Verification and Validation of High-Resolution Inviscid and Viscous Conical Nozzle Flows

Capturing elaborated flow structures and phenomena is required for well-solved numerical flows.The finite difference methods allow simple discretization of mesh and model equations.However,they need simpler meshes,e.g.,rectangular.The inverse Lax-Wendroff(ILW)procedure can handle complex geometries for rectangular meshes.High-resolution and high-order methods can capture elaborated flow structures and phenomena.They also have strong mathematical and physical backgrounds,such as positivity-preserving,jump conditions,and wave propagation concepts.We perceive an effort toward direct numerical simulation,for instance,regarding weighted essentially non-oscillatory(WENO)schemes.Thus,we propose to solve a challenging engineering application without turbulence models.We aim to verify and validate recent high-resolution and high-order methods.To check the solver accuracy,we solved vortex and Couette flows.Then,we solved inviscid and viscous nozzle flows for a conical profile.We employed the finite difference method,positivity-preserving Lax-Friedrichs splitting,high-resolution viscous terms discretization,fifth-order multi-resolution WENO,ILW,and third-order strong stability preserving Runge-Kutta.We showed the solver is high-order and captured elaborated flow structures and phenomena.One can see oblique shocks in both nozzle flows.In the viscous flow,we also captured a free-shock separation,recirculation,entrainment region,Mach disk,and the diamond-shaped pattern of nozzle flows.

Virtual Water Flows of Brazil’s International Trade

The study aims to measure virtual water flows in Brazil’s international trade. The methodology is based on the input-output matrix, and the database used was the Eora Global Supply Chain Database. The results showed that Brazil exported 230.8 billion m3 of virtual water per year, representing approximately 34.7% of the water footprint of the national production system in 2015. Virtual water imports totaled 111.6 billion m3 with a positive balance (net exports) of 119.2 billion m3. The country is a net exporter of this resource except for trade relations with South America and Africa, regions with negative balances of −36 billion m3 and 3 billion m3, respectively. The main destinations for virtual water exports from Brazil are Europe, with 41% of the total exported, followed by Asia and North America, with values close to 20%. The fact that Brazil is a net exporter of water makes sustainable use of the resource important, as the diversity of climate, soil, and water availability at a regional level is a challenge, which makes it essential to increase the efficiency of the use and management of water resources.

Pathology-induced NG2 proteoglycan expression in microglia

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells(OPCs)and microglia are two very fascinating cell types with a multitude of important but different functions.At a first glance,they appear not to share many cellular properties,nor are directly related to one another or derived from a common ancestor.Despite all differences,emerging data show that both cell types express the protein nerve/glial antigen 2(NG2)after pathological insults(Figure 1).For years,it remained controversial whether microglia really could express NG2 upon injury,with contradictory results reported among different disease models.Addressing this question,we could recently show by using triple transgenic knock-in mice and either an acute injury model(stab wound injury)or the middle cerebral artery occlusion combined with immunohistochemistry that a subset of microglia activates the cspg4 gene in a disease dependent manner leading to a bonafide microglia-specific NG2 protein expression besides OPCs and pericytes.Our data show that the cspg4 gene not only gets transcribed in microglia based on reporter expression after recombination,but also the protein itself is expressed(Huang et al.,2020).

Oral pharmacological treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in premature neonates with hemodynamic repercussions

