The Use of virtual reality in the study of people's responses to violent incidents

This paper reviews experimental methods for the study of the responses of people to violence in digital media, and in particular considers the issues of internal validity and ecological validity or generalisability of results to events in the real world. Experimental methods typically involve a significant level of abstraction from reality, with participants required to carry out tasks that are far removed from violence in real life, and hence their ecological validity is questionable. On the other hand studies based on fi eld data, while having ecological validity, cannot control multiple confounding variables that may have an impact on observed results, so that their internal validity is questionable. It is argued that immersive virtual reality may provide a unifi cation of these two approaches. Since people tend to respond realistically to situations and events that occur in virtual reality, and since virtual reality simulations can be completely controlled for experimental purposes, studies of responses to violence within virtual reality are likely to have both ecological and internal validity. This depends on a property that we call"plausibility"- including the fi delity of the depicted situation with prior knowledge and expectations. We illustrate this with data from a previously published experiment, a virtual reprise of Stanley Milgram"s 1960s obedience experiment, and also with pilot data from a new study being developed that looks at bystander responses to violent incidents.

Kationinvaihtohartsien hapetuskest��vyys

Hyvin puhdasta vett�� vaativissa sovelluksissa k��ytett��v��t kationinvaihtohartsit eiv��t saisi vuotaa puhdistettavaan veteen mit����n vieraita aineita. Todellisuudessa hartsit kuitenkin vuotavat hyvin pieni�� m����ri�� erilaisia yhdisteit�� k��yt��n aikana. Aineet, joita kationinvaihtohartsi p����st���� veteen, ovat osaksi hartsin polymerointireaktion aikana sen rungon sis����n j����neit�� yhdisteit��. N��m�� voidaan suurimmaksi osaksi poistaa pesem��ll�� hartsia. Osittain niit�� syntyy my��s hartsin polystyreenidivinyylibentseenirungon (PS-DVB) hapettuessa. Hapettumisen seurauksena syntyneet yhdisteet ovat p����osin orgaanisia sulfonaatteja. T��m�� ty�� koskee ydinvoimalaitoksissa k��ytett��vi�� pulverihartseja, joita k��ytet����n prim����ripiiriss�� kiert��v��n lauhdeveden puhdistukseen ja jotka joutuvat siell�� alttiiksi hapettumiselle. Yleens�� hapettuminen on hidasta ja se johtuu veteen liuenneesta hapesta. Hapettuminen nopeutuu huomattavasti, jos vedess�� on l��sn�� hapettimia tai siirtym��metalli-ioneja. T��llaisia hapettimia ovat esimerkiksi vetyperoksidi, otsoni, vapaa kloori, typpihappo ja kromi. Vetyperoksidin vaikutuksesta hartsin runkoon muodostuu hydroperoksidiryhm��, jonka hajoamisesta alkaa reaktioiden sarja, joka lopulta johtaa hartsin polymeerirungon katkeamiseen. Siirtym��metalli-ionit katalysoivat peroksidien hajoamista. Tavallisimpia hapetusta katalysoivia metalli-ioneja ovat rauta ja kupari, joiden katalyyttinen aktiivisuus on suuri. T��ss�� ty��ss�� pyrittiin selvitt��m����n, onko mahdollista valmistaa hartseja, jotka kest��v��t hapettumista paremmin kuin nykyisin k��yt��ss�� olevat hartsit. Sen tutkimiseksi tehtiin kiihdytettyj�� hapetuskokeita k��ytt��en hapettimena vetyperoksidia ilman siirtym��metalli-ioni katalyyttej��. Hapetuskokeet tehtiin kaupallisesti saatavilla hartseilla ja uusilla ty��t�� varten syntetisoiduilla koehartseilla. Hapetuskokeiden etenemist�� seurattiin mittaamalla veteen liuenneiden orgaanisten aineiden kokonaism����r���� (TOC-analyysi) ja liuoksessa esiintyvien orgaanisten sulfonaattien m����r���� johtokykymittauksin. Saadut tulokset antoivat viitteit�� siit��, ett�� hartsin synteesiolosuhteilla voi olla suurempi vaikutus sen hapetuskest��vyyteen kuin synteesiss�� k��ytetyill�� raaka-aineilla.

