Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:26:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:00:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Tendo em vista um mercado cada vez mais exigente na qualidade dos alimentos, faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de processos que atendam às expectativas do consumidor. Dentre os processos existentes, destacam-se a cadeia do frio e a irradiação. A cadeia do frio compreende todas as etapas de conservação do alimento, desde a produção, resfriamento, congelamento, armazenamento, e transporte até o consumidor final. A irradiação, como processo de conservação de alimentos, estende a vida de prateleira, inibe o brotamento e reduz a contaminação por patógenos, entre outros benefícios. É importante a identificação da degradação dos alimentos em função de falhas nos processos a que foram submetidos. O teste do cometa (DNA Comet Assay) é um método de varredura largamente estudado, considerado rápido e de baixo custo, pelo fato de identificar quebras no DNA, é possível considerar sua utilização como mais uma ferramenta no controle de falhas na cadeia do frio que podem degradar e prejudicar os alimentos. Algumas etiquetas e selos usados no controle dos processos do frio não consideram a situação anterior do alimento, indicando falhas a partir do momento em que forem colocadas em contato com o mesmo, já o teste do cometa verifica a degradação ocorrida no alimento até o momento de sua realização podendo ainda, acompanhar o aumento da degradação. / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:54:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:08:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O comércio de vegetais minimamente processados (VMP) tem crescido substancialmente nos últimos anos devido a sua conveniência, frescor e aparente salubridade. No entanto, o processamento mínimo não reduz as populações de microrganismos patogênicos para níveis seguros. A irradiação de alimentos é utilizada para estender a vida de prateleira e inativar patógenos presentes nos alimentos. Seu uso combinado com o processamento mínimo poderia aumentar a segurança e qualidade dos VMP. Dois diferentes métodos de detecção de alimentos irradiados, um biológico, o DEFT/APC, e outro bioquímico, o teste do cometa, foram aplicados a VMP com o objetivo de testar sua aplicabilidade na detecção do tratamento por radiação. O DEFT/APC é um método de varredura microbiológico baseado no uso da técnica de epifluorescência direta em filtro (DEFT) e da contagem padrão em placas (APC). O teste do cometa detecta o dano no DNA devido, por exemplo, a radiação ionizante. Amostras de acelga, agrião, alface, catalônia, couve, escarola, espinafre e repolho do comércio varejista foram irradiadas com 0,5kGy e 1,0kGy utilizando um irradiador de 60Co. O processamento por irradiação garantiu a redução de pelo menos dois ciclos logarítmicos nas populações de microrganismos aeróbios e psicrotróficos. Em geral, com o aumento das doses de radiação, as contagens DEFT se mantiveram similares independentemente do processamento por irradiação, enquanto as contagens APC diminuíram gradualmente. A diferença das duas contagens aumentou gradualmente com o incremento da dose em todas as amostras. Uma diferença entre o valor de DEFT e do APC maior a 2,0 log seria indicativa de que o VMP foi tratado por irradiação. O teste do cometa permitiu distinguir amostras não irradiadas das irradiadas, que mostraram diferentes tipos de cometas decorrentes da fragmentação do DNA. Tanto o método DEFT/APC quanto o teste do cometa foram satisfatoriamente utilizados como métodos de varredura para a detecção do tratamento por irradiação. / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

nÃo hà / A utilizaÃÃo de agrotÃxicos na agricultura elevou rapidamente seu consumo, especialmente de forma indiscriminada, sendo o Brasil um dos maiores mercados, representando 16% da venda mundial. No PiauÃ, a expansÃo agrÃcola na regiÃo dos cerrados contribuiu para o aumento do seu uso, expondo os agricultores a danos ao DNA. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos tÃxicos e genotÃxicos nos agricultores piauienses expostos aos agrotÃxicos, com o uso de biomarcadores hematolÃgicos, bioquÃmicos e genotÃxicos. A populaÃÃo estudada consistiu de 60 trabalhadores expostos aos agrotÃxicos dos municÃpios de Barras e Josà de Freitas e 55 indivÃduos controle, sem histÃria de exposiÃÃo a agroquÃmicos. Para caracterizaÃÃo da populaÃÃo foi aplicado questionÃrio sÃcio epidemiolÃgico, de acordo com a International Commission for Protection Against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens-ICPEMC. Foram coletados 10 mL de sangue perifÃrico para realizaÃÃo das anÃlises hematolÃgicas, bioquÃmicas e ensaio cometa, que foram processadas pelo LACEN-PI. A mÃdia de idade foi de 34 anos, de etnia negra, na maioria, com tempo de trabalho, em mÃdia de 13,55 anos, carga horÃria de 41,5 horas semanais e 50% dos trabalhadores utilizavam pelo menos um tipo de EPI. Quanto aos hÃbitos de vida, 66,7% dos trabalhadores expostos informou nÃo consumir vegetais, 41,7 % eram fumantes e 73,3% consumiam bebidas alcoÃlicas. Do total do grupo exposto, 33,3% usava medicamentos prescritos e 66,7% usava medicamentos nÃo prescritos. No estudo foi evidenciado maior uso na agricultura de herbicidas (81,1%) e inseticidas (16,3%). No grupo dos trabalhadores expostos, 55% apresentaram leucopenia e 6,7% apresentaram diminuiÃÃo na contagem de cÃlulas vermelhas. Foram evidenciadas alteraÃÃes na creatinina plasmÃtica (p < 0,05); nas transaminases e fosfatase alcalina (p< 0,01) quando comparado o grupo exposto com o nÃo exposto. Nos resultados do ensaio cometa, o grupo exposto apresentou, em relaÃÃo ao grupo nÃo exposto, uma mÃdia de (32,13 vs 10,12) de Ãndice de dano, e frequÃncia do dano (21,82 vs 9,38), respectivamente. Na classe 1, a genotoxicidade observada foi de 17% para os expostos e 9% para os nÃo expostos. NÃo houve significÃncia entre os danos no DNA em relaÃÃo Ãs variÃveis: tempo de trabalho, nÃo uso de EPI, hÃbito de fumar, consumo de Ãlcool e nÃo consumo de vegetais. Conclui-se que os trabalhadores expostos a agrotÃxicos apresentaram alteraÃÃes enzimÃticas, hematolÃgicas (leucopenia) e instabilidade genÃtica, avaliados por parÃmetros bioquÃmicos e genotÃxicos, demonstrando assim a importÃncia do biomonitoramento dos trabalhadores como uma estratÃgia de vigilÃncia em saÃde do trabalhador no Estado do PiauÃ. / The use of pesticides in agriculture rapidly increased their consumption, especially indiscriminate consumption, being Brazil currently the largest market for pesticide in the world, representing 16% of worldwide sales. In the state of PiauÃ, the agricultural expansion in the region of Cerrado contributed to their increased use, exposing farm workers to damages to the DNA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxic and genotoxic effects in farm workers exposed to pesticides in PiauÃ, with the use of hematologic, biochemical and genotoxic biomarkers. The population in analysis consisted of 60 farm workers from the municipalities of Barras and Josà de Freitas occupationally exposed to pesticides and 55 control individuals with no history of exposure to agrochemicals. To obtain the characteristics of the population, a social-epidemiological questionnaire was applied, recommended by International Commission for Protection Against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens-ICPEMC. 10 mL of peripheral blood were collected for haematological, biochemical and comet assay analyses, all of which were processed by LACEN-PI. The mean age was 34 years, of black ethnicity, mostly with an average of 13.55 years of work, workload of 41.5 weekly hours and 50% of workers used at least one type of PPE. In what concerns lifestyle, 66.7% of the exposed workers said they did not consume vegetables, 41.7% were smokers and 73.3% consumed alcohol. Of the total of the exposed group, 33.3% used prescribed medication and 66.7% used non-prescribed medication. In the study, it was evidenced a higher use of herbicides (81.1%) and insecticides (16.3%) in agriculture. In the group of exposed workers, 55% had leucopenia and 6.7% showed a decrease in the red blood cell count. It was found variation in plasmatic creatinine (p < 0.05); in liver enzymes and alkaline phosphatise (p < 0.01) when comparing the exposed and the non-exposed groups. In the results of the comet assay, the exposed group showed, in comparison with the non-exposed group, a mean of (32.13 vs. 10.12) of damage index and damage frequency of (21.82 vs. 9.38), respectively. In class 1, the genotoxicity observed was 17% for the exposed and 9% for the non-exposed. There was no significance between DNA damage and the following variables: workload, non-use of PPE, smoking, consumption of alcohol and non-consumption of vegetables. We concluded that workers exposed to pesticides presented toxic variations and genetic instability, which was evidenced by enzymatic variation and damages to the DNA, which thus demonstrates the importance of biomonitoring of workers as a strategy of occupational health surveillance in the state of PiauÃ.