Análise de um queimador infravermelho funcionando com combustível híbrido : GLP/Bio-óleo

Biomass is considered the largest renewable energy source that can be used in an environmentally sustainable. From the pyrolysis of biomass is possible to obtain products with higher energy density and better use properties. The liquid resultant of this process is traditionally called bio-oil. The use of infrared burners in industrial applications has many advantages in terms of technical-operational, for example, uniformity in the heat supply in the form of radiation and convection, with a greater control of emissions due to the passage of exhaust gases through a macroporous ceramic bed. This paper presents a commercial infrared burner adapted with an ejector proposed able to burn a hybrid configuration of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and bio-oil diluted. The dilution of bio-oil with absolute ethanol aimed to decrease the viscosity of the fluid, and improving the stability and atomization. It was introduced a temperature controller with thermocouple modulating two stages (low heat / high heat), and solenoid valves for fuels supply. The infrared burner has been tested, being the diluted bio-oil atomized, and evaluated its performance by conducting energy balance. The method of thermodynamic analysis to estimate the load was used an aluminum plate located at the exit of combustion gases and the distribution of temperatures measured by thermocouples. The dilution reduced the viscosity of the bio-oil in 75.4% and increased by 11% the lower heating value (LHV) of the same, providing a stable combustion to the burner through the atomizing with compressed air and burns combined with LPG. Injecting the hybrid fuel there was increase in the heat transfer from the plate to the environment in 21.6% and gain useful benefit of 26.7%, due to the improved in the efficiency of the 1st Law of Thermodynamics of infrared burner

Análise das emissões gasosas de um veículo flex funcionando com diferentes combustíveis

Efforts in research and development of new technologies to reduce emission levels of pollutant gases in the atmosphere has intensified in the last decades. In this context, it can be highlighted the modern systems of electronic engine management, new automotive catalysts and the use of renewable fuels which contributes to reduce the environmental impact. The purpose of this study was a comparative analysis of gas emissions from a automotive vehicle, operating with different fuels: natural gas, AEHC or gasoline. To execute the experimental tests, a flex vehicle was installed on a chassis dynamometer equipped with a gas analyzer and other complementary accessories according to the standard guidelines of emission and security procedures. Tests were performed according to NBR 6601 and NBR 7024, which define the urban and road driving cycle, respectively. Besides the analysis of exhaust gases in the discharge tube, before and after the catalyst, using the suction probe of the gas analyzer to simulate the vehicle in urban and road traffic, were performed tests of fuel characterization. Final results were conclusive in indicating leaded gasoline as the fuel which most contributed with pollutant emissions in atmosphere and the usual gasoline being the fuel which less contributed with pollutant emissions in atmosphere

Guia para a identificação e monitoramento de pragas e seus inimigos naturais em morangueiro.

2015

Desenvolvimento de uma unidade pirolítica com reator de cilindro rotativo: obtenção de bio-óleo

The demand for alternative sources of energy drives the technological development so that many fuels and energy conversion processes before judged as inadequate or even non-viable, are now competing fuels and so-called traditional processes. Thus, biomass plays an important role and is considered one of the sources of renewable energy most important of our planet. Biomass accounts for 29.2% of all renewable energy sources. The share of biomass energy from Brazil in the OIE is 13.6%, well above the world average of participation. Various types of pyrolysis processes have been studied in recent years, highlighting the process of fast pyrolysis of biomass to obtain bio-oil. The continuous fast pyrolysis, the most investigated and improved are the fluidized bed and ablative, but is being studied and developed other types in order to obtain Bio-oil a better quality, higher productivity, lower energy consumption, increased stability and process reliability and lower production cost. The stability of the product bio-oil is fundamental to designing consumer devices such as burners, engines and turbines. This study was motivated to produce Bio-oil, through the conversion of plant biomass or the use of its industrial and agricultural waste, presenting an alternative proposal for thermochemical pyrolysis process, taking advantage of particle dynamics in the rotating bed that favors the right gas-solid contact and heat transfer and mass. The pyrolyser designed to operate in a continuous process, a feeder containing two stages, a divisive system of biomass integrated with a tab of coal fines and a system of condensing steam pyrolytic. The prototype has been tested with sawdust, using a complete experimental design on two levels to investigate the sensitivity of factors: the process temperature, gas flow drag and spin speed compared to the mass yield of bio-oil. The best result was obtained in the condition of 570 oC, 25 Hz and 200 cm3/min, temperature being the parameter of greatest significance. The mass balance of the elementary stages presented in the order of 20% and 37% liquid pyrolytic carbon. We determined the properties of liquid and solid products of pyrolysis as density, viscosity, pH, PCI, and the composition characterized by chemical analysis, revealing the composition and properties of a Bio-oil.

Daily foraging activity of Acromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) leaf-cutting ants.

