L'objectif de ce travail a été l'utilisation d'une méthodologie de formulation des formes à libération prolongée. Le choix de «matrices hydrophiles» a été fait en raison de l'intérêt et de l'importance des travaux qui lui sont consacrés, mais surtout en raison de la possibilité d'utilisation de la technologie simple de fabrication des comprimés par compression directe.Le principe actif choisi est le diclofenac de sodium, un anti-inflammatoire largement utilisé dont la molécule est tombée dans le domaine public. Utilisé  à raison de 100 mg par comprimé. La première partie bibliographique résume l'intérêt des formes à libération prolongée, décrit les différentes formes galéniques existantes pour la voie orale et fait le point sur les formules et les propriétés des agents matriciels hydrophiles parmi les plus utilisés, notamment les éthers de celluloses, hydroxypropymethylcellulose (METOLOSES®) (1). Dans la partie expérimentale, nous avons réalisé les différentes étapes nécessaires au développement d'une forme à libération prolongée qui correspondant aux étapes classiques  de pré-formulation, formulation et optimisation. Dans une première étape d'essais préliminaires  nous avons étudiés le comportement d'un point de vue pharmacotechnique des matières premières utilisés seuls et en mélange. Ce qui a permis de faire des orientations en ce qui concerne les différents types de METOLOSES, la nature du diluant, et leurs concentrations. Dans une deuxième étape, nous avons réalisé un premier plan d'expériences de criblage des facteurs, qui permet de déterminer le poids de chacun et leurs éventuelles interactions. Ce qui nous a permis de conclure sur l'effet des différents facteurs en formulation. Dans une troisième étape, nous avons réalisé un deuxième plan d'expériences d'optimisation de la formulation  en utilisant un plan composite centré constitué de 9 expériences ce qui a permis de sélectionner une zone de formules optimales. Enfin, la réalisation d'une formule optimale nous a permis de confirmer les résultats obtenus dans les travaux de développement et dont l'objectif été une libération sur 12 heures. / The objective of this work was the use of a formulation methodology of prolonged release dosage forms. The choice of “hydrophilic matrices” was done because of the interest and the numbered works which is devoted to it, but also for the use of a simple manufacture technology by direct compression. The selected active pharmaceutical ingredient is one of the most largely used nonsteroidial anti-inflammatory drug, the sodium diclofenac which is out of patent and used at 100 Mg per tablet. The first bibliographical part summarizes the interest of the prolonged release dosage forms, described the existing oral dosage forms and gives a progress report on the formulas and the properties of hydrophilic matrices agents among most used, in particular the cellulose ethers, hydroxypropymethylcellulose (METOLOSES®) (1). In the experimental part, we carried out the various steps necessary to the development of a prolonged release dosage form which correspond to the traditional steps of pre-formulation, formulation and optimization. In a first step of pharmaceutics preliminary tests we studied the behavior of raw materials used alone and in mixture. What made orientations with regard to the various types of METOLOSES, the nature of diluents, and their concentrations. In a second step, we carried out a first screening factors experimental design, which enabled us to conclude on the effect of the various factors in formulation. In a third step, we carried out a second optimization experimental design using a centered composite plan consisted of 9 experiments which lead us to define a space design of optimal formulas. Lastly, the manufacture of a formula from the design space enabled us to confirm the results to development work and for which the objective was a sustained release over 12 hours.