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oral indomethacin, ibuprofen, and paracetamol in oral dosage form on patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) in premature neonates with significant clinical and hemodynamic repercussions(CHRs) and to determine the effect of these respective treatments on renal function.Methods: A retrospective study of cases of PDA in premature neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was conducted. The treatments consisted of indomethacin[0.2 mg/(kg$d), 3-day cycle], ibuprofen [10 mg/(kg$d) followed by 5 mg/(kg$d), 3-day cycle], and paracetamol(15 mg/kg every 6 h, 5-day cycle). The drugs were administered as an oral solution. The following variables were considered: gestational age,newborn weight at birth, Apgar score, diuresis, serum creatinine and urea levels, and serum electrolyte levels(sodium and potassium).Results: Treatment with indomethacin presented efficacy of 87.5% in closure of the ductus with a mean outcome period of 3.5 d. In premature neonates with CHRs and contraindications for indomethacin, the initial treatment with either ibuprofen or paracetamol failed to close the ductus. However, when this treatment was followed by indomethacin, closure occurred in 66.7% of the neonates, with an outcome period of9.66 d. The initial treatment with one cycle of ibuprofen followed by one or two cycles of paracetamol failed to close the ductus.Conclusions: Oral indomethacin was effective for closure of the PDA in premature neonates with severe CHRs. Oral paracetamol or ibuprofen for PDA closure in premature neonates with severe CHRs and contraindications for indomethacin was ineffective.However, results in clinical improvements of neonates allowed the subsequent use of indomethacin and successful closure of the ductus. A significant reduction of diuresis occurred in neonates who were treated with indomethacin, either as a first-line treatment or after the failure of ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Dietary supplementation with free methionine or methionine dipeptide mitigates intestinal oxidative stress induced by Eimeria spp. challenge in broiler chickens

Background: This study evaluated the effects of Eimeria spp. challenge and dietary supplementation with free methionine or methionine dipeptide on animal performance;expression of genes associated with the immune system, antioxidant system, and amino acid transport in the jejunum;and redox status of the jejunum of broiler chickens.Methods: A randomized, 2 × 3 factorial design was used, in which Eimeria spp. challenge was the first factor(Eimeria-challenged, EC, or unchallenged, UC, broilers) and methionine supplementation was the second factor(non-supplemented, NS;free DL-methionine, DL-Met;and methionine dipeptide, DL-methionyl-DL-methionine, DLMMet). At 14 days of age, chickens were inoculated orally with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria praecox, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria mitis. Birds were killed by cervical dislocation 144 h post-inoculation(PI), and the jejunum was collected for biochemical and molecular analyses.Results: EC broilers had a 13% lower feed intake(FI), 37% lower body weight gain(BWG), and 39% higher feed conversion ratio(FCR) than UC broilers. Chickens fed the DL-Met diet had higher BWG(about 12% higher) and better FCR(about 12% lower) than chickens fed the NS diet. EC chickens had lower relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius(51.8%) and higher relative weights of the spleen and whole intestine(53.6% and 26.3%, respectively) than UC chickens. Eimeria spp. challenge led to an increase in the levels of oxidative substances, such as nitrite and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), in the jejunum of chickens 144 h PI. Among UC chickens, those fed the DL-Met diet had higher total antioxidant capacity(TAC) and lower catalase(CAT) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities. EC chickens that received the NS diet had higher carbonylated protein content(CP). This result was associated with their lower TAC and catalase activity. The lower TAC in EC chickens might have been due to reduced expression of catalase(CAT) and superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1) genes. Chickens fed the DL-Met and DLMMet diets had lower nitrite content. Eimeria spp. challenge suppressed neutral amino acid transporter 1(B0 AT1),peptide transporter 1(PEPT1), toll-like receptor 5(TLR5), interleukin 2(IL2), and occludin(OCLN) gene expression and enhanced cationic amino acid transporter 1(CAT-1) and interferon gamma(IFNG) gene expression. The highest PEPT1 expression level was observed in broilers fed the DL-MMet diet, and the lowest TLR5 expression level was found in broilers fed the NS diet.Conclusion: Our results show for the first time that supplementation with methionine as free amino acid or dipeptide helps protect the intestinal cells of broilers under Eimeria spp. challenge from the oxidative damage induced by free radicals, mainly through modulation of the antioxidant system.

