Solid-State Bioconversion of Passion Fruit Waste by White-Rot Fungi for Production of Oxidative and Hydrolytic Enzymes

Yellow passion fruit waste (YPFW) is an abundant food waste in Brazil, rich in carbohydrates. The aim of the present work was to obtain useful oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes. YPFW solid-state cultures were done using the food-grade white-rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Macrocybe titans, Ganoderma lucidum, and Grifola frondosa. Under the conditions used in this work, the main enzymes produced by the fungi were laccases, pectinases, and aryl-β-d-glycosidases (β-glucosidases, β-xylosidases, and β-galactosidases). Laccases were produced by all fungi, and in this respect, the YPFW was as good as substrate as wheat bran, the most commonly substrate used for white-rot fungi cultivation. M. titans was the best producer of pectinase in YPFW cultures, while P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius were the best producers of aryl-β-glycosidases in both YPFW and wheat bran cultures.     

Energy and exergy efficiencies as design criteria for grain dryers

We devised a novel methodology for optimizing cereal grain dryers grounded on the transient spatial–temporal first and second laws of thermodynamics and associated balance equations. Model equations were solved using a special time-adaptive radial basis function. Comprehensive sensitivity tests show the quantitative effects of initial moisture content, air velocity, and drying air temperature on the temporal profiles of outlet air temperature and moisture content and temporally integrated energy and exergy efficiencies. Drying temperature is the most efficacious parameter in the drying range of 50–90°C. Finally, selected examples show optimized dryer operation points under unrestrained and restrained conditions. Second law efficiency is well suited for expressing drying performance, portraying time, noble energy expenditure, and intrinsic sustainability. Three decision tables, based on simulation results, can be used to define dryer design under normal technical choice. First law efficiency and the specific moisture extraction rate are concepts more adequate for designing in-bin low-temperature dryers. Second law efficiency is indicated when exergy recuperation is at stake: higher drying temperatures, shorter drying times, recirculation drying, and other processes.     

Influence of fluorescent dye on physical–mechanical properties of luting cements for confocal microscopy analysis

Aims: To evaluate the influence of a fluorescent dye (rhodamine B) on the physical and mechanical properties of three different luting cements: a conventional adhesive luting cement (RelyX ARC, 3M/ESPE), a self‐adhesive luting cement (RelyX U‐200, 3M/ESPE), and a self‐etching and self‐adhesive luting cement (SeT PP, SDI). Materials and Methods: The cements were mixed with 0.03 wt% rhodamine B, formed into bar‐shaped specimens (n = 10), and light cured using an LED curing unit (Radii, SDI) with a radiant exposure of 32 J/cm². The Knoop hardness (KHN), flexural strength (FS), and Young's modulus (YM) analyses were evaluated after storage for 24 h. Results: Outcomes were subjected to two‐way ANOVA and Tukey's test (P = 0.05) for multiple comparisons. No significant differences in FS or YM were observed among the tested groups (P ≥ 0.05); the addition of rhodamine B increased the hardness of the luting cements tested. Conclusion: The addition of a fluorescent agent at 0.03 wt% concentration does not negatively affect the physical–mechanical properties of the luting cement polymerization behavior. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:986–988, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Biochemical Effects of Carbohydrate Supplementation in a Simulated Competition of Short Terrestrial Duathlon

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the biochemical effects of carbohydrate supplementation in a simulated competition of short terrestrial duathlon. Ten duathletes participated in a simulated competition of short terrestrial duathlon 30 minutes after the ingestion of a 6% (30 g/500 ml) maltodextrin solution (MALT) or a placebo (PLA). This solution was also ingested every 15 minutes during the competition (12 g/200 ml); and immediately after the competition (18 g/300 ml). Samples of blood were collected at 3 time points: 1) at rest 1 hour before the beginning of the competition; 2) during the competition (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after the 1st collection); 3) immediately after the competition. Blood was analyzed for blood glucose, lactate, insulin and cortisol. Significant differences were observed in relation to blood glucose levels between MALT and PLA in the post-competition phase. There was also a significant difference in the lactate levels observed between MALT and PLA during the competition phase. Similarly, a significant difference in the cortisol concentrations during and after the competition phases (MALT and PLA) were observed. We conclude that maltodextrin supplementation appears to be beneficial during short terrestrial duathlon competition as evidenced by biochemical markers.     

