The influence of acetic acid on the ethanol electrooxidation on a platinum electrode

In the presented work, the evaluation of the influence of acetic acid in the electrochemical environment on the ethanol electro-oxidation reaction on a polycrystalline platinum electrode is presented for the first time. Using cyclic voltammetry. chronoamperometry and in situ Fourier Transformed IR spectroscopy (FTIR) it was demonstrated that an inhibition of the ethanol oxidation reaction occurs for bulk acetic acid concentrations of the order 0.1 mu mol L(-1) -5 mmol L(-1). This inhibition effect is related to the decrease of CO(2) and acetaldehyde production as confirmed by spectroscopic results. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of Reaction Conditions on Synthesis of PAni/MnO(2) Composites

An investigation of the parameters as aniline: MnO(2) and temperature on synthesis of polyaniline/MnO(2) composites was performed. The composites were chemically prepared in H(2)SO(4) media using different aniline: MnO(2) ratios at 0 degrees C. After the ratio optimization, the syntheses were performed at 20 degrees C. The polyaniline/MnO(2) composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible, near infrared and infrared spectroscopic techniques. Composites obtained with a uniform, homogeneous and thicker coating of polyaniline films under oxide was considered as the best condition for synthesis.

Koldiffusionens inverkan på utmattnings-hållfastheten hos varmvalsade sexkantsstänger;The influence of carbon diffusion on the fatigue strength of hot rolled hexagonal rods

Helstångsborr och konstång kallas bergborrverktyg, som tillverkas av sexkantiga stänger med inre hål för ledning av spolvatten. Dessa spolhål är klädda med ferritiskt rostfritt stål. Innan valsning borras ett centrerat hål i stålämnet som ska valsas. I det borrade hålet appliceras ett rör av ferritiskt rostfritt stål och i det röret skjuts en manganstålskärna in. Efter valsning dras kärnan ut och ett spolhål med invändigt foder av rostfritt stål bildas. Under uppvärmningen och valsningen av stålämnet sker normalt en koldiffusion från manganstålskärnan till det rostfria fodret. Fodrets syfte är att skydda spolhålets yta mot erosion och korrosion.Syftet med arbetet var att hitta en metod som garanterar uppkolning av det invändiga fodret, samt att utreda vad uppkolningen betyder för den mekaniska hållfastheten i stängerna. Ett laboratorieförsök visade att det var bra, med avseende på uppkolning, att blanda stearat i kärnbestrykningsmedlet. Kärnbestrykningsmedlet penslas på manganstålskärnan innan den förs in i stålämnet som ska valsas, dess syfte är att minska friktionen vid kärnutdragningen efter valsning.Ett försök utfördes i valsverket med stearat i kärnbestrykningsmedlet. En grundlig undersökning utfördes på två hetor som valsats med stearat-bestrykningsmedel, samt på en traditionellt tillverkad heta för att ha som referens. Hetorna kapades till provstänger om 1,5 m, totalt undersöktes 55 st.Utvärderingen av verksförsöket visade att stängernas kvalitet blir tillräckligt bra om ingenting oförutsett händer i produktionen, oavsett om koltillskott är tillsatt i bestrykningsmedlet eller inte. Arbetet gav inte en garanterande metod, men visade att stängerna normalt håller hög kvalitet.

Influence of surface texture on the galling characteristics of lean duplex and austenitic stainless steels

Two simulative test methods were used to study galling in sheet forming of two types of stainlesssteel sheet: austenitic (EN 1.4301) and lean duplex LDX 2101 (EN 1.4162) in different surface conditions. Thepin-on-disc test was used to analyse the galling resistance of different combinations of sheet materials and lubricants. The strip reduction test, a severe sheet forming tribology test was used to simulate the conditionsduring ironing. This investigation shows that the risk of galling is highly dependent on the surface texture of theduplex steel. Trials were also performed in an industrial tool used for high volume production of pumpcomponents, to compare forming of LDX 2101 and austenitic stainless steel with equal thickness. The forming forces, the geometry and the strains in the sheet material were compared for the same component.It was found that LDX steels can be formed to high strain levels in tools normally applied for forming ofaustenitic steels, but tool adaptations are needed to comply with the higher strength and springback of thematerial.