Leaf-cutting ants are well-known insects due to their remarkable activity as herbivores and the considerable economic damage they cause to many crops. The identification of season and time of day when leaf-cutting ants are most active is an important tool, not just to understand the foraging ecology of these ants, but also to optimize their control in plantation areas where they are pests. Thus, the aims of this study are to evaluate the daily foraging activity of leafcutting ant species of the genus Acromyrmex, which occur in forest plantations in Southern Brazil. Foraging activity of Acromyrmex crassispinus (Forel) and Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus (Forel) were correlated with weather conditions, and it was more intense during spring and summer. Workers that forage at night are significantly heavier than workers that forage during the day. This study showed that A. crassispinus and A. subterraneus subterraneus did not forage at temperatures below 10-11°C. Then, the use of granulated baits to control these leaf-cutting ants species where they are pests should be done just under favorable conditions of temperature for Acromyrmex foraging activity (over 12°C), to ensure maximum collection of baits by ants and the least left-over baits.

Análise do impacto da deleção do gene p94 (ac134) de autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedovirus

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia Molecular, 2015.

Avaliação do potencial de formigas (Hymenoptera: formicidae) como vetores mecânicos de bactérias do gêneroSstaphylococcus no ambiente hospitalar.

In a hospital environment, these bacteria can be spread by insects such as ants, which are characterized by high adaptability to the urban environment. Staphylococcus is a leading cause of hospital infection. In Europe, Latin America, USA and Canada, the group of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) is the second leading cause of these infections, according to SENTRY (antimicrobial surveillance program- EUA). In this study, we investigated the potential of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as vehicle mechanics of Staphylococcus bacteria in a public hospital, in Natal-RN. The ants were collected, day and night, from June 2007 to may 2008, in the following sectors: hospitals, laundry, kitchen, blood bank. The ants were identified according to the identification key of Bolton, 1997. For the analysis of staphylococci, the ants were incubated in broth Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) for 24 hours at 35 º C and then incubated on Mannitol Salt Agar. The typical colonies of staphylococci incubated for 24 hours at 35 ° C in Tryptic Soy Agar for the characterization tests (Gram stain, catalase, susceptibility to bacitracin and free coagulase). The identification of CoNS was performed through biochemical tests: susceptibility to novobiocin, growth under anaerobic conditions, presence of urease, the ornithine decarboxylation and acid production from the sugars mannose, maltose, trehalose, mannitol and xylose. The antimicrobial susceptibility examined by disk-diffusion technique. The technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to confirm the presence of mecA gene and the ability to produce biofilm was verified by testing in vitro using polystyrene inert surface, in samples of resistant staphylococci. Among 440 ants, 85 (19.1%) were carrying coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) of the species Staphylococcus saprophyticus (17), Staphylococcus epidermidis (15), Staphylococcus xylosus (13), Staphylococcus hominis hominis (10), Staphylococcus lugdunensis (10), Staphylococcus warneri (6), Staphylococcus cohnii urealyticum (5), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (3), Staphylococcus simulans (3), Staphylococcus cohnii cohnii (2), and Staphylococcus capitis (1). No Staphylococcus aureus was found. Among the isolates, 30.58% showed resistance to erythromycin. Two samples of CoNS (2.35%), obtained from the ant Tapinoma melanocephalum collected in the post-surgical female ward, S. Hominis hominis and S. lugdunensis harbored the mecA gene and were resistant to multiple antibiotics, and the specie S. hominis hominis even showed to be a biofilm producer. This study proves that ants act as carriers of multidrug-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci and biofilm producers and points to the risk of the spreading of pathogenic microorganisms by this insect in the hospital environment

Reflexiones sobre la importancia de la fragilidad en la valoración del riesgo cardiovascular en el anciano

SIN FINANCIACIÓN

Conservative management in very elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis: Time to change?

Despite current recommendations, a high percentage of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis are managed conservatively. The aim of this study was to study symptomatic patients undergoing conservative management from the IDEAS registry, describing their baseline clinical characteristics, mortality, and the causes according to the reason for conservative management. Consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis diagnosed at 48 centers during January 2014 were included. Baseline clinical characteristics, echocardiographic data, Charlson index, and EuroSCORE-II were registered, including vital status and performance of valve intervention during one-year follow-up. For the purpose of this substudy we assessed symptomatic patients undergoing conservative management, including them in 5 groups according to the reason for performing conservative management [I: comorbidity/frailty (128, 43.8%); II: dementia 18 (6.2%); III: advanced age 34 (11.6%); IV: patients’ refusal 62 (21.2%); and V: other reasons 50 (17.1%)]. We included 292 patients aged 81.5 ± 9 years. Patients from group I had higher Charlson index (4 ± 2.3), higher EuroSCORE-II (7.5 ± 6), and a higher overall (42.2%) and non-cardiac mortality (16.4%) than the other groups. In contrast, patients from group III had fewer comorbidities, lower EuroSCORE-II (4 ± 2.5), and low overall (20.6%) and non-cardiac mortality (5.9%). Patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis managed conservatively have different baseline characteristics and clinical course according to the reason for performing conservative management. A prospective assessment of comorbidity and other geriatric syndromes might contribute to improve therapeutic strategy in this clinical setting.

Identification of novel molecular determinants of tissue mineralization in fish

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Efeito de iscas tóxicas no controle de Linepithema micans e estabelecimento de metodologia para estudos de dispersão da espécie na videira.

