Shell beds from the Low Head Member (Polonez Cove Formation, early Oligocene) at King George Island, west Antarctica: new insights on facies analysis, taphonomy and environmental significance

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

Use of a cashew nut shell liquid resin as a potential replacement for phenolic resins in the preparation of panels - a review

The Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) can be considered as a versatile raw material with wide applications in the form of surface coatings, paints and varnishes, as well as the production of polymers. Within this context, the chemical constituents of CNSL (anarcadic acid, cardanol, 2-cardol and methylcardol) become promising in the development of new materials components. Once separated, CNSL can be used in the research and development of additives, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, polymers, resins and others. Being a byproduct, CNSL used in the preparation of new materials is characterized as a truly technological innovation.

Utilization of Ethyl Cyanoacrylate and 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate Adhesives for Autogenous Bone Graft Fixation: Histomorphometric Study in Rats

The present study analyzes the repair process of autogenous bone graft in a block fixed with ethyl cyanoacrylate and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate adhesives in rat calvaria. Forty-eight rats, divided into 3 groups, received round osteotomies at the right parietal bone for the attainment of autogenous bone graft fragment, which was fixed at the opposite side to the donor site with ethyl cyanoacrylate (ethyl group) and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (octyl group) adhesives. In the control group, bone fragment was only juxtaposed at the parietal bone surface without any fixation material. The animals were euthanized after 10 and 60 postoperative days. The calvariae were processed in a laboratory for the attainment of slides stained through the hematoxylin and eosin technique for histological and histometric analysis. The qualitative analysis showed a discrete inflammatory infiltrate in the control group and moderate inflammatory infiltrate in the ethyl and octyl groups at the 10-day period, which remained at the 60-day period, mainly in the octyl group. The bone fragment remained bonded to the recipient site through the adhesive, but graft incorporation was not observed in any of the specimens. Resorption was higher in the octyl group followed by the ethyl and control groups, both at the 10-and 60-day periods, but with no statistical significance (P < .05). Although promoting graft fixation and its maintenance at the recipient site, both studied adhesives did not allow the graft incorporation, producing a localized and discrete inflammatory reaction, which persisted at 60 days, being more intense in the octyl cyanoacrylate group.

Modelling energy utilization in poultry

Models of daily energy requirement can help to establish better and more profitable feeding programs for poultry. Studies have been conducted at UNESP-Jaboticabal-Brazil with the aim of studying energy utilization in broiler breeders, laying hens, and broilers, and to establish metabolisable energy requirement models. The factorial approach was used to partition the energy requirements into maintenance, growth, and production components. The resulting models consider body weight, weight gain, egg production, and environmental temperature for the determination of the energy requirements of poultry. These models were evaluated in performance trials and provided good estimates. Therefore, they can be used to establish nutritional programs. The aim of this chapter is to describe the development of these models and to outline the results of our studies at UNESP.

Evaluation of the pre-inoculum utilization in biosurfactant production by solid-state fermentation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sucrose utilization by Zymomonas mobilis: Levan production optimization using submerged fermentation

Levan is an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), constituted by linked fructose units β (2,6), obtained by transfructosilation reaction during fermentation of microorganisms in a sucrose rich culture medium. The bacterial levan production is a good alternative of fructose source, besides having certain functional characteristics in the human body, such as a hypocholesterolemic and an anticarcinogenic agent. In the food industry, the levan can be used to fix colors and flavors, as well as to thickening and stabilizing agent in foods. This work aimed to analyze the kinetic parameters for levan production by Zymomonas mobilis CCT 4494, using submerged fermentation. The response surface methodology (RSM), was utilized to predict the optimization of medium for exopolymer production and the independent variables studied were: initial pH, incubation temperature, sucrose, KCl, K2SO4, MgSO4 and CaCl2. It was observed that the bacterium Z. mobilis CCT 4494 well adapted in medium containing high concentrations of sucrose.

Supported core-shell nanobiosensors for quantitative fluorescence imaging of extracellular pH

Covalent “click” cycloaddition was used to functionalize silica substrates with pH-sensitive nanoparticles, thus producing uniform and highly luminescent analytical devices usable in both commercial fluorimeters and fluorescence microscopes. Quantitative and spatially-resolved extracellular pH measurements were successfully achieved on live cardiac fibroblasts with these novel ion-sensitive surfaces.