Myenteric neurons and intestinal mucosa of diabetic rats after ascorbic acid supplementation

AIM: To investigate the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) dietary supplementation on myenteric neurons and epithelial cell proliferation of the jejunum of adult rats with chronic diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Thirty rats at 90 d of age were divided into three groups: Non-diabetic, diabetic and diabetic treated with AA (DA) (1 g/L). After 120 d of treatment with AA the animals were killed. The myenteric neurons were stained for myosin-V and analyzed quantitatively in an area of 11.2 mm2/animal. We further measured the cellular area of 500 neurons per group. We also determined the metaphasic index (MI) of the jejunum mucosa layer of about 2500 cells in the intestinal crypts, as well as the dimensions of 30 villi and 30 crypts/animal. The data area was analyzed using the Olympus BX40 microscope. RESULTS: There was an increase of 14% in the neuronal density (792.6 ± 46.52 vs 680.6 ± 30.27) and 4.4% in the cellular area (303.4 ± 5.19 vs 291.1 ± 6.0) respectively of the diabetic group treated with AA when compared to control diabetic animals. There were no signifi cant differences in MI parameters, villi height or crypt depths among the groups.CONCLUSION: Supplementation with AA in the diabetic animal promoted moderate neuroprotection. There was no observation of alteration of the cellular proliferation of the jejunum mucosa layer of rats with chronic diabetes mellitus with or without supplementation with AA.

Canova medication changes TNF-α and IL-10 serum levels in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain

Objective:To identify whether Canova medication changes TNF-α and IL-10 serum levels in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain.Methods:Animals were divided into five groups:non-treated infected animals(I); benznidazole-treated infected animals(Bz; 100 mg/kg body weight,single daily dose by gavage); Canova medication(CM) treated infected animals(CM;0.2 mL/animal,single daily dose by gavage); benznidazole- and Canova medication–treated infected animals with the above-mentioned dose(Bz+CM);and non-infected animals(C).TNF-α and IL-10 levels were determined in serum aliquots after 4,7,10,13,and 29 days of infection.An ELISA technique was employed with R&D System Inc.antibody pairs.Results:A high increase in TNF-α and IL-10 levels occurred in the infected and CM-treated groups within the treatment employed on the 10 th day after infection,coupled with a IL-10 decrease on the 13 th day after infection when compared with the other experimental groups.Conclusions:CM may change the balance between plasma cytokine levels(TNF-α and IL-10) in mice infected with Y strain T.cruzi,with important consequences leading towards a more severe infection.

Identification of ISSR markers linked to flowering traits in a representative sample of Eucalyptus cladocalyx

Early flowering and flower abundance have long been considered desirable traits in eucalypt breeding programs. In particular, flowers of Eucalyptus cladocalyx provide a nectar source for the production of honey in arid ecosystems. To identify inter-simple sequence repeat （ISSR） markers that are associated with early flowering and flower abundance in the southern Atacama Desert, we used a sample of 47 trees, representing five Australian prove- nances of E. cladocalyx. A unified mixed linear model （which considered the effect of genetic structure and the kinship relationship among trees） revealed that three loci were significantly associated with early flowering, which accounted for 10-16 % of the phenotypic variation, while two loci accounted for 11-13 % in flowering intensity. Locus ISO1-500 bp was associated with both flowering traits. This result is consistent with our previous findings indicating that marker-assisted selection on early flowering should have significant and positive impact on flowering intensity. The application of marker-assisted selection to identify trees that flower early and intensively may increase honey production, a resource that generates additional income for the local farmers of the southern Atacama Desert.

Preventable infant mortality: Spatial distribution and main causes in three Brazilian municipalities

Objective: The objective was to identify spatial distribution patterns for preventable infant mortality and the main causes of death in three municipalities of Paraná state, Brazil. Design and Sample: Ecological study on infant mortality among residents of the municipalities of Maringá, Sarandi and Pai?andu, between 2004 and 2008. Measures: Data were obtained from reports by the Infant Mortality Prevention Committee, georeferenced in 19 Demographic Expansion Areas and analyzed statistically using Local Moran’s Index. Results: Of the 284 deaths among children under one year of age, 68.7% were considered preventable, and higher percentages were found in outlying areas. The main causes were illnesses originated during the perinatal period (73.8%), external causes (11.3%) and diseases of the respiratory system (5.1%). Conclusion: It is necessary to implement actions and policies on child and prenatal assistance, in order to reduce the inequality observed between the central and outlying areas of the region under study.

