Black string corrections in variable tension braneworld scenarios

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Investigação dos efeitos tóxicos, mutagênicos e genotóxicos do herbicida Trifluralina, utilizando Allium cepa e Oreochromis niloticus como sistemas-testes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Simulação numérica do escoamento de jatos impingentes axissimétricos confinados

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização dos resíduos sólidos do serviço técnico de nutrição e dietética da Faculdade de Medicina - UNESP/Botucatu: uma contribuição para educação e gestão

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

3D stability orbits close to 433 Eros using an effective polyhedral model method

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da associação de polimorfismos no gene MC1R com cor de pele e cor de cabelo para fins forenses

Melanin is a very important pigment to human species, and besides defining skin, eyes and hair color, it is also involved in sun exposure protection. This pigment is classified into two subtypes: pheomelanin, which is responsible for lighter pigmentation and eumelanin, the dark pigment related. Due to this type of melanin variation it is possible to found different phenotypes of hair and skin color. The genetics MC1R variations are described as the most important for diversity in pigmentation, and this gene is directly related to the complex process of melanin synthesis. The use of these variations to phenotype prediction using genetic information has been used in Europe countries to infer physical features from biological samples, with the purpose of directing searches of criminal suspects and victims identification. The aim of this study was to analyze 8 major MC1R polymorphisms in a sample of Brazilian individuals. Analyzing 91 individuals, we observed with higher frequencies the polymorphisms rs1805005:G>T, rs2228479:G>A and rs885479:G>A, which are related to skin and hair colors, as previously showed in literature. These data suggest the possibility of predicting phenotype from genetic polymorphisms in Brazilian population. However it will be necessary to analyze a larger number of individuals to be able to confirm these associations and to perform a more detailed statistical analysis

Mineralogy of the clay fraction of alfisols in two slope curvatures: IV - spatial correlation with physical properties

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

Physical-chemical and thermodynamic analyses of ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production

Steam reforming is the most usual method of hydrogen production due to its high production efficiency and technological maturity the use of ethanol for this purpose is an interesting option because it is a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. The objective of this article is to present the physical-chemical, thermodynamic, and exergetic analysis of a steam reformer of ethanol, in order to produce 0.7 Nm(3)/h of hydrogen as feedstock of a 1 kW PEMFC the global reaction of ethanol is considered. Superheated ethanol reacts with steam at high temperatures producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, depending strongly on the thermodynamic conditions of reforming, as well as on the technical features of the reformer system and catalysts. The thermodynamic analysis shows the feasibility of this reaction in temperatures about 206 degrees C. Below this temperature, the reaction trends to the reactants. The advance degree increases with temperature and decreases with pressure. Optimal temperatures range between 600 and 700 degrees C. However, when the temperature attains 700 degrees C, the reaction stability occurs, that is, the hydrogen production attains the limit. For temperatures above 700 degrees C, the heat use is very high, involving high costs of production due to the higher volume of fuel or electricity used. The optimal pressure is 1 atm., e.g., at atmospheric pressure. The exergetic analysis shows that the lower irreversibility is attained for lower pressures. However the temperature changes do not affect significantly the irreversibilities. This analysis shows that the best thermodynamic conditions for steam reforming of ethanol are the same conditions suggested in the physical-chemical analysis.

Physical research in dynamized systems

The concept of dynamized medicines is commonly used in homeopathy. As a medical practice, homeopathy is based on clinical observations and experimental assays. In spite of the lack of a credible scientific explanation for its action mechanisms, clinical evidence has been collected since 200 years ago. This paper discusses the most important physical models related to dynamized systems, as well as some perspectives and consequences in studying such systems. While early theories dealt with structural changes in single solvent molecules, modern theories consider collective effects and self-organizing properties. The concept of information was recently introduced to model the capability of a dynamized system to interact with a biological organism, without a molecular agent being needed. The features and limitations of theoretical approaches, as well as experimental results are discussed. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier B.V. Ltd.

Local structure and near-infrared emission features of neodymium-based amine functionalized organic/inorganic hybrids

Nd3+-based organic/inorganic hybrids have potential application in the field of integrated optics. Attractive sol-gel derived di-urea and di-urethane cross-linked poly (oxyethylene) (POE)/siloxane hybrids (di-ureasils and di-urethanesils, respectively) doped with neodymium triflate (Nd(CF3SO3)(3)) were examined by Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR), Raman (FT-Raman), Si-29 magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and photoluminescence spectroscopies, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The goals of this work were to determine which cation coordinating site of the host matrix (ether oxygen atoms or carbonyl oxygen atoms) is active in each of the materials analyzed, its influence on the nanostructure of the samples and its relation with the photoluminescence properties. The main conclusion derived from this study is that the hydrogen-bonded associations formed throughout the materials play a major role in the hybrids nanostructure and photoluminescence properties.

Heritability Estimate and Genetic Correlations of Reproductive Features in Nellore Bulls, Offspring of Super Precocious, Precocious and Normal Cows Under Extensive Farming Conditions

The present work aimed to estimate heritability and genetic correlations of reproductive features of Nellore bulls, offspring of mothers classified as superprecocious (M1), precocious (M2) and normal (M3). Twenty one thousand hundred and eighty-six animals with average age of 21.29 months were used, evaluated through the breeding soundness evaluation from 1999 to 2008. The breeding soundness features included physical semen evaluation (progressive sperm motility and sperm vigour), semen morphology (major, minor and total sperm defects), scrotal circumference (SC), testicular volume (TV) and SC at 18 months of age (SC18). The components of variance, heritability and genetic correlations for and between the features were estimated simultaneously by restricted maximum likelihood, with the use of the vce software system vs 6. The heritability estimates were high for SC18, SC and TV (0.43, 0.63 and 0.54; 0.45, 0.45 and 0.44; 0.42, 0.45 and 0.41, respectively for the categories of mothers M1, M2 and M3) and low for physical and morphological semen aspects. The genetic correlations between SC18 and SC were high, as well as between these variables with TV. High and positive genetic correlations were recorded among SC18, SC and TV with the physical aspects of the semen, although no favourable association was verified with the morphological aspects, for the three categories of mothers. It can be concluded that the mothers sexual precocity did not affect the heritability of their offspring reproduction features.

