LEAST ACTION PRINCIPLE and THE INCOMPRESSIBLE EULER EQUATIONS WITH VARIABLE DENSITY

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

Age constraints and fine tuning in variable-mass particle models

VAMP (variable-mass particle) scenarios, in which the mass of the cold dark matter particles is a function of the scalar field responsible for the present acceleration of the Universe, have been proposed as a solution to the cosmic coincidence problem, since in the attractor regime both dark energy and dark matter scale in the same way. We find that only a narrow region in parameter space leads to models with viable values for the Hubble constant and dark energy density today. In the allowed region, the dark energy density starts to dominate around the present epoch and consequently such models cannot solve the coincidence problem. We show that the age of the Universe in this scenario is considerably higher than the age for noncoupled dark energy models, and conclude that more precise independent measurements of the age of the Universe would be useful in distinguishing between coupled and noncoupled dark energy models.

Notes on the two-brane model with variable tension

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mapping an uncertainty zone between interpolated types of a categorical variable

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Direct Determination of Phosphite in Fertilizers by Amperometric Titration

Amperometric titration using two Pt microelectrodes for the determination of phosphite in fertilizers based on the oxidation of analyte by iodine is proposed. The influence of pH, buffer composition, temperature, and foreign species on the end point and titration time was investigated. For titrations carried out at 70 degrees C using the pH 6.8 phosphate buffer, samples containing ca. 0.4% (m/v) P(2)O(5) could be titrated with 0.050 mol L(-1) iodine titrant, and the end point determined by extrapolating the linear portions of the plot to their intersection coincided with the end point identified by spectrophotometry. Accuracy was checked for phosphite determination in five fertilizer samples. Results were in agreement at the 95% confidence level (paired t test) with spectrophotometry. Recoveries of phosphite added to fertilizer samples ranged from 97% to 102% regardless of the amount of spiking in several determinations. The relative standard deviation (n = 10) was 1.0% for a diluted sample containing 0.050 mol L(-1) Na(2)HPO(3).

Efeitos agudos do tabagismo sobre a modulação autonômica: análise por meio do plot de poincaré

FUNDAMENTO: O tabagismo altera a função autonômica. OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos agudos do tabagismo sobre a modulação autonômica e a recuperação dos índices de variabilidade de frequência cardíaca (VFC) pós-fumo, por meio do plot de Poincaré e índices lineares. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 25 fumantes jovens, os quais tiveram a frequência cardíaca analisada, batimento a batimento, na posição sentada, após 8 horas de abstinência, por 30 minutos em repouso, 20 minutos durante o fumo e 30 minutos pós-fumo. Análise de variância para medidas repetidas, seguido do teste de Tukey, ou teste de Friedman seguido do teste de Dunn foram aplicados dependendo da normalidade dos dados, com p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Durante o fumo, houve redução dos índices SD1 (23,4 ± 9,2 vs 13,8 ± 4,8), razão SD1/SD2 (0,31 ± 0,08 vs 0,2 ± 0,04), RMSSD (32,7 ± 13 vs 19,1 ± 6,8), SDNN (47,6 ± 14,8 vs 35,5 ± 8,4), HFnu (32,5 ± 11,6 vs 19 ± 8,1) e do intervalo RR (816,8 ± 89 vs 696,5 ± 76,3) em relação ao repouso, enquanto que aumentos do índice LFnu (67,5 ± 11,6 vs 81 ± 8,1) e da razão LF/HF (2,6 ± 1,7 vs 5,4 ± 3,1) foram observados. A análise visual do plot mostrou menor dispersão dos intervalos RR durante o fumo. Com exceção da razão SD1/SD2, os demais índices apresentaram recuperação dos valores, 30 minutos após o tabagismo. CONCLUSÃO: O tabagismo produziu agudamente modificações no controle autonômico, caracterizadas por ativação simpática e retirada vagal, com recuperação 30 minutos após o fumo.

Species richness of pteridophytes in a montane Atlantic rain forest plot of Southern Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Heavy metals in Oxisols amended with biosolids and cropped with maize in a long-term experiment

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

Avaliação das silagens de capim-elefante aditivadas com nabo forrageiro, pinhão manso e tremoço, pela técnica de produção de gases

Objetivou-se, na condução deste trabalho, a avaliação das silagens de capim-elefante aditivadas com tortas de nabo forrageiro, pinhão manso e tremoço pela técnica de produção de gás. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Nutrição Animal do Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura da Universidade de São Paulo (LANA/CENA/USP). Como doadores de líquido de rúmen, foram utilizados 2 ovinos da raça Santa Inês, machos, adultos, castrados e providos de cânula ruminal permanente. A alimentação dos animais doadores foi constituída de forragem de gramínea cultivada e uma suplementação, ao final do dia, com feno de Tifton, concentrado comercial e sal mineral à vontade. Os substratos foram secos a 60ºC, moídos em moinho do tipo Willey, provido de peneira com perfurações de 2 mm. Os gases produzidos durante os diferentes períodos de fermentação (0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 e 96 h) foram medidos com um transducer - medidor de pressão.O experimento foi instalado segundo um delineamento de blocos ao acaso em que os tratamentos foram arranjados em um esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo. Os maiores valores de produção de gás observados para os tratamentos em que adicionou-se torta de tremoço quando comparados com as outras tortas, decorreu do fato da torta de tremoço apresentar menor teor de fibras, propiciando assim, uma maior fermentação ruminal e, consequentemente, maior produção de gás em relação a outros alimentos com maior proporção de carboidratos estruturais (parede celular).As taxas de degradação da fração solúvel da matéria seca foi menor para NF 8% e PM 11% em relação às outras silagens estudadas. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas para as TNF, TPM e TT, nos diferentes níveis, em relação ao volume de gases em 96 h de incubação (P<0,05). As silagens contendo torta de tremoço apresentaram maior produção de gases quando comparadas Às outras tortas. em todos os tratamentos, exceto naqueles em que adicionou-se TT, houve diminuição (P<0,05) nos valores médios de degradabilidade da matéria seca às 96 horas, à medida que aumentou-se o nível de inclusão das tortas. As silagens de capim-elefante adicionadas de tortas de nabo forrageiro ou tremoço, nos diferentes níveis, apresentaram maiores taxas de degradação e maiores produções de gases que as adicionadas de torta de pinhão manso.