The new research centre of the Brazilian Petroleum Company in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil: The achievements in the thermal performance of air-conditioned buildings in the tropics

The study on the thermal performance of the air-conditioned buildings of the new research centre of the Brazilian Petroleum Company, in the tropical climate of Rio de Janeiro, was part of a bigger research and consultancy project involving environmental issues. The architectural design was the subject of a national competition in 2004, encompassing over 100,000 m². According to the design brief, out of the 10 buildings of the new research centre, 7 have to be either completely or partially air-conditioned, due to specific occupation requirements. The challenge for better thermal performance was related to systems’ energy efficiency, to the introduction of natural ventilation and to the notion of adaptive comfort, which were verified with the support of thermal dynamic simulations. At the early stages of the assessments, the potential for natural ventilation in the working spaces considering the mixed-mode strategy achieved 30% of occupation hours. However, the development of the design project led to fully air-conditioned working spaces, due to users’ references regarding the conventional culture of the office environment. Nevertheless, the overall architectural approach in accordance to the climatic conditions still showed a contribution to the buildings’ energy efficiency.     

Validation of an analytical method for the determination of spiramycin, virginiamycin and tylosin in feeding-stuffs by thin-layer chromatography and bio-autography

An inter-laboratory validation was carried out to determine the performance characteristics of an analytical method based on thin-layer chromatography (TLC) coupled to microbiological detection (bio-autography) for screening feed samples for the presence of spiramycin, tylosin and virginiamycin. Twenty-four samples including blank samples and samples with concentrations of the target analytes ranging between 1 and 5 mg kg^-1 (expressed in microbiological activity) were analysed by seven laboratories participating in the study. The required detection limit was 1 mg kg^-1 (expressed in microbiological activity). For spiramycin, acceptable values for the sensitivity (at least 95%) indicating the rate of correct positive results were obtained for samples containing this substance at or above 2 mg kg^-1, whereas at 1 mg kg^-1, the sensitivity rate dropped to about 70%. Therefore, it was concluded that the detection limit was 2 mg kg^-1. For tylosin and virginiamycin, acceptable values of the sensitivity were obtained for all concentrations including 1 mg kg^-1. Therefore, the method fulfils the criterion regarding the required sensitivity at the target detection limit for tylosin and virginiamycin.     

The ‘wet dog’ effect in polymers as seen by thermoluminescence

It is shown that maxima of the thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve obtained from irradiated polymer containing molecularly dispersed chromophore coincide with the sub-T_g molecular relaxations, what can be related to the so called ‘wet dog’ effect. Good correlation has been found between the positions of the TL maxima and the molecular β- and γ-relaxations in different poly(alkyl methacrylate)s (alkyl=methyl, ethyl, n-butyl), and polystyrene doped with various chromophores: pyrene, carbazole and perylene. Additionally δ-relaxation has been detected at very low temperatures. The positions of the maxima in the TL spectra are independent of the used chromophore. In spite of the observed coincidence, the activation energies of the detrapping processes determined from the TL experiments are lower than the activation energies of the corresponding molecular relaxations determined from the dielectric spectroscopy. Spectral analyses of the light emitted at temperatures close to the TL maxima show that the ratio between excimeric and monomeric emissions is higher at higher temperatures, reflecting higher ability of the chromophore molecules to form excimers.     

Multiple transitions in poly(allylbenzene): 2. Dielectric relaxations: relationship between structure and properties

The relaxations associated with the phase transitions observed in poly(allylbenzene) have been investigated by dielectric spectroscopy. A morphological model is proposed to describe the fine structure of glass and liquid-liquid transitions and a correlation is established between the polymer structure and several of its properties.     

Experiments in seriation with children: Towards an information processing explanation of the horizontal decalage.

Tested 37 5-10 yr olds on 3 seriation tasks: length, weight, and a specially constructed "hidden length" seriation designed to eliminate the typically observed horizontal decalage between the length and weight tasks. Results confirm the main hypotheses: the hidden length seriation was more difficult than the normal length seriation and of approximately equal difficulty to the weight seriation. An information-processing analysis was then carried out with 1 8-yr-old S at the operational level of cognitive development. This led to the construction of a performance model, a computer program cast as a set of production rules, that simulated in detail the S's behavior on the 3 tasks. The general and task specific elements of the program show how the length seriations are facilitated by perceptual factors and the organization of memory, though within the framework of a common insertion strategy that the S employed on all 3 tasks. (French summary) (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)