Determination of spin and parity of the Higgs boson in the WW∗→eνμν decay channel with the ATLAS detector

Studies of the spin and parity quantum numbers of the Higgs boson in the WW∗→eνμν final state are presented, based on proton--proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1 at a centre-of-mass energy of s√=8 TeV. The Standard Model spin-parity JCP=0++ hypothesis is compared with alternative hypotheses for both spin and CP. The case where the observed resonance is a mixture of the Standard-Model-like Higgs boson and CP-even (JCP=0++) or CP-odd (JCP=0+−) Higgs boson in scenarios beyond the Standard Model is also studied. The data are found to be consistent with the Standard Model prediction and limits are placed on alternative spin and CP hypotheses, including CP mixing in different scenarios.

Sistema reprodutivo e polinização de Lepidagathis sessilifolia (Pohl) Kameyama ex Wassh. & J.R.I. Wood (Acanthaceae), em remanescente florestal da região sudoeste de Mato Grosso, Brasil

O gênero Lepidagathis apresenta distribuição pantropical com cerca de 100 espécies. No Brasil ocorrem 16 espécies, a maioria nas regiões Centro - Oeste e Sudeste. O estudo foi realizado em sub - bosque de remanescente florestal do município de Tangará da Serra - MT e teve como objetivo analisar a fenologia de floração, descrever a morfologia e biologia floral, verificar os visitantes florais e avaliar o sistema e o sucesso reprodutivo por meio de polinizações manuais. Lepidagathis sessilifolia apresenta inflorescências espiciformes, terminais, com cálice de cor rósea vistosa e corola de coloração branco-rósea. A floração ficou restrita aos meses de março a abril, durante a estação chuvosa. A senescência floral ocorreu após 24 ou 48 horas. A viabilidade dos grãos de pólen foi elevada (92,5%). O único polinizador observado visitando as flores de L. sessilifolia foi a abelha Partamona nhambiquara (Apidae - Meliponini). O sistema reprodutivo misto da espécie é caracterizado pela formação de frutos por meio de agamospermia, autopolinização e polinização cruzada. Esse sistema reprodutivo flexível é vantajoso, pois, garante a manutenção da espécie na área de estudo mesmo na ausência de polinizadores.

Filamentous fungi occurrence in free water and biofilms from drinking water storage tanks

In some regions of Brazil, especially where the water is scarce, drinking water is stored in water storage tanks. This practice gives the consumer the guarantee of available water. The water storage conditions such as the exposure to hot weather when the tanks are on rooftops allow the development of microorganisms and microbial biofilms which can deteriorate the water quality and increase the risk to human health [1,2]. This study describes the filamentous fungi (FF) detected in free water and biofilms in drinking water storage tanks in Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil. Five sampling times in triplicate were performed at two distinct points. Colony-forming units (CFU) of FF fungi were determined with 0.45 μm filtration membranes using peptone glucose rose Bengal agar (PGRBA). From the 30 samples analysed a total of 1136 CFU were obtained. The water biofilms were collected from samplers consisting of polyethylene coupons, previously installed in the reservoirs. These coupons were transferred to PGRBA plates and incubated using with the same conditions described for free FF. For the in situ detection of FF in biofilms the Calcofluor White staining technique was used. This procedure demonstrated FF forming biofilms on the surfaces of the coupons. Brazilian legislation does not define limits for FF in drinking water. However considering the potential risk of fungal contamination, the data obtained in this study will contribute to developing future quantitative and qualitative parameters for the presence of fungi in drinking water distribution systems in Brazil.

Current situation on the occurrence of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi in Portugal

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that are toxic for humans and animals in small amounts and that are found worldwide in a large number of agricultural commodities. They are usually ingested involuntarily, when contaminated plant products are consumed, and represent a great risk for public health. Therefore, governments throughout the world have imposed strict legal limits for their levels in food and feed products in order to reduce potential health risks for consumers. Despite of its ubiquity, the mycotoxin problem is mainly dependent on regional factors, such as the mycotoxigenic characteristics of the local mycoflora, the local climate conditions, and the local agricultural practices. For this reason, a constant vigilance from local governmental food safety agencies and from the local researcher community is needed. This communication will review the current situation on the occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi in some Portuguese cultures, such as wine grapes, corn and dried fruits. Particular attention will be given to the incidence of mycotoxigenic Aspergillus strains in those cultures and to the levels of ochratoxin A, aflatoxins, cyclopiazonic acid and fumonisin B2 produced. Data will be discussed taking into account the geographical origin of the isolates and the particular climate conditions of each sampling region. An updated review on the levels of the main mycotoxins found in local products and in imported commodities will also be presented.

