The photocatalytic degradation of phenol was studied using slurry and immobilized TiO2 as catalysts in order to compare the specific reaction rate constants, k s and k p. Losses from phenol evaporation, the time necessary to reach adsorption equilibrium, irradiation effects and photolysis rates were quantified. k s was determined under rate-optimizing operating conditions, and k p was determined using the amount of immobilized catalyst mass that gave the maximum pollutant degradation rates. k s was two times larger than k p when the calculations were made on catalyst mass basis. Experiments performed to study catalyst deactivation showed that k p was approximately one-half of its initial value after 18 hours of phenol photodegradation. Also, among the photocatalytic degradation reactions of rhodamine B, tetracycline and phenol, the ratio of k s to k p was between 2.1 and 5.3 when the calculations were made on catalyst mass basis.

The aim of this work was to characterize rhizobia isolated from the root nodules of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plants cultivated in Amazon soils samples by means of ARDRA (Amplified rDNA Restriction Analysis) and sequencing analysis, to know their phylogenetic relationships. The 16S rRNA gene of rhizobia was amplified by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) using universal primers Y1 and Y3. The amplification products were analyzed by the restriction enzymes HinfI, MspI and DdeI and also sequenced with Y1, Y3 and six intermediate primers. The clustering analysis based on ARDRA profiles separated the Amazon isolates in three subgroups, which formed a group apart from the reference isolates of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii. The clustering analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the fast-growing isolates had similarity with Enterobacter, Rhizobium, Klebsiella and Bradyrhizobium and all the slow-growing clustered close to Bradyrhizobium.

This work was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of supplemental carbohydrases individually (α-amylase) or associated with the enzyme complex (α-galactosidase, galactomananase, xylanase and β-glucanase) on performance, carcass yield and economic viability in diets for broiler. Were used 576 females chicks, Cobb lineage, distributed in a completely randomized design consisting of 4 treatments and 6 replicates of 24 birds each plot. The diets were formulated based on corn and soybean meal, and the treatments consisted of PC= positive control diet NC= negative control diet with 35 kcal reduction in the initial stage and 70 Kcal/kg of feed for the growth and final stages RA= diet reformulated with exogenous amylase (isonutriente to PC) and RE= diet reformulated with exogenous α-amylase and enzyme complex (isonutriente to PC). The nutritional matrix exogenous amylase for RA in the diet was 116.67 Kcal/kg in the initial stage and 233.34 Kcal/kg in the growth and final stages. The nutritional matrix exogenous amylase for RE was 116.67 Kcal/kg at the initial and 200.00 Kcal/kg in the growth and final stages. There was appreciation of the ingredients corn and soybean meal at 1.5 and 6% in AME, and 2% respectively in limiting amino acids for both ingredients. The average performance were evaluated from 1 to 21, 1 to 35 and 1 to 42 days. Feed intake in all periods, did not differ significantly between treatments (p>0.05). Likewise, weight gain in the total period, 1-42 days, caused no difference between treatments. The worst feed conversion and production factors (p<0.05) were observed in animals treated with diets with the enzyme complex. There was no significant difference in carcass yield and no cutting evaluated (p>0.05). The evaluation of carcass yield and cuts, and the economic viability were evaluated at 42 days. The use of enzyme complex associated with exogenous enzyme α-amylase worsens performance and generates the same economic response in the production of broilers, without changing the carcass and its cuts yield.