Hygroscopic Behavior of Lyophilized Powder of Grugru Palm (<i>Acrocomia aculeata</i>)

The objective of this study was to determine adsorption isotherms and hygroscopic behavior of lyophilized powder from grugru palm. The powders of grugru palm were obtained by lyophilization process without maltodextrin (T1) and with 8% matodextrin (T2). The experimental data were obtained through the static gravimetric method at temperatures (25℃, 30℃, 35℃ and 40℃), with different saturated solutions of salts. The models of GAB, BET, Henderson and Oswin were fitted to experimental data. The values obtained for hygroscopicity were 7.68% and 6.86% and the degrees of caking were 0.33% and 0.09% for T1 and T2, respectively. Mathematical models of adsorption isotherms for grugru palm powders can be classified as Type III. The GAB and Oswin models represented better the behavior of isotherms for T1 and T2. Grugru palm powder showed an increase in the humidity of the monolayer Xm along with increasing temperature. The grugru palm powder demonstrated to be a non-hygroscopic product, non-caking features.

Production of Enzymes and Biotransformation of Orange Waste by Oyster Mushroom, <i>Pleurotus pulmonarius</i>(Fr.) Quél.

The wood-decay fungi are able to bioconvert a wide variety of lignocellulosic residues due to the secretion of extracellular enzymes. The use of agricultural wastes as substrate for mushroom cultivation or enzymes production can help to solve environmental problems caused by inadequate discharge in the nature. The production of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes by Pleurotus pulmonarius developed in solid state system using orange waste as substrate was evaluated in this work. Among the hydrolytic enzymes, pectinase was the main enzyme produced by the fungus, presenting the highest enzymatic activity of 9.4 U/mL after 35 days of cultivation. Considering the oxidative enzymes, laccase was the main enzyme produced with maximal activity of 12.2 U/mL obtained after 20 days of cultivation. Low enzyme levels of manganese peroxidase, β-glucosidase and β-xy-losidase were detected with activity peaks at the end of the cultivation. The enzymatic levels of amylase, carboxymethyl cellulase and xylanase were similar and less than 1.5 U/mL. No aryl-alcohol oxidase activity was detected. NDF, ADF and cellulose values increased during 45 days of cultivation. There was no lignin degradation during the study period and the fungus culture in orange solid waste caused protein enrichment in the substrate. Our results demonstrate that P. pulmonarius was an efficient producer of two important industrial enzymes, pectinase and laccase in a cheap solid state system using orange waste as substrate.

Effects of Grape Processing on Antioxidant Capacity and ESI-MS Fingerprints of Grape Products

The antioxidant capacity and changes in chemical composition of two grape varieties, the new hybrid BRS-Carmem and the Bord6 grape （Vitis labrusca） and of their products （juice, wine and vinegar） were evaluated by several techniques. The DPPH method was used to measure the antioxidant capacity, whereas, the total phenolic contents （TPC） were measured by Folin-Ciocalteau method. Overall chemical composition was also monitored by ESI-MS fingerprints and UPLC-MS analysis. For both grape varieties, the highest （and similar） antioxidant capacity and TPC were observed for the wine and vinegar samples followed by the grapes and then the juices. In addition, ESI-MS fingerprints and UPLC-MS analysis in the negative ion mode indicated substantial changes in chemical composition from grape to juice and wine, and then to vinegar.

Ferns and Lycophytes in Two Areas of Ecotone between Seasonal Semideciduous Forest and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest in Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil

The aim of the present study was to present the wealth, ecological characteristics and the floristic similarity of ferns and lycophytes from two forest areas of the municipality of Campo Mour?o, PR, Brazil. The vegetation of the municipality is characterized mainly by an ecotone between the Seasonal Semideciduous Forest and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. We recorded 56 species, distributed in 31 genera and 16 families. The most representative families were Pteridaceae (14) and Polypodiaceae (11) and the wealthier genre was Thelypteris (6). The terricolous species were predominant (72%) and the preferential environments were riparian vegetation and forest interior (70%). The flora of Campo Mour?o was more similar to the studies conducted in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and the cophenetic correlation coefficient (r = 0.9058) showed a consistent adjust. In the principal components analysis (PCA) the variance explained by the two principal components was 72.99%. The wealth found in this study corresponds to approximately 11.4% of the flora of ferns and lycophytes of Paraná. Future contributions are needed to increase the knowledge about the flora of ferns and lycophytes in areas of ecotone, mainly in the region of Campo Mour?o, where the studies are scarce.

Unprecedented Low-Cost Hybrid Material for CO2 and CH4 Separation

The zeolite synthesis using waste as silicon source is a promising low-cost process. Sugarcane bagasse ash is a hazardous solid waste generated in large amounts in the sugar industry. Thus, development of new procedures for its productive reuse is relevant. Therefore, this waste was used to prepare a new ZCNT （zeolite/carbon nanotube material）. In this work, ZCNT was applied in a CO2/CH4 separation. The adsorption took place at 303 K under pressure of 0.1 until 20 bar and the data were fitted by Langmuir, Toth and Freundlich equations. The adsorbed amount at 20 bar found was 4.7 mmol of CO2/g and 4.1 mmol of CH4/g; at 3 bar the adsorbed amount was 4.1 mmol of COJg and 1.2 mmol of CHa/g. This result indicates that ZCNT has potential application in COJCH4 separation at low pressures.

Coconut Oil Reduces Visceral Adipocyte Size and Improves the Metabolic Profile of Rats Fed a High-Carbohydrate Diet

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of the food supplementation with coconut oil(CO)on biometric and metabolic parameters in an animal model of obesity.Wistar rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet(HCD rats)develop metabolic disorders very similar to those found in human metabolic syndrome,including increased adiposity,insulin resistance(IR),non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and dyslipidemia.Although HCD rats had normal fasting glycemia,they developed IR as revealed by Homa-IR index and,after glucose overload,exhibited higher peaks of insulinemia and glycemia.These alterations were accompanied by a higher formation of advanced glycated end products(AGEs).The supplementation with CO improved IR,reduced AGEs formation and reverted NAFLD.These effects could be due to CO action of reducing visceral adipocyte size and take place without undesirable collateral effects on lipid profile,placing CO as an adjuvant in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

Numerical Analysis of Physical and Geometrical Imperfections in Cellular Beams

Cellular beams are appropriate for large spans with relatively small loads or for conditions in which strain dictates dimensioning. Another important advantage of cellular beams is the possibility of passing utility ducts through the openings, which avoids cutting through the web of the beam or increasing the construction height, which occurs when the ducts pass under the beams. Geometrical imperfections result from a lack of straightness during fabrication of rolled profiles. Geometric imperfections are represented numerically by an initial curvature. Additionally, the physical imperfections of rolled profiles result from the appearance of residual stresses. The condition that creates residual stresses in steel is the result of thermal and mechanical industrial processes. In this study, numerical analyses are performed with cellular beams using Finite Element Method software. During the simulations, through non-linear geometric and physical analyses, geometric imperfections were varied, where lateral torsional buckling in cellular beams was considered as a function of the unrestrained length. In the boundary, conditions were restrained displacements in the axis X, Y, Z and rotation about X-axis, thus simulating the fork support. The beams are submitted to uniform bending and concentrated load. The results from the numerical analyses were compared with the calculation procedures, which verified that the results were significant.

Characterization of Grugru Palm Pulp for Food Applications

Studies are needed to know the grugru palm （Acrocomia aculeata） potential for food industry. This study aimed to characterize physicochemical quality and minerals in the mesocarp （pulp） of grugru palm, Grugru palm fruits from NE Brazil production area were collected and analyzed. The determinations included： respiratory rate, sugars, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, humidity, water activity （aw）, ashes, protein, lipids, total phenolics, total carotenoids, vitamin C, color and minerals. The fruit respiration rate was 74.45 mL CO2 kg-1 h1. High levels were found for sugars, soluble solids, pH, aw, lipids and carotenoids; however, the pulp showed low acidity, moisture and ashes. The values found for lipids, minerals and vitamin C are equivalent to those observed in the literature. The grugru palm fruit has a high rate of respiration, which turns necessary the use of conservation techniques and methods. The grugru palm fruit pulp shows physical quality parameters attractive to the consumer, physicochemical quality and nutritive composition which can be considered for food ingredients and alternative source of ingredient for supplementation of diet food for needy population.