Valorization of eucalyptus wood by glycerol-organosolv pretreatment within the biorefinery concept: an integrated and intensified approach

The efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass and the reduction of production cost are mandatory to attain a cost-effective lignocellulose-to-ethanol process. The selection of suitable pretreatment that allows an effective fractionation of biomass and the use of pretreated material at high-solid loadings on saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes are considered promising strategies for that purpose. Eucalyptus globulus wood was fractionated by organosolv process at 200 C for 69 min using 56% of glycerol-water. A 99% of cellulose remained in pretreated biomass and 65% of lignin was solubilized. Precipitated lignin was characterized for chemical composition and thermal behavior, showing similar features to commercial lignin. In order to produce lignocellulosic ethanol at high-gravity, a full factory design was carried to assess the liquid to solid ratio (3e9 g/g) and enzyme to solid ratio (8e16 FPU/g) on SSF of delignified Eucalyptus. High ethanol concentration (94 g/L) corresponding to 77% of conversion at 16FPU/g and LSR ¼ 3 g/g using an industrial and thermotolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was successfully produced from pretreated biomass. Process integration of a suitable pretreatment, which allows for whole biomass valorization, with intensified saccharification-fermentation stages was shown to be feasible strategy for the co-production of high ethanol titers, oligosaccharides and lignin paving the way for cost-effective Eucalyptus biorefinery.

La biodiversidad microbiana del suelo y su rol en el manejo de enfermedades causadas por hongos de suelo en soja. Soil microbial diversity and its key role in the management of soybean diseases caused by fungi.

Las poblaciones microbianas juegan un rol fundamental en la estabilidad de los sistemas agrícolas e indican los niveles de salud de un suelo, tanto que pueden ser utilizadas como indicadores de sustentabilidad de un agroecosistema. Los microorganismos reflejan el efecto que tienen las prácticas agrícolas sobre el suelo a través de modificaciones en la abundancia (biodiversidad estructural) y actividades de sus poblaciones (como control biológico de los patógenos, entre otras). Al cuantificarse la biodiversidad microbiana nativa se puede conocer la riqueza de un agroecosistema y utilizarla para el manejo sustentable de hongos patógenos. En este trabajo se evaluará el efecto de la rotación de cultivo (soja-maíz y soja en monocultivo) y los sistemas de labranza (siembra directa y labranzas reducida) sobre la biodiversidad microbiana. Se cuantificarán a partir de suelo: poblaciones de hongos y bacterias totales; agentes potenciales de biocontrol de como Trichoderma spp., Gliocladium spp. y micorrizas vesículo arbusculares (mediante la cuantificación de glomalina), biomasa y respiracion microbiana, y la biodiversidad de comunidades de microorganismos que habitan en el suelo mediante el análisis de perfiles de ácidos grasos (PLFA). Al final del ciclo de cultivo de soja se cuantificará la incidencia de enfermedades causadas por hongos de suelo. Dada la gran abundancia y diversidad de los microorganismos del suelo, las metodologías que se emplearán permitirán obtener información global de la riqueza microbiana de un agro-ecosistema. Se relacionará la biodiversidad microbiana con la incidencia de enfermedades por hongos de suelo, en respuesta a diferentes prácticas de manejo. Esto permitirá aprender a combinar las tecnologías para mejorar los beneficios de la produccion y preservar el agroecosistema en el marco de una agricultura sustentable, y no de una agricultura sostenida por insumos.

