Deciphering the minimum of energy of some walking technicolor models

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Measurement of energy flow at large pseudorapidities in pp collisions at root s=0.9 and 7 TeV

The energy flow, dE/d eta, is studied at large pseudorapidities in proton-proton collisions at the LHC, for centre-of-mass energies of 0.9 and 7 TeV. The measurements are made using the CMS detector in the pseudorapidity range 3:15 < vertical bar eta vertical bar < 4.9, for both minimum-bias events and events with at least two high-momentum jets. The data are compared to various pp Monte Carlo event generators whose theoretical models and input parameter values are sensitive to the energy-flow measurements. Inclusion of multiple-parton interactions in the Monte Carlo event generators is found to improve the description of the energy-flow measurements.

Dissipation as a mechanism of energy gain

Some properties of the annular billiard under the presence of weak dissipation are studied. We show, in a dissipative system, that the average energy of a particle acquires higher values than its average energy of the conservative case. The creation of attractors, associated with a chaotic dynamics in the conservative regime, both in appropriated regions of the phase space, constitute a generic mechanism to increase the average energy of dynamical systems.

Decay of energy and suppression of Fermi acceleration in a dissipative driven stadium-like billiard

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Postharvest conservation of the tuberous roots of Pachyrhizus Ahipa (Wedd) Parodi

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o período de armazenamento em diferentes temperaturas e embalagens na conservação das raízes de Pachyrhizus ahipa. As raízes foram colhidas, lavadas e armazenadas em bandejas de isopor, no refrigerador, câmara fria e à temperatura ambiente. As embalagens utilizadas foram PVC, saco plástico e sem embalagem (controle). As bandejas foram retiradas do seu ambiente de armazenamento e analisadas quanto a acidez total titulável, sólidos solúveis totais, pH, teores de cinzas, lipídios, carboidrato total e proteínas em base seca. A menor perda de massa das raízes foi em câmara fria e em saco plástico. A ATT manteve-se maior nas raízes armazenadas em câmara fria e na embalagem de PVC; os menores teores de SST foram observados em câmara fria não variando entre as embalagens. em todos os tratamentos a porcentagem média de carboidratos foi 84,9%. A porcentagem de lipídios foi maior nas raízes armazenadas em temperatura ambiente, entretanto, o teor de proteína e cinzas foram maiores nas armazenadas na geladeira. A melhor condição para o armazenamento das raízes é em câmara fria e embaladas com saco plástico, onde as raízes mantiveram a qualidade apropriada para comercialização durante até 30 dias de armazenamento.

Potential of municipal solid waste (MSW) as a source of energy in São Paulo: Its impact on CO2 balance

Energy generation is needed in São Paulo and MSW represents a promising alternative, although it is more expensive than hydroelectric power. About 14 900 t/day of MSW is generated, of which 8433 t/day is domestic and commercial MSW. From this amount, 1800 t will be destined to generate 30 MW of power. The eco-balance of CO2 has been considered for incineration and recycling. The recycling program of plastics, metals, paper and glass would represent a significant reduction in energy and CO2 emission. The total CO2 released is 3.34 x 10(5) t/yr without recycling. and is 1.25 x 10(5) t/yr with a recycling program. Most of the CO2 comes from plastics and paper production. Economic aspects could probably favor Incineration with energy production as the best option. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

RH maps of bovine chromosomes 15 and 29: conservation of human chromosomes 11 and 5

Comparative mapping data on evolutionary conserved coding sequences and synteny maps between human and cattle are insufficient to define the extent and distribution of conserved segments between these two species, because the order of loci is often rearranged. A 5000-rad cattle whole-genome radiation hybrid (WG-RH) panel was constructed to provide high-resolution comparative maps and also to integrate linkage maps of microsatellites with evolutionary conserved genes and transcripts in a single ordered map. We used the WG-RH panel to construct radiation hybrid maps of bovine Chromosomes (Chrs) 15 and 29 (BTA15 and BTA29), integrating microsatellites from published linkage maps with selected genes. The comprehensive map of BTA15 consists of 24 markers. 13 of which were placed in the framework map. Eleven molecular markers compose the comprehensive map of BTA29. seven of which were placed in the framework map. We identified the homologous regions between bovine Chr 15 (BTA15) and human Chrs 5 and 11 (HSA5 and HSA11), as well as between BTA29 and HSA11, the present study demonstrates that WG-RH mapping is an efficient method for integrating multiple genetic maps into one map and for incorporating monomorphic Type I loci into ordered maps for comparison between species.

Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone is induced by cold exposure and participates in the control of energy expenditure in rats

Short-term cold exposure of homeothermic animals leads to higher thermogenesis and food consumption accompanied by weight loss. An analysis of cDNA-macroarray was employed to identify candidate mRNA species that encode proteins involved in thermogenic adaptation to cold. A cDNA-macroarray analysis, confirmed by RT-PCR, immunoblot, and RIA, revealed that the hypothalamic expression of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is enhanced by exposure of rats to cold environment. The blockade of hypothalamic MCH expression by antisense MCH oligonucleotide in cold-exposed rats promoted no changes in feeding behavior and body temperature. However, MCH blockade led to a significant drop in body weight, which was accompanied by decreased liver glycogen, increased relative body fat, increased absolute and relative interscapular brown adipose tissue mass, increased uncoupling protein 1 expression in brown adipose tissue, and increased consumption of lean body mass. Thus, increased hypothalamic MCH expression in rats exposed to cold may participate in the process that allows for efficient use of energy for heat production during thermogenic adaptation to cold.