Spontaneous Speech and Emotional Response modeling based on One-class classifier oriented to Alzheimer Disease diagnosis

The purpose of our project is to contribute to earlier diagnosis of AD and better estimates of its severity by using automatic analysis performed through new biomarkers extracted from non-invasive intelligent methods. The methods selected in this case are speech biomarkers oriented to Sponta-neous Speech and Emotional Response Analysis. Thus the main goal of the present work is feature search in Spontaneous Speech oriented to pre-clinical evaluation for the definition of test for AD diagnosis by One-class classifier. One-class classifi-cation problem differs from multi-class classifier in one essen-tial aspect. In one-class classification it is assumed that only information of one of the classes, the target class, is available. In this work we explore the problem of imbalanced datasets that is particularly crucial in applications where the goal is to maximize recognition of the minority class as in medical diag-nosis. The use of information about outlier and Fractal Dimen-sion features improves the system performance.

Ferromagnetism in transparent thin ���lms of MgO

We show both theoretical and experimental evidences of the appearance of ferromagnetism in MgO thin films. First-principles calculations allow predicting the possibility of the formation of a local moment in MgO, provided the existence of Mg vacancies which create holes on acceptor levels near the O 2p-dominated valence band. Magnetic measurements evidence of the existence of room-temperature ferromagnetism in MgO thin films. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy demonstrates the existence of cation vacancies in our samples. Finally, by applying the element specificity of the x-ray magnetic circular dichroism technique, we also demonstrate that the magnetic moments of the system arise from the spin polarization of the 2p electrons of oxygen atoms surrounding Mg vacancies.

Elastic properties and secondary structure formation of single-stranded DNA at monovalent and divalent salt conditions

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) plays a major role in several biological processes. It is therefore of fundamental interest to understand how the elastic response and the formation of secondary structures are modulated by the interplay between base pairing and electrostatic interactions. Here we measure force-extension curves (FECs) of ssDNA molecules in optical tweezers set up over two orders of magnitude of monovalent and divalent salt conditions, and obtain its elastic parameters by fitting the FECs to semiflexible models of polymers. For both monovalent and divalent salts, we find that the electrostatic contribution to the persistence length is proportional to the Debye screening length, varying as the inverse of the square root of cation concentration. The intrinsic persistence length is equal to 0.7 nm for both types of salts, and the effectivity of divalent cations in screening electrostatic interactions appears to be 100-fold as compared with monovalent salt, in line with what has been recently reported for single-stranded RNA. Finally, we propose an analysis of the FECs using a model that accounts for the effective thickness of the filament at low salt condition and a simple phenomenological description that quantifies the formation of non-specific secondary structure at low forces.

The role of geography and ecology in shaping repeated patterns of morphological and genetic differentiation between European minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) from the Pyrenees and the Alps

Neutral and selective processes c an drive repeated patterns of evolu tion in dif ferent groups of populationsexp eriencing similar ecol ogica l gradients. In this paper, we used a combinat ion of nucl ear and mitochondrialDNA markers, as well as geometric morphometrics, to investigate repeated patterns of morphological andgenetic divergence of E uropean minnows in two mountain ranges : the Pyrenees and the Al ps. Europeanminnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) are cyprinid fish i nha bitin g most freshwater bodies in Europe, including those indifferent mountain r anges that could act as major geographical barriers to gene flow. We explored patterns ofP. phoxinus phenotypic and genetic di versi fication along a gradi ent of alti tude common to the two mountainranges, and tested for isolation by distance (IBD), isolation by environment (IBE) and isolation by adaptation(IBA). The results indicated that populations from the Pyr enees a nd the Alps bel ong to two well differentiated,reciprocally monophyletic mt DNA lineages. Substantial genetic differentiation due to geographical isolationwithin and between populations from the Pyrenees and the Alps was also found using rapidly evolving AFLPsmarkers (isolation by distance or IBD), as well as morphological differences between mountain ranges. Als o,morphology varied strong ly with elevation and so did genetic differentiation to a lower extent. Despitemoderate evidence for IBE and IBA, and therefore of repeated evolution, substantial population heterogeneitywas found at the genetic level, suggesting that selection and population specific genetic drift act in concert toaffect genetic divergence.