Aproximación al diseño de sistemas de bio-reactores para la delignificación de materiales lignocelulósicos y para la decontaminación de suelos y efluentes. Approximation to the design of bio-reactors systems for the delignificación of lignocellulosic materials and for the decontamination of soil and effluents

Los materiales lignocelulósicos residuales de las actividades agroindustriales pueden ser aprovechados como fuente de lignina, hemicelulosa y celulosa. El tratamiento químico del material lignocelulósico se debe enfrentar al hecho de que dicho material es bastante recalcitrante a tal ataque, fundamentalmente debido a la presencia del polímero lignina. Esto se puede lograr también utilizando hongos de la podredumbre blanca de la madera. Estos producen enzimas lignolíticas extracelulares fundamentalmente Lacasa, que oxida la lignina a CO2. Tambien oxida un amplio rango de sustratos ( fenoles, polifenoles, anilinas, aril-diaminas, fenoles metoxi-sustituídos, y otros), lo cual es una buena razón de su atracción para aplicaciones biotecnológicas. La enzima tiene potencial aplicación en procesos tales como en la delignificación de materiales lignocelulósicos y en el bioblanqueado de pulpas para papel, en el tratamiento de aguas residuales de plantas industriales, en la modificación de fibras y decoloración en industrias textiles y de colorantes, en el mejoramiento de alimentos para animales, en la detoxificación de polutantes y en bioremediación de suelos contaminados. También se la ha utilizado en Q.Orgánica para la oxidación de grupos funcionales, en la formación de enlaces carbono- nitrógeno y en la síntesis de productos naturales complejos. HIPOTESIS: Los hongos de podredumbre blanca, y en condiciones óptimas de cultivo producen distintos tipos de enzimas oxidasas, siendo las lacasas las más adecuadas para explorarlas como catalizadores en los siguientes procesos:  Delignificación de residuos de la industria forestal con el fin de aprovechar tales desechos en la alimentación animal.  Decontaminación/remediación de suelos y/o efluentes industriales. Se realizarán los estudios para el diseño de bio-reactores que permitan responder a las dos cuestiones planteadas en la hipótesis. Para el proceso de delignificación de material lignocelulósico se proponen dos estrategias: 1- tratar el material con el micelio del hongo adecuando la provisión de nutrientes para un desarrollo sostenido y favorecer la liberación de la enzima. 2- Utilizar la enzima lacasa parcialmente purificada acoplada a un sistema mediador para oxidar los compuestos polifenólicos. Para el proceso de decontaminación/remediación de suelos y/o efluentes industriales se trabajará también en dos frentes: 3) por un lado, se ha descripto que existe una correlación positiva entre la actividad de algunas enzimas presentes en el suelo y la fertilidad. En este sentido se conoce que un sistema enzimático, tentativamente identificado como una lacasa de origen microbiano es responsable de la transformación de compuestos orgánicos en el suelo. La enzima protege al suelo de la acumulación de compuestos orgánicos peligrosos catalizando reacciones que involucran degradación, polimerización e incorporación a complejos del ácido húmico. Se utilizarán suelos incorporados con distintos polutantes(por ej. policlorofenoles ó cloroanilinas.) 4) Se trabajará con efluentes industriales contaminantes (alpechínes y/o el efluente líquido del proceso de desamargado de las aceitunas). The lignocellulosic raw materials of the agroindustrial activities can be taken advantage as source of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The chemical treatment of this material is not easy because the above mentioned material is recalcitrant enough to such an assault, due to the presence of the lignin. This can be achieved also using the white-rot fungi of the wood. It produces extracellular ligninolitic enzymes, fundamentally Laccase, which oxidizes the lignin to CO2. The enzyme has application in such processes as in the delignification of lignocellulosic materials and in the biobleaching of fibers for paper industry, in the treatment of waste water of industrial plants, in the discoloration in textile industries, in the improvement of food for ruminants, in the detoxification of polutants and in bioremediation of contaminated soils. HYPOTHESIS: The white-rot fungi produce different types of enzymes, being the laccases the most adapted to explore them as catalysts in the following processes:  Delignification of residues of the forest industry in order to take advantage of such waste in the animal feed.  Decontamination of soils and / or waste waters. The studies will be conducted for the design of bio reactors that allow to answer to both questions raised in the hypothesis. For the delignification process of lignocellulosic material they propose two strategies: 1- to treat the material with the fungi 2-to use the partially purified enzyme to oxidize the polyphenolic compounds. For the soil and/or waste water decontamination process, we have: 3- Is know that the enzyme protects to the soil of the accumulation of organic dangerous compounds catalyzing reactions that involve degradation, polymerization and incorporation to complexes of the humic acid. There will be use soils incorporated into different pollutants. 4- We will work with waste waters (alpechins or the green olive debittering effluents.

