Modeling and simulation of breakthrough curves during purification of two chitosanases from Metarhizium anisopliae using ion-exchange with expanded bed adsorption chromatography

A mathematical model was developed to predict breakthrough curves during purification of the two chitosanases from Metarhizium anisopliae by expanded bed adsorption, taking into account the axial dispersion of liquid and using Streamline DEAE and SP XL adsorbents, anion and cation exchange resins, respectively. All the experiments were performed without clarification (with cells) aiming at the reduction of unit operations in future projects of separation processes, thereby reducing capital and operating costs. Chitosanases are enzymes that hydrolyze the carbohydrate chitosan, resulting in oligosaccharides that have many remarkable biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-HIV and antioxidant activities. The two adsorbents had similar performance in relation to hydrodynamics and mass transfer. The results of the parametric sensitivity analysis agree with the literature, and the model was validated with an average high degree of fit (94.68%) between simulated and experimental data obtained in this work.     

Static Analysis of Buried Pipes Using Coupling between Layerwise Finite Element and Boundary Element Method

This work deals with the analysis of soil-structure interaction modeling of pipeline problems in static behavior using the coupling between FEM （finite element method） and BEM （boundary element method）. The representation of the pipe is made by MEF using one fmite element in the cylindrical panel formulated from the theory of equivalent discrete layers （Layerwise theory）, proposed by J. N. Reddy. The soil is represented by elastic continum infimite or semi-infinite and modeled using boundary elements with special curved surface, associated with cylindrical panel used to represent the soil-structure interaction within the soil, especially at the contact surface with the pipe.     

Tuning G-Quadruplex Nanostructures with Lipids. Towards Designing Hybrid Scaffolds for Oligonucleotide Delivery

Two G-quadruplex forming oligonucleotides [d(TG₄T)₄ and d(TG₆T)₄] were selected as two tetramolecular quadruplex nanostructures because of their demonstrated ability to be modified with hydrophobic molecules. This allowed us to synthesize two series of G-quadruplex conjugates that differed in the number of G-tetrads, as well as in the terminal position of the lipid modification. Both solution and solid-phase syntheses were carried out to yield the corresponding lipid oligonucleotide conjugates modified at their 3′- and 5′-termini, respectively. Biophysical studies confirmed that the presence of saturated alkyl chains with different lengths did not affect the G-quadruplex integrity, but increased the stability. Next, the G-quadruplex domain was added to an 18-mer antisense oligonucleotide. Gene silencing studies confirmed the ability of such G-rich oligonucleotides to facilitate the inhibition of target Renilla luciferase without showing signs of toxicity in tumor cell lines.     

Development of Airfoils Based on Their Aerodynamic Characteristics Using Artificial Neural Networks

One of the main concerns in Engineering nowadays is the development of aircrafts of low consumption and high performance. For this purpose, airfoils are studied and designed to have an elevated lift coefficient and a low drag coefficient, thus generating a highly efficient airfoil. The higher the efficiency value is, the lower the aircraft fuel consumption will be; thus improving its performance. In this sense, this work aims to develop a tool for airfoil creation from some desired characteristics, such as the lift and drag coefficients and maximum efficiency rate, using an algorithm based on an ANN （artificial neural network）. In order to do so, a database of aerodynamic characteristics with a total of 300 airfoils was initially collected from the XFoil software. Then, through a routine implemented in the MATLAB software, network architectures of one, two, three and four modules were trained, using the back propagation algorithm and momentum. The cross-validation technique was applied to analyze the results, evaluating which network possesses the lowest value in RMS （root-mean-square） error. In this case, the best result obtained was from the two-module architecture with two hidden neuron layers. The airfoils developed by this network, in the regions with the lowest RMS, were compared to the same airfoils imported to XFoil. The presented work offers as a contribution, in relation to other works involving ANN applied to fluid mechanics, the development of airfoils from their aerodynamic characteristics.     

