Simplified process to obtain policosanol from clarified and purified sugarcane wax

Orientador: Daniel Barrera-ArellanoDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de AlimentosResumo: A cera de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum), consiste em uma mistura de ésteres de cera, triacilgliceróis, ácidos e álcoois graxos; e é obtida a partir da torta de filtro, um sub-produto nas indústrias processadoras de cana. Sendo o Brasil o maior produtor de cana-de-açúcar e maior exportador de açúcar do mundo, a quantidade de torta de filtro disponível para a produção de cera é bastante elevada. Desta maneira, a sua utilização contribuirá para o aproveitamento de um sub-produto na obtenção de um produto de alto valor agregado, as ceras. Além de possuir propriedades importantes para o uso em diversos setores da indústria, a cera de cana-de-açúcar constitui-se em uma importante fonte de álcoois graxos de cadeia longa, denominado ¿policosanol¿, o qual apresentou, em vários estudos, efeito hipocolesterolêmico, anti-plaquetário e anti-trombótico. Este projeto teve como objetivo principal a obtenção e purificação da fração de álcoois graxos de cadeia longa, através de um processo simplificado: (1) saponificação da cera de cana-de-açúcar clarificada e purificada; (2) extração com etanol anidro a quente para obtenção de ¿policosanol 50¿ e (3) purificação com acetona, para obtenção de ¿policosanol 90¿. As condições para a reação de saponificação da cera clarificada e purificada de cana-de-açúcar foram: relação cera:solução hidro-alcoólica de NaOH 2M de 1:1 (p/v); temperatura de 80ºC e tempo de 15 minutos. O processo de extração com etanol a quente, utilizando a relação cera saponificada: etanol de 1:5 (p/v) a 73°C/1hora, permitiu a obtenção de um produto com 50% de álcoois e rendimento de 38% em relação à cera clarificada e purificada. A purificação do ¿policosanol 50¿ com acetona (relação ¿policosanol 50¿:acetona de 1:10 (p/v) sob refluxo/30 min, seguido da filtração a quente), permitiu obter um produto com 90% de álcoois e rendimento de 17,4%Abstract: Sugarcane wax (Saccharum officinarum) consists of a mixture of wax esters, triglycerides, fatty acids and fatty alcohols, and is obtained from sugarcane filter cake, a by-product of the sugar and alcohol industry. Being Brazil the greatest sugarcane producer and sugar exporting country, the amount of available filter cake for wax production is sufficiently high. Thus, the use of sugarcane filter cake will contribute for the utilization of a by-product in order to obtain a high value added products, the waxes. Besides its important properties which are applied in different industry sectors, the sugarcane wax is the important source of long chain fatty alcohols, called ¿policosanol¿, which have demonstrated in several studies, cholesterol-reducing, anti-platelet and anti-trombotic effects. The main objective of this project was to study the obtaining and purification process of the long chain fatty alcohol fraction, using a simplified method: (1) saponification of the clarified and purified sugarcane wax; (2) extraction with hot anhydrous ethanol to obtain the product called ¿policosanol 50¿ and (3) purification with acetone to obtain the product called ¿policosanol 90¿. The conditions for the saponification reaction of the clarified and purified sugarcane wax were: wax proportion: NaOH hydro-alcoholic solution of 2M of 1:1(w:v); temperature of 80°C/15 minutes. The extra ction process with hot ethanol, using the saponified wax proportion: ethanol of 1:5 (w:v) at 73°C/1hour, allowed to obtain a 50% alcohols and 38% yield product comparing to the clarified and purified wax. The purification of the ¿policosanol 50¿ with acetone extraction (proportion ¿policosanol 50¿: acetone of 1:10 (w/v) with 30min reflux, followed by a hot filtration), allowed to obtain a 90% alcohols and 17.4% yield productMestradoMestre em Tecnologia de Alimento

Diarrhea and related personal characteristics among Japanese university students studying abroad in intermediate- and low-risk countries

Despite an increasing number of students studying abroad worldwide, evidence about health risks while they are abroad is limited. Diarrhea is considered the most common travelers' illness, which would also apply to students studying abroad. We examined diarrhea and related personal characteristics among Japanese students studying abroad. Japanese university students who participated in short-term study abroad programs between summer 2016 and spring 2018 were targeted (n = 825, 6-38 travel days). Based on a 2-week-risk of diarrhea (passing three or more loose or liquid stools per day) among travelers by country, the destination was separated into intermediate- and low-risk countries. After this stratification, the associations between personal characteristics and diarrhea during the first two weeks of their stay were evaluated using logistic regression models. Among participants in intermediate-risk countries, teenagers, males and those with overseas travel experience were associated with an elevated risk of diarrhea; the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 2.42 (1.08-5.43) for teenagers (vs. twenties), 1.93 (1.08-3.45) for males (vs. females) and 2.37 (1.29-4.33) for those with overseas experience (vs. none). Even restricting an outcome to diarrhea during the first week did not change the results substantially. The same tendency was not observed for those in the low-risk countries. Teenage students, males and those with overseas travel experience should be cautious about diarrhea while studying abroad, specifically in intermediate-risk countries

Visualization of the spatial positioning of the SNRPN, UBE3A, and GABRB3 genes in the normal human nucleus by three-color 3D fluorescence in situ hybridization