The influence of emotional contagion on products evaluation

Emotional Contagion is the mechanism that includes mimicking and the automatic synchronization of facial expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements with another person and, consequently, convergence of emotions between the sender and receiver. Researches of this mechanism conducted usually in the fields of Psychology and Marketing tends to investigate face-to-face interactions. However, the question remains to what extent, if any, emotional contagion may occur with facial expressions in photos, since many purchase situations are brought on by catalogues or websites. This thesis has the goal to verify this gap and, in addition, verify whether emotional contagion is more common in females than in males as stated in previous studies. Emotions have been studied because it is intuitively apparent that emotions affect the dynamics of the interaction between a salesperson and customers (Verbeke, 1997); in other words, emotions may significantly affect consumer behavior. Therefore, this thesis also verified whether the facial expressions that transmit emotions could be associated to product evaluations. To investigate these questions, an experiment was done with 171 participants, which were exposed to either smiling (positive emotion) or neutral advertising. The differences between the individual advertisements were limited to the facial expressions of figures in the advertisements (either smiling or neutral/without smiling). One specialist and two students analyzed videotaped records of the participants’ responses, and found that participants who saw the positive stimulus mimicked the picture (smiling back) confirming the Emotional Contagion in Photos (the first hypothesis). The second hypothesis was to analyze if there is difference based in gender. The results demonstrated that there is not a significant difference between genders; female and male equally suffer Emotional Contagion. The third hypothesis was related to whether the positive emotions vs. neutral emotions acquired from the positive facial expression in the photo are associated to a positive evaluation of the product also displayed in the photo. Evidences show that the ad with a positive expression could change more positively the attitude, the sympathy, the reliability, and the intention of purpose of the participant compared to those who were exposed to the neutral condition. Therefore, the analysis concludes that the facial expressions displayed in photos produce emotional contagion and may interfere on the evaluation product. A discussion of the theoretical and practical implications and limitations for these findings are presented.

The influence of urban structures on entrepreneurial decision-making: a comparative analysis of Mexico City and São Paulo

Promover a atividade empreendedora é hoje mais do que nunca uma prioridade para as economias em desenvolvimento. Em diferentes partes do mundo, empreendedores têm sido reconhecidos como verdadeiros agentes de transformação, e as novas empresas que eles criam tornam-se condutoras de inovação, que ao final pode ser difundida ao resto da economia. Teorias de economia urbana, que analisam a dinâmica da relação entre aglomeração urbana e atividade econômica, enfatizam a importância da concentração espacial das indústrias num mesmo setor industrial. Entender os incentivos que dão início à atividade empreendedora é algo novo e o foco desses estudos tem sido principalmente em alguns poucos casos de economias industrializadas. Não obstante, o sucesso de um punhado de clusters de alta tecnologia, como o Vale do Silício, por exemplo, na Califórnia, Estados Unidos, não pode ser replicado, e as condições locais devem ser consideradas a fim de entender a surgimento desses ecossistemas. Este estudo pretende investigar os critérios em que os empreendedores fundamentam suas decisões quando selecionam as localizações do seu negócio. Especificamente, a pesquisa explora o recente movimento dos ecossistemas de empreendedores na Cidade do México e em São Paulo, as duas maiores áreas metropolitanas da América Latina, à luz das teorias de economia urbana. A fim de chegar aos resultados, a pesquisa segue o método baseado sobre uma análise comparativa de estudo de casos em dois bairros: Vila Leopoldina em São Paulo e a Colônia Roma Norte na Cidade do México. Os resultados consolidados baseados em entrevistas qualitativas realizadas nos dois bairros revelam que o lugar/sitio urbano, definido em termos de laços locais assim como da atmosfera geral do ambiente, continua sendo importante para os atores apesar das comunicações de alta velocidade que produzem mais interações entre as regiões do mundo. Além disso, a relação entre o empreendedor e o seu entorno é altamente dependente do estágio de desenvolvimento e da natureza da atividade da empresa; redes informais revelam-se essenciais para identificar as oportunidades de negócio antes de serem progressivamente substituídas por relações instituídas com fundos de capital de risco ou incubadoras. Estes dois ecossistemas nascentes geram suas próprias características, o que já pode sugerir suas futuras evoluções.

