Síntese, estudo cinético e análise microestrutural do sistema cério-níquel obtido pelo método pechini

The cerium oxide has a high potential for use in removing pollutants after combustion, removal of organic matter in waste water and the fuel-cell technology. The nickel oxide is an attractive material due to its excellent chemical stability and their optical properties, electrical and magnetic. In this work, CeO2-NiO- systems on molars reasons 1:1(I), 1:2(II) e 1:3(III) metal-citric acid were synthesized using the Pechini method. We used techniques of TG / DTG and ATD to monitor the degradation process of organic matter to the formation of the oxide. By thermogravimetric analysis and applying the dynamic method proposed by Coats-Redfern, it was possible to study the reactions of thermal decomposition in order to propose the possible mechanism by which the reaction takes place, as well as the determination of kinetic parameters as activation energy, Ea, pre-exponential factor and parameters of activation. It was observed that both variables exert a significant influence on the formation of complex polymeric precursor. The model that best fitted the experimental data in the dynamic mode was R3, which consists of nuclear growth, which formed the nuclei grow to a continuous reaction interface, it proposes a spherical symmetry (order 2 / 3). The values of enthalpy of activation of the system showed that the reaction in the state of transition is exothermic. The variables of composition, together with the variable temperature of calcination were studied by different techniques such as XRD, IV and SEM. Also a study was conducted microstructure by the Rietveld method, the calculation routine was developed to run the package program FullProf Suite, and analyzed by pseudo-Voigt function. It was found that the molar ratio of variable metal-citric acid in the system CeO2-NiO (I), (II), (III) has strong influence on the microstructural properties, size of crystallites and microstrain network, and can be used to control these properties

Biological activity of Pyrrole-Imidazole polyamides in vivo

This thesis focuses on biological activity of pyrrole-imidazole polyamides in vivo. The work presented includes experiments underlining sequence selectivity of these compounds in living cells and potential methods to improve it. A large fraction of this thesis is devoted to activity of Py-Im in murine models of cancer. We investigated the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of two compounds – targeted to 5'-WGGWCW-3' and 5'-WTWCGW-3' sequences – and characterized their activity by measuring their effects on tumor growth, gene expression in vivo and in tissue culture, and their effects on physiology of tumors. The initial theoretical studies suggested that a large fraction of genomic sites are bound by Py-Im polyamides non-specifically and experimental data shows that the programmed binding sequence is not a sole determinant of the patterns of gene regulation. Despite the likely presence of non-specific effects of Py-Im polyamides in living cells, in vivo administration of Py-Im polyamides resulted in tolerable host toxicity and anti-tumor activity. Py-Im polyamide targeted to Estrogen Receptor Response Element showed downregulation of ER-driven gene expression in tumor cells, while the compound targeted to hypoxia response element reduced vascularization of tumors and their growth rate, induced apoptosis of cells in hypoxic areas and reduced expression of proangiogenic and prometastatic factors. Further studies, showed that polyamides distributed to many of the tested tissues and their FITC-conjugates showed nuclear uptake. The gene expression effects were also present in murine tissues, such as liver and kidneys, indicating a potential for use for Py-Im polyamides in non-cancerous diseases.

Modelo actual de la parroquia Octavio Cordero Palacios

El modelo actual de la parroquia Octavio Cordero Palacios pretende aportar con una imagen de la proyección espacial del estilo de desarrollo de la sociedad en el espacio al que se refiere, de tal manera que estrategias distintas de desarrollo económico, social y ambiental conducen a modelos distintos de organización espacial. Para lo cual el siguiente trabajo está organizado en cuatro capítulos: El primer capítulo aborda el tema del diagnóstico del medio físico, poniendo énfasis en: el relieve, geomorfología, geología, suelos, clima, hidrología, medio biótico, formaciones vegetales, uso actual y potencial del suelo, vulnerabilidades, degradaciones y amenazas de orden natural o antrópico. El segundo capítulo hace alusión al diagnóstico del poblamiento donde se abordan estudios sobre: evolución histórica de la población, estructura poblacional y su proyección, migración, educación, tasas de actividad económica y su estructura. El tercer capítulo se enfoca en el diagnóstico del poblamiento y contiene estudios sobre los núcleos poblaciones y sus atributos, el grado de consolidación y el uso del suelo. El último capítulo hace referencia al marco legal e institucional, en primera instancia, se trata sobre las normas que regulan el uso y ocupación del suelo como también las competencias, funciones y atribuciones de los GAD´s parroquiales. A esto hay que añadir la elaboración del modelo actual a partir de los diagnósticos sectoriales previos trabajados a base de interpretaciones. La elaboración del diagnóstico integrado permite determinar las debilidades y potencialidades relevantes del área en estudio.

Effect of clearing native forest (Caatinga) strips on some hydrologic components of micro-watersheds.