This study attempted to identify ways to improve voluntary compliance and minimize taxpayer burden, but also tries to understand the behavior of taxpayers’ compliance given the compliance regimen. Most explicitly, it attempted to identify ways to improve payment compliance using regimens already utilized in other parts of the tax code. The research question was whether different tax regimes, such as safe harbor, can change the behavior of employment tax payment for small business or self-employed taxpayers. The idea was to determine if a safe harbor provision can reduce the proclivity of authorized individuals to implement a payroll tax dilemma strategy and whether or regimen can reduce payment noncompliance in time of economic distress. To answer the research question, an online experiment was employed. The experimental design was an impact study. The population of interest in this study was all authorized individuals from small and self-employed firms. The sample size totaled 205, and it was based on the a-priori sample size calculation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was chosen as the data analysis technique, but other nonparametric test and logistic regression models were used to further analyze the data. This study showed that for subjects who did not subscribed to safe harbor provision but experienced an increased probability of apprehension increased their payment compliance. Also, the availability of a safe harbor provision lead to a large numbers to a safe harbor provision subscription in order to avoid enforcement. This study was able to show that individuals were willing to improve their payment compliance rate when enforcement was increased. The General Deterrence Theory explains that increased deterrence will lead to higher compliance. The study showed a 10 percent improvement in payment compliance when safe harbor was implemented. The results from this study also suggest that provisions such as a safe harbor can be a method of reducing filing costs and audit costs and ultimately taxpayer burden. On the other hand, the results of this study were inconclusive in determining if such provisions can improve payment compliance. Nevertheless, the outcome of this study can improve timing and accuracy of employment taxes payments and it may improve the accuracy of employment tax payment.

A produção de biofármacos segue um crescente interesse industrial e social. Atualmente existem vários tipos de tratamento contra o câncer, porém, a maioria desses tratamentos não atua unicamente no alvo terapêutico. Um estudo realizado por pesquisadores do Instituto Butantan identificou uma proteína com ação anticoagulante e antitumoral, codificada por um gene proveniente das glândulas salivares do carrapato Amblyoma cajennense . Esse gene foi inserido em um plasmídeo e expresso com sucesso na bactéria Escherichia coli BL21DE3. Estudos pré-clínicos mostraram que a injeção in vivo de Amblyomin-X reduziu a formação de massa tumoral induzida por células de melanoma B16F10 em camundongos. Este trabalho contempla o estudo das condições de cultivo para obtenção da proteína Amblyomin-X com a linhagem Escherichia coli BL21DE3 recombinante em biorreatores. Para se determinar a melhor condição de biossíntese da proteína recombinante Amblyomin-X estabeleceu-se uma estratégia de cultivo para a etapa de crescimento do microrganismo e estudaram-se três diferentes fatores na etapa posterior à do crescimento microbiano, ou seja, na etapa de biossíntese da proteína: i) a concentração do indutor IPTG (Isopropil β-D-1-tiogalactopiranosídeo) no momento de indução da proteína; ii) a temperatura de cultivo durante a etapa de biossíntese da proteína; e iii) a concentração celular no início da etapa de biossíntese da proteína. Para a realização dos ensaios foi proposto um planejamento experimental delineamento composto central rotacional (DCCR) escolhido para os três fatores em estudo e resultou na condução de 17 ensaios. Os ensaios foram realizados com a estratégia de condução proposta, mantendo o valor de &#956x entre 0,20 e 0,23 h-1 na etapa de batelada alimentada, o que possibilitou atingir a concentração celular desejada com a formação de ácido acético em concentrações não inibitórias. Como resultado do planejamento experimental, a obtenção dos valores ótimos dos fatores para a etapa de produção da proteína: temperatura de 38 °C, concentração celular de 35,27 g/L e concentração do indutor IPTG de 0,10 mM resultou em um protocolo de processo que obteve 8,07 g/L de proteína recombinante, valor máximo obtido e validado. / The production of biopharmaceuticals follows an increasing industrial and social interest. Currently there are several types of cancer treatment, however, most of these treatments do not only act on the therapeutic target. A study by researchers at the Butantan Institute identified a protein with anticoagulant and antitumor action, encoded by a gene from the salivary glands of the Amblyoma cajennense tick. This gene was inserted into a plasmid and successfully expressed on the bacterium Escherichia coli BL21DE3. Preclinical studies have shown that the in vivo injection of Amblyomin-X reduced the tumor mass formation induced by B16F10 melanoma cells in mice. This work includes the study of the culture conditions to obtain Amblyomin-X protein with the recombinant Escherichia coli strain BL21DE3 in bioreactors. In order to determine the best biosynthesis condition of the recombinant Amblyomin-X protein, a culture strategy was established for the growth stage of the microorganism and three different factors were studied in the post-microbial growth stage, that is, in the biosynthesis stage of the protein: i) the concentration of the IPTG (Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) inducer at the time of induction of the protein; ii) the culture temperature during the protein biosynthesis step; and iii) the cell concentration at the beginning of the protein biosynthesis step. For the accomplishment of the tests it was proposed an experimental design - central rotational compound design (DCCR) - chosen for the three factors under study and resulted in the conduction of 17 tests. The tests were performed with the proposed conduction strategy, maintaining the value of µ &x between 0.20 and 0.23 h-1 in the fed batch stage, which allowed to reach the desired cellular concentration with the formation of acetic acid in non-inhibitory concentrations. As a result of the experimental design, obtaining the optimum values of the factors for the protein production step: temperature of 38 °C, cell concentration of 35.27 g/L and concentration of the IPTG inductor of 0.10 mM resulted in a process protocol which obtained 8.07 g / L of recombinant protein, maximum value obtained and validated.

<div>Researchers and scientists across various areas face the perennial challenge of selecting experimental conditions or inputs for computer simulations in order to achieve promising results.</div><div> The aim of conducting these experiments could be to study the production of a material that has great applicability.</div><div> One might also be interested in accurately modeling and analyzing a simulation of a physical process through a high-fidelity computer code.</div><div> The presence of noise in the experimental observations or simulator outputs, called aleatory uncertainty, is usually accompanied by limited amount of data due to budget constraints.</div><div> This gives rise to what is known as epistemic uncertainty. </div><div> This problem of designing of experiments with limited number of allowable experiments or simulations under aleatory and epistemic uncertainty needs to be treated in a Bayesian way.</div><div> The aim of this thesis is to extend the state-of-the-art in Bayesian optimal design of experiments where one can optimize and infer statistics of the expensive experimental observation(s) or simulation output(s) under uncertainty.</div>

Klimatfrågan är ett ständigt aktuellt ämne i dagens samhälle och det tycks finnas en stor medvetenhet hos de flesta människor om att det krävs akuta insatser och stora livsstilsförändringar, om vi ska ha möjlighet att minska vår klimatpåverkan. Trots att klimatförändringarna lämnar få oberörda och många individer uppger sig dessutom vara både insatta och engagerade i klimatfrågan, så omsätts engagemanget inte alltid till handling. Denna miljösociologiska kvantitativa studie avser undersöka om olika typer av klimatbudskap har en inverkan på individens attityd gentemot klimatförändringar vid exponeringstillfället. Studien undersöker också huruvida det finns skillnader i individens socio-ekonomiska bakgrund som inverkar på deras självskattade klimatengagemang. I studien deltog 140 respondenter med varierande bakgrundsvariabler (ålder, kön, boendeort, utbildningsnivå och inkomst). Respondenterna som delades upp i två experimentgrupper och en kontrollgrupp, fick besvara en digital enkät med en kvasi-experimentell design.                                                                                                     Resultatet visade att de olika kommunikativa angreppssätten att förmedla frågor kring klimatet på, inte hade en inverkan på respondenternas attityd gentemot klimatförändringar vid exponeringstillfället. Det fanns inte heller en signifikant skillnad avseende respondenternas klimatengagemang mellan bakgrundsvariablerna boendeort och utbildningsnivå. Däremot visade resultatet en signifikant skillnad mellan män och kvinnor gällande skattat klimatengagemang, något som ligger i linje med tidigare forskning. / Climate change is a constantly debated issue in our society today, and most people seem to have a sense of awareness that we need to act urgently and make major changes in our lifestyle in order to decrease our impact on the climate. Despite the fact that climate change leaves few untouched and many individuals also claim to be both well informed and engaged in the climate issue, the commitment is not always put into action. This environmental sociological quantitative study intends to investigate whether different types of climate messages have an impact on the individual's attitude towards climate change at the time of exposure. The study also examines whether there are differences in the individual's socio-economic background that affect their self-rated climate commitment. In the study 140 respondents with varying background variables participated (age, sex, level of education, place of residence and income). Respondents who were divided into two experimental groups and one control group were asked to answer a digital survey with a quasi-experimental design.                                                                                                                The result showed that the different communicative approaches to conveying issues around the climate did not have an impact on the respondents' attitude towards climate change at the time of exposure. There was also no significant difference with respect to the respondents' climate commitment between the background variables residential area and level of education. However, the result showed a significant difference between men and women regarding estimated climate engagement, which is in line with previous research.

