Determination of the Lead, Cadmium, and Chromium Concentration in Mineral Feeds and Supplements for Cattle Produced in the Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

This work aimed to determine the concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) in mineral feeds and supplements for cattle produced in the Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Three different lots of nine mineral supplements and eleven mineral feeds were collected, and the samples were prepared by wet decomposition and quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.18 to 0.64 mg kg-1 and 0.54 to 1.94 mg kg-1, respectively. Cr concentrations varied from lower than the LQI to 11.9 mg kg-1, and all samples presented values below the maximum recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) and European Union (EU). Cd concentrations varied from lower than the LQI to 6.1 mg kg-1, and 100 % of the mineral supplements and 60 % of the mineral feed showed Cd concentrations above the recommended by the EU (1.0 mg kg-1). Pb concentrations ranged from lower than the LQI to 33.1 mg kg-1, and 100 % of the mineral supplements and 90 % of the mineral feed showed Pb concentrations above the recommended by the EU (5.0 mg kg-1). All samples presented values below the maximum recommended by the NRC for Cd and Pb (10 and 100 mg kg-1, respectively). A large scatter of results was observed in the different samples for the three elements analyzed. This can be attributed to inhomogeneous impurity levels between batches of phosphate rocks used in the mineral feeds and supplements. A strict control of such mineral feeds and supplements should be implemented.

Composição proximal e mineral de biscoitos tipo amanteigado enriquecidos com diferentes farinhas de casca de frutas / Proximal and mineral composition of buttery biscuits enriched with different fruits peel flours

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a composição proximal e mineral de biscoitos tipo amanteigado enriquecidos com farinha da casca de banana nanica (Musa paradisiaca), de manga Tommy Atkins (Mangifera indica L.) e de mamão formosa (Carica papaya L.). Os biscoitos foram elaborados utilizando-se diferentes níveis de substituição da farinha de trigo pelas farinhas das cascas de frutas. A composição proximal foi obtida por meio de determinação dos teores de cinzas, umidade, proteínas, lipídeos, fibras alimentares, carboidratos digeríveis e valor energético total. A composição mineral foi determinada pela decomposição por via seca das amostras, e a quantificação foi feita por espectrometria de absorção atômica em chama. Os resultados da composição proximal apresentaram diferenças significativas (p ≤ 0,05) entre os biscoitos enriquecidos e a amostra de referência, exceto para o teor de umidade. Os biscoitos enriquecidos apresentaram teores de cinzas acima do biscoito referência, indicando um ganho em relação ao teor de minerais, o que foi comprovado para Fe, K, Cu e Ca.Os biscoitos amanteigados elaborados neste trabalho podem ser uma alternativa simples, sustentável e de baixo custo para o uso de resíduos de frutas na fabricação caseira de produtos alimentícios com ganho nutricional principalmente de conteúdo mineral...

Comparative analysis of physicochemical properties of root perforation sealer materials.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the solubility, dimensional alteration, pH, electrical conductivity, and radiopacity of root perforation sealer materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the pH test, the samples were immersed in distilled water for different periods of time. Then, the samples were retained in plastic recipients, and the electrical conductivity of the solution was measured. The solubility, dimensional alteration, and radiopacity properties were evaluated according to Specification No. 57 of the American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association (ANSI/ADA). Statistical analyses were carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test at a significance level of 5%. When the sample distribution was not normal, a nonparametric ANOVA was performed with a Kruskal-Wallis test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The results showed that white structural Portland cement (PC) had the highest solubility, while mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)-based cements, ProRoot MTA (Dentsply-Tulsa Dental) and MTA BIO (Ângelus Ind. Prod.), had the lowest values. MTA BIO showed the lowest dimensional alteration values and white PC presented the highest values. No differences among the tested materials were observed in the the pH and electrical conductivity analyses. Only the MTA-based cements met the ANSI/ADA recommendations regarding radiopacity, overcoming the three steps of the aluminum step wedge. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, we concluded that the values of solubility and dimensional alteration of the materials were in accordance with the ANSI/ADA specifications. PCs did not fulfill the ANSI/ADA requirements regarding radiopacity. No differences were observed among the materials with respect to the pH and electrical conductivity analyses.

Comparative Analysis of Selected Physicochemical Properties of Pozzolan Portland and MTA-Based Cements.

Physicochemical properties of pozzolan Portland cement were compared to ProRoot MTA and MTA BIO. To test the pH, the samples were immersed in distilled water for different periods of time. After the pH analysis, the sample was retained in the plastic recipient, and the electrical conductivity of the solution was measured. The solubility and radiopacity properties were evaluated according to specification 57 of the American National Standard Institute/American Dental Association (ANSI/ADA). The statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey's test at a 5% level of significance. Pozzolan Portland cement exhibited pH and electrical conductivity mean values similar to those of the MTA-based cements. The solubilities of all tested materials were in accordance with the ANSI/ADA standards. Only the MTA-based cements met the ANSI/ADA recommendations for radiopacity. It might be concluded that the pH and electrical conductivity of pozzolan Portland cement are similar to and comparable to those of MTA-based cements.