of a clayey soil with alkali activated low-calcium fly ash for transport infrastructures applications

The improvement of geotechnical properties is often achieved by the addition of traditional binders, such as cement or lime. However, the use of such binders implies a considerable financial and environmental cost that needs to be mitigated. An unconventional solution, similar to cement in terms of performance but more environmentally friendly, consists in the use of binders made from alkaline activated industrial residues. The technique consists on the activation of raw materials (such as fly ash or blast furnace slag) rich in Si, Al, or even Ca, with high pH alkaline solutions. The present work was developed aiming the possible stabilisation, using different fly ash contents, of a clayey soil with sand. The activator solution was composed of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. The extended experimental campaign included unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), pulse velocity tests and triaxial tests to assess the geomechanical improvement induced by the new binder. As a mean of comparison, the experimental campaign included also the stabilisation of the same soil with either cement or lime. The obtained data indicates that the use of alkaline activation as a soil stabilisation technique provides competitive geomechanical results, when compared with those obtained with traditional binders.(undefined

Effects of Postmortem Aging Time and Muscle Location on Objective Measures of Semitendinosus Steak Tenderness

Beef tenderness is the most important trait affecting consumer beef eating satisfaction. Cuts from muscles with superior tenderness (tenderloin, ribeye, striploin) are consequently most highly valued, but because of recent record-high beef prices, the need to identify more economical cuts that will meet consumer expectations for tenderness is greater than ever. The eye of round (Semitendinosus) has traditionally been marketed as a lower-value cut, primarily owing to its inherent toughness. Tenderness improves throughout postmortem aging and continues to improve in muscles aged for greater than 35 days. Retail steaks from the Semitendinosus receive, on average, 17 days of aging, with almost half (48.5%) receiving less than 14 days. This indicates a significant opportunity for tenderness improvement of Semitendinosus steaks through extended aging times. In many muscles, including the Longissimus, tenderness depends on anatomical location. Tenderness is often reduced in regions of the muscle closest to the ends or in close proximity to heavy connective tissue seams. Very little is known about the effects of aging and anatomical location on the tenderness of the Semitendinosus. Warner-Bratzler shear force testing is commonly used to measure beef tenderness objectively. Consumers rate beef with shear values of 9.5 lb as “tender,” so if tenderness of Semitendinosus steaks can be improved to meet this threshold, then the eye of round may offer a suitable alternative to higher-valued cuts for consumers and an opportunity for increased value for processors. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of aging and anatomical location on the tenderness of Semitendinosus steaks

Efeito do tratamento térmico sobre a bioacessibilidade de ferro e zinco em feijão-caupi.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a bioacessibilidade de ferro e de zinco das cultivares de feijão-caupi BRS Xiquexique, BR 17 - Gurguéia e BRS Guariba nos grãos crus e cozidos em panela de pressão com e sem imersão

Efeito do tratamento térmico sobre a bioacessibilidade de ferro e zinco em feijão-caupi.

O feijão-caupi é considerado excelente fonte de ferro e zinco. Avaliar a bioacessibilidade desses microminerais no grão é importante devido ao fato de crianças e gestantes possuírem uma ingesta deficiente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a bioacessibilidade de ferro e zinco nos grãos cru e cozidos das cultivares BRS Xiquexique, BR 17 - Gurguéia e BRS Guariba em panela de pressão com e sem imersão prévia. A determinação da bioacessibilidade foi realizada pelo método descrito por Luten e colaboradores. O percentual (%) da bioacessibilidade do ferro nos grãos crus foi de 3,65; 2,21 e 2,65% na BRS Xiquexique, BR 17 - Gurguéia e BRS Guariba, respectivamente. Após o cozimento em panela de pressão com imersão, a bioacessibilidade do ferro mostrou variação de 13,98% (BRS Guariba) a 6,85% (BRS Xiquexique) e, sem imersão de 17,28% (BRS Guariba) a 10,98% (BR 17 - Gurguéia). A bioacessibilidade do zinco em grãos crus foi de 38,2% (BRS Xiquexique), 38,8% (BR 17 - Gurguéia) e 47,5% (BRS Guariba) enquanto que cozido em panela de pressão com imersão, o percentual variou de 45,6% (BRS Guariba) a 24,33% (BRS Xiquexique) e, sem imersão, de 45,1% (BRS Guariba) a 43,24% (BRS Xiquexique). O tratamento térmico influenciou na determinação do % de bioacessibilidade de ferro e zinco para as cultivares BRS Xiquexique e BRS Guariba. O cozimento em panela de pressão sem imersão, quanto à bioacessibilidade de ferro e de zinco, mostrou um percentual maior que o cozimento em panela de pressão com imersão para a BRS Xiquexique.CONAC 2012. Disponível em: http://www.conac2012.org/resumos/pdf/124a.pdf. Acesso em: 10 jul. 2013

Nanostructured 3D Constructs Based on Chitosan and Chondroitin Sulphate Multilayers for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Nanostructured three-dimensional constructs combining layer-by-layer technology (LbL) and template leaching were processed and evaluated as possible support structures for cartilage tissue engineering. Multilayered constructs were formed by depositing the polyelectrolytes chitosan (CHT) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) on either bidimensional glass surfaces or 3D packet of paraffin spheres. 2D CHT/CS multi-layered constructs proved to support the attachment and proliferation of bovine chondrocytes (BCH). The technology was transposed to 3D level and CHT/CS multi-layered hierarchical scaffolds were retrieved after paraffin leaching. The obtained nanostructured 3D constructs had a high porosity and water uptake capacity of about 300%. Dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) showed the viscoelastic nature of the scaffolds. Cellular tests were performed with the culture of BCH and multipotent bone marrow derived stromal cells (hMSCs) up to 21 days in chondrogenic differentiation media. Together with scanning electronic microscopy analysis, viability tests and DNA quantification, our results clearly showed that cells attached, proliferated and were metabolically active over the entire scaffold. Cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) formation was further assessed and results showed that GAG secretion occurred indicating the maintenance of the chondrogenic phenotype and the chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs