Ethyl Carbamate Analysis in German Fruit Spirits and Brazilian Sugarcane Spirits (Cachaca): Improved Sample Cleanup with Automated Parallel Evaporation

The analysis of alcoholic beverages for the important carcinogenic contaminant ethyl carbamate is very time-consuming and expensive. Due to possible matrix interferences, sample cleanup using diatomaceous earth (Extrelut) column is required prior to gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric measurement. A limiting step in this process is the rotary evaporation of the eluate containing the analyte in organic solvents, which is currently conducted manually and requires approximately 20-30 min per sample. This paper introduces the use of a parallel evaporation device for ethyl carbamate analysis, which allows for the simultaneous evaporation of 12 samples to a specified residual volume without manual intervention. A more efficient and, less expensive analysis is therefore possible. The method validation showed no differences between the fully-automated parallel evaporation and the manual operation. The applicability was proven by analyzing authentic spirit samples from Germany, Canada and Brazil. It is interesting to note that Brazilian cachacas had a relatively high incidence for ethyl carbamate contamination (55% of all samples were above 0.15 mg/l), which may be of public health relevance and requires further evaluation.

Does spatial visualization ability improve after studying technical drawing?

Two studies were carried out to analyze whether learning technical drawing improves a person's ability for spatial visualization. Visualization and inductive reasoning tests were applied at the beginning and end of a course in technical drawing in samples of first year engineering students. In both studies it was observed that a moderate percentage of students improved their Visualization test execution. The improvement was similar in men and women. There was no improvement on the inductive reasoning test. The results support the conclusion that the spatial visualization ability can be improved with training.

Predicting academic success of engineering students in technical drawing from working memory

Tests on spatial aptitude, in particular Visualization, have been shown to be efficient predictors of the academic performance of Technical Drawing stu-dents. It has recently been found that Spatial Working Memory (a construct defined as the ability to perform tasks with a figurative content that require si-multaneous storage and transformation of information) is strongly associated with Visualization. In the present study we analyze the predictive efficiency of a bat-tery of tests that included tests on Visualization, SpatialWorking Memory, Spatial Short-term Memory and Executive Function on a sample of first year engineering students. The results show that Spatial Working Memory (SWM) is the most important predictor of academic success in Technical Drawing. In our view, SWM tests can be useful for detecting as early as possible those students who will require more attention and support in the teaching-learning process.

Systemic governance and development in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Kinematic analysis in healthy and hip-dysplastic German Shepherd dogs

This study investigated kinematic patterns in clinically normal German Shepherd dogs (GSDs) compared to those with hip dysplasia and with no clinical signs of lameness. Two groups of GSDs, including 10 clinically healthy dogs (G1) and 10 with hip dysplasia (G2), were trotted on a treadmill at a constant speed. Kinematic data were collected by a 3-camera system and analysed by a motion-analysis program. Flexion and extension joint angles and angular velocities were determined for the shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal joints.Within each group, the differences between the right and left limbs in all kinematic variables were not significant. Minimum angle, angular displacement and minimum angular velocity did not differ between groups. Significant differences were observed in the maximum angular velocity and maximum angle of the hip joint (dysplastic. >. healthy), and in the maximum angular velocity of the carpal joint (healthy. >. dysplastic). It was concluded that, when trotting on a treadmill, dysplastic dogs with no signs of lameness may present joint kinematic alterations in the hind as well as the forelimbs. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

A proposal for drawing up indigence lines

Includes bibliography

Estudo comparativo acerca do espaço e do tempo em O gato preto e O processo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Family farming and the agroindustrial chain: some notes on the German experience

Includes bibliography

Interação trófica entre cultivares de algodoeiro colorido, Aphis gossypii Glöver, 1877 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Harmonia axyridis (PALLAS, 1773) E Eriopis connexa (German, 1824) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The mineralogy and chemistry of the German and Portuguese tiles used to face a historic building in the Amazon region and their natural susceptibility to tropical weathering

As proeminentes edificações da cidade de Belém foram revestidas durante o século 19 com azulejos produzidos em Portugal e Alemanha que já apresentam distintos graus de degradação. O Palacete Pinho é uma das mais importantes destas edificações e foi selecionado para se investigar a ação do clima tropical amazônico sobre a degradação destes azulejos. Para atingir estes objetivos mapearam-se os azulejos desta edificação visando identificar as modificações de origem orgânica e inorgânica e coletas de amostras para análises. Os minerais foram determinados por DRX, a composição química por métodos clássicos úmidos e MEV/SED e os micro-organismos por microscopia. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os azulejos Portugueses e Alemães são distintos entre si. Enquanto o biscoito é composto de SiO₂ e Al₂O₃, CaO foi encontrado apenas nos Portugueses. Os baixos conteúdos de Na₂O e K₂O indicam adição de materiais para redução da temperatura de fusão. SiO₂ e PbO compõem o vidrado, já CoO e FeO foram adicionados como pigmentos. O biscoito dos azulejos Alemães é constituído de quartzo, mullita e cristobalita, ao contrário do Português com quartzo, gehlenita, diopsídio, calcita e feldspatos. Os vidrados são amorfos ao DRX. As diferenças químicas e mineralógicas entre os azulejos Portugueses e Alemães indicam que foram produzidos por matéria prima distinta, bem como processo termal. As alterações relacionadas com o intemperismo são as finas camadas de detritos (nos Alemães), manchas de oxidação, manchas escuras, descolamento do azulejo (no Português); perda de vidrado e biscoito tornando-se pulverulento como consequência do estabelecimento de Cyanophyta e bacillariophyta (Português). As distintas feições de degradação dos azulejos refletem as suas diferenças mineralógicas e químicas expostas ao clima tropical Amazônico.

Intervalo de dessecação de Urochloa ruziziensis (R. German & Evrard) Crins e seu efeito alelopático na cultura da soja RR

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Semen characteristics of captive common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): a comparison of a German with a Brazilian colony

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O trabalho de licenciandos em alemão e inglês no PIBID: a construção da prática docente a partir das crenças de alunos do Ensino Médio sobre língua e cultura estrangeira

For some time, researchers in teacher education (ZEICHNER; LISTON, 1996; GIMENEZ, 2005) have been drawing attention to the need to place undergraduates in contexts of practice that help them make sense of the theoretical training they receive in the graduation course. In this article, we discuss the intersection between school and university for initial foreign language teacher education through activities carried out under the Brazilian Institutional Program for Initiation to Teaching – Language and Literature of a state university. These activities were aimed, on the one hand, to promote reflection about the concept of culture and intercultural language teaching during initial teacher education and, secondly, to deconstruct stereotypes of high school students about German and English language and culture. Based on the analysis of data on the beliefs of students of the school and the support of theoretical studies such as Kramsch (2006, 2009), Bolognini (1993), among others, workshops were designed to expand the cultural universe of the high school students in the partner state school, the concept of culture and to deconstruct stereotypes. It was found that the activity contributed to the reflective education of the undergraduate students in relation to the treatment of the subject culture in language teaching.