Leaf-litter decomposition of the mangrove species Avicennia schaueriana, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle

This study evaluated the decomposition process of leaf litter from the main Brazilian mangrove species Avicennia schaueriana, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle. Senescent leaves were collected, dried and placed in nylon bags with different mesh sizes (fine: 2x2mm and coarse: 8x8mm). The bags were distributed over the sediment, and replicates of each species and mesh size were collected periodically over 4months. In the laboratory, the dry weight of the samples was measured, and the decomposition coefficient (k) for each species and mesh size was obtained over time. All species showed a rapid decomposition rate at the beginning of the experiment, followed by a slower but steady rate of decomposition over time. The rate of leaf litter decomposition was highest in A. schaueriana, intermediate in L. racemosa and lowest in R. mangle. The difference was mainly linked to the activity and abundance of detritivores, together with the different litter quality of the species, which determined their palatability and probably influenced the decomposition process.

Study of some volatile compounds evolved from the thermal decomposition of atenolol

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

Validation of an HPLC Method for the Determination of Dibucaine Encapsulated in Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

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

Raman Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy Characterizations of Fission Track Method Datable Zircon Grains

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

Influência do lantânio nas propriedades estruturais do SrSnO3

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

Síntese e propriedades fotoluminescentes do óxido de cério dopado com magnésio

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

Standardization of metachromatic staining method of myofibrillar ATPase activity of myosin to skeletal striated muscle of mules and donkeys

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

An investigation into the influence of zinc precursor on the microstructural, photoluminescence, and gas-sensing properties of ZnO nanoparticles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Surface modification of polymeric materials by cold atmospheric plasma jet

In this work we report the surface modification of different engineering polymers, such as, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) by an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). It was operated with Ar gas using 10 kV, 37 kHz, sine wave as an excitation source. The aim of this study is to determine the optimal treatment conditions and also to compare the polymer surface modification induced by plasma jet with the one obtained by another atmospheric pressure plasma source the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The samples were exposed to the plasma jet effluent using a scanning procedure, which allowed achieving a uniform surface modification. The wettability assessments of all polymers reveal that the treatment leads to reduction of more than 40 degrees in the water contact angle (WCA). Changes in surface composition and chemical bonding were analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that both detected incorporation of oxygen-related functional groups. Surface morphology of polymer samples was investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and an increase of polymer roughness after the APPJ treatment was found. The plasma-treated polymers exhibited hydrophobic recovery expressed in reduction of the O-content of the surface upon rinsing with water. This process was caused by the dissolution of low molecular weight oxidized materials (LMWOMs) formed on the surface as a result of the plasma exposure. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sn(1-x)LaxO2 thin films deposited on AISI 304 stainless steel substrates

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structural disorder-dependent upconversion in Er3+/Yb3+-doped calcium titanate

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntese e caracterização de ferritas de manganês e zinco visando aplicação como agente de contraste em diagnóstico médico

This work aims to synthesize the manganese and zinc ferrite, by the polymeric precursor method, in order to obtain materials with appropriate characteristics for the application in medical diagnosis techniques. The manganese and zinc ferrite powders with the composition of Mn(1-x)ZnxFe2O4, where x=0,23, were prepared and calcined in air at different times and temperatures. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data show that the sample calcined at 400°C crystallize as ferrite (monophase), but in an inverted spinel structure (high content of iron occupying manganese tetrahedral site and manganese occupying the iron octahedral site). The samples calcined at temperatures between 600°C and 900°C shows the secondary phase of hematite and the sample calcined at 1100oC shows to be monophase in ferrite with normal spinel structure. The monophase powders of ferrite showed a reduction in the surface area and an increasing in the pore size for higher calcination temperatures. The magnetic analysis show that the sample calcined at 400°C presents satisfactory magnetization at room temperature, however, it behaves as diamagnetic material at low temperatures (10K). The powder containing hematite, without the partial substitution of iron ions by manganese, showed to have low transition temperature, and consequently low magnetization at room temperature. The hematite, when partially substituted, provides materials with irregular magnetization at the saturation region. The powder calcined at 1100°C shows high magnetization either at room temperature or low temperature (10K)

Síntese e caracterização dielétrica de filmes finos de Bi3NbO7 obtidos pelo método dos precursores poliméricos

Bi3NbO7 thin films were prepared by the polymeric precursor method. The precursor solutions were prepared with excess of bismuth ranging from 0% to 10% and the pH was controlled to be maintained between 8 and 9. This control was done by adding to the solution niobium and ethylene glycol. The final solution was clear and free of precipitation. After obtaining the precursor solution, has begun the process of characterization of powders with thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis and X-ray analysis (XRD). The films were obtained by the polymeric precursors, the method is advantageous because it is simple, and low cost involves steps and controlled stoichiometry. The films were annealed and characterized by XRD and SEM and also characterized according to their dialectics properties. We observed that the best results were obtained when the film is thermally at 800 ° C for two hours and 860 ° C for two hour. Under these conditions we obtain Bi3NbO7 thin films with good homogeneity, uniform distribution of the grains, but with the formation of secondary phase, which does not occur in treatments with lower temperature. The dielectric characterization showed that the produced film showed good characteristics with high dielectric constant and low loss

Desenvolvimento de filmes finos de Bi3NbO7 pelo método dos precursores poliméricos em diferentes eletrodos óxidos

Technology always advances and thus the device miniaturization and improved performance, besides multifunctionality, they become extremely necessary. A wave of research on the area tends to grow in number and importance in today's market, it is necessary to search for new materials, new applicability of the existing ones and new processes for increasingly cheaper costs. Dielectric materials are considered a key element in this sector being the main electrical properties its high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss. The Polymeric Precursor Method appears as a good alternative because is a low cost, simple process with controlled stoichiometry. In this method, two steps were performed. In a first step, the precursor solution was decomposed into powders and in a second step the precursor solution was converted in thin films. In this work, was used the polymeric precursor methods to get thin films where they were heat treated and characterized by XRD, SEM and AFM. We have obtained Bi3NbO7 thin films with good homogeneity and uniform distribution of grains were noted. We observed that the best condition to obtain the tetragonal phase is annealing the film at high temperatures for a longer soaking time and with excess of bismuth. Several oxides electrodes were evaluated aiming to obtain textured dielectric thin films

Síntese e caracterização de filmes finos de ferrita de bismuto dopados com cálcio visando aplicação em memórias de múltiplos estados

The increasing demand for electro-electronic devices, with high performance and multi-functional and the rapid advances of the nanotechnology require the development of new methods and techniques for the production and characterization of nanostructure materials and phenomenological models to describe/to predict some of its properties. The demand for multifunctionality requires, at least, new materials, that can integrate ferroelectric and magnetic properties of high technological interest. Inside of this context, multiferroics material can be considered suitable to integrate two or more physical properties of high technological interest. It can also provides new challenges in the processes of synthesis of new materials, and development of new devices with controlling and simulation of its physical properties and modeling. For this Calcium (Ca)-doped bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) thin films prepared by using the polymeric precursor method (PPM) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), polarization and piezoelectric measurements.In order to study the behavior and determine which are the most important parameters to achieve the optimal property to be applied to a multiferroic materials