Are there signs of change in gendered language use in children's early reading material?

In this study we investigate the relative frequencies of female and male terms in early reading material for children using the Children’s Printed Word Database as a resource. As roles of females and males have changed over time it is of interest to see if there has been a corresponding change in representations of females and males in children’s books. We carried out analyses regarding different words related to gender. Except for nouns referring to relatives, we found in all word groups a preponderance of male terms. The imbalance of male and female pronouns is equivalent to that reported by Carroll, Davies, and Richman (1971) in a frequency count of printed words in children’s book in the USA conducted some 40 years ago. The results are discussed in terms of gender inequality in reading materials and the development of social mores and stereotypical ideas.

Model-based changes in global annual mean surface temperature change (Delta T_g) and radiative forcing due to land ice albedo changes (Delta R_[LI]) over the last 5 Myr, supplementary material

It is still an open question how equilibrium warming in response to increasing radiative forcing - the specific equilibrium climate sensitivity S - depends on background climate. We here present palaeodata-based evidence on the state dependency of S, by using CO2 proxy data together with a 3-D ice-sheet-model-based reconstruction of land ice albedo over the last 5 million years (Myr). We find that the land ice albedo forcing depends non-linearly on the background climate, while any non-linearity of CO2 radiative forcing depends on the CO2 data set used. This non-linearity has not, so far, been accounted for in similar approaches due to previously more simplistic approximations, in which land ice albedo radiative forcing was a linear function of sea level change. The latitudinal dependency of ice-sheet area changes is important for the non-linearity between land ice albedo and sea level. In our set-up, in which the radiative forcing of CO2 and of the land ice albedo (LI) is combined, we find a state dependence in the calculated specific equilibrium climate sensitivity, S[CO2,LI], for most of the Pleistocene (last 2.1 Myr). During Pleistocene intermediate glaciated climates and interglacial periods, S[CO2,LI] is on average ~ 45 % larger than during Pleistocene full glacial conditions. In the Pliocene part of our analysis (2.6-5 Myr BP) the CO2 data uncertainties prevent a well-supported calculation for S[CO2,LI], but our analysis suggests that during times without a large land ice area in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. before 2.82 Myr BP), the specific equilibrium climate sensitivity, S[CO2,LI], was smaller than during interglacials of the Pleistocene. We thus find support for a previously proposed state change in the climate system with the widespread appearance of northern hemispheric ice sheets. This study points for the first time to a so far overlooked non-linearity in the land ice albedo radiative forcing, which is important for similar palaeodata-based approaches to calculate climate sensitivity. However, the implications of this study for a suggested warming under CO2 doubling are not yet entirely clear since the details of necessary corrections for other slow feedbacks are not fully known and the uncertainties that exist in the ice-sheet simulations and global temperature reconstructions are large.

Supplementary material: XRF core scanning data, CaCO3 values, foraminiferal carbon and oxygen isotope data, Mg/Ca data, clay mineralogy and helium isotope results

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM; ~56 Ma) is associated with abrupt climate change, carbon cycle perturbation, ocean acidification, as well as biogeographic shifts in marine and terrestrial biota that were largely reversed as the climatic transient waned. We report a clear exception to the behavior of the PETM as a reversing climatic transient in the eastern North Atlantic (Deep-Sea Drilling Project Site 401, Bay of Biscay) where the PETM initiates a greatly prolonged environmental change compared to other places on Earth where records exist. The observed environmental perturbation extended well past the d13C recovery phase and up to 650 kyr after the PETM onset according to our extraterrestrial 3He-based age-model. We observe a strong decoupling of planktic foraminiferal d18O and Mg/Ca values during the PETM d13C recovery phase, which in combination with results from helium isotopes and clay mineralogy, suggests that the PETM triggered a hydrologic change in western Europe that increased freshwater flux and the delivery of weathering products to the eastern North Atlantic. This state change persisted long after the carbon-cycle perturbation had stopped. We hypothesize that either long-lived continental drainage patterns were altered by enhanced hydrological cycling induced by the PETM, or alternatively that the climate system in the hinterland area of Site 401 was forced into a new climate state that was not easily reversed in the aftermath of the PETM.