The main purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental study was to explore the perceptions of nurses in supervisory roles (NSRs) regarding competence of novice professional nurses (NPNs) in health education. The study’s conceptual frameworks were the objectives of the Regulation R.425 programme and the scope of practice of professional nurses. The study sought to reveal whether the NPNs were competent in health education and in identifying barriers to health education, and to make recommendations. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection from the professional nurses in supervisory roles. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 program. The results revealed that NPNs were competent in health education, however, paid less attention to family involvement and patients’ level of education (a barrier to health education). The study recommended assessment of the level of education of patients and involvement of family members when giving health education / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Contaminantes orgânicos há tempos são normalmente encontrados em baixíssimas concentrações no meio ambiente. Compostos orgânicos monoaromáticos, derivados dos subprodutos do petróleo, frequentemente são encontrados próximos a postos de combustíveis, onde há constantes vazamentos nos tanques de armazenamento. Poluentes emergentes, como exemplo os fármacos, também são temas constantes de pesquisas, devido à baixa taxa de degradação dos mesmos, mesmo após submetidos a sistemas de tratamento convencionais. Assim, a busca por técnicas de remediação, que visem a completa remoção de poluentes em baixas concentrações e metodologias analíticas que permitam o isolamento e detecção de tais compostos se torna essencial. Esse trabalho tem como uma de suas finalidades otimizar e aplicar um sistema de remoção de compostos orgânicos monoaromáticos presentes em solo, utilizando CO2 no estado supercrítico. A SPME-GC-MS foi otimizada e validada para a etapa de extração, com separação e quantificação por GC-MS dos contaminantes remanescentes após o solo ser submetido ao processo de remediação. Outro etapa do projeto, está relacionada com a determinação de sulfonamidas em lodo de esgoto. Para isso, um método rápido, fácil, barato e robusto de extração foi otimizado e validado, obtendo bons limites de quantificação (10-25 ng g-1) e detecção (4-9 ng g-1), com precisão e exatidão satisfatórios, de acordo com os valores estabelecidos pela ANVISA. Ainda com o propósito de determinar sulfonamidas em lodo de esgoto, um método LC online foi desenvolvido. A finalidade é promover o clean-up da matriz e extração dos analitos em um sistema de extração em fase sólida capilar online. Para isso, fez uso de duas colunas capilares (530 µm x 6,0 cm) dispostas em série, inseridas em um sistema cromatográfico capilar acoplado a detecção por espectrometria de massas. A primeira coluna teve como finalidade a retenção de interferentes presentes na amostra utilizando para isso, uma fase polimérica Strata-X. Já a segunda coluna, extraiu as sulfonamidas de interesse utilizando, para isso, uma fase polimérica aniônica Oasis Max. O extrato inserido no sistema de extração em fase sólida onlineera composto por 100 % solvente orgânico (acetonitrila); utilizando diferentes porcentagens de acetonitrila na etapa de carregamento, foi possível realizar clean-up adequado da amostra. A eluição dos analitos foi feita utilizando-se fase móvel acidificada. Com esse sistema, melhorou-se em até 30 % a extração de alguns compostos. Todos os métodos de preparo de amostra utilizados no trabalhos seguem a tendência atual sugerida pelo conceito do green chemistry. / The determination of organic contaminants in environmental matrices has long been a challenge for the scientific community, due to the very low concentrations they are present. Monoaromatic organiccompounds derived from petroleum sub-products are still a concern, because they are often found in environmental sites near gas stations, where there are constant leaks in storage tanks. Emerging pollutants,which include personal care products and pharmaceuticals, are also constant subject of research due to their low degradation rate, even after conventional treatment systems. Moreover, the research forremediation techniques aimed at complete removal of pollutants at low concentrations, as weel as new analytical methodologies for isolation and detection of such compounds are, both, essential. This workaims to optimize and apply a system to remove monoaromatic organic compounds present in soil, using CO2 in the supercritical state. As an analytical tool, SPME was optimized and validated with separation and quantification by GC-MS of selected contaminants remaining after the remediation process. Another research work developed is related to the determination of sulfonamides in sewage sludge.Firstly a methodology based on QuEChERS extraction method was optimized and validated, obtaining good results as limits of quantification, LOQ (10-25 ng g-1) and detection, LOD (4-9 ng g-1) withsatisfactory accuracy and precision, according to the values established by ANVISA. Still working to determine sulfonamides in sewage sludge, a new online sample preparation method was developed. Thepurpose of this method is to promote the matrix clean-up and concentration analytes in a capillary SPE system. It was used two capillary columns (500 µm x 6.0 cm) arranged in series in a capillarychromatographic system coupled to mass spectrometry. The first column was intended to retain interferences present in the sample, using a Strata-X polymer phase. The second column extracted sulfonamidesof interest, making use of an anionic polymer phase (Oasis MAX). The extract inserted in the online SPE system was composed of 100% organic solvent (acetonitrile); using different percentages of ACNwith appropriately pH at the loading stage, it was possible to achieve a satisfatory sample clean-up. The elution of the analytes was performed using an acidified mobile phase. This system improved by up to30% extraction yield of some compounds. All sample preparation methods used in the works follow the current trend suggested by the green chemistry concept.

