Cimaterol and clenbuterol residue analysis by HPLC-HPTLC in liver.

A method has been developed for the analysis of cimaterol and clenbuterol residues in liver, with detection limits of 0.25 micrograms/kg and 0.5 micrograms/kg, respectively. The recovery varied from 55% to 60%. After extraction, a clean-up procedure with Baker-spe C-18 columns was performed. The two chemical compounds of interest were eluted with methanol. Cimaterol and clenbuterol were quantitatively determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an RP-Select B (5 microns) column and a post-column reaction procedure. The positive results were confirmed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) as this technique reaches the same level of sensitivity as the HPLC method.     

A comparative study of the durability and behaviour of fat lime and feebly-hydraulic lime mortars

Lime mortars are often used for repairs to historic buildings. This paper investigates two forms of lime binder: fat and feebly-hydraulic, in order to predict their long-term behaviours and hence ascertain which of the two possesses greater durability, so that they may be used more efficiently in restoration. Mortars were tested for properties governing moisture movement and also subject to durability cycles. The resistance to damage under freezing conditions was evaluated with the saturation coefficient. Thermal cycles had no effect on the mortars and gave no indication of the relative durabilities of the binders. Salt crystallization cycles, though effective in distinguishing the more durable of the two, were too aggressive to gauge a clear profile of salt weathering and succeeded in rapidly decomposing the samples. Tests on the properties governing moisture movement produced good indications of the degree to which the mortars permit flow through their fabrics. According to the results obtained, fat lime mortars are more durable than those made with feebly-hydraulic lime. The results also suggest that the feebly-hydraulic lime mortars are at a higher risk of decomposition by granular disintegration whereas fat lime mortars are better suited to damp, slightly exposed conditions. These results disagree with the general opinion that hydraulic limes are more durable than fat limes due to the additional strength and water insolubility arising from their hydraulicity.     

STATIONARY AND NON-STATIONARY STATE SPACE MODELS

Abstract. The concepts of time invariance, stationarity, non-stationarity and immemorial time are considered for state space models (SSMs). Necessary and sufficient conditions for stationarity are given and connected with standard conditions. Expressions are given for the unconditional mean and covariance matrix of the state of a time-immemorial SSM. Application of the results is made to a variety of theoretical and empirical models and the initialization of the Kalman filter in the non-stationary case and for the ARIMA ( p, d, q ) model.     

Complete transformer model for electromagnetic transients

A complete, three phase transformer model for the calculation of electromagnetic transients is presented. The model consists of a set of state equations solved with the trapezoidal rule of integration in order to obtain an equivalent Norton circuit at the transformer terminals. Thus the transformer model can be easily interfaced with an electromagnetic transients program. Its main features are: (a) the basic elements for the winding model are the turns; (b) the complete model includes the losses due to eddy currents in the windings and in the iron core; and (c) the solution of the state equations is obtained in decoupled iterations. For validation, the frequency response of the model is compared with tests on several transformers. Applications to the calculation of transients are given for illustration     

Modal Kalman filtering based impedance relaying

An algorithm is presented for computer distance relaying. It is based on modal Kalman filtering (MKF) to estimate fundamental phasors, MKF exploits all the measurement information available from a three-phase line and is founded on enhanced models of the electromagnetic transients noise. To support the modeling of noise for different faults, a study of nontrivial electrical networks with accurate electromagnetic transients modeling is made for 400 kV transmission lines. MKF fits the behavior of the different modal noise for the Clarke phasors, but it is invariant for each type of fault, assuring robustness and minimum error variance. To computer distance, Clarke αB phasors are transformed to +/- symmetrical components, and then a well-known expression is used to computer the positive impedance. Statistical analysis if presented to assess observation time versus estimation accuracy for the different types of line faults     

Total and acid-soluble fluoride content of infant cereals, beverages and biscuits from Brazil

Total fluoride (TF) and HCl 0.01 M ('gastric juice')-soluble fluoride (SF) were analysed in infant foods, beverages and calcium-rich biscuits. Samples were divided into seven categories: children cereals (A), chocolate-flavoured milk (B), soy beverages (C), filled biscuits (D), non-filled biscuits (E), wafer biscuits (F) and corn starch biscuits (G). Mean TF concentrations ± SD (amplitude, unit µg F ml^-1 or µg F g^-1) were: (A) 4.25 ± 3.04 (0.20 - 7.84, n = 6); (B) 0.34 ± 0.47 (0.05-1.27, n = 6); (C) 0.15 ± 0.07 (0.09-0.29, n = 8); (D) 8.44 ± 1.76 (7.65-10.47, n = 4); (E) 12.41 ± 1.15 (10.69-13.68, n = 4); (F) 0.35 ± 0 (0.34-0.36, n = 4) and (G) 7.77 ± 1.12 (6.86-8.68, n = 2). Five samples of cereals, one sample of chocolate-flavoured milk and 10 samples of biscuits were analysed for SF. In cereals analysed for SF, all fluoride was soluble, while for the chocolate-flavoured milk, approximately 50% of TF was soluble. Regarding the biscuits analysed for SF approximately 20% of TF was soluble. It was observed that some of the cereals and beverages, and most of the biscuits analysed, might be important contributors to total daily fluoride intake. When consumed just once per day, cereals and beverages might supply up to 25% of the maximum recommended daily fluoride intake (0.07 mg F kg^-1 body weight) for a 2-year-old child (12 kg). For the filled, non-filled and corn starch biscuits, when 3, 32 or 20 units of them, respectively, are consumed just once per day, they may supply up to 16% of the maximum recommended daily fluoride intake. However, only approximately 25% of fluoride absorption occurs from the stomach and 75% from the small intestine. Therefore, a higher fluoride bioavailability is possible.     

Chromosome comparison between populations of the collared peccary, Tayassu tajacu, raised in captivity

The collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) is widely distributed over the American continent, being found from the south of the USA to the north of Argentina. In Brazil, it is spread all over the country, being one of the potential species to be raised in captivity. Therefore, the cytogenetic techniques could be a potential tool for reproductive monitoring of animals raised in captivity, mainly when destined for commercial purposes. This study had the objective of determining the chromosome number of two populations raised in captivity and characterizing them by GTG banding. For this purpose, an analysis was made of mitotic metaphases obtained from lymphocyte cultures made from blood samples of 11 animals, six of which from the Northeast and five from the North of Brazil. The results of this analysis showed the same karyotype pattern for the species (2n=30 chromosomes and NF=48), besides corresponding to the South American pattern of the species, i.e., without a translocation between autosomes 1 and 8, chromosome X acrocentric, and no differences were found between the two populations studied. However, chromosomal polymorphisms were observed compared to data from the literature on populations from North and South America.