The central histaminergic neurons in vitro, and their neuroprotective role in excitotoxic cell death in the postnatal rat hippocampus.

Histamine acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Brain histamine in synthesized in neurons located to the posterior hypothalamus, from where these neurons send their projections to different parts of the brain. Released histamine participates in the regulation of several physiological functions such as arousal, attention and body homeostasis. Disturbances in the histaminergic system have been detected in diseases such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, Alzheimer���s disease, and schizophrenia. The purpose of this thesis was to develop optimal culture conditions for the histaminergic neurons, to study their detailed morphology, and to find out their significance in the kainic acid (KA)-induced neuronal death in the immature rat hippocampus. The morphology of the histaminergic neurons <i>in vitro</i> was comparable with the earlier findings. Histamine-containing vesicles were found in the axon but also in the cell body and dendrites suggesting a possibility for the somatodendritic release. Moreover, histamine was shown to be colocalized with the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) suggesting that VMAT2 transports histamine to the subcellular storage vesicles. Furthermore, histamine was localized with ��-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in distinct storage vesicles and with neuropeptide galanin partly in the same storage vesicles suggesting different corelease mechanisms for GABA and galanin with histamine. In the organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, KA-induced neuronal death was first detected 12 h after the treatment being restricted mainly to the CA3 subregion. Moreover, cell death was irreversible, since the 48 h recovery period did not save the cells, but instead increased the damage. Finally, neuronal death was suggested to be necrotic, since intracellular apoptotic pathways were not activated, and the morphological changes detected with the electron microscopy were characteristic for necrosis. In the coculture system of the hippocampal and posterior hypothalamic slices, histaminergic neurons significantly decreased epileptiform burst activity and neuronal death in the hippocampal slices, this effect being mediated by histamine 1 (H1) and 3 (H3) receptors. In conclusion, the histaminergic neurons were maintained succesfully in the <i>in vitro</i> conditions exhibiting comparable morphological characteristics as detected earlier <i>in vivo</i>. Moreover, they developed functional innervations within the hippocampal slices in the coculture system. Finally, the KA-induced regionspecific, irreversible and necrotic hippocampal pyramidal cell damage was significantly decreased by the histaminergic neurons through H1 and H3 receptors.

The Depsipeptide Romidepsin Reverses HIV-1 Latency In Vivo.

UNLABELLED: Pharmacologically-induced activation of replication competent proviruses from latency in the presence of antiretroviral treatment (ART) has been proposed as a step towards curing HIV-1 infection. However, until now, approaches to reverse HIV-1 latency in humans have yielded mixed results. Here, we report a proof-of-concept phase Ib/IIa trial where 6 aviremic HIV-1 infected adults received intravenous 5 mg/m2 romidepsin (Celgene) once weekly for 3 weeks while maintaining ART. Lymphocyte histone H3 acetylation, a cellular measure of the pharmacodynamic response to romidepsin, increased rapidly (maximum fold range: 3.7-7.7 relative to baseline) within the first hours following each romidepsin administration. Concurrently, HIV-1 transcription quantified as copies of cell-associated un-spliced HIV-1 RNA increased significantly from baseline during treatment (range of fold-increase: 2.4-5.0; p = 0.03). Plasma HIV-1 RNA increased from &lt;20 copies/mL at baseline to readily quantifiable levels at multiple post-infusion time-points in 5 of 6 patients (range 46-103 copies/mL following the second infusion, p = 0.04). Importantly, romidepsin did not decrease the number of HIV-specific T cells or inhibit T cell cytokine production. Adverse events (all grade 1-2) were consistent with the known side effects of romidepsin. In conclusion, romidepsin safely induced HIV-1 transcription resulting in plasma HIV-1 RNA that was readily detected with standard commercial assays demonstrating that significant reversal of HIV-1 latency in vivo is possible without blunting T cell-mediated immune responses. These finding have major implications for future trials aiming to eradicate the HIV-1 reservoir. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NTC02092116.

Store-operated Ca2+ Entry Mediated by Orai1 and TRPC1 Participates to Insulin Secretion in Rat &#946;-Cells.