TOURISM IN CAVES and THE CONSERVATION of THE SPELEOLOGICAL HERITAGE: THE CASE of SERRA da BODOQUENA (MATO GROSSO do SUL STATE, BRAZIL)

Heros Augusto Santos Lobo & Edvaldo Cesar Moretti: Tourism in Caves and the Conservation of the Speleological Heritage: The case of Serra da Bodoquena (Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil)The Serra da Bodoquena is the region in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil in which the Municipality of Bonito is located. This municipality is the primary calling card for tourism in the state and is one of the most developed areas of ecotourism and speleotourism in the country The tourism there is entitled ecotourism, and is designed to be sustainable. The present case study focuses on the ecologically Sustainable aspects of the spleotourism practiced there, especially the proposals for tourist carrying capacity adopted. The results and discussion provide Suggestions for the adoption of a different formulation of carrying capacity focusing on both operational and quantitative aspects. Ecologically Sustainable speleotourism in the Serra da Bodoquena should be possible as long as new proposals limiting visitation are adopted which conform to technical environmental management procedures and consider the interests of local stakeholders.

Contributions of ethnobiology to the conservation of tropical rivers and streams

1. This study aimed to link basic ethnobiological research on local ecological knowledge (LEK) to the conservation of Brazilian streams, based on two case studies: original data on LEK of fishermen about freshwater fish in the Negro River, Amazon, and previously published data about LEK of farmers on the ecological relationship between forest and streams in the Macabuzinho catchment, Atlantic Forest.2. Information was obtained from fishermen through interviews using standard questionnaires containing open-ended questions. Informants for interview were selected either following some defined criteria or applying the 'snowball' method.3. Fishermen's LEK about the diets and habitats of 14 fish species in the Negro River provided new biological information on plant species that are eaten by fish, in addition to confirming some ecological patterns from the biological literature, such as dependence of fish on forests as food sources.4. In the Atlantic Forest, a comparison between farmers' LEK and a rapid stream assessment in the farmers' properties indicated that farmers tended to overestimate the ecological integrity of their streams. Farmers recognized at least 11 forest attributes that correspond to the scientific concept of ecosystem services. Such information may be useful to promote or enhance dialogue among farmers, scientists and managers.5. These results may contribute to the devising of ecosystem management measures in the Negro River, aimed to conserve both rivers and their associated floodplain forests, involving local fishermen. In the Atlantic Forest, we proposed some initiatives, such as to allow direct economic use of their forests to conciliate conflicting perceptions of farmers about ecological benefits versus economic losses from reforestation. Despite their cultural, environmental and geographical differences, the two study cases are complementary and cost-effective and promising approaches to including LEK in the design of ecological research. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the conservation of ants and their use as bioindicators.

Ant communities are sensitive to fragmentation responding through: extinction of specialist species compared with large habitats, invasion of generalist species, changes in community composition and richness of species. Because of these characteristics, this review aims at examining the main risks that ants have been facing to maintain their communities, as well as to report current conservation practices in Brazil and in the world.

Ecology and conservation of the jacutinga Pipile jacutinga in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

The jacutinga Pipile jacutinga was formerly one of the most abundant game bird cracids in the Atlantic forest of Brazil. Nowadays this species is vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. The ecology of the jacutinga was studied at Parque Estadual Intervales, Sao Paulo, Brazil from October 1993 to December 1995 and in adjacent areas. Jacutingas were observed to feed mainly on the sugar-rich fruit of 41 species. We recorded a low index of abundance for the jacutinga (0.018) or c.1.7 birds/km2 at Intervales, one of the best protected areas within their range. Surveys carried out in the Atlantic forest of Sao Paulo found jacutinga populations in 14 localities. Probably < 1500 birds survive in the best protected areas. The species' stronghold in southeastern Brazil is in the mountains of Serra de Paranapiacaba, an area protected by several parks suffering from hunting and palm heart harvesting and threatened by a hydroelectric project.

RAPD analysis in the Neotropical fish Brycon lundii: Genetic diversity and its implications for the conservation of the species

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to examine the genetic variability on an endangered Neotropical fish species, Brycon lundii, collected on two regions with distinct environmental conditions in the São Francisco River (Brazil), downstream from a hydroelectric station. Using decamer oligonucleotides as single primers in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), genetic similarity index, mean allele frequency and mean heterozigosity were estimated, revealing variations between samples from the two regions. Moreover, a fragment of about 1200 base pairs was found in 100% of the examined animals collected at the region closer to the hydroelectric dam, while its frequency was much lower (27.3%) within the sample from the second collecting site, 30 km downstream from the dam, indicating a possible correlation between genetic variation and geographical area. A dendogram representing the relationships among genotypes was obtained, demonstrating at least two major clusters of animals. Based on the data, a model of population structuring in Brycon lundii is suggested. The described approach holds great promise for further analyses and gives support to biodiversity maintenance and recovery efforts of B. lundii.