Características físicas dos grãos de arroz translúcidos e gessados.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar as características de transparência, brancura e grau de polimento dos grãos de arroz translúcidos e gessados

Qualidade de cocção de grãos de arroz translúcidos e gessados.

objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento de cocção dos grãos de arroz translúcidos e gessados e seus aspectos de qualidade

Características físico-químicas de extratos de arroz integral, quirera de arroz e soja.

Extratos hidrossolúveis são bebidas de origem vegetal, que possuem apelo comercial nutricional, quanto aos aspectos de saúde, como ausência de gorduras animais e altos teores de minerais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar as características físico-químicas de extratos hidrossolúveis de arroz integral, quirera de arroz e soja. As análises (em triplicata) foram: pH, teor de sólidos solúveis, umidade, cinzas, proteínas, lipídeos, carboidratos totais, cálcio, magnésio, cobre, manganês, ferro, zinco e valor energético. O extrato de quirera de arroz apresentou o maior teor de carboidratos (3,17 g 100 g-1) e o menor teor de cinzas (0,58 g 100 g-1), proteínas (0,73 g 100 g-1), lipídeos (0,41 g 100 g-1) e valor energético (17,28 kcal 100 g-1), enquanto o extrato de arroz integral apresentou o maior valor de pH (6,77) e valores intermediários de cálcio (1,2 mg 100 g-1) e magnésio (1,69 mg 100 g-1). O extrato de soja se destacou com maiores valores de todos os minerais, cinzas (0,84 g 100 g-1), proteínas (2,51 g 100 g-1), lipídeos (1,05 g 100 g-1) e valor energético (68,34 kcal 100 g-1), porém, menor valor de carboidratos (2,62 g 100 g-1). Apesar do menor valor nutricional, quando comparado ao extrato de soja, os extratos de arroz integral ou de quirera de arroz são alternativas alimentares viáveis à substituição do leite ou do extrato de soja, para pessoas que possuam intolerância à lactose e/ou alergia às proteínas da soja

2D versus 3D human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cultures for neurodegenerative disease modelling

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), affect millions of people every year and so far, there are no therapeutic cures available. Even though animal and histological models have been of great aid in understanding disease mechanisms and identifying possible therapeutic strategies, in order to find disease-modifying solutions there is still a critical need for systems that can provide more predictive and physiologically relevant results. One possible avenue is the development of patient-derived models, e.g. by reprogramming patient somatic cells into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which can then be differentiated into any cell type for modelling. These systems contain key genetic information from the donors, and therefore have enormous potential as tools in the investigation of pathological mechanisms underlying disease phenotype, and progression, as well as in drug testing platforms. hiPSCs have been widely cultured in 2D systems, but in order to mimic human brain complexity, 3D models have been proposed as a more advanced alternative. This review will focus on the use of patient-derived hiPSCs to model AD, PD, HD and ALS. In brief, we will cover the available stem cells, types of 2D and 3D culture systems, existing models for neurodegenerative diseases, obstacles to model these diseases in vitro, and current perspectives in the field

Integrated motor drives: state of the art and future trends

With increased need for high power density, high efficiency and high temperature capabilities in Aerospace and Automotive applications, Integrated Motor Drives (IMD) offers a potential solution. However, close physical integration of the converter and the machine may also lead to an increase in components temperature. This requires careful mechanical, structural and thermal analysis; and design of the IMD system. This paper reviews existing IMD technologies and their thermal effects on the IMD system. The effects of the power electronics (PE) position on the IMD system and its respective thermal management concepts are also investigated. The challenges faced in designing and manufacturing of an IMD along with the mechanical and structural impacts of close physical integration is also discussed and potential solutions are provided. Potential converter topologies for an IMD like the Matrix converter, 2-level Bridge, 3-level NPC and Multiphase full bridge converters are also reviewed. Wide band gap devices like SiC and GaN and their packaging in power modules for IMDs are also discussed. Power modules components and packaging technologies are also presented

Trypanosoma cruzi high infectivity in vitro is related to cardiac lesions during long-term infection in Beagledogs