Store-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCs) are voltage-independent Ca(2+) channels activated upon depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) stores. Early studies suggest the contribution of such channels to Ca(2+) homeostasis in insulin-secreting pancreatic &#946;-cells. However, their composition and contribution to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) remains unclear. In this study, endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) depletion triggered by acetylcholine (ACh) or thapsigargin stimulated the formation of a ternary complex composed of Orai1, TRPC1, and STIM1, the key proteins involved in the formation of SOCs. Ca(2+) imaging further revealed that Orai1 and TRPC1 are required to form functional SOCs and that these channels are activated by STIM1 in response to thapsigargin or ACh. Pharmacological SOCs inhibition or dominant negative blockade of Orai1 or TRPC1 using the specific pore mutants Orai1-E106D and TRPC1-F562A impaired GSIS in rat &#946;-cells and fully blocked the potentiating effect of ACh on secretion. In contrast, pharmacological or dominant negative blockade of TRPC3 had no effect on extracellular Ca(2+) entry and GSIS. Finally, we observed that prolonged exposure to supraphysiological glucose concentration impaired SOCs function without altering the expression levels of STIM1, Orai1, and TRPC1. We conclude that Orai1 and TRPC1, which form SOCs regulated by STIM1, play a key role in the effect of ACh on GSIS, a process that may be impaired in type 2 diabetes.

Jasmonic acid and the THO/TREX complex participate in phosphate starvation response