A Psicoterapia Analítica Funcional (FAP) aponta a relação terapêutica como meio de promoção de mudanças clínicas. Os comportamentos do cliente em sessão são classificados como CCR1s (comportamentos problema), CCR2s (comportamentos de melhora) e CCR3 (descrições funcionais a respeito do próprio comportamento). É papel do terapeuta atuar sobre esses CCRs com o intuito de aumentar CCR2 e CCR3, bem como diminuir a emissão de CCR1, o que é planejado por meio das regras: estar atento aos CCRs (regra 1), evocar diretamente CCRs (regra 2), consequenciar CCRs (regra 3), observar os efeitos do seu comportamento sobre o comportamento do cliente (regra 4) e fornecer interpretações analítico-funcionais e implementar estratégias de generalização (regra 5). Compreende-se que a similaridade funcional do contexto terapêutico com outros ambientes do cliente possibilita o acesso do terapeuta à classe de comportamentos alvo de intervenção clínica e que, ainda, é papel do terapeuta evocá-los diretamente, componente da FAP expresso pela regra 2. As pesquisas que investigam o mecanismo de mudança da FAP têm enfatizado o papel da consequenciação (regra 3) sobre a mudança comportamental observada nos clientes, entretanto, há indícios de que tal mudança seja também resultado de um processo evocativo ocorrendo em sessão, responsável por produzir o aumento da emissão de CCR2s e diminuição de CCR1s quando a FAP é conduzida. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi o identificar quais os efeitos da evocação direta pelo terapeuta na FAP (variável independente) sobre os CCRs do cliente em sessão (variáveis dependentes), sendo utilizado delineamento experimental de caso único de reversão, com arranjo A-B1-BC1-B2-BC2 para uma cliente, com controle da inserção da evocação (arranjo A-BC1-B1-BC2-B2) para outro cliente. A fase A foi correspondente à linha de base, com realização de análise de contingências externas, as fases B corresponderam à condução de FAP sem evocação direta e as fases BC, à FAP completa. As sessões foram categorizadas com o Functional Analytic Psychotherapy Rating Scale (FAPRS) pela terapeuta e aferidoras de concordância, foi aplicado semanalmente o Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2) que possibilitou o acompanhamento da evolução global dos clientes. Após três meses do encerramento do estudo, foi realizada uma sessão de follow-up com cada cliente, a qual indicou a manutenção de progressos com os mesmos. Como resultado no FAPRS, registrou-se o abrupto aumento de CCR2s e diminuição de CCR1s quando a evocação direta foi inserida, o aumento de CCR1 e diminuição de CCR2 quando a mesma foi retirada, bem como a replicação dessas duas fases e de seus efeitos sobre os comportamentos dos dois clientes. Nas fases em que a evocação não esteve presente, as porcentagens de CCRs assemelharam-se às observadas na linha de base. Observou-se também a importância da consequenciação com função evocativa, o que sustenta que a evocação e a consequenciação atuam de forma complementar. Tais resultados solidificam a proposta de que a produção de CCR2 nas sessões FAP tenha também por base a existência de processos evocativos atuantes, já que diante da ausência da evocação, registrou-se imediata diminuição de sua ocorrência. Nesse sentido, a evocação direta pode ser destacada como possuindo impacto relevante no mecanismo de mudança dessa psicoterapia / Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) points to the therapeutic relationship as a way of promoting clinical changes. The client behaviors in session are classified as CRB1s (problem behaviors), CRB2s (improvement behaviors) and CRB3 (functional descriptions regarding any client´s behavior). FAP therapist should act on these CRBs in order to increase CRB2 and CRB3 and to reduce the emission of CRB1, which is planned by using the rules: to be aware of CRBs (rule 1), to evoke CRBs directly (rule 2), to contingently respond to CRBs (rule 3), to observe the effects of therapist´s behavior on client´s behavior (rule 4) and to provide analytic-functional interpretations and implement generalization strategies (rule 5). It is understood that the functional similarity of the therapeutic context to other client environments allows the therapist to access the class of target behaviors of clinical intervention and that it is also the role of the therapist to directly evoke them, a component of FAP expressed by