Lake Baikal amphipods under climate change: Thermal constraints and ecological consequences, links to supplementary material

Lake Baikal, the world's most voluminous freshwater lake, has experienced unprecedented warming during the last decades. A uniquely diverse amphipod fauna inhabits the littoral zone and can serve as a model system to identify the role of thermal tolerance under climate change. This study aimed to identify sublethal thermal constraints in two of the most abundant endemic Baikal amphipods, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus and Eulimnogammarus cyaneus, and Gammarus lacustris, a ubiquitous gammarid of the Holarctic. As the latter is only found in some shallow isolated bays of the lake, we further addressed the question whether rising temperatures could promote the widespread invasion of this non-endemic species into the littoral zone. Animals were exposed to gradual temperature increases (4 week, 0.8 °C/d; 24 h, 1 °C/h) starting from the reported annual mean temperature of the Baikal littoral (6 °C). Within the framework of oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance (OCLTT), we used a nonlinear regression approach to determine the points at which the changing temperature-dependence of relevant physiological processes indicates the onset of limitation. Limitations in ventilation representing the first limits of thermal tolerance (pejus (= "getting worse") temperatures (Tp)) were recorded at 10.6 (95% confidence interval; 9.5, 11.7), 19.1 (17.9, 20.2), and 21.1 (19.8, 22.4) °C in E. verrucosus, E. cyaneus, and G. lacustris, respectively. Field observations revealed that E. verrucosus retreated from the upper littoral to deeper and cooler waters once its Tp was surpassed, identifying Tp as the ecological thermal boundary. Constraints in oxygen consumption at higher than critical temperatures (Tc) led to an exponential increase in mortality in all species. Exposure to short-term warming resulted in higher threshold values, consistent with a time dependence of thermal tolerance. In conclusion, species-specific limits to oxygen supply capacity are likely key in the onset of constraining (beyond pejus) and then life-threatening (beyond critical) conditions. Ecological consequences of these limits are mediated through behavioral plasticity in E. verrucosus. However, similar upper thermal limits in E. cyaneus (endemic, Baikal) and G. lacustris (ubiquitous, Holarctic) indicate that the potential invader G. lacustris would not necessarily benefit from rising temperatures. Secondary effects of increasing temperatures remain to be investigated.

Calcium isotope ratios of pore fluids and solid phase of organic rich sediments

Pore fluid calcium isotope, calcium concentration and strontium concentration data are used to measure the rates of diagenetic dissolution and precipitation of calcite in deep-sea sediments containing abundant clay and organic material. This type of study of deep-sea sediment diagenesis provides unique information about the ultra-slow chemical reactions that occur in natural marine sediments that affect global geochemical cycles and the preservation of paleo-environmental information in carbonate fossils. For this study, calcium isotope ratios (d44/40Ca) of pore fluid calcium from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Sites 984 (North Atlantic) and 1082 (off the coast of West Africa) were measured to augment available pore fluid measurements of calcium and strontium concentration. Both study sites have high sedimentation rates and support quantitative sulfate reduction, methanogenesis and anaerobic methane oxidation. The pattern of change of d44/40Ca of pore fluid calcium versus depth at Sites 984 and 1082 differs markedly from that of previously studied deep-sea Sites like 590B and 807, which are composed of nearly pure carbonate sediment. In the 984 and 1082 pore fluids, d44/40Ca remains elevated near seawater values deep in the sediments, rather than shifting rapidly toward the d44/40Ca of carbonate solids. This observation indicates that the rate of calcite dissolution is far lower than at previously studied carbonate-rich sites. The data are fit using a numerical model, as well as more approximate analytical models, to estimate the rates of carbonate dissolution and precipitation and the relationship of these rates to the abundance of clay and organic material. Our models give mutually consistent results and indicate that calcite dissolution rates at Sites 984 and 1082 are roughly two orders of magnitude lower than at previously studied carbonate-rich sites, and the rate correlates with the abundance of clay. Our calculated rates are conservative for these sites (the actual rates could be significantly slower) because other processes that impact the calcium isotope composition of sedimentary pore fluid have not been included. The results provide direct geochemical evidence for the anecdotal observation that the best-preserved carbonate fossils are often found in clay or organic-rich sedimentary horizons. The results also suggest that the presence of clay minerals has a strong passivating effect on the surfaces of biogenic carbonate minerals, slowing dissolution dramatically even in relation to the already-slow rates typical of carbonate-rich sediments.

Geotechnical Analysis of Contaminated Sand by Light Non-Aquous Phase Liquids

Contaminated soil reuse was investigated, with higher profusion, throughout the early 90’s, coinciding with the 1991 Gulf War, when efforts to amend large crude oil releases began in geotechnical assessment of contaminated soils. Isolated works referring to geotechnical testing with hydrocarbon ground contaminants are described in the state-of-the-art, which have been extended to other type of contaminated soil references. Contaminated soils by light non-aquous phase liquids (LNAPL) bearing capacity reduction has been previously investigated from a forensic point of view. To date, all the research works have been published based on the assumption of constant contaminant saturation for the entire soil mass. In contrast, the actual LNAPLs distribution plumes exhibit complex flow patterns which are subject to physical and chemical changes with time and distance travelled from the release source. This aspect has been considered along the present text. A typical Madrid arkosic soil formation is commonly known as Miga sand. Geotechnical tests have been carried out, with Miga sand specimens, in incremental series of LNAPL concentrations in order to observe the soil engineering properties variation due to a contamination increase. Results are discussed in relation with previous studies and as a matter of fact, soil mechanics parameters change in the presence of LNAPL, showing different tendencies according to each test and depending on the LNAPL content, as well as to the specimen’s initially planned relative density, dense or loose. Geotechnical practical implications are also commented on and analyzed. Variation on geotechnical properties may occur only within the external contour of contamination distribution plume. This scope has motivated the author to develop a physical model based on transparent soil technology. The model aims to reproduce the distribution of LNAPL into the ground due to an accidental release from a storage facility. Preliminary results indicate that the model is a potentially complementary tool for hydrogeological applications, site-characterization and remediation treatment testing within the framework of soil pollution events. A description of the test setup of an innovative three dimensional physical model for the flow of two or more phases, in porous media, is presented herein, along with a summary of the advantages, limitations and future applications for modeling with transparent material. En los primeros años de la década de los años 90, del siglo pasado, coincidiendo con la Guerra del Golfo en 1991, se investigó intensamente sobre la reutilización de suelos afectados por grandes volúmenes de vertidos de crudo, fomentándose la evaluación geotécnica de los suelos contaminados. Se describen, en el estado del arte de esta tésis, una serie de trabajos aislados en relación con la caracterización geotécnica de suelos contaminados con hidrocarburos, descripción ampliada mediante referencias relacionadas con otros tipos de contaminación de suelos. Existen estudios previos de patología de cimentaciones que analizan la reducción de la capacidad portante de suelos contaminados por hidrocarburos líquidos ligeros en fase no acuosa (acrónimo en inglés: LNAPL de “Liquid Non-Aquous Phase Liquid”). A fecha de redacción de la tesis, todas las publicaciones anteriores estaban basadas en la consideración de una saturación del contaminante constante en toda la extensión del terreno de cimentación. La distribución real de las plumas de contaminante muestra, por el contrario, complejas trayectorias de flujo que están sujetas a cambios físico-químicos en función del tiempo y la distancia recorrida desde su origen de vertido. Éste aspecto ha sido considerado y tratado en el presente texto. La arena de Miga es una formación geológica típica de Madrid. En el ámbito de esta tesis se han desarrollado ensayos geotécnicos con series de muestras de arena de Miga contaminadas con distintas concentraciones de LNAPL con el objeto de estimar la variación de sus propiedades geotécnicas debido a un incremento de contaminación. Se ha realizado una evaluación de resultados de los ensayos en comparación con otros estudios previamente analizados, resultando que las propiedades mecánicas del suelo, efectivamente, varían en función del contenido de LNAPL y de la densidad relativa con la que se prepare la muestra, densa o floja. Se analizan y comentan las implicaciones de carácter práctico que supone la mencionada variación de propiedades geotécnicas. El autor ha desarrollado un modelo físico basado en la tecnología de suelos transparentes, considerando que las variaciones de propiedades geotécnicas únicamente deben producirse en el ámbito interior del contorno de la pluma contaminante. El objeto del modelo es el de reproducir la distribución de un LNAPL en un terreno dado, causada por el vertido accidental de una instalación de almecenamiento de combustible. Los resultados preliminares indican que el modelo podría emplearse como una herramienta complementaria para el estudio de eventos contaminantes, permitiendo el desarrollo de aplicaciones de carácter hidrogeológico, caracterización de suelos contaminados y experimentación de tratamientos de remediación. Como aportación de carácter innovadora, se presenta y describe un modelo físico tridimensional de flujo de dos o más fases a través de un medio poroso transparente, analizándose sus ventajas e inconvenientes así como sus limitaciones y futuras aplicaciones.