Xylanases from fungi: properties and industrial applications

Xylan is the principal type of hemicellulose. It is a linear polymer of beta-D-xylopyranosyl units linked by (1-4) glycosidic bonds. In nature, the polysaccharide backbone may be added to 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucuronopyranosyl units, acetyl groups, alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl, etc., in variable proportions. An enzymatic complex is responsible for the hydrolysis of xylan, but the main enzymes involved are endo-1,4-beta-xylanase and beta-xylosidase. These enzymes are produced by fungi, bacteria, yeast, marine algae, protozoans, snails, crustaceans, insect, seeds, etc., but the principal commercial source is filamentous fungi. Recently, there has been much industrial interest in xylan and its hydrolytic enzymatic complex, as a supplement in animal feed, for the manufacture of bread, food and drinks, textiles, bleaching of cellulose pulp, ethanol and xylitol production. This review describes some properties of xylan and its metabolism, as well as the biochemical properties of xylanases and their commercial applications.

Joint (X)over-bar and R charts with variable sample sizes and sampling intervals

Recent studies have shown that the (X) over bar chart with variable sampling intervals (VSI) and/or with variable sample sizes (VSS) detects process shifts faster than the traditional (X) over bar chart. This article extends these studies for processes that are monitored by both the (X) over bar and R charts. A Markov chain model is used to determine the properties of the joint (X) over bar and R charts with variable sample sizes and sampling intervals (VSSI). The VSSI scheme improves the joint (X) over bar and R control chart performance in terms of the speed with which shifts in the process mean and/or variance are detected.

Variable influence of ferric and cupric ions on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains used in asymmetric organic synthesis.

Fe (III) and Cu (II) each at 50 mu M in four commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced an increase of NAD(P)(+) reduction in one strain (Turkish), but two others (Chilean and Brazilian), the presence of Fe(III) and/or Cu(II) diminished NAD(P)(+) reduction presumably due to free radicals formation inside these living cells. Suprisingly, in the American strain, Fe(III) induced a decrease and Cu (II) an increase of NAD(P)(+) reduction.

Condições associadas ao grau de satisfação com a vida entre a população de idosos

OBJECTIVE: As a result of overall growing population's life expectancy, it has become increasingly important to ensure not only that the elderly have greater longevity but also happiness and life satisfaction. The objective of the study was to describe factors associated with life satisfaction among elderly people.METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-five older persons, selected by means of random stratified proportional sampling, were interviewed in 2003. The instrument used was a combination of Flanagan and Nahas questionnaires and WHOQOL-100. There were added questions concerning physical activity extracted from International Physical Activity Questionnaire, questions regarding reported morbidity and emotional assessment, sociodemographic condition and an open question. The level of life satisfaction was measured using a scale from one to seven by means of visual recognition. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed including life satisfaction as a dependent variable and those included the final questionnaire, in blocks, as independent variables.RESULTS: Most elderly were generally rather satisfied with life as well as with specific aspects. The level of life satisfaction was associated with: comfort at home (OR=11.82; 95% Cl: 3.27; 42.63); appraising leisure as quality of life (OR=3.82; 95% Cl: 2.28; 6.39); waking up feeling well in the morning (OR=2.80; 95% Cl: 1.47; 5.36); not reporting loneliness (OR=2.68; 95% Cl: 1.54; 4.65); having three or more daily meals (OR=2.63; 95% Cl: 1.75; 5.90) and not reporting Diabetes Mellitus (OR-2.63; 95% Cl: 1.3 1; 5.27).CONCLUSIONS: Most elderly in the study were satisfied with life and their satisfaction was associated with situations related to being well and not being diabetic.

AATS for the (X)over-bar chart with variable parameters

A Fortran computer program is given for the computation of the adjusted average time to signal, or AATS, for adaptive (X) over bar charts with one, two, or all three design parameters variable: the sample size, n, the sampling interval, h, and the factor k used in determining the width of the action limits. The program calculates the threshold limit to switch the adaptive design parameters and also provides the in-control average time to signal, or ATS.

THERMOTOLERANCE BEHAVIOR IN SUGAR-CANE SYRUP FERMENTATIONS OF WILD-TYPE YEAST STRAINS SELECTED UNDER PRESSURES OF TEMPERATURE, HIGH SUGAR AND ADDED ETHANOL

The selected yeast strains were examined for their ability lo grow, to retain cell viability and to ferment diluted sugar cane juice (15% total sugar, w/v) to ethanol at 40-degrees-C. The degree of agitation (aeration) affects the thermotolerance while the method used for isolation of the strains appears to have no significant effect. The yeast isolated are aerobically fermentative with increased levels of fermentation and growth resulting from agitation (aeration), the exact level of these increases being dependent on the strain used.