Habitat heterogeneity and use of physical acoustic space in anuran communities in southeastern Brazil.

We intended to verify if structural and physiognomical characteristics of water bodies influence on the degree of overlap among calling sites of 23 anurans species, if anuran species use different calling sites in different water bodies, and if there is some relationship between the degree of advertisement call (based on seven call features) and calling site differentiation. Then, we determined calling sites (based in four variables) and recorded the advertisement call for anuran species that occurred in 10 water bodies of northwestern São Paulo State. We also determined the environmental heterogeneity (based in four environmental descriptors) for each water body. Males of most species used similar calling sites in each water body, probably because of the high uniformity of the environment, as a consequence of agricultural impacts on edge vegetation of the studied ponds. Most species (18 out of 19 species) called from different sites in the ponds where they occurred, which can be associated with differences in horizontal and vertical distribution of vegetation in the studied ponds. From the 19 species analyzed, only males of Pseudopaludicola aff. saltica called in sites with the same characteristics in different ponds. Advertisement call of Hylidae species was more similar to each other than were Leiuperidae and Leptodactylidae among themselves. The aquatic/terrestrial anurans (Bufonidae, Leiuperidae, Leptodactylidae and Microhylidae) occupied similar calling sites but presented quite distinct advertisement calls, while Hylidae species presented an inverse pattern: a high similarity on advertisement call features but used different calling sites, which indicates a niche complementarity between physical (calling site use) and acoustic (advertisement call) space use.

Physical-chemical and thermodynamic analyses of steam reforming of ethanol to hydrogen production

The steam reforming is one of most utilized process of hydrogen production because of its high production efficiencies and its technological maturity. The use of ethanol for this purpose is a interesting option because this is a renewable and less environmentally offensive fuel. The objective of this study is evaluate the physical-chemical, thermodynamic and environmental analyses of steam reforming of ethanol. whose objective is to produce 0.7 Nm3/h of hydrogen to be used by a PEMFC of l kW. In this physical-chemical analysis, a global reaction of ethanol was considered. That is, the superheated ethanol and steam, at high temperatures, react to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Beyond it's the simplest form to study the steam reforming of ethanol to hydrogen production, it's the case where occurs the highest production of hydrogen (the product to be used by fuel cells) and carbon dioxide, to be eliminated. But this reaction isn't real and depends greatly on the thermodynamic conditions of reforming, technical features of reformer system and catalysts. Other products generally formed (but not investigated in this study) are methane, carbon monoxide, among others. It was observed that the products is commonly produced in the moment when the reaction attains temperatures about 206°C (below this temperature, the reaction trend to the reaetants, that is, from hydrogen and carbon dioxide to steam and ethanol) and the advance degree of this reaction increases when the temperature of reaction also increases and when its pressure decreases. It's suggested reactions at about 600°C or higher. However, when the temperature attains 700°C, the stability of this reaction is occurred, that is, the production of reaction productions attains to the limit, that is the highest possible production. In temperatures above 700°C, the use of energy is very high for produce more products, having higher costs of production that the suggested temperature. The indicated pressure is 1 atm., a value that allows a desirable economy of energy that would also be used for pressurization or depressurization of steam reformer. In exergetic analysis, it's seem that the lower irreversibililies occur when the pressure of reactions are lower. However, the temperature changes don't affect significantly the irreversibilites. Utilizing the obtained results from this analysis, it was concluded that the best thermodynamic conditions for steam reforming of ethanol is the same conditions suggested in the physical-chemical analysis. The exergetic and first law efficiencies are high on the thermodynamie conditions studied.

Habitat heterogeneity and use of physical and acoustic space in anuran communities in Southeastern Brazil

Habitat heterogeneity and use of physical and acoustic space in anuran communities in Southeastern Brazil. We intended to verify if structural and physiognomical characteristics of water bodies influence on the degree of overlap among calling sites of 23 anurans species, if anuran species use different calling sites in different water bodies, and if there is some relationship between the degree of advertisement call (based on seven call features) and calling site differentiation. Then, we determined calling sites (based in four variables) and recorded the advertisement call for anuran species that occurred in 10 water bodies of northwestern São Paulo State. We also determined the environmental heterogeneity (based in four environmental descriptors) for each water body. Males of most species used similar calling sites in each water body, probably because of the high uniformity of the environment, as a consequence of agricultural impacts on edge vegetation of the studied ponds. Most species (18 out of 19 species) called from different sites in the ponds where they occurred, which can be associated with differences in horizontal and vertical distribution of vegetation in the studied ponds. From the 19 species analyzed, only males of Pseudopaludicola aff. saltica called in sites with the same characteristics in different ponds. Advertisement call of Hylidae species was more similar to each other than were Leiuperidae and Leptodactylidae among themselves. The aquatic/terrestrial anurans (Bufonidae, Leiuperidae, Leptodactylidae and Microhylidae) occupied similar calling sites but presented quite distinct advertisement calls, while Hylidae species presented an inverse pattern: a high similarity on advertisement call features but used different calling sites, which indicates a niche complementarity between physical (calling site use) and acoustic (advertisement call) space use. © 2008 Departamento de Ciências Biológicas.

Physical and chemical matrix effects in soil carbon quantification using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

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