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Nos Ãltimos anos, o uso de pesticidas na agricultura tem aumentado e associaÃÃes entre a exposiÃÃo a produtos quÃmicos agrÃcolas e danos ao DNA e cÃncer tem sido relatados. O Brasil à um dos lÃderes mundiais na utilizaÃÃo de pesticidas, no entanto, estudos que avaliem o impacto da exposiÃÃo ocupacional a pesticidas sobre a incidÃncia e mortalidade por cÃncer ainda sÃo escassos na populaÃÃo brasileira. O teste do cometa alcalino e a anÃlise de aberraÃÃes cromossÃmicas (AC) foram utilizados para avaliar danos primÃrios ao DNA em linfÃcitos do sangue perifÃrico de trabalhadores expostos a uma mistura complexa de pesticidas em duas pequenas comunidades rurais nos municÃpios de Tianguà e Ubajara, localizados no oeste do Estado do Cearà (Nordeste do Brasil). Estes MunicÃpios estÃo entre as maiores Ãreas agrÃcolas do Estado. O teste do cometa mostrou que o Ãndice e freqÃÃncia de danos observados nos grupos expostos foram significativamente maiores em relaÃÃo aos grupos controle (P <0,05). Por outro lado, nÃo foram detectadas diferenÃas significativas em relaÃÃo a AC estruturais e numÃricas nas comunidades avaliadas. AlÃm disso, os nÃveis observados de quebras da fita de DNA e freqÃÃncias de AC, estratificadas por tempo de exposiÃÃo, nÃo foram estatisticamente diferentes nos agricultores de ambas comunidades rurais. Os resultados sugerem que os danos causados por pesticidas na Ãrea de estudo nÃo foram significativos o suficiente para induzir mutaÃÃes permanentes ou interferir na formaÃÃo do aparelho mitÃtico. Danos mÃnimos causados pelos pesticidas podem ter sido submetidos a reparo celular, explicando a ausÃncia de AC estruturais e numÃricas. As anÃlises da Ãgua do reservatÃrio que serve de fonte para irrigaÃÃo das plantaÃÃes e abastece os municÃpios da regiÃo nÃo detectou contaminaÃÃo por resÃduos de pesticidas. / In recent years, the use of pesticides in agriculture has been steadily increasing, and associations between exposure to agricultural chemicals and DNA damage and cancer have been reported. Brazil is one of the world leaders in pesticide use; however, studies that evaluate the impact of pesticide exposure on cancer incidence and mortality are very scarce in the Brazilian population. The alkaline comet assay and the chromosome aberration (CA) test were used to evaluate primary DNA damage in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to a complex mixture of pesticides in two small rural communities in the municipalities of Tianguà and Ubajara, located in the western part of Cearà State (Northeast Brazil), which are among the largest agricultural areas of the state. The comet assay showed that the damage index and damage frequency observed in the exposed groups were significantly higher in relation to the controls (P < 0.05). On the other hand, no differences were detected regarding structural and numerical CAs in the communities evaluated. Additionally, the observed levels of DNA strand breaks and frequencies of CAs, stratified for exposure time, were not statistically different for individuals of either rural community. Our results suggest that the damages caused by pesticides in our study area were not great enough to induce permanent mutations or to interfere with mitotic apparatus formation; minimal pesticide damages could have undergone cellular repair, explaining the absence of structural and numerical CAs. Analyses of water from the reservoir that serves as a source for irrigation of crops and supplies the cities of the region did not detect contamination by pesticides.

This thesis introduces modern web technology WebSocket that was designed to improve real-time communication. Websocket usage is described from both, server and client sides. This thesis should point out benefits of using WebSocket through the collaborative editor implementation. Application ICE, that is practical part of this thesis, shows real-world WebSocket implementation. Also, this thesis lists some of the most widely used techniques for real-time communication. AJAX is currently the most common of these techniques. This thesis should compare WebSocket to AJAX as the competitive technology. Apart from theoretical comparison, this thesis should also provide a real-world testing and comparison.