All plants are typically confronted to simultaneous biotic and abiotic stress throughout their life cycle. Low inorganic phosphate (Pi) is the most common nutrient deficiency limiting plant growth in natural and agricultural ecosystems while insect herbivory accounts for major losses in plant productivity and impacts on ecological and evolutionary changes in plant populations. Here we report that plants experiencing Pi deficiency induce the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway and enhance their defence against insect herbivory. The phol mutant is impaired in the translocation of Pi from roots to shoots and shows the typical symptoms associated with Pi deficiency, including high anthocyanin and poor shoot growth. These phol shoot phenotypes were significantly attenuated by blocking the JA biosynthesis or signalling pathways. Wounded phol leaves hyper-accumulated JA in comparison to wild type, leading to increased resistance against the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis. Pi deficiency also triggered enhanced resistance to herbivory in wild-type Arabidopsis as well as tomato and tobacco, revealing that the link between Pi deficiency and JA-mediated herbivory resistance is conserved in a diversity of plants, including crops. We performed a phol suppressor screen to identify new components involved in the adaptation of plants to Pi deficiency. We report that the THO RNA TRANSCRIPTION AND EXPORT (THO/TREX) complex is a crucial component involved in modulating the Pi- deficiency response. Knockout mutants of at least three members of the THO/TREX complex, including TEX1, HPR1, and TH06, can suppress the phol shoot phenotype. Grafting experiments showed that loss of function of TEX1 only in the root was sufficient to suppress the reduced shoot growth phenotype of phol while maintaining low Pi contents. This indicates that TEX1 is involved in a long distance root-to-shoot signalling component of the Pi-deficiency response. We identified a small MYB-like transcription factor, RAD LIKE 3 (RL3), as a potential downstream target of the THO/TREX complex. RL3 expression is induced in phol mutants but attenuated in phol-7 texl-4 double mutants. Identical to knockout mutants of the THO/TREX complex, rl3 mutants can suppress the phol shoot phenotypes. Interestingly, RL3 is induced during Pi deficiency and is described in the literature as likely being mobile. It is therefore a promising new candidate involved in the root-to-shoot Pi-deficiency signalling response. Finally, we report that PHOl and its homologue PH01:H3 are involved in the co-regulation of Pi and zinc (Zn) homeostasis. PH01;H3 is up-regulated in response to Zn deficiency and, like PHOl, is expressed in the root vascular cylinder and localizes to the Golgi when expressed transiently in tobacco cells. The phol;h3 mutant accumulates more Pi as compared to wild-type when grown in Zn-deficient medium, but this increase is abolished in the phol phol;h3 double mutant. These results suggest that PH01;H3 restricts the PHOl-mediated root-to-shoot Pi transfer in respons�� to Zn deficiency. R��sum�� Au cours de leur cycle de vie, toutes les plantes sont g��n��ralement confront��es �� divers stress biotiques et abiotiques. La carence nutritionnelle la plus fr��quente, limitant la croissance des plantes dans les ��cosyst��mes naturels et agricoles, est la faible teneur en phosphate inorganique (Pi). Au niveau des stress biotiques, les insectes herbivores sont responsables de pertes majeures de rendement et ont un impact consid��rable sur les changements ��cologiques et ��volutifs dans les populations des plantes. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons mis en ��vidence que les plantes en situation de carence en Pi induisent la voie de l'acide jasmonique (JA) et augmentent leur d��fense contre les insectes herbivores. Le mutant phol est d��ficient dans le transport du phosphate des racines aux feuilles et d��montre les sympt��mes typiques associ��s �� la carence, tels que la forte concentration en anthocyane et une faible croissance foliaire. Ces ph��notypes du mutant phol sont significativement att��nu��s lors d'un blocage de la voie de la biosynth��se ou des voies de signalisation du JA. La blessure des feuilles induit une hyper-accumulation de JA chez phol, r��sultant en une augmentation de la r��sistance contre l'herbivore g��n��raliste Spodoptera littoralis. Outre Arabidopsis, la carence en Pi induit une r��sistance accrue aux insectes herbivores aussi chez la tomate et le tabac. Cette d��couverte r��v��le que le lien entre la carence en Pi et la r��sistance aux insectes herbivores via le JA est conserv�� dans diff��rentes esp��ces v��g��tales, y compris les plantes de grandes cultures. Nous avons effectu�� un crible du suppresseur de phol afin d'identifier de nouveaux acteurs impliqu��s dans l'adaptation de la plante �� la carence en Pi. Nous rapportons que le complexe nomm�� THO RNA TRANSCRIPTION AND EXPORT (THO/TREX) est un ��l��ment crucial participant �� la r��ponse des feuilles �� la carence en Pi. Les mutations d'au moins trois des membres que composent le complexe THO/TREX, incluant TEX1, HPR1 et 77/06, peuvent supprimer le ph��notype de phol. Des exp��riences de greffes ont montr�� que la perte de fonction de TEX1, seulement dans la racine, est suffisante pour supprimer le ph��notype de la croissance r��duite des parties a��riennes observ�� chez le mutant phol, tout en maintenant de faibles teneurs en Pi foliaire. Ceci indique que TEX1 est impliqu�� dans la signalisation longue distance entre les racines et les parties a��riennes. Nous avons identifi�� un petit facteur de transcription proche de la famille des MYB, RAD LIKE 3 (RL3), comme une cible potentielle en aval du complexe THO / TREX. L'expression du g��ne RL3 est induite dans le mutant phol mais att��nu��e dans le double mutant phol-7 texl-4. Exactement comme les plantes mut��es d'un des membres du complexe THO/TREX, le mutant rl3 peut supprimer le ph��notype foliaire de phol. RL3 est induit au cours d'une carence en Pi et est d��crit dans la litt��rature comme ��tant potentiellement mobile. Par cons��quent, il serait un nouveau candidat potentiellement impliqu�� dans la r��ponse longue distance entre les racines et les parties a��riennes lors d'un d��ficit en Pi. Enfin, nous reportons que PHOl et son homologue PHOl: H3 sont impliqu��s dans la co- r��gulation de l'hom��ostasie du Pi et du zinc (Zn). PHOl; H3 est sur-exprim�� en r��ponse au d��ficit en Zn et, comme PHOl, est exprim�� dans les tissus vasculaires des racines et se localise dans l'appareil de Golgi lorsqu'il est exprim�� de mani��re transitoire dans des cellules de tabac. Le mutant phol; h3 accumule plus de Pi par rapport aux plantes sauvages lorsqu'il est cultiv�� sur un milieu d��ficient en Zn, mais cette augmentation en Pi est abolie dans le double mutant phol phol; h3. Ces r��sultats sugg��rent qu'en r��ponse �� une carence en Zn, PHOl; H3 limite l'action de PHOl et diminue le transfert du Pi des racines aux parties a��riennes.