The influence of macroeconomic factors on primary issues in the Brazilian market

This research analyses the influence of the macroeconomic factors on the primary issue of stocks and debentures in the Brazilian market. Previous studies have agreed on the importance of aspects of the economic situation on a company’s capital structure, but have not established a relationship between the macroeconomic variables and the level of aggregate debt; we can mention Procianoy and Caselani (1997) and Terra (2003) as examples of this. According to Leal (2000), the limitations of the Brazilian capital market suggest that management takes advantage of moments of euphoria in the market - whether caused by a reduction in the rate of interest or by the return being offered by the equity market - to raise funds at rates that are more advantageous to the company. This characterizes the first evidence we have of opportunistic behavior influencing a company’s financing decisions. Eid Jr. (1996) provides us with the first evidence of this opportunistic behavior in his research in which 47% of those interviewed said that they chose fund sources that are economically more advantageous.

Influence of food restriction on the reproduction and larval performance of matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus (Spix and Agassiz, 1829)

Este estudo avaliou o efeito da restrição alimentar e realimentação na reprodução de fêmeas e no crescimento inicial e sobrevivência de larvas de matrinxã, Brycon amazonicus. Matrizes distribuídas em 8 viveiros (15 peixes/tanque) foram alimentadas diariamente (em 4 tanques - G1) e alimentados em ciclos de 3 dias de alimentação seguidos de 2 dias de restrição (em 4 tanques - G2) por 6 meses antes da desova. Na indução à desova, 57% das fêmeas no G1 e 45% no G2 desovaram. Os pesos médios dos oócitos foram 208,1 g (G1) e 131,6 g (G2), sendo os oócitos G2 menores (1,017 ± 0,003 mm) que os oócitos de G1 (1,048 ± 0,002 mm). As taxas de fertilização (71,9 ± 12,6% e 61,2 ± 13,7%) e de eclosão (61,3 ± 33,9% e 67,5 ± 23,4%) entre os G1 e G2 não diferiram. Larvas foram coletadas na eclosão e às 24, 48 e 72 horas de incubação para medida do crescimento e as restantes transferidas para aquários e amostradas 1, 5, 9 e 15 dias depois. Na transferência, as larvas G1 e G2 tinham pesos similares (1,5 ± 0,15 e 1,46 ± 0,07 mg), mas o comprimento das larvas G2 era maior (6,2 ± 0,13 e 6,7 ± 0,14 mm). Ao 9° dia, quando é recomendada a transferência dos juvenis para tanques externos, os juvenis G2 tinham peso (13,6 ± 0,26 e 18,9 ± 0,07 mg) e comprimento (11,8 ± 0,09 e 14,5 ± 0,04 mm) maiores, mas no 15º dia os juvenis G1 eram maiores em peso (90,2 ± 1,19 e 68,6 ± 0,77 mg) e comprimento (18,8 ± 0,16 e 18,5 ± 0,04 mm). Aos 15 dias, a prole das fêmeas submetidas à restrição alimentar apresentou sobrevivência mais alta que a prole das fêmeas alimentadas diariamente (24,7 ± 2,07% e 19,2 ± 1,91%). A restrição alimentar imposta às fêmeas de matrinxã, apesar de reduzir o número de fêmeas que desovaram e a quantidade de oócitos extrusados, não afetou a fertilização e eclosão das larvas e melhorou a sobrevivência final das larvas.

INFLUENCE of ASCORBIC ACID on EGG QUALITY

A qualidade dos ovos pode ser influenciada por alguns nutrientes adicionados à dieta das aves e entre esses nutrientes se inclui o ácido ascórbico, que segundo alguns pesquisadores, além de melhorar a qualidade, pode aumentar a produção e o peso dos ovos e diminuir a quantidade de ovos trincados e o consumo de ração. Com a finalidade de tentar contribuir com mais algumas informações, desenvolveu esse experimento com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do ácido ascórbico sobre a qualidade de ovos brancos e marrons mantidos sob condições de ambiente (26,7 ± 2,2°C e 60 ± 5%UR), por um período de 28 dias. Foram utilizados 1440 ovos, sendo 720 de casca branca e 720 de casca marrom. Foram adicionadas à ração de aves, durante 60 dias, concentrações de 100, 150 e 200mg/kg de ácido ascórbico. A qualidade dos ovos foi determinada de 7 em 7 dias, avaliando-se a unidade Haugh e o índice gema. Os dados obtidos permitiram concluir que a suplementação com o ácido ascórbico não foi suficiente para diminuir a perda de qualidade dos ovos. Independentemente dos níveis de vitaminas utilizados, os ovos marrons mostraram-se qualitativamente superiores aos brancos.