rule 2. Researches focused on investigate the mechanism of change in FAP have emphasized the role of consequence (rule 3) on behavioral change observed in clients, however, there is evidence that such a change is the result of an evocative process occurring in session, which is responsible for producing increased CRB2s and decreased CRB1s emissions when FAP is conducted. Thus, the goal of this investigation was to identify the effects of direct evocation by the therapist in FAP (independent variable) on client CRBs in session (dependent variables), using an experimental design of a single-case experimental procedure, with design A -B1-BC1-B2-BC2 for one client, with control of the insertion of the independent variable (design A-BC1-B1-BC2-B2) to another client. Phase A corresponded to the baseline, without systematic use of FAP, phases B corresponded to FAP without direct evocation and phases BC, to the use of complete FAP. The sessions were categorized with the instrument Functional Analytical Psychotherapy Rating Scale (FAPRS) by the therapist and independent coders. The Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2) was applied weekly, allowing the therapist to monitor the overall evolution of clients and after three months of the end of the phases, a follow-up session was conducted with each client, which indicated the maintenance of the observed effects. As a result in FAPRS, it occurred the abrupt increase of CRB2s and decrease of CCR1s when direct evocation was inserted, the increase of CRB1 and decrease of CRB2 when it was withdrawn, as well as the replication of these two phases and their effects on the behaviors of the two clients. In the phases in which evocation was not present, the percentages of CRBs were similar to those observed in baseline. It was also observed the importance of the consequences with evocative function, which maintains that the evocation and the consequences provided by the therapist act in a complementary way. These results solidify the proposal that the increase of CRB2 in FAP is also based on the existence of evocative processes, since in the absence of evocation it is observed its immediate decrease. Therefore, direct evocation can be highlighted as having a relevant impact on the mechanism of change of this psychotherapy

Diversos estudos têm demonstrado o potencial de utilização de fungos filamentosos na degradação de poluentes ambientais, no entanto, ainda são escassos. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial biotecnológico de 174 fungos filamentosos isolados a partir de seis espécies de esponjas marinhas, os quais foram submetidos ao screening em meio sólido contendo corante RBBR e guaiacol; a ensaios em meio líquido, na presença dos corantes preto sulfuroso, índigo blue e reativo black 5, na avaliação da produção das enzimas lacase, manganês peroxidase (MnP) e lignina peroxidase (LiP), utilizando siringaldazina, álcool veratrílico e o vermelho de fenol como substratos enzimáticos, respectivamente; a ensaios de degradação de pireno e benzo[a]pireno; a delineamentos experimentais; e à análise de metabólitos formado na degradação. O fungo selecionado Chaunopycnis alba CBMAI 1346 apresentou 94,54% de degradação em 35 de salinidade, evidenciando o potencial biotecnológico deste fungo em processos de degradação de poluentes ambientais em condições salinas. / Several studies have demonstrated the potential use of filamentous fungi in the degradation of environmental pollutants, however, are still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the biotechnological potential of 174 filamentous fungi isolated from six species of marine sponges, which were subjected to screening on solid medium containing RBBR dye and guaiacol; the tests in liquid medium in the presence of sulfur black, indigo blue and reactive black 5 dyes, the evaluation of the production of enzymes laccase, manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP), using syringaldazin, veratryl alcohol and phenol red as enzyme substrates, respectively; tested for degradation of pyrene and benzo [a] pyrene; the experimental designs; and analysis of metabolites formed in the degradation. The fungus selected Chaunopycnis alba CBMAI 1346 showed 94.54% of pyrene degradation in 35 salinity, highlighting the biotechnological potential of this fungus in the process of degradation of environmental pollutants in saline conditions.