Caracterización de la cerámica para su empleo como material de enfriamiento evaporativo en la envolvente de los edificios = Ceramic characterization towards its application as evaporative cooling material in building envelopes

El presente trabajo de investigación determina las características de la cerámica que más eficientemente se comporta a evaporación y a enfriamiento. Con el objeto de ser empleado como material integrado en la envolvente de los edificios para reducir su carga de refrigeración. La cerámica es un buen material para ser empleado para la refrigeración por evaporación. Es un sólido poroso inerte que, tras ser sometido a cocción a temperaturas por encima de los 900ºC, resulta uno de los materiales que mejor se comportan como contenedor de agua en su red capilar para, posteriormente, ir liberándola por evaporación al mismo tiempo que se enfría su superficie. La metodología general de investigación, se divide en tres etapas: Búsqueda y análisis del estado de la técnica y de la investigación. Estudio teórico de la eficacia del enfriamiento evaporativo como estrategia de enfriamiento pasivo en la arquitectura. Etapa experimental, desarrollada en tres fases: una primera de definición de los parámetros determinantes del Enfriamiento Evaporativo en piezas cerámicas, una segunda de selección cerámica y diseño de ensayos experimentales y una tercera de caracterización de la cerámica bajo criterios de evaporación y de enfriamiento. El recorrido por el estado de la cuestión ha identificado las aplicaciones tecnológicas y las investigaciones científicas que emplean el Enfriamiento Evaporativo con piezas cerámicas como técnica de enfriamiento. Como resultado se ha obtenido una tabla de clasificación de sistemas de enfriamiento evaporativo y se ha constatado que el conjunto de las aplicaciones están centradas en el diseño de piezas o sistemas pero que, sin embargo, no existe una definición de las características de la cerámica para su empleo como material de enfriamiento por evaporación. El estudio teórico de la eficacia del empleo del enfriamiento evaporativo como estrategia de enfriamiento pasivo en la arquitectura se ha realizado mediante cálculos de porcentaje de ampliación de horas en confort con empleo de técnicas de enfriamiento evaporativo directo e indirecto (EED y EEI). Como resultado se obtienen unos mapas para el ámbito español de potencial de aplicación del EED y EEI. Los resultados permiten afirmar que mediante EE se puede llegar a confort en prácticamente la totalidad de las horas de los días más cálidos del año en muchas localidades. La metodología experimental se ha desarrollado en tres fases. En la fase inicial, se han definido los parámetros determinantes del enfriamiento evaporativo en un medio cerámico mediante ensayos experimentales de capacidad de evaporación y de caracterización. Se realizaron un total de 12 ensayos. Se determinó que el material cerámico tiene una gran influencia en la capacidad de evaporación y enfriamiento en las piezas cerámicas, apoyando la hipótesis inicial y la necesidad de caracterizar el material. La primera fase empírica se centró en la selección cerámica y el diseño de los ensayos experimentales de comportamiento hídrico. Se seleccionaron muestras de 5 tipos de cerámica. Se realizaron 4 tipos de ensayos de caracterización y 6 tipos de ensayos experimentales de comportamiento hídrico (total 123 muestras ensayadas). Los resultados obtenidos son de dos tipos, por un lado, se determinó cuál es el tipo de cerámica que más eficientemente se comporta a EE y, por otro, se rediseñaron los ensayos de la última fase experimental. Para la segunda fase experimental se seleccionaron cerámicas de fabricación manual abarcando el mayor número de localidades del ámbito español. Se realizaron ensayos de caracterización de 7 tipos y ensayos de comportamiento hídrico de 5 tipos (total 197 muestras ensayadas). Los resultados de caracterización han permitido aportar unos rangos de las características de la cerámica que más eficientemente se comporta en los ensayos de comportamiento hídrico. Al final de la investigación se ha caracterizado el material cerámico aportando características acerca de su porosidad, capacidad de absorción, color, rugosidad y mineralogía. Así como datos de referencia de su comportamiento hídrico. Además se ha desarrollado una metodología de ensayo específica que permite evaluar la capacidad de enfriamiento eficiente de una pieza cerámica. ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics of ceramic materials having the most efficient performance in terms of evaporation and cooling, so that they can be integrated in building envelopes to reduce cooling loads. Ceramics are suitable materials for cooling through passive evaporation. After being fired at temperatures over 900 °C (1,652 °F), the capillary network of this inert porous medium turns to be excellent to retain water, which is progressively liberated by evaporation while the material surface gets colder. Research methodology has involved the following steps: Search and analysis on the state of the art in technology and research. Theoretical study on the efficiency of evaporation as passive cooling strategies in buildings. Experimental stage developed in three phases, namely: definition of parameters determining evaporative cooling in ceramic elements; ceramic selection and design of experimental tests; characterization of ceramic materials under evaporation and cooling criteria. Search and analysis on the state of the art in this field have been useful to identify technology applications and scientific research where ceramics are employed for evaporative cooling. The resulting table shows that applications are wholly focused on the design of pieces and systems. Nonetheless, there is lack of definition of material characteristics in this scope. The theoretical study on efficiency of the passive strategy applied to buildings has been realized by calculation of the percentage increase in comfort hours through direct/indirect evaporative cooling techniques (DEC/IEC). The mapping of their potential application in Spain clearly shows that comfort conditions can be reached in almost all the hours of the hottest days in many towns. In the initial phase of the experimental stage, parameters determining evaporative cooling in ceramic media have been defined. For this purpose, characterization tests and evaporation and cooling rates experiments have been carried out; the number of samples tested amounted to 12. It has been concluded that material characteristics have great influence on these rates, which supports the initial hypothesis and the need for their characterization. The first empirical phase has focused on ceramic selection and design of water behaviour experimental methods. The samples covered five different kinds of ceramic materials. Four different characterization tests and six different water behaviour experiments were carried out; the number of samples tested amounted to 123. The experimental testing procedures served to determine the most efficient types of ceramic materials in terms of evaporative cooling efficiency and, at the same time, made it necessary to change the original designed experimental test for the last phase. In the second phase, a number of varied hand-made ceramic tiles have been selected. Seven different characterization tests and five different water behaviour tests were carried out; the number of samples amounted to 197. The results of characterization served to establish a range of features in ceramic materials according to their efficiency in water behaviour experiments. Finally, ceramic materials have been characterized according to porosity, water absorption, colour, surface roughness and mineralogy. Also, reference data regarding water behaviour have been included. Moreover, an innovative and specific experimental test to evaluate cooling efficiency of ceramic tiles has been developed.