Influence of husbandry systems on physiological stress reactions of captive brown brocket (Mazama gouazoubira) and marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)-noninvasive analysis of fecal cortisol metabolites

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of data structure on the estimation of the additive genetic direct and maternal covariance for early growth traits in Nellore cattle

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of data structure on estimated genetic parameters and predicted breeding values of direct and maternal genetic effects for weaning weight (WW) and weight gain from birth to weaning (BWG), including or not the genetic covariance between direct and maternal effects. Records of 97,490 Nellore animals born between 1993 and 2006, from the Jacarezinho cattle raising farm, were used. Two different data sets were analyzed: DI_all, which included all available progenies of dams without their own performance; DII_all, which included DI_all + 20% of recorded progenies with maternal phenotypes. Two subsets were obtained from each data set (DI_all and DII_all): DI_1 and DII_1, which included only dams with three or fewer progenies; DI_5 and DII_5, which included only dams with five or more progenies. (Co)variance components and heritabilities were estimated by Bayesian inference through Gibbs sampling using univariate animal models. In general, for the population and traits studied, the proportion of dams with known phenotypic information and the number of progenies per dam influenced direct and maternal heritabilities, as well as the contribution of maternal permanent environmental variance to phenotypic variance. Only small differences were observed in the genetic and environmental parameters when the genetic covariance between direct and maternal effects was set to zero in the data sets studied. Thus, the inclusion or not of the genetic covariance between direct and maternal effects had little effect on the ranking of animals according to their breeding values for WW and BWG. Accurate estimation of genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects depends on the data structure. Thus, this covariance should be set to zero in Nellore data sets in which the proportion of dams with phenotypic information is low, the number of progenies per dam is small, and pedigree relationships are poorly known. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of osmotic dehydration on ascorbic acid loss in pickled dry peppers (Capsicum chinense)

The objective of this work was (1) to develop a dehydrated pepper with 45% humidity, determining the drying curves for pepper, with and without osmotic pre-treatment and (2) to evaluate the influence of both drying and osmotic treatment on the content ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in fresh pepper and pepper with 45% humidity. The experiments were carried out using the peppers cut in half, with and without osmotic pre-treatment, followed by drying in an oven at 70 ºC. The results showed that the osmotic pretreatment did not influence the retention of ascorbic acid during the drying of pepper. The sensory analysis regarding the color, flavor, and texture attributes revealed that there was no difference in the acceptability.

Zidovudine-Loaded PLA and PLA-PEG Blend Nanoparticles: Influence of Polymer Type on Phagocytic Uptake by Polymorphonuclear Cells

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

Influence of visual information on optimal obstacle crossing

Human motion seems to be guided by some optimal principles. In general, it is assumed that human walking is generated with minimal energy consumption. However, in the presence of disturbances during gait, there is a trade-off between stability (avoiding a fall) and energy-consumption. This work analyses the obstacle-crossing with the leading foot. It was hypothesized that energy-saving mechanisms during obstacle-crossing are modulated by the requirement to avoid a fall using the available sensory information, particularly, by vision. A total of fourteen subjects, seven with no visual impairment and seven blind, walked along a 5 meter flat pathway with an obstacle of 0.26 m height located at 3 m from the starting point. The seven subjects with normal vision crossed the obstacle successfully 30 times in two conditions: blindfolded and with normal vision. The seven blind subjects did the same 30 times. The motion of the leading limb was recorded by video at 60 Hz. There were markers placed on the subject's hip, knee, ankle, rear foot, and forefoot. The motion data were filtered with a fourth order Butterworth filter with a cut-off frequency of 4 Hz. The following variables were calculated: horizontal distance between the leading foot and the obstacle at toe-off prior to (DHPO) and after (DHOP) crossing, minimal vertical height from the foot to the obstacle (DVPO), average step velocity (VELOm). The segmental energies were also calculated and the work consumed by the leading limb during the crossing obstacle was computed for each trial. A statistical analysis repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted on these dependent variables revealing significant differences between the vision and non-vision conditions in healthy subjects. In addition, there were no significant differences between the blind and people with vision blindfolded. These results indicate that vision is crucial to determine the optimal trade-off between energy consumption and avoiding a trip during obstacle crossing.