Linepithema micans é a principal espécie de formiga dispersora da pérola-daterra. Uma alternativa para reduzir a infestação da cochonilha é o controle da formiga. Aplicações de iscas tóxicas a base de hidrametilnona na dose de 450g/ha/semana por 19 semanas foram eficazes no controle dos insetos. No entanto, a necessidade de aplicação semanal é demandante de mão de obra inviabilizando o emprego prático da tecnologia. Uma estratégia para definir a densidade de porta iscas/área é o conhecimento do raio de forrageamento das operárias. Nesse trabalho foi avaliado o efeito da redução do número de aplicações de iscas tóxicas para o controle dos insetos e ajustado um protocolo para estudar a dispersão de L. micans

What is the name of the babassu? A note on the confusing use of scientific names for this important palm tree.

Na literatura científica atual são encontrados artigos que utilizam diferentes nomes científicos para o babaçu, principalmente Orbignya phalerata e Attalea speciosa, mas também O. speciosa, O. martiana, entre outros. Esta multiplicidade de nomes ocasiona uma grande confusão na comunidade científica que permite a propagação sucessiva de erros. Este artigo de opinião objetiva esclarecer aspectos deste problema, revisando a história da nomenclatura da espécie, desde a primeira descrição por Martius, em 1826, e evidenciando as sucessivas mudanças de nome que ocorreram. São também brevemente discutidas as consequências da fusão dos quatro gêneros relacionados, de recentes trabalhos de filogenia e das últimas mudanças em classificação de palmeiras para a nomenclatura da espécie. Adicionalmente, os resultados de buscas em Índices de Nomes de Plantas são apresentados. Como conclusão, recomendamos a adoção do nome Attalea speciosa Mart ex. Spreng como o mais adequado para o babaçu e frisamos a forte necessidade de uma ampla revisão taxonômica do grupo.

CIUDADES INTERMEDIAS: DINAMICA Y PERSPECTIVAS: EL CASO DE BAHÍA BLANCA - ARGENTINA

En las últimas décadas se han producido importantes cambios en los patrones de asentamiento de la población, en los que se destaca la población urbana que vive en los centros urbanos intermedios, que son prestadores de servicios y bienes especializados y que se considera presentan adecuadas condiciones para las iniciativas de desarrollo local. Diversos estudios dan cuenta de la función de las ciudades intermedias en contextos territoriales definidos y de la importancia de su radio de influencia, así como de las redes y flujos que generan hacia su hinterland. Sobre la base de una red territorial consolidada, se considera que pueden constituirse en centros regionales de equilibrio y de regulación desde perspectivas demográficas y económicas.El propósito de este trabajo es analizar la dinámica demográfica y económica de la ciudad de Bahía Blanca, centro urbano intermedio localizado en el sudoeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, tomando en consideración las transformaciones ocurridas en el entorno rural, que incluyen nuevas actividades turísticas y recreativas.Se utilizaron datos censales e información proveniente de instituciones locales y regionales.

Detecção de Cucumber mosaic virus do subgrupo- IB em feijão-de-metro no estado do Pará.

O feijão-de-metro é uma hortaliça amplamente cultivada nos municípios da região metropolitana de Belém. Diversas doenças podem comprometer a sua produtividade, dentre elas as viroses. Recentemente, foi detectado o Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) em vagens de feijão-de-metro provenientes do município de Castanhal-PA. Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar o subgrupo do CMV detectado em vagens de feijão-de-metro, por meio de RT-PCR, sequenciamento do ácido nucléico e análise utilizando o programa Blast, ClustalW e MEGA 7.0. Para isso, foi feita a extração de ácidos nucleicos total a partir de folhas de fumo inoculado com o isolado. Posteriormente, foi realizado o RT-PCR utilizando os primers específicos (CMV-CPR e CMV-CPF). A partir da análise da filogenia foi observado que o isolado formou um clado com os acessos do subgrupo IB de CMV.

Primeiro relato de Tomato chlorotic spot virus em alface no estado do Pará.

A alface é uma hortaliça folhosa de grande importância econômica e social no Brasil, pois bastante cultivada por pequenos produtores e em hortas familiares. Isto ocorre principalmente pela facilidade que a cultura apresenta em se adaptar às mais diferentes condições. As doenças causadas por vírus são as principais responsáveis pelas perdas na produção na cultura, entre elas destacam-se as causadas por vírus do gênero Tospovirus. Durante visitas realizadas a áreas produtoras de hortaliças localizadas na região metropolitana de Belém-Pará, foi observada a alta incidência de plantas com sintomas de viroses. Assim, o trabalho teve como objetivo identificar o agente causal do vira cabeça da alface, por meio de RT-PCR e sequenciamento do ácido nucléico. Para isso, foi feita a extração de ácidos nucleicos total a partir de folhas de alface com sintoma de vira-cabeça e, posteriormente foi realizado o RT-PCR utilizando os primers universais para o gênero Tospovirus. O produto do PCR foi sequenciado e avaliado nos programas Blast, ClustalW e Mega 7.0. A partir da análise da filogenia foi observado que os isolados formaram um clado com os acessos da espécie Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV). Este foi o primeiro relato de TCSV em alface no Estado do Pará