Typhlonesticus gocmeni sp. n., a new cave-dwelling blind spider species from the Aegean region of��Turkey��(Araneae, Nesticidae)

A new species of the troglobitic spider genus Typhlonesticus is described from specimens found in Kelo��lan Cave (Denizli Province, Dodurgalar Town), Turkey. Typhlonesticus gocmeni sp. n. is described on the basis of both sexes; and its phylogenetic relationships with closely related European genera and species are discussed based on morphological and molecular data (the cox1, rrnL and H3 genes). Three new combinations are proposed: Typhlonesticus idriacus (Roewer, 1931), comb. n., Typhlonesticus morisii (Brignoli, 1975) comb. n. and Typhlonesticus obcaecatus (Simon, 1907), comb. n. all ex Nesticus.

Prognostic Importance of the Cuse of Renal Failure in Patients With Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The prognostic value of the different causes of renal failure in cirrhosis is not well established. This study investigated the predictive value of the cause of renal failure in cirrhosis. METHODS: Five hundred sixty-two consecutive patients with cirrhosis and renal failure (as de���ned by serum creatinine 1.5 mg/dL on 2 successive determinations within 48 hours) hospitalized over a 6-year period in a single institution were included in a prospective study. The cause of renal failure was classi���ed into 4 groups: renal failure associated with bacterial infections, renal failure associated with volume depletion, hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), and parenchymal nephropathy. The primary end point was survival at 3 months. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty-three patients (82.4%) had renal failure that could be classi���ed in 1 of 4 groups. The most frequent was renal failure associated with infections (213 cases; 46%), followed by hypovolemia-associated renal failure (149; 32%), HRS (60; 13%), and parenchymal nephropathy (41; 9%). The remaining patients had a combination of causes or miscellaneous conditions. Prognosis was markedly different according to cause of renal failure, 3-month probability of survival being 73% for parenchymal nephropathy, 46% for hypovolemia-associated renal failure, 31% for renal failure associated with infections, and 15% for HRS (P .0005). In a multivariate analysis adjusted for potentially confounding variables, cause of renal failure was independently associated with prognosis, together with MELD score, serum sodium, and hepatic encephalopathy at time of diagnosis of renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: A simple classi���cation of patients with cirrhosis according to cause of renal failure is useful in assessment of prognosis and may help in decision making in liver transplantation.

Cicloadi����es [3+4] via c��tions oxial��licos: aplica����es em s��nteses org��nicas

Several methodologies for the generation of oxyallyl cations from polybromoketones and other substrates are discussed. The mechanistic aspect of the [3+4] cycloaddition reaction between these cations and dienes leading to the formation of seven membered ring carbocyclic compounds is presented. Finally, some synthetic applications of the [3+4] cycloaddition are shown.

Caracteriza����o qu��mica e f��sica de vermicomposto e avalia����o de sua capacidade em adsorver cobre e zinco

The physical and chemical characterization of vermicompost from bovine manure has been studied. It was examined the pH and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC), organic matter content, electric conductivity and elementary and XRD analyses, among other characteristics. The vermicompost was then applied to the retention and competition of metal micronutrients and pollutants (Cu and Zn) from metal nitrate solutions. The retention was affected by both the pH and adsorption time, while the competitive character of these metals for the substrate was relevant to each pH examined.

Adsor����o de ��ons Cu2+ em latossolo vermelho-amarelo h��mico

In environmental studies it is necessary to know the adsorption behavior of metals by soils, since the unfavorable effects of heavy metals and even the micronutrients at high concentrations in the environment are related to these adsorbents' ability to immobilize them. A sample of a humic yellow red oxisol from Araponga region in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, was used to verify the adsorption behavior of Cu2+ ions in this substrate. The mathematical model described by Langmuir's adsorption equation in its linearized form was applied and the values of the maximum capacity b and those of the constant related to the bonding energy a were obtained. Aliquots of copper nitrate solutions containing several concentrations of this metal were added to soil samples, the pH being predetermined for developing the adsorption experiments. The chemical and physical characterization of soil sample were performed by determining the organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, concentration of metals (Al, Fe, K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Pb, and Cd), granulometric analysis and X-ray diffraction. Langmuir isotherms presented two distinct adsorption regions at both pH 4 and pH 5, showing that the adsorptive phenomenon occurs in two distinct stages. The adsorption sites for the lower part presented greater bonding energy and low adsorption capacity compared with the adsorption sites of the part of the curve corresponding to higher Cu concentrations in the equilibrating solution.