O objetivo do presente trabalho é estudar a correlação entre as taxas de produção gasosa e as magnitudes heliocêntricas do cometa C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), tanto na fase pré-periélica como na fase pós-periélica. As evoluções da magnitude e das taxas de produção gasosa de H2O (água), OH (radical hidroxila) e CO (monóxido de carbono), ao longo da aproximação e do afastamento do cometa em relação ao Sol, são analisadas. Para essa análise, foram utilizadas 11.734 estimativas de magnitudes visuais, extraídas do ICQ (International Comet Quarterly) e 88 observações do monóxido de carbono (Biver, comunicação particular (2007); Disanti et al. 2001; Jewitt et al. 1996), cobrindo o intervalo de distâncias heliocêntricas de rh = 7,464 UA (na fase pré-periélica) até rh = 14,070 UA (na fase pós-periélica). É mostrado que a atividade do Hale-Bopp (temperatura média superficial ~ 110 K), além de 6,3 UA do Sol é controlada pela emissão do CO (temperatura de sublimação ~ 24 K), antes que pela emissão da H2O (temperatura de sublimação ~ 152 K). Esse resultado é consistente com as observações em ondas milimétricas de Biver et al. 1996 e Jewitt et al. 1996, realizadas em 6,5 UA. / The purpose of the present work is to study the correlation between the gas production rates and heliocentric magnitudes of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), in the pre-perihelion phase as well as in the post-perihelion phase. The evolutions of magnitudes and gas production rates of H2O (water), OH (hydroxil radical) and CO (carbon monoxide), along the approach to and leave of the comet from the Sun, are analyzed. For this analysis, we used 11,734 visual magnitude estimates, extracted from ICQ (International Comet Quarterly) and 88 observations of carbon monoxide (Biver, private communication (2007); DiSanti et al. (2001); Jewitt et al. (1996)), covering the range of heliocentric distances from rh = 7.464 AU (in the pre-perihelion phase) to rh = 14.070 AU (in the post-perihelion phase). It is shown that the activity of Hale-Bopp (average surface temperature ~ 110 K) beyond 6.3 AU from the Sun is controlled by CO emission (sublimation temperature ~ 24 K) rather than by H2O (sublimation temperature ~ 152 K). This result is consistent with millimeter-wave observations of Biver et al. (1996) and Jewitt et al. (1996), made at 6.5 AU.

Die E-Zigarette gewinnt in den letzten Jahren immer mehr an Popularität. Die Frage der Toxizität ist jedoch noch nicht abschließend geklärt, und es besteht weltweite Unsicherheit bei der Verwendung der E-Zigarette. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht menschliche Nasenschleimhautzellen nach Dampfexposition mit Propylenglykol, einem Hauptbestandteil der Liquide, auf mögliche akute Entzündungsreaktionen, zytotoxische und genotoxische Wirkungen. Die Nasenschleimhautzellen von 10 Probanden wurden im Air-Liquid-Interface kultiviert und anschließend verschiedenen Konzentrationen von Propylenglykol ausgesetzt. Die Analyse erfolgte unter Verwendung eines Trypanblau-Tests, eines Comet-Assays, eines Mikrokern-Tests und eines IL-6- und IL-8-Sandwich-ELISAs. Der Trypanblau-Test zeigte keine Reduktion der Vitalität. Im Sandwich-ELISA konnte kein Anstieg der IL-6- und IL-8-Konzentrationen festgestellt werden. Im Comet-Assay zeigte das Olive Tail Moment in allen untersuchten Konzentrationen eine Schädigung im Vergleich zur Negativkontrolle. Es zeigte sich auch eine dosisabhängige Schädigung. Ein Unterschied zwischen der Reinsubstanz und der Negativkontrolle konnte im Mikrokern-Test festgestellt werden. Es wurden reparierbare Schäden im Comet-Assay gefunden. Im Mikrokern-Test konnten diese nur in der Reinsubstanzkonzentration bestätigt werden. Die E-Zigarette sollte restriktiv verwendet werden, bis Langzeitstudien vorliegen. Darüber hinaus sollten die Hersteller die Inhaltsstoffe der Flüssigkeiten eindeutig angeben. / The e-cigarette has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, the question of toxicity has not yet been clarified and there is global uncertainty in the use of the e-cigarette. The present work investigates propylene glycol, a major component of the liquids, for possible acute inflammatory reactions, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on human nasal mucosal cells. The nasal mucosal cells from 10 volunteers were cultivated in the air-liquid-interface and then exposed to different concentrations of propylene glycol. The analysis was carried out using a trypan blue test, comet assay, micronucleus test and IL-6 and IL-8 sandwich-ELISA. The trypan blue test showed no reduction in vitality. No increase in IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations could be detected in the sandwich ELISA. In the comet assay, the Olive Tail Moment showed damage compared to the negative control in all examined concentrations. There was also a dose-dependent damage. A difference between the pure substance and the negative control could be found in the micronucleus test. Repairable damage in the comet assay have been found. In the micronucleus test these could only be confirmed in the pure substance concentration. The e-cigarette should be used restrictively until long-term studies are available. In addition, the manufacturers should clearly declare the ingredients of the liquids.