Trypanosoma cruzi is a hemoflagelate parasite associated with heart dysfunctions causing serious problems in Central and South America. Beagle dogs develop the symptoms of Chagas disease in humans, and could be an important experimental model for better understanding the immunopathogenic mechanisms involved in the chagasic infection. In the present study we investigated the relation among biological factors inherent to the parasite (trypomastigote polymorphism and in vitro infectivity) and immunoglobulin production, inflammation, and fibrosis in the heart of Beagle dogs infected with either T. cruzi Y or Berenice-78 strains. In vitro infectivity of Vero cells as well as the extension of cardiac lesions in infected Beagle was higher for Y strain when compared to Berenice-78 strain. These data suggested that in vitro infectivity assays may correlate with pathogenicity in vivo. In fact, animals infected with Y strain, which shows prevalence of slender forms and high infectivity in vitro, presented cardiomegaly, inflammation, and fibrosis in heart area. Concerning the immunoglobulin production, no statistically significant difference was observed for IgA, IgM or IgG levels among T. cruzi infected animals. However, IgA together IgM levels have shown to be a good marker for the acute phase of Chagas disease

Conserved Class of Queen Pheromones Stops Social Insect Worker Reproduction

Dissertação de mestrado em Gestão, apresentada à Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra, sob a orientação de Patrícia Pereira da SilvaEm 2011, a crise política e financeira de Portugal atingiu um nível crítico, levando à queda do governo, assim como ao pedido de ajuda à denominada Troika, constituída pelo (Fundo Monetário Internacional, Banco Central Europeu e Comunidade Europeia). As recomendações da Troika sobre a política energética Portuguesa basearam-se em torno de medidas que potenciem a eficiência energética, ou seja, medidas que permitam poupar e otimizar consumo de energia. No entanto, sobre as energias renováveis, foi pedida especial atenção, em particular, em tecnologias menos desenvolvidas (incluindo o fotovoltaico), nas quais se deverá efetuar uma análise rigorosa em termos de custos e consequências para o preço da energia. Outra das recomendações da Troika passou por uma revisão em baixo do preço pago pela tarifa (Feed-in tariff), com o intuito de que esse valor não produza compensações alegadamente excessivas para os investidores neste setor. Atendendo às novas constrições anteriormente apresentadas, e aos elevados custo de investimento que as Fontes de Energias Renováveis apresentam, nomeadamente, no setor fotovoltaico, a respetiva avaliação económica assume um papel primordial. É, assim, objetivo desta dissertação estimar da forma mais correta a rendibilidade do investimento, sendo, para tal, desenvolvida uma metodologia de análise de projetos de investimento, usando o método discounted cash flow (DCF) – Free Cash Flow to the firm, bem como, compreender e analisar quais os principais fatores que estão inerentes a um projeto de Fontes de Energia Renovável, nomeadamente, na análise do Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE) e paridade com a rede elétrica. Deste modo, pretende-se uma reanálise do ponto de vista económico de projetos com origem em fontes de energia renovável

Conserved Class of Queen Pheromones Stops Social Insect Worker Reproduction

A major evolutionary transition to eusociality with reproductive division of labor between queens and workers has arisen independently at least 10 times in the ants, bees, and wasps. Pheromones produced by queens are thought to play a key role in regulating this complex social system, but their evolutionary history remains unknown. Here, we identify the first sterility-inducing queen pheromones in a wasp, bumblebee, and desert ant and synthesize existing data on compounds that characterize female fecundity in 64 species of social insects. Our results show that queen pheromones are strikingly conserved across at least three independent origins of eusociality, with wasps, ants, and some bees all appearing to use nonvolatile, saturated hydrocarbons to advertise fecundity and/or suppress worker reproduction. These results suggest that queen pheromones evolved from conserved signals of solitary ancestors

Schistosoma mansoni Tegument Protein Sm29 Is Able to Induce a Th1-Type of Immune Response and Protection against Parasite Infection

Schistosomiasis is the most important human helminth infection in terms of morbidity and mortality. Although the efforts to develop a vaccine against this disease have experienced failures, a new generation of surface antigens revealed by proteomic studies changed this scenario. Our group has characterized the protein Sm29 described previously as one of the most exposed and expressed antigens in the outer tegument of Schistosoma mansoni. Studies in patients living in endemic areas for schistosomiasis revealed high levels of IgG1 and IgG3 anti-Sm29 in resistant individuals. In this study, confocal microscope analysis showed Sm29 present in the surface of lung-stage schistosoluma and adult worms. Recombinant Sm29, when used as vaccine candidate, induced high levels of protection in mice. This protection was associated with a typical Th1 immune response and reduction of worm burden, liver granulomas and in intestinal eggs. Further, microarray analysis of worms recovered from vaccinated mice showed significant down-regulation of several genes encoding previously characterized vaccine candidates and/or molecules exposed on the surface, suggesting an immune evasion strategy of schistosomes under immune attack. These results demonstrated that Sm29 as one of the important antigens with potential to compose a vaccine against schistosomiasis