The three-dimensional (3D) structure of the genome is organized non-randomly and plays a role in genomic function via epigenetic mechanisms in the eukaryotic nucleus. Here, we analyzed the spatial positioning of three target regions; the SNRPN, UBE3A, and GABRB3 genes on human chromosome 15q11.2–q12, a representative cluster of imprinted regions, in the interphase nuclei of B lymphoblastoid cell lines, peripheral blood cells, and skin fibroblasts derived from normal individuals to look for evidence of genomic organization and function. The positions of these genes were simultaneously visualized, and all inter-gene distances were calculated for each homologous chromosome in each nucleus after three-color 3D fluorescence in situ hybridization. None of the target genes were arranged linearly in most cells analyzed, and GABRB3 was positioned closer to SNRPN than UBE3A in a high proportion of cells in all cell types. This was in contrast to the genomic map in which GABRB3 was positioned closer to UBE3A than SNRPN. We compared the distances from SNRPN to UBE3A (SU) and from UBE3A to GABRB3 (UG) between alleles in each nucleus, 50 cells per subject. The results revealed that the gene-to-gene distance of one allele was longer than that of the other and that the SU ratio (longer/shorter SU distance between alleles) was larger than the UG ratio (longer/shorter UG distance between alleles). The UG distance was relatively stable between alleles; in contrast, the SU distance of one allele was obviously longer than the distance indicated by the genome size. The results therefore indicate that SNRPN, UBE3A, and GABRB3 have non-linear and non-random curved spatial positioning in the normal nucleus, with differences in the SU distance between alleles possibly representing epigenetic evidence of nuclear organization and gene expression

Temporal characteristics of facial ensemble in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: examination from arousal and attentional allocation

IntroductionIndividuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show atypical recognition of facial emotions, which has been suggested to stem from arousal and attention allocation. Recent studies have focused on the ability to perceive an average expression from multiple spatially different expressions. This study investigated the effect of autistic traits on temporal ensemble, that is, the perception of the average expression from multiple changing expressions.MethodsWe conducted a simplified temporal-ensemble task and analyzed behavioral responses, pupil size, and viewing times for eyes of a face. Participants with and without diagnosis of ASD viewed serial presentations of facial expressions that randomly switched between emotional and neutral. The temporal ratio of the emotional expressions was manipulated. The participants estimated the intensity of the facial emotions for the overall presentation.ResultsWe obtained three major results: (a) many participants with ASD were less susceptible to the ratio of anger expression for temporal ensembles, (b) they produced significantly greater pupil size for angry expressions (within-participants comparison) and smaller pupil size for sad expressions (between-groups comparison), and (c) pupil size and viewing time to eyes were not correlated with the temporal ensemble.DiscussionThese results suggest atypical temporal integration of anger expression and arousal characteristics in individuals with ASD; however, the atypical integration is not fully explained by arousal or attentional allocation

妊娠・産褥期における描画によるリラクセーション効果の検討 － POMS・筋硬度・口頭データを用いた心理・生理的評価－

　本研究の目的は，生理的指標と心理的指標を用いて，妊娠・産褥期における描画によるリラクセーション効果を検討することである．妊婦および褥婦5名を対象に，パステルによる描画前後に, POMS (Profile of Mood States) および肩部の筋硬度の測定を実施し，描画後に感想を求めた．描画前後のPOMSの6尺度の各得点および筋硬度比較を行った．また，描画した内容についてのテーマ毎の説明・感想，および全テーマの描画終了後の感想を記録し，質的に分析を実施した．描画前後のPOMSは，全員が緊張- 不安などのネガティブな気分の5尺度（T-A･D･A-H･F･C）の得点が下がり，活気得点（V）は上昇した．筋硬度は描画途中で授乳をした褥婦1名を除き描画後に低下した．テーマ毎の描画内容に関する説明・感想として，「自分」のテーマでは，「風に色がついている感じ」で「やわらかく柔軟になりたい」，「ピンクとかオレンジ」よりも「緑が欲しい」気分などが聞かれた．描画後の感想では，「力が抜ける」，「リラックスできる」，「あったかい」，「発汗」などがあった．今回の調査対象者は，描画後に，生理的指標である筋硬度及び心理的指標であるPOMSの測定でリラクセーション傾向を示した．全体終了後の感想でもリラックス感が表出された．また，描画の説明・感想より，色のイメージと気持ちの一致や色で自分を表現させていることが認められ，気持ちの表現に色などのパステル素材の効果があり，妊婦と褥婦にとっては描画が自己表出の機会となっていることが考えられた．パステルによる描画は心身両面に変化を与え，出産前後の女性の心身のリラクセーションに効果があることが示唆された．The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of relaxation evoked by drawing during pregnancy and the puerperal period by using a physiological index and a psychological index. Muscular tension of the shoulder and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) were assessed before and after drawing with pastels in 5 pregnant or puerperal women. After drawing, subjects gave their impressions of the experience, and POMS scores and muscular hardness measurements before and after drawing were compared. The impressions of drawing were qualitatively analyzed. After drawing, scores on 5 POMS scales for negative feelings had decreased, while the vigor score had increased. Muscular hardness also decreased after drawing, except in one puerperal participant who had suckled while drawing. The impressions of drawing with the theme of“ Myself” included feelings of“ I used the color of the wind”,“ I want to become flexible gently”, and“ I want to use green from pink and the orange”. Impressions of the entire drawing experience included “The tension in my body was relieved”, “I became relaxed”, “It became warm”, and “I started sweating”. After drawing, muscular hardness measurements and POMS scores indicated a tendency toward relaxation. The participants then matched the colors in images to feelings and expressed this connection with colors from their impressions of the drawing experience. The pastel material was effective for the expression of feelings. Drawing provided an opportunity for self-expression in the pregnant and puerperal women. The results suggest that drawing with pastels elicits a change in mind and body that can effectively help women to relax before and after birth