Objetivou-se com este experimento avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de carboidrases de forma individual (α-amilase) ou associada ao complexo enzimático (α-galactosidase, galactomananase, xilanase e β-glucanase), sobre o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e viabilidade econômica em rações para frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 576 pintos de corte, fêmeas, da linhagem Cobb, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado constituído por 4 tratamentos e 6 repetições de 24 aves cada. As rações foram formuladas à base de milho e farelo de soja, sendo os tratamentos constituídos por CP= ração-controle-positivo; CN= ração-controle-negativo, com redução em 35 Kcal na fase inicial e 70 Kcal/kg de ração para as fases de crescimento e final; RA= ração reformulada com amilase exógena (isonutriente a CP) e RE= ração reformulada com α-amilase exógena e complexo enzimático (isonutriente a CP). A matriz nutricional da amilase exógena na ração RA foi de 116,67 Kcal/kg na fase inicial e 233,34 Kcal/kg nas fases de crescimento e final. Para a ração RE a matriz nutricional da amilase exógena foi de 116,67 Kcal/ kg na fase inicial e 200,00 Kcal/kg nas fases de crescimento e final. Houve valoração dos ingredientes milho e farelo de soja em 1,5 e 6% na EMAn, respectivamente e 2% nos aminoácidos limitantes para ambos ingredientes. As médias de desempenho foram avaliadas nos períodos de 1 a 21, 1 a 35 e 1 a 42 dias. A avaliação de rendimento de carcaça e cortes, bem como a viabilidade econômica foi avaliada aos 42 dias. O consumo de ração, em todos os períodos, não diferiu significativamente entre os tratamentos avaliados (p>0,05). Da mesma forma, o ganho de peso no período total, de 1 a 42 dias, não ocasionou diferença entre os tratamentos. A pior conversão alimentar e fatores de produção (p<0,05) foram obtidos pelos animais submetidos à ração com complexo enzimático. Não houve diferença significativa no rendimento de carcaça e de nenhum corte avaliado (p>0,05). A utilização de complexo enzimático associado à enzima exógena α-amilase piora o desempenho e gera mesma resposta econômica na produção de frangos de corte, sem alterar o rendimento de carcaça e de seus cortes.

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) hepatic enzymes, hematological values, and total plasmatic proteins (TPP) of 12 Wistar rats with systemic experimental sporotrichosis were evaluated. Inoculation was performed at 2x10³ cells of S. schenckii/ml. The values ranged from 35 to 48UI/l for ALT and 67 to 251.3UI/l for AP. Fifty percent of the AP values were above the physiological limits. TPP was elevated in 66.7% (8/12) of the rats with values varying from 7.9 to 8.5g%. In 75% (9/12) of the animals, it was observed that hemoglobin and red blood cells count were below the physiologic limits, and 8.3% (1/12) of the animals showed anemia masked by dehydration. At the necropsy, it was observed local and/or disseminated nodular lesions. At the histological analysis, cells compatible to S. schenckii were found. The observed alterations are aggravating factors for the recurrence and treatment of the mycosis.

Um sistema polivalente de análises químicas por injeção em fluxo foi proposto para a determinação de cálcio, magnésio e fósforo em digeridos ácidos de plantas. O-cresolphtaleina complexona (CPC) foi selecionado como reagente colorimétrico para a determinação de cálcio e magnésio e molibdato de amônio/vanadato de amônio para a determinação de fósforo. O sistema empregou tampão amônio-amônia (pH 10,5) e EGTA ou 8-hidroxiquinolina como agentes mascarantes para cálcio ou magnésio, respectivamente. Equações de calibração lineares foram obtidas, sendo que para facilitar a utilização do sistema proposto, foi utilizada curva analítica mista (até 40,0 mg Ca L-1, 10,0 mg Mg L-1 e 16,0 mg P L-1), não sendo observadas interferências entre os elementos. Os limites de detecção foram: 0,10; 0,05 e 0,004 <FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>g L-1 respectivamente para Ca, Mg e P. Pequenas modificações no coeficiente das equações de calibração (normalmente < 3%) foram observadas após períodos de 4 h de trabalho. Os resultados apresentaram-se precisos (d.p.r. < 0,02), e em concordância com método alternativo (espectrometria de absorção atômica). Quando o sistema foi aplicado a análises em rotina, boa repetibilidade foi observada, sendo obtidas velocidade de amostragem de 107 amostras h-1 para magnésio e 75 amostras h-1 para cálcio e fósforo, enfatizando a simplicidade, robustez e versatilidade, inerentes aos sistemas de análises por injeção em fluxo.

A polyvalent flow injection system was proposed for spectrophotometric determination of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in acid plant digests. O-cresolphtalein complexone (CPC) was the chromogenic reagent for calcium and magnesium determination, and ammonium molybdate/vanadate for phosphorus determination. Ammonium-ammonia was elected as buffer system, and EGTA or 8-hydroxyquinoline as the masking agents for calcium or magnesium. Linearity of the calibration equations was observed up to 40.0 mg Ca L-1, 10.0 mg Mg L-1 and 16.0 mg P L-1. Slight variations in the coefficients of the calibration equations (usually < 3 %) were found after 4-h working periods. Precise results (r.s.d. < 0.02), in agreement with alternative method (flame atomic absorption spectrometry) were obtained. When the system was applied to large scale analysis, good repeatability was observed, and a sample throughput, of about 107 h-1 for magnesium and 75 h-1 for calcium and phosphorus was achieved, emphasizing the simplicity, robustness and versatility inherent to flow analysis.