Radarfacies and sedimentological analysis: study of sedimentary substrate from an archaeological site (shell mound), southern Brazil

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

Co-simulation tools for networked control systems: revision and utilization

Networked control systems (NCSs) are distributed control systems in which the sensors, actuators, and controllers are physically separated and connected through an industrial network. The main challenge related to the development of NCSs is the degenerative effects caused by the inclusion of this communication network in the closed loop control. In order to mitigate these effects, co-simulation tools for NCS have been developed to study the network influence in the NCS. This paper presents a revision about co-simulation tools for NCS and the application of two of these tools for the design and evaluation of NCSs. The TrueTime and Jitterbug tools were used together to evaluate the main configuration parameter that affects the performance of CAN-based NCS and to verify the NCS quality of control under various timing conditions including different transmission period of messages and network delays. Therefore, the simulation results led to the conclusion that despite the transmission period of messages is the most significant factor among the analyzed in the design of NCS, its influence is related to the kind of system with greater effects in NCSs with fast dynamics.

Service Utilization Patterns of Homeless Youth

Few studies exist on the types of characteristics associated with service utilization (e.g., shelters, food programs) among homeless youth in the U.S. Services are important, however, because without food and shelter, numerous homeless youth resort to trading sex in order to meet their daily survival needs. Access to physical and mental health services gives homeless youth more of an opportunity to integrate into mainstream society than they would otherwise have. To address this gap in our understanding, my study examines what traits (e.g. age, race, abuse history) correlate with the use of shelters, food programs, street outreach, counseling, STD/STI testing, and HIV testing among homeless youth. The Theory of Reasoned Action is used as an ideological framework in conjunction with theoretical constructs of risk, need, and prior service exposure. Data were obtained from the Social Network and Homeless Youth Project (SNHYP), a sample of 249 Midwestern homeless youth ages 14 to 21, which used trained interviewers to conduct structured interviews with youth. Respondents were interviewed in both shelters and on the street over a period of approximately one year. My findings revealed that homeless youth’s service usage varied across gender, sexual orientation, age, having recently held a job, and having ever been physically or sexually abused, in addition to other characteristics. Conversely, service use was not associated with social network size or subjective norms (i.e. attitudes of peers, such as acceptance of condom use) of youths’ social networks. By examining these areas, my study builds on previous research on homeless youth and lays the framework for future research on service utilization by homeless youth.

SEASONAL, HABITAT AND SEX-SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF FOOD UTILIZATION BY RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (Agelaius phoeniceous) IN EASTERN ONTARIO AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Crop depredation by red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) causes serious economic losses to agricultural crops each year in both Canada and the United States. The concentration of vulnerable, monocultural crops, particularly corn, during periods when large flocks of blackbirds congregate in roosting areas prior to migration has invariably led to heavy feeding pressure (Stone et al., 1972; Wiens and Dyer, 1975; Tyler et al., 1978). Efforts to reduce damage levels by mechanical and chemical dispersal agents have been largely unsuccessful, at least in terms of a long-term solution to the problem. Recently, the lethal control of blackbird populations using surfactants has been proposed. However, the potential repercussions of the removal of substantial numbers of birds from northern breeding areas are virtually unknown (Robertson et al., 1978). Much of the research dealing with the feeding ecology of red-winged blackbirds has been limited to fall and winter periods when large aggregations of birds are actively involved in crop depredation (Goddad, 1969; Williams, 1976; Dolbeer et al., 1978) or pose a potential health hazard (Monroe and Cronholm, 1976). However, what is not known is the degree to which the removal of deleterious weed seed and insect pests cited in several studies (Bird and Smith, 1964; Mott et al., 1972; Robertson et al., 1978) might be of potential value to agriculture. The issue of whether the benefits derived from redwing foraging compensate for the negative aspects associated with crop depredation and health hazards remains largely unresolved. The present study attempted to evaluate the pest status of this species using diet information derived from food habits analysis conducted during the residency of red- winged blackbirds in a northern breeding area. By determining how the feeding ecology of red-winged blackbirds varies on a seasonal basis, among different breeding habitats and between sexes, we hoped to determine more realistically which segments of the population might be responsible for the greatest benefits or detriments and, thereby, more accurately evaluate the economic impact of the species as a whole. To achieve this aim, the study provides an accurate description of the common insects and weed pests utilized by redwings. By determining the relative proportions of those items known to be detrimental, we hoped to illustrate, at least qualitatively, the degree to which redwing foraging is comprised of both beneficial and harmful components.

