Yes / Solid urea is the largest nitrogen fertilizer product which is produced in two forms of granules and prills. Although the chemical properties of both prills and granules remain similar, their different physical and mechanical properties are distinguishable and make them suitable for different application either as fertilizer or raw materials for chemical industry. The objective of this work is to analyses physical and mechanical properties of urea granules produced in two different plants in Malaysia using fluidized bed process and compare them with the imported urea prills to the country; hence make a process-product relationship for urea finishing processes. Results of size distribution of the samples show that the most of the granules fall in the size range between 2.82 and 3.06 mm, whereas the prills size is around 1.65 mm. Strength measurement using side crushing test also shows that the prills with the average failure load of 3.80 N remain significantly weaker than the granules with failure load of 10-17 N. Strength distribution of the particles also shows that a more uniform strength distribution is observed for the prills than the granules. It is concluded that the urea prilling process is the finishing process which produces the weaker and the more uniform size and strength of the particles than the fluidized-bed granulation process.

Este estudo teve como finalidade analisar experimentalmente a aplicação de diferentes tamanhos de grânulos de hidroxiapatita em falhas ósseas produzidas em ambos os fêmures de ratos machos da raça Wistar e investigar as correlações dos tamanhos dos grânulos com a quantidade de tecido ósseo neoformado. Cada falha óssea foi preenchida com um dos três tamanhos de grânulos de hidroxiapatita utilizados neste estudo (212 &#956, 500&#956 e 1000&#956). Os animais foram divididos em 3 grupos experimentais compostos por 15 animais cada, sendo que cada grupo foi sacrificado de acordo com a data do sacrifício: 30, 90 e 180 dias de período de pós-operatório, respectivamente e posteriormente submetidos ao estudo histológico. No terceiro grupo experimental, foi também realizado estudo radiológico no período de pós-operatório imediato, aos 30, 90 e 180 dias. O grupo controle, composto por 10 animais, que não tiveram preenchimento de suas falhas ósseas , foram submetidos aos estudos histológico e radiológico nos mesmos períodos que o terceiro grupo experimental. De acordo com os resultados dos estudos radiológico e histológico, concluiu-se que a hidroxiapatita empregada foi biocompatível, no entanto, atrasou o processo de reparação óssea na falha, enquanto que o grupo controle apresentou os melhores resultados, com completa reorganização da falha óssea com apenas 90 dias de período de pós-operatório. / This study evaluated the hydroxyapatite granules osteointegration in defects produced on both femurs of Wistar rats. The defects were filled with one of the three different sizes of hydroxyapatite granules (212&#956, 500&#956 and 1000&#956). The rats were divided in 3 groups of 15 animals, which were sacrificed at 30, 90 and 180 days after the operation, followed by histological study of the femurs and radiological study ofthe latter group. The control group, of 10 animals, had no fllling of it\'s defects and had radiological study and were sacrificed at 180 days after the operation, followed by histological study. It concludes from radiological and histological studies that all sizes of hydroxyapatite granules applied were biocompatible, although it delayed the bone repair. In this study the bone restoration was better observed on the control group.

Um reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB), em escala piloto, foi utilizado para tratamento anaeróbio da vinhaça, resíduo proveniente da produção de açúcar e álcool de cana-de-açúcar. O reator foi inoculado com lodo granulado, oriundo de reator UASB tratando resíduo de abatedouro de aves; e submetido ao aumento gradativo de carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) até atingir 10 kgDQO.m3.dia-1. O aumento da COV ocorreu através do ajuste da vazão e, portanto, do aumento da velocidade ascensional do sistema. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e acompanhar o efeito que tais mudanças operacionais provocam na manta de lodo granular. As análises físicas, químicas e biológicas foram realizadas no inóculo e na manta de lodo, durante o incremento da COV (2,5, 5,0, 7,5 e 10 kgDQO.m-3.dia-1). Foi estudada a distribuição de dimensão, a resistência mecânica, a composição de metais e estrutura microbiana dos grânulos. Os grânulos do inóculo e do reator UASB variaram de 0,4 a 5 mm. O inóculo apresentou maior frequência de grânulos entre 2,1 e 2,5 mm. Com a introdução da COV e aumento da velocidade ascensional, verificou-se diminuição dos tamanhos dos grânulos. Nas COV de 2,5 e 5,0 kgDQO.m-3.dia-1 a maior frequência de grânulos foi de 1,6 a 2,0 mm e nas COV de 7,5 e 10 kgDQO.m-3.dia-1 foi de 0,4 a 1 mm. A análise de resistência mecânica aplicada aos grânulos causou diminuição no tamanho dos mesmos em todas as situações analisadas. O teste estatístico ANOVA revelou que as amostras foram estatisticamente diferentes, confirmando que o aumento de COV e a agitação aplicada aos grânulos no teste de resistência modificou as características do lodo granular. Os metais presentes na vinhaça não causaram impacto tóxico aos microrganismos no reator. As análises microbiológicas mostraram grande diversidade microbiana nos grânulos em todas as situações analisadas. Nas COV mais baixas (2,5 e 5,0 kgDQO.m-3.dia-1) as Methanosaetas se mantiveram no centro do grânulo, mas nas COV mais altas elas afloraram na superfície granular. Verificou-se que o aumento da COV diversificou os tipos de bactérias e selecionou a população de arqueia adaptada às novas condições. De forma geral, os resultados apontam que a tecnologia UASB é adequada ao tratamento de vinhaça de alta carga orgânica devido à boa adaptação dos grânulos às condições operacionais. / A pilot scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was used for anaerobic treatment of vinasse. The reactor was inoculated with granular sludge from an UASB reactor treating poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. A gradual increase of the volumetric organic loading rate (OLR) up to 10 Kg COD.m3.day-1 was imposed. The increasing of the OLR occurred by increasing the flow rate and, thus, from increasing the upflow velocity. The aim of this study was to evaluate and monitor the effect that such operational changes cause in the granular sludge blanket. The physical, chemical and biological analyzes were performed in the inoculum and the sludge blanket, during the increase in OLR (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 Kg COD. 3.day-1). Size distribution, mechanical strength, metal composition and microbial structure of the granules were studied. The granules from the inoculum and from the UASB reactor varied from 0.4 to 5.0 mm. The inoculum presented greater frequency of granules, between 2.1 and 2.5 mm. The OLR and up flow velocity increase resulted in a decrease of granule sizes. For OLR of 2.5 and 5.0 kgCOD.m3.day-1 the highest frequency of granules was 1.6 to 2.0 mm and for OLR of 7.5 and 10 kgCOD.m3.day-1 it was 0.4 to 1.0 mm. The mechanical strength analysis applied to granules caused a reduction in the size for all analyzed situations. The ANOVA statistical test showed that the samples were statistically different; confirming that the increase in OLR and agitation applied to granules in the strength test modified the characteristics of the granular sludge. The metal content present in the vinasse caused no toxic impact on microorganisms in the reactor. Microbiological analyses showed great microbial diversity in granules in all situations. In the lower OLR (2.5 and 5.0 kgCOD.m3.day-1) the Methanosaetas remained in the center, but in the higher OLR they seemed to emerge on the surface of the granules. Through molecular biological tests, it was found that increasing the OLR diversified the types of bacteria and selected the adapted Archaea population to the new conditions. Overall, the results indicate that the UASB technology is suitable for the treatment of high organic load rate vinasse because of the good adaptation of granules to the operational conditions.

Este estudo teve como finalidade analisar experimentalmente a aplicação de diferentes tamanhos de grânulos de hidroxiapatita em falhas ósseas produzidas em ambos os fêmures de ratos machos da raça Wistar e investigar as correlações dos tamanhos dos grânulos com a quantidade de tecido ósseo neoformado. Cada falha óssea foi preenchida com um dos três tamanhos de grânulos de hidroxiapatita utilizados neste estudo (212 &#956, 500&#956 e 1000&#956). Os animais foram divididos em 3 grupos experimentais compostos por 15 animais cada, sendo que cada grupo foi sacrificado de acordo com a data do sacrifício: 30, 90 e 180 dias de período de pós-operatório, respectivamente e posteriormente submetidos ao estudo histológico. No terceiro grupo experimental, foi também realizado estudo radiológico no período de pós-operatório imediato, aos 30, 90 e 180 dias. O grupo controle, composto por 10 animais, que não tiveram preenchimento de suas falhas ósseas , foram submetidos aos estudos histológico e radiológico nos mesmos períodos que o terceiro grupo experimental. De acordo com os resultados dos estudos radiológico e histológico, concluiu-se que a hidroxiapatita empregada foi biocompatível, no entanto, atrasou o processo de reparação óssea na falha, enquanto que o grupo controle apresentou os melhores resultados, com completa reorganização da falha óssea com apenas 90 dias de período de pós-operatório. / This study evaluated the hydroxyapatite granules osteointegration in defects produced on both femurs of Wistar rats. The defects were filled with one of the three different sizes of hydroxyapatite granules (212&#956, 500&#956 and 1000&#956). The rats were divided in 3 groups of 15 animals, which were sacrificed at 30, 90 and 180 days after the operation, followed by histological study of the femurs and radiological study ofthe latter group. The control group, of 10 animals, had no fllling of it\'s defects and had radiological study and were sacrificed at 180 days after the operation, followed by histological study. It concludes from radiological and histological studies that all sizes of hydroxyapatite granules applied were biocompatible, although it delayed the bone repair. In this study the bone restoration was better observed on the control group.

No description available.

In this study the stability and nutrient removal performance of aerobic granules under variable operating pH and variable growth medium was investigated. The results indicated that alkaline pH (pH=9) inhibited nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Moreover, high pH induced granules breakage and resulted in an increased biomass concentration in the effluent. On the other hand, acidic pH (pH=6) did not have significant impacts on stability and nutrient removal efficiency of granules. Changing the growth medium from acetate-based wastewater to municipal wastewater resulted in loss of biological phosphorus removal while ammonium and COD removal stayed the same. The granules disintegrated during the first two weeks after changing the feed; re-granulation of the biomass was observed after the acclimation of bacteria to the new growth medium. However, the granules breakage did not exert significant impact on settling property of biomass.

Neutrophil (PMN) inflammatory functions, including cell adhesion, diapedesis, and phagocyto-sis, are dependent on the mobilization and release of various intracellular granules/vesicles. In this study, I found that treating PMN with damnacanthal, a Ras family GTPase inhibitor, resulted in a specific release of secondary granules, but not primary or tertiary granules, and caused dy-sregulation of PMN chemotactic transmigration and cell surface protein interactions. Analysis of the activities of Ras members identified Ral GTPase as a key regulator during PMN activation and degranulation. In particular, Ral was active in freshly isolated PMN, while chemoattractant stimulation induced a quick deactivation of Ral that correlated with PMN degranulation. Over-expression of a constitutively active Ral (Ral23V) in PMN inhibited chemoattractant-induced secondary granule release. By subcellular fractionation, I found that Ral, which was associatedwith the plasma membrane under the resting condition, was redistributed to secondary granules after chemoattractant stimulation. Blockage of cell endocytosis appeared to inhibit Ral transloca-tion intracellularly. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that Ral is a critical regulator in PMN that specifically controls secondary granule release during PMN response to chemoattrac-tant stimulation.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

No description available.