Phase progression throughout the therapeutic process : longitudinal case studies

Tese de doutoramento, Psicologia (Psicologia Clínica), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 2016

What is second-order vision for? Discriminating illumination versus material changes

The human visual system is sensitive to second-order modulations of the local contrast (CM) or amplitude (AM) of a carrier signal. Second-order cues are detected independently of first-order luminance signals; however, it is not clear why vision should benet from second-order sensitivity. Analysis of the first-and second-order contents of natural images suggests that these cues tend to occur together, but their phase relationship varies. We have shown that in-phase combinations of LM and AM are perceived as a shaded corrugated surface whereas the anti-phase combination can be seen as corrugated when presented alone or as a flat material change when presented in a plaid containing the in-phase cue. We now extend these findings using new stimulus types and a novel haptic matching task. We also introduce a computational model based on initially separate first-and second-order channels that are combined within orientation and subsequently across orientation to produce a shading signal. Contrast gain control allows the LM + AM cue to suppress responses to the LM-AM when presented in a plaid. Thus, the model sees LM -AM as flat in these circumstances. We conclude that second-order vision plays a key role in disambiguating the origin of luminance changes within an image. © ARVO.

Supporting data for Blossey et al (2016): CGILS Phase 2 LES intercomparison of response of subtropical marine low cloud regimes to CO2 quadrupling and a CMIP3-composite forcing change

This archive provides supporting data with forcings, data and plotting scripts for the paper P. N. Blossey, C. S. Bretherton, A. Cheng, S. Endo, T. Heus, A. Lock and J. J. van der Dussen, 2016. CGILS Phase 2 LES intercomparison of response of subtropical marine low cloud regimes to CO2 quadrupling and a CMIP3-composite forcing change. J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., Under revision.

Predictions of J integral and tensile strength of clay/epoxy nanocomposites material using phase field model

We predict macroscopic fracture related material parameters of fully exfoliated clay/epoxy nano- composites based on their fine scale features. Fracture is modeled by a phase field approach which is implemented as user subroutines UEL and UMAT in the commercial finite element software Abaqus. The phase field model replaces the sharp discontinuities with a scalar damage field representing the diffuse crack topology through controlling the amount of diffusion by a regularization parameter. Two different constitutive models for the matrix and the clay platelets are used; the nonlinear coupled system con- sisting of the equilibrium equation and a diffusion-type equation governing the phase field evolution are solved via a NewtoneRaphson approach. In order to predict the tensile strength and fracture toughness of the clay/epoxy composites we evaluated the J integral for different specimens with varying cracks. The effect of different geometry and material parameters, such as the clay weight ratio (wt.%) and the aspect ratio of clay platelets are studied.

Elevated Cetp Activity During Acute Phase Of Myocardial Infarction Is Independently Associated With Endothelial Dysfunction And Adverse Clinical Outcome.

Recent data suggests that cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity may interact with acute stress conditions via inflammatory-oxidative response and thrombogenesis. We investigated this assumption in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Consecutive patients with STEMI (n = 116) were enrolled <24-h of symptoms onset and were followed for 180 days. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), 8-isoprostane, nitric oxide (NOx) and CETP activity were measured at enrollment (D1) and at fifth day (D5). Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed by ultrasound and coronary thrombus burden (CTB) was evaluated by angiography. Neither baseline nor the change of CETP activity from D1 to D5 was associated with CRP, IL-2, TNFα, 8-isoprostane levels or CTB. The rise in NOx from D1 to D5 was inferior [3.5(-1; 10) vs. 5.5(-1; 12); p < 0.001] and FMD was lower [5.9(5.5) vs. 9.6(6.6); p = 0.047] in patients with baseline CETP activity above the median value than in their counterparts. Oxidized HDL was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in isolated HDL particles and increased from D1 to D5, and remaining elevated at D30. The change in TBARS content in HDL was associated with CETP activity (r = 0.72; p = 0.014) and FMD (r = -0.61; p = 0.046). High CETP activity at admission was associated with the incidence of sudden death and recurrent MI at 30 days (OR 12.8; 95% CI 1.25-132; p = 0.032) and 180 days (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.03-10.7; p = 0.044). An enhanced CETP activity during acute phase of STEMI is independently associated with endothelial dysfunction and adverse clinical outcome.