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing poly(N‐hexylisocyanate): Monolayer behavior at the air–water interface

The behavior of amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing 80–89% of poly(N‐hexylisocyanate) (PHIC) with different hydrophobic segments spread at the air–water interface has been studied. Surface pressure‐area isotherms (π‐A) at the air–water interface were determined. It was found that these diblock copolymers form stable monolayers and the isotherms present a pseudoplateau region at low surface pressure, irrespective of the nature of the partner block: poly(styrene) (PS) or poly(isoprene). Surface pressure variation at the semidilute region of the monolayer was expressed in terms of the scaling laws as power function of the surface concentration. The critical exponents of the excluded volume ν obtained for copolymers with PHIC and PS blocks are 0.58 for the copolymer with 85% of PHIC and 15% of PS, and 0.63 for the copolymer with 89% of PHIC and 11% of PS. The hydrophobicity degree of the diblock copolymers was estimated from the determination of the surface energy values by wettability measurements. The morphology of the monolayers was determined by means of Brewster angle microscopy. Molecular dynamic simulation was performed to explain the experimental behavior of diblock copolymers at the air–water interface. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Optimization of osmotic dehydration of melons followed by air-drying

Osmotic dehydration represents a technological alternative to reduce post‐harvest losses of fruits. In this work, the influence of the osmotic solution concentration and osmotic solution to fruit weight ratio was examined on the osmotic dehydration of melons under vacuum. The process of osmotic dehydration followed by air‐drying was studied and modelled so that it could be optimised. The developed model has been validated with experimental data and simulations have shown that how the operating conditions affect the process. An optimisation was done using the model in order to search for the best operating condition that would reduce the total processing time.     

Luminescence of SrAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Cr<Superscript>3+</Superscript>

Samples of SrAl₂O₄ and SrAl₂O₄:Cr³⁺ were prepared by mixing the powder materials SrCO₃, Al₂O₃, and Cr₂O₃. The crystal structures of the undoped and doped samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The diffraction patterns reveal a dominant phase, characteristic of the monoclinic SrAl₂O₄ compound and another unknown secondary phase, in small amount, for doped samples. The data were fitted using the Rietveld method for structural refinements and lattice parameter constants (a, b, c, and β) were determined. Luminescence of Cr³⁺ ions in this host is investigated for the first time by excitation and emission spectroscopy at room temperature. Emission spectra present a larger band and a smaller structure associated to the and electronic transitions, respectively. The obtained results are analyzed by crystal-field theory and the crystal-field parameter, Dq, and Racah parameters, B and C, are determined from the excitation measurements.     

Noise abatement and traffic safety: The trade-off of quieter engines and pavements on vehicle detection

Road traffic sounds are a major source of noise pollution in urban areas. But recent developments such as low noise pavements and hybrid/electric engine vehicles cast an optimistic outlook over such an environmental problem. However, it can be argued that engine, tire, and road noise could be relevant sources of information to avoid road traffic conflicts and accidents. In this paper, we analyze the potential trade-offs of traffic-noise abatement approaches in an experimental study, focusing for the first time on the impact and interaction of relevant factors such as pavement type, vehicle type, listener's age, and background noise, on vehicle detection levels. Results reveal that vehicle and pavement type significantly affect vehicle detection. Age is a significant factor, as both younger and older people exhibit lower detection levels of incoming vehicles. Low noise pavements combined with all-electric and hybrid vehicles might pose a severe threat to the safety of vulnerable road users. All factors interact simultaneously, and vehicle detection is best predicted by the loudness signal-to-noise ratio.     

Mapping land degradation in the Gilbués region,northeastern Brazil,using Landsat TM images

Several areas of land degradation are present in the northeastern part of Brazil, resulting primarily from old practices of vegetation clearing and burning for subsistence farming and grazing. However, no reliable information is currently available on the extent of these areas and whether they are expanding over time. Taking the Gilbués region as an example, this study shows the potential for obtaining this information using multitemporal dual-season Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery. We used digital image processing, which involved the enhancement of soil-fraction images by segmentation/region classification and Normalized Difference Index (NDI) techniques. The results show highly degraded soils covering an almost continuous area of approximately 600 km². The data also show that, over the past two decades, land degradation has been concentrated mainly along and in the heads of drainage systems, a pattern that indicates removal of riparian forests, thereby compounding the serious problem of sediment loading in the streams in the area. We show that satellite remotely sensed data can provide valuable information in support of environmental policies for northeast Brazil.