Comets, remnants of the solar system's formation, exhibits partially unexplained outbursts that are closely tied to the physical structure of the nucleus. To investigate outbursts, we employed pore network modeling techniques, such as the Bower-Watson algorithm and Voronoi diagrams, to better represent the nucleus' complex porous structure and simulate gas transfer processes. We examined heat diffusion in the comet's subsurface and its influence on crystallization. The extra heat generated by crystallization can shift the crystalline front deeper into the nucleus, accelerating subsurface evaporation rates. This process results in the formation of a thicker ice mantle with reduced porosity on the surface, trapping evaporated gas in the underlying layers. As gas pressure accumulates over time, the mantle eventually succumbs to the buildup. By applying percolation theory, we identified the critical point at which trapped gas breaks through the surface, ultimately leading to a better understanding of comet outburst formation.

NO / Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are produced in the skin under the influence of UV radiation. These compounds are highly reactive and can induce DNA lesions in epidermal cells. Melanin is considered to protect human skin against DNA damage by absorbing UV radiation. We have investigated whether melanin can, in addition, offer protection against the effects of H2O2 in human melanocytes and HaCaT keratinocytes. In the present study, it was shown that 40 and 100 μM H2O2 increased the number of DNA strand breaks as measured using the comet assay, in melanocytes of Caucasian origin. In melanocytes of the same origin in which melanin levels were increased by culturing in presence of 10 mM NH4Cl and elevated l-tyrosine, H2O2-induced DNA damage was reduced compared to that in control melanocytes. Similarly, HaCaT cells that were loaded with melanin were better protected against H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks than control HaCaT cells. These protective effects of melanin were mimicked by the intracellular Ca2+-chelator BAPTA. Thus, BAPTA reduced the level of H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks in melanocytes. Like BAPTA, melanin is known to be a potent chelator of Ca2+ and this was confirmed in the present study. It was shown that melanin levels in melanocytic cells correlated directly with intracellular Ca2+ binding capacity and, in addition, correlated inversely with H2O2-induced increases in intracellular Ca2+. Our results show that melanin may have an important role in regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and it is suggested that melanin protects against H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks in both melanocytes and keratinocytes and through its ability to bind Ca2+.

No / Numerous factors may influence the incidence of diabetes in the population. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is elevated in diabetes patients. Based on the reported involvement of reactive species and nitrate/nitrite in diabetes, this present study has examined in the alkaline Comet assay, the effect of different levels of NaNO2 in the presence of the oxygen radical generating agent, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Peripheral lymphocytes from diabetic and non-diabetic Caucasians and Asians of both sexes were studied in vitro. Endogenous factors (e.g., sex, age, body mass index-BMI) and exogenous factors (lifestyle factors e.g., smoking and drinking habits, diet) were taken into account. A preliminary study in two individuals showed that DNA damage remained constant over a wide dose range of NaNO2 (1-75 mM), but when H2O2 was added at a constant concentration of 50 ¿M per dose of NaNO2, there was an increase in DNA damage corresponding with the varying levels of NaNO2 investigated. This was also seen with the 44 individuals (non-diabetic, n = 24; type 1 diabetic, n = 11; type 2 diabetic, n = 9) investigated. NaNO2 was capable of inducing a significant level of DNA damage in lymphocytes (p<0.001), but only with the addition of H2O2. When levels of DNA damage were analysed in terms of the different variables there were few significant differences in damage between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, or other sub-population groups, and no statistically significant differences in susceptibility were observed between subject covariates using regression techniques.