Towards A Deeper Understanding Of Structural Biomass Recalcitrance Using Phase-contrast Tomography.

The development of technological routes to convert lignocellulosic biomass to liquid fuels requires an in-depth understanding of the cell wall architecture of substrates. Essential pretreatment processes are conducted to reduce biomass recalcitrance and usually increase the reactive surface area. Quantitative three-dimensional information about both bulk and surface structural features of substrates needs to be obtained to expand our knowledge of substrates. In this work, phase-contrast tomography (PCT) was used to gather information about the structure of a model lignocellulosic biomass (piassava fibers). The three-dimensional cellular organization of piassava fibers was characterized by PCT using synchrotron radiation. This technique enabled important physical features that describe the substrate piassava fibers to be visualized and quantified. The external surface area of a fiber and internal surface area of the pores in a fiber could be determined separately. More than 96% of the overall surface area available to enzymes was in the bulk substrate. The pore surface area and length exhibited a positive linear relationship, where the slope of this relationship depended on the plant tissue. We demonstrated that PCT is a powerful tool for the three-dimensional characterization of the cell wall features related to biomass recalcitrance. Original and relevant quantitative information about the structural features of the analyzed material were obtained. The data obtained by PCT can be used to improve processing routes to efficiently convert biomass feedstock into sugars.

Cation size effects-modified phase and PTCR development in Er3+ and Ca2+ co-doped BaTiO3 ceramics during sintering

Development of the positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTCR) in Er3+ and Ca2+ co-doped ferroelectric BaTiO3 was studied in this work, with Er3+ being used to act as a donor doping. Irrespective of all the materials showing high densities after sintering at 1200 to 1300 ºC, these revealed insulator at the lowest sintering temperature, changing to semiconducting and PTCR-type materials only when the sintering temperature was further increased. Observations from X-ray diffraction help correlating this effect with phase development in this formulated (Ba,Ca,Er)TiO3 system, considering the formation of initially two separated major (Ba,Ca)TiO3- and minor (Ca,Er)TiO3-based compounds, as a consequence of cation size-induced stress energy effects. Thus, appearance and enhancement here of the semiconducting and PTCR responses towards higher sintering temperatures particularly involve the incorporation of Er3+ into the major phase, rendering finally possible the generation and "percolative-like" migration of electrons throughout the whole material.

Hidrodinâmica e transporte de material particulado em suspensão sazonal em um estuário dominado por maré: Estuário de Caravelas (BA)

O objetivo do presente estudo é caracterizar a hidrodinâmica e o transporte de material particulado em suspensão (MPS) no estuário de Caravelas sob diferentes condições de maré e vazão fluvial. Foram realizadas quatro campanhas hidrográficas durante ciclos completos de maré, sendo em condições de maré de sizígia e quadratura, e durante os períodos seco e chuvoso. Dados de nível de água, velocidade e direção de correntes, salinidade, temperatura e turbidez foram obtidos em uma estação fixa próxima da desembocadura do estuário. A partir destes dados foram obtidos os transportes residuais de MPS e calculado os mecanismos de transporte. As maiores concentrações médias de material particulado em suspensão ocorreram em condições de sizígia. Em condições de maré de quadraturao transporte resultante de MPS foi com sentido estuário acima, porém de pequena intensidade. Em condições de sizígia o estuário é caracterizado por correntes mais intensas e assimétricas, com dominância de vazante. Durante a condição de sizígia o estuário pode atuar como importador ou exportador de MPS. O estuário do rio Caravelas foi classificado como bem misturado e fracamente estratificado. A hidrografia e o balanço sedimentar são principalmente modulados pela altura da marée o aporte de água doce é irrelevante.