A nanotecnologia tem sido aplicada para o desenvolvimento de materiais para diversas aplicações inclusive na inativação de patógenos. As nanopartículas de sílica (npSi) destacam-se pela alta área superficial, facilidade na alteração da superfície para aumento da eficiência adsortiva, penetrabilidade e toxicidade para bactérias gram-negativas sendo biocompatíveis para células de mamíferos e mais foto-estáveis que a maioria dos compostos orgânicos. Devido as suas vantagens, as npSi podem ser usadas para veicular fotossensibilizadores (FSs) uma vez que permitem sua utilização em solução aquosa em que os FSs geralmente são insolúveis. Além disso, o uso de FSs em vez de antibióticos, permite a inativação microbiológica pela Terapia Fotodinâmica sem que as bactérias adquiram resistência por mecanismos genéticos. Esse processo ocorre pela interação entre um FS, luz e oxigênio molecular produzindo oxigênio singleto que é extremamente reativo danificando estruturas celulares. O objetivo desse estudo foi otimizar a fotoinativação dinâmica de E .coli utilizando Azul de Metileno (AM) e Azul de Toluidina O (ATO) veiculados por npSi. As npSi foram preparadas pela metodologia sol-gel, caracterizadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e submetidas à adsorção de AM e ATO em sua superfície. A presença de AM e ATO na superfície das npSi foram analisadas por espectroscopia no infravermelho; espectroscopia de fluorescência por raio-X e análise termogravimétrica. O planejamento experimental, iniciado pelo fatorial 23 e modelado ao composto central em busca das condições ótimas foi adotado pela primeira vez nessa aplicabilidade, visando a fotoinativação de E. coli empregando AM e ATO em solução e em seguida com npSi. AM e ATO veiculados por npSi permitem a fotoinativação em concentrações mais baixas de FS (20 e 51% respectivamente), causando desestruturação da integridade bacteriana demonstrada por MEV. Os resultados sugerem que a veiculação de AM e ATO por npSi é extremamente efetiva para a fotoinativação dinâmica de E. coli e que o planejamento composto central pode levar à completa inativação das bactérias. / Nanotechnology has been applied to the development of materials for several apllications inclusive inactivation of pathogens. The silica nanoparticles (npSi) are distinguished by high surface area, ease of change the surface in order to increase the adsorption efficiency, penetrability and toxicity in gram-negative bacteria being biocompatible with mammalian cells and more photo-stable than most the organic compounds. Due to its advantages, npSi can be used to carry photosensitizers (PSs) since they allow its use in aquous solution in which PSs are frequently insoluble. Furthermore, the use of PSs instead of antibiotics, allows the microbiological inactivation by Photodynamic Therapy without bacteria to develop resistance by genetic mechanisms. This process occurs by the interaction among a PS, light and molecular oxygen producing singlet oxygen, which is extremely reactive, causing damage to cellular structures. The aim of this study was to optimize the photoinactivation of E. coli using Methylene Blue (MB) and Toluidine Blue O (TBO) carried by npSi using the central composite design. The npSi were prepared by sol-gel method, characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and subjected to adsorption of MB and TBO on its surface. The presence of FSs on the surface of npSi were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence X-ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The experimental design, initiated by the factorial 23 and modeled by the central composite in search of the optimal conditions was adopted for the first-time for this applicability, aiming the E. coli photoinactivation employing MB and TBO in solution and then with npSi. MB and TBO carried by npSi allowed the photoinactivation in lower concentrations of PS (20 and 51% respectively), causing disruption of bacterial integrity demonstrated by SEM. The results suggest that MB and TBO carried by npSi are extremely effective for dynamic photoinactivation of E. coli and the central composite design can lead to complete inactivation of bacteria.