Glutamine or Glutamine Dipeptide Supplementation Improves Gluconeogenesis and Liver Glycogenosis in Type 1 Diabetic Rats

The effects of the supplementation with L-glutamine(GLN)or L-alanyl-L-glutamine(GDP)on the progression of the systemic and hepatic metabolic status of rats having untreated type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)were investigated.Male Wistar diabetic rats(streptozotocin,60 mg/kg)were allotted to four groups supplemented by gavage for thirty days as follows:control and diabetic receiving saline;diabetic receiving GLN(248 mg/kg);and diabetic receiving GDP(400 mg/kg).Body weight,plasmatic parameters and kidney function were analyzed.Isolated hepatocytes were used to assess gluconeogenic capacity.Liver and kidney were used for morphological analyses.T1DM decreased the number and increased the area of the hepatocytes,possibly because of the observed enlargement of glycogen stores.Kidney weight,glomerular area and proteinuria increased,and glomerular filtration rate decreased,in non-supplemented T1DM rats.Glomerular area and proteinuria were reversed by both supplementations.The T1DM hepatocytes released less glucose,which could have been diverted to glycogen synthesis and secondary glycogenosis observed in T1DM;this was partially reversed by the supplementations.The results point to a possible beneficial effect of glutamine on the metabolic and hepatic impairments of T1DM.

Tibolone Reverses NAFLD in Ovariectomised Rats by Reducing Adiposity and Insulin Resistance

This study aimed to investigate the effects of tibolone,a synthetic steroid,on several metabolic dysfunctions induced by oestrogen deficiency,in rats.Ovariectomised(OVX)rats were used as animal model of postmenopausal metabolic syndrome.The OVX rats were treated with daily doses of tibolone(0.16 mg/kg)and the results were compared with control(sham-operated)and OVX untreated rats.Tibolone reduced the adiposity and the visceral adipocyte size in OVX rats.The insulin sensitivity was also improved,and a decrease in the activity of the adipose tissue hormone-sensitive lipase enzyme was recorded.The lower lipolysis by visceral adipocytes,associated with the recovery of peroxisomalβ-oxidation by tibolone may have contributed to the reversion of NAFLD in treated OVX rats.The reduction of liver lipid contents resulted in a general improvement in the liver redox state.In addition,tibolone reduced the mitochondrial ROS generation and restored the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.Tibolone also exerted antioxidant effects on inguinal adipose tissue.Tibolone exerted several beneficial effects on cellular and metabolic dysfunctions induced by ovariectomy in rats.One important mode of action of tibolone was the reduction of the visceral adipocyte size,corroborating the relationship between this one and the development and progression of several comorbidities associated with metabolic syndrome.

Rat Hepatocyte Glucose Metabolism Is Affected by Caloric Restriction but not by Litter Size Reduction

This work aimed at investigating whether the liver glucose metabolism could have a role in any change of glucose homeostasis that might exist in the reduced-litter rat at the age of 60 days. Additionally, post-weaning caloric restriction and its hepatic effects were explored, as this intervention is reported as a useful measure against obesity and its related disturbances. The animals were raised in litters of nine （control, CG） or three pups during lactation. These small-litter pups were FG （fed freely） or subjected to 30% RG （caloric restriction） after weaning until 60 days of age. The increased adiposity induced by lactational overfeeding was not reversed by caloric restriction. Hepatocyte glucose metabolism and glucose tolerance test were not affected by litter size, but caloric restriction increased liver basal glucose release, diminished gluconeogenesis and retarded the glycemic decay during the insulin tolerance test. Liver glucose metabolism of young adult rats was not affected by lactational overfeeding. Up to this age, however, moderate caloric restriction had a potent influence that might compromise whole-body glucose homeostasis and prompt to insulin resistance.