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- Author or Editor: L. Santos x
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Abstract
This study is a comparison between bioassay data of thorium-exposed workers from two different facilities. The first of these facilities is a monazite sand extraction plant. Isotopic equilibrium between232Th and228Th was not observed in excreta samples of these workers. The second facility is a gas mantle factory. An isotopic equilibrium between232Th and228Th was observed in excreta samples. Whole body counter measurements have indicated a very low intake of thorium through inhalation. As the concentration of thorium in feces was very high we concluded that the main pathway of entrance of the nuclide was ingestion, mainly via contamination through dirty hands.The comparison between the bioassay results of workers from the two facilities shows that the lack of Th isotopic equilibrium observed in the excretion from the workers at the monazite sand plant possibly occurred due to an additional Th intake by ingestion of contaminated fresh food. This is presumably because228Ra is more efficiently taken up from the soil by plants, in comparison to228Th or232Th, and subsequently,228Th grows in from its immediate parent,228Ra.
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive bacteria, considered one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections. Bacterial cultures produce an exchange of energy as a result of the bacteria metabolisms. The rate of heat production is an adequate measure of the metabolic activity of the organisms and their constituent parts. Microorganisms produce small amounts of heat: 1–3 pW per cell. Although the heat produced by bacteria is very small, their exponential reproduction in a culture medium permits heat detection through microcalorimetry. In this study, we analyzed the microcalorimetric behavior of Enterococcus faecalis. A thermal Calvet microcalorimeter was used. The inside of the calorimeter contains two stainless steel cells (experimental and reference). Experiments were carried out at final concentrations of 106,105,103, and 10 CFU/mL and a constant temperature of 309.65 K was maintained within the microcalorimeter. Recording the difference in calorific potential over time we obtained E. faecalis’s growth curves. Thermograms were analyzed mathematically allowing us to calculate the constant growth, generation time and the amount of heat exchanged over the culture time.
Abstract
The effectiveness of a Compton suppression system (CSS) for instrumental neutron activation analysis of plant materials was evaluated. Suppression factors were measured with 137Cs sources. Five certified reference materials were analyzed and the detection limits calculated from both suppressed and unsuppressed spectra were compared. The CSS demonstrated to be useful for lowering the detection limits of ten out of sixteen elements tested, showing a maximum improvement factor of 3.9. The system performance was strongly influenced by the sample composition and also by the measurement conditions, indicating the importance of testing each individual sample type and analytical protocol.
Abstract
The kinetics of thermal decomposition of solid In(S2CNR2)3 complexes, (R=CH3, C2H5, n-C3H7,i-C3H7, n-C4H9 and i-C4H9), has been studied using isothermal and non-isothermal thermogravimetry. Superimposed TG/DTG/DSC curves show that thermal decomposition reactions occur in the liquid phase, except for the In(S2CNMe2)3 and In(S2CNPri 2)3 compounds.
Abstract
The compound obtained via state solid reaction of the La2O3 and SrO oxides and expose the room atmosphere shows the crystallographic data of the compound reported as La2SrOx. However, thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis and XRD with controlled temperature indicated that the stoichiometry of the compound is 2La(OH)3-SrCO3, which structural parameters were determined by using the Rietveld method. It was verified that when the compound exposed at room atmosphere, the mixture oxide absorbs H2O and CO2 producing hydroxide and carbonate of lanthanum and strontium, respectively, which thermal decomposition occurs by the same steps, producing the La2O3-SrO.
Abstract
Sr(Ti,Nd)O3 was synthesized in order to evaluate the influence of the amount of neodymium on the thermal and structural properties of SrTiO3. The synthesis was carried out using the polymeric precursor method. A small mass gain was observed for the SrTiO3 and SrTi0.98Nd0.02O3 samples accompanied by an exothermic peak in the DTA curves. Other steps at higher temperatures are assigned to the combustion of the organic material and carbonate. Elimination of defects by previous calcination of the precursors is responsible by the short and long range ordering of the perovskite. Cubic phase was obtained for undoped and doped SrTiO3.
Abstract
The biodiesel obtained by transesterification by reaction between ester and an alcohol in the presence of catalyst. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the thermal and kinetic behavior of the methanol biodiesel derived from cotton oil. The quality analysis was done by gas chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H NMR) in order to examine if the product meets with the requirements of the European Standard EN 1403. The thermogravimetric profile of the cotton biodiesel indicated that the decomposition steps are associated to the volatilization and/or decomposition of the methyl esters. Kinetic data was also obtained by thermal analysis.
Abstract
Neutron activation analysis has been used to determine Br, Ca, Cl, K, Mg and Na concentrations in whole blood of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) as well as in whole blood of normal individuals (control group). The dependence of the elements concentration in function of sex, age, time and type of treatment were investigated. The similarities and differences between healthy individuals and CKD are discussed.
Abstract
This study attempted to optimize pectin extraction from queen pineapple (Qp) peels using microwave-assisted method. A three-factor factorial experimental design was employed to test the interaction of moisture content of pineapple peel, pH of the citric acid solution and extraction time. The three-way interaction among the factors has a significant effect on pectin recovery. Two-way interaction between moisture content and pH level, as well as pH level and extraction time caused significant difference in the pectin recovery. Pectin recovery increases with lower moisture content while longer extraction time does not significantly increase pectin recovery. The optimum combination of the parameters is 12% moisture content, pH level 2 of the citric acid solution, and extraction duration of 2 min, which yielded 1.01 ± 0.01% pectin recovery. This is lower than the results from previous studies on pineapple with 3.88–13.06% pectin recovery using acid extraction method. Hence further optimization is recommended.