Archaeofacies Analysis: Using Depositional Attributes to Identify Anthropic Processes of Deposition in a Monumental Shell Mound of Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil

In the coast of Santa Catarina State (southern Brazil), a large population of monumental shell mounds characterizes a highly dynamic coastal setting. In this paper, sedimentary facies analysis was adapted for description, sampling, and interpretation of shell mound complex and repetitive archaeostratigraphic successions. Archaeofacies identification in the field, according to depositional attributes, is tested by contrasting field description with multi-element chemical analyses, total carbon and nitrogen determinations, and micromorphological descriptions. Two vertical sequences at the black deposit of Jabuticabeira II shell mound were studied and preliminary results showed that: (1) depositional attributes are a reliable base for archaeofacies identification in the field, (2) the formation process of this site involved a sequence of anthropic depositional processes, where burned refuse was redeposited over the shell mound following a ritual construction pattern, and (3) the black deposit includes a double palimpsest that refers to provenance and meaning of mound construction material. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Screening, immobilization and utilization of whole cell biocatalysts to mediate the ethanolysis of babassu oil

The screening. biomass growth of lipase-producing fungus isolated from different sources and available at URM (University Recife Mycologia). as well as, the immobilization and utilization of the whole cells for the transesterification of babassu oil were investigated. Rhizopus oryzae (URM 3231, 4692), Mucor circinelloides (URM 4140, 4182) and Penicillium citrinum URM 4216 were considered to be good intracellular lipase producers whereas those from Mucor hiemalis URM 4144 and Mucor piriformis URM 4145 were weaker. Fungi biomass containing high lipase activities was immobilized on different biomass support particles (BSPs) and with the exception of Penicillium citrinum URM 4216 all the other fungi strains exhibited high lipase activity (20-50 Ug(-1)) when immobilized in situ using polyurethane foam particles. Transesterification activities of the immobilized whole cells were evaluated in the ethanolysis reaction with babassu oil and the highest performance was attained by M. circinelloides URM 4182 giving 83.22 +/- 3.68% ester yield in less than 96 h reaction. The biocatalyst operational stability was also assessed and an inactivation profile was found to follow the Arrhenius model, revealing values of 26 days and 2.6 x 10(-2)day(-1), for half-life and a deactivation coefficient, respectively. The purified product (biodiesel) exhibited viscosity (6.63 cSt) close to the value to attend specifications by the ASTM 06751 to be used as biofuel. Results are favorable compared with data already reported in the literature and demonstrated that M. circinelloides URM 4182 whole cells is a cheaper biocatalyst that can be used in the biodiesel synthesis. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phosphorus utilization by corn as affected by green manure, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers

The objective of this work was to evaluate the utilization by corn plants of P from triple superphosphate fertilizer labeled with P-32 (P-32-TSP), and of P from soil as affected by N rates and by the green manures (GM) sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and millet (Pennisetum glaucum). The experiment was carried out using pots filled with 5 kg Oxisol (Rhodic Hapludox). A completely randomized design was used, in a 4x4x2 factorial arrangement, with four replicates. The treatments were: four P rates as TSP (0, 0.175, 0.350, and 0.700 g P per pot); four N rates as urea (0, 0.75, 1.50, and 2.25 g N per pot); and sunn hemp or millet as green manure. The additions of N and P by the GM were taken into account. After grain physiologic maturation, corn dry matter, P contents, accumulated P, and P recovery in the different treatments were measured. P-32-TSP recovery by corn increased with N increasing rates, and decreased with increasing rates of P-32-TSP. The mineral fertilizer provides most of the accumulated P by corn plants. The recovery of P-32-TSP by corn was 13.12% in average. The green manure species influence the assimilation of P-32-TSP by the plants.

A NEO-KALECKIAN MODEL OF PROFIT SHARING, CAPACITY UTILIZATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

This paper sets forth a Neo-Kaleckian model of capacity utilization and growth with distribution featuring a profit-sharing arrangement. While a given proportion of firms compensate workers with only a base wage, the remaining proportion do so with a base wage and a share of profits. Consistent with the empirical evidence, workers hired by profit-sharing firms have a higher productivity than their counterparts in base-wage firms. While a higher profit-sharing coefficient raises capacity utilization and growth irrespective of the distribution of compensation strategies across firms, a higher frequency of profit-sharing firms does likewise only if the profit-sharing coefficient is sufficiently high.