Animate creation; popular edition of "Our living world" a natural history, by the Rev. J. G. Wood. Revised and adapted to American zoology, by Joseph B. Holder ...

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A comparison of environmental licensing systems in operation in the wood panel manufacturing industry in the Northern Hemisphere

The objective of this thesis is to compare and contrast environmental licensing systems, for the wood panel industry, in a number of countries in order to determine which system is the best from an environmental and economic point of view. The thesis also examines the impact which government can have on industry and the type of licensing system in operation in a country. Initially, the thesis investigates the origins of the various environmental licensing systems which are in operation in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, USA and Canada. It then examines the Environmental Agencies which control and supervise industry in these countries. The impact which the type of government (i.e. unitary or federal) in charge in any particular country has on industry and the Regulatory Agency in that country is then described. Most of the mills in the thesis make a product called OSB (Oriented Strand Board) and the manufacturing process is briefly described in order to understand where the various emissions are generated. The main body of the thesis examines a number of environmental parameters which have emission limit values in the licenses examined, although not all of these parameters have emission limit values in all of the licenses. All of these parameters are used as indicators of the potential impact which the mill can have on the environment. They have been set at specific levels by the Environmental Agencies in the individual countries to control the impact of the mill. Following on from this, the two main types of air pollution control equipment (WESPs and RTOs) are described in regard to their function and capabilities. The mill licenses are then presented in the form of results tables which compare air results and water results separately. This is due to the fact that the most significant emission from this type of industry is to air. A matrix system is used to compare the licenses so that the comparison can be as objective as possible. The discussion examines all of the elements previously described and from this it was concluded that the IPC licensing system is the best from an environmental and economic point of view. It is a much more expensive system to operate than the other systems examined, but it is much more comprehensive and looks at the mill as a whole rather than fragmenting it. It was also seen that the type of environmental licensing system which is in place in a country can play a role in the locating of an industry as certain systems were seen to have more stringent standards attached to them. The type of standard in place in a country is in turn influenced by the type of government which is in place in that country.

Animate creation; popular edition of "Our living world" a natural history, by the Rev. J. G. Wood. Revised and adapted to American zoology, by Joseph B. Holder ...

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Animate creation; popular edition of "Our living world" a natural history, by the Rev. J. G. Wood. Revised and adapted to American zoology, by Joseph B. Holder ...

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Green furniture: sustainable design guidelines for the Irish furniture and wood products industry.

This thesis presents the research and development of sustainable design guidelines for the furniture and wood products industry, suitable for sustainably enhancing design, manufacturing and associated activities. This sustainable guideline is based on secondary research conducted on subject areas such as ‘eco’ design, ‘green’ branding and ‘green’ consumerism, as well as an examination of existing certifications and sustainable tools techniques and methodologies, national and international drivers for sustainable development and an overview of sustainability in the Irish furniture manufacturing context. The guideline was further developed through primary research. This consisted of a focus group attended by leading Irish designers, manufacturers and academics in the area of furniture and wood products. This group explored the question of ‘green branding’ saturation in the market and the viability of investing in sustainability just yet. Participants stated that they felt the market for ‘green’ products is evolving very slowly and that there is no metric or legal framework present to audit whether or not companies are producing products that really embody sustainability. All the participants believed that developing and introducing a new certification process to incorporate a sustainable design process was a viable and necessary solution to protecting Irish furniture and wood manufacturers going forward. For the purposes of the case study, the author investigated a ‘sustainable’ design process for Team woodcraft, Ltd., through the design and development of a ‘sustainable’ children’s furniture range. The case study followed a typical design and development process; detailing customer design specifications, concept development and refinement and cumulating in final prototype, as well as associated engineering drawings. Based on this primary and secondary research, seven fundamental core principles for this sustainable guideline have been identified by the author. The author then used these core principles to expand into guidelines for the basis of proposed new Irish sustainable design guidelines for the furniture and wood products industry, the concept of which the author has named ‘Green Dot’. The author suggests that the ‘Green Dot’ brand or logo could be used to market an umbrella network of Irish furniture designers and manufactures who implement the recommended sustainable techniques.