The influences of clearing native vegetation (Caatinga) in contour strips at 25 cm vertical interval on evaporation losses in cleared strips, annual runoff efficiency and annuall soil loss on gently sloped micro-waterheds in the arid zones of Northeast Brazil are reported. The alternate native vegetation (Caatinga) strips function very effectively as windbreaks thus reducing evaporation losses substantially in the leeward cleared strips. The runoff measured at the micro-watershed with cleared strips was many-fold lower than the runoff obtained at a completely denuded watershed even when it was protected by narrow based channel terraces. However, the annual runoff efficiency can be significantly increased in a strip cleared watershed if narrow based channel terraces are provided on the lower side of cleared strips. The annual soil losses in strip cleared watersheds as well as completely denuded waterhed of gentle slopes were negligible. Thus clearing land in alternate contour strips on a micro-watersheds shall substantially improve crop water use efficiency without creating any significant erosion problems. Additionally this treatment will increase runoff for water harvesting for irrigation purposes.

Utilization of nitrogen (15N) from urea and green manures by rice as affected by nitrogen fertilizer rate.

The use of green manures (GMs) in combination with nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is a promising practice to improve N fertilizer management in agricultural production systems. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the N use efficiency (NUE) of rice plant, derived from GMs including sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) and urea in the greenhouse. The experimental treatments included two GMs (sunn hemp-15N and millet-15N), absence of N organic source (without GM residues in soil) and four N rates, as urea-15N (0, 28.6, 57.2 and 85.8 mg N kg-1). The results showed that both rice grain and straw biomass yields under sunn hemp were greater than that of millet or without the application of GM. The NUE of rice under sunn hemp was greater than that under millet (18.9 and 7.8% under sunn hemp and millet, respectively). The urea N application rates did not affect the fertilizer NUE by rice (53.7%) with or without GMs. The NUE of GMs by rice plants ranged from 14.1% and 16.8% for root and shoot, respectively. The study showed that green manures can play an important role in enhancing soil fertility and N supply to subsequent crops.

No limite entre a cidade e o parque urbano

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Arquitectura, apresentada na Universidade de Lisboa - Faculdade de Arquitetura.

Potencial larvicida de extratos de plantas regionais no controle de larvas de Aedes Aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae)

Dengue, amongst the virus illnesses one can get by vectorial transmission, is the one that causes more impact in the morbidity and mortality of world s population. The resistance to the insecticides has caused difficulties to control of vector insect (Aedes aegypti) and has stimulated a search for vegetables with larvicidal activity. The biodiversity of Caatinga is barely known and it is potential of use even less. Some plants of this biome are commercialized in free fairs northeast of Brazil, because of its phytotherapics properties. The vegetables in this study had been selected by means of a questionnaire applied between grass salesmen and natives of the Serido region from Rio Grande do Norte state; culicids eggs had been acquired with traps and placed in container with water for the larva birth. Thirty larvae had been used in each group (a group control and five experimental groups), with four repetitions four times. The vegetables had been submitted to the processes of decoction, infusion and maceration in the standard concentration of 100g of the vegetable of study in 1l of H2O and analyzed after ½, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours for verification of the average lethal dose (LD50) from the groups with thirty larva. The LD50 was analyzed in different concentrations (50g/l, 100g/l, 150g/l, 200g/l e 300g/l) of Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. 48 extracts of rind, leaf and stem of the seven vegetal species: Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart., Mimosa verrucosa Benth, Mimosa hostilis (Mart.) Benth., Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Ximenia americana L, Bumelia sartorum Mart Zizyphus joazeiro Mart, had been analyzed. The extracts proceeding from the three methods were submitted to the freezedrying, to evaluate and to quantify substances extracted in each process. The results had shown that Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. and Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão are the species that are more distinguished as larvicidal after 24 hours of experiment, in all used processes of extraction in the assays. The Zizyphus joazeiro Mart species has not shown larvicidal activity in none of the assays. In relation to the extraction method, the decoction was the most efficient method in the mortality tax of the A. aegypti larvae

An Investigation of Waste Glass-Based Geopolymers Supplemented with Alumina

An increased consideration of sustainability throughout society has resulted in a surge of research investigating sustainable alternatives to existing construction materials. A new binder system, called a geopolymer, is being investigated to supplement ordinary portland cement (OPC) concrete, which has come under scrutiny because of the CO2 emissions inherent in its production. Geopolymers are produced from the alkali activation of a powdered aluminosilicate source by an alkaline solution, which results in a dense three-dimensional matrix of tetrahedrally linked aluminosilicates. Geopolymers have shown great potential as a building construction material, offering similar mechanical and durability properties to OPC. Additionally, geopolymers have the added value of a considerably smaller carbon footprint than OPC. This research considered the compressive strength, microstructure and composition of geopolymers made from two types of waste glass with varying aluminum contents. Waste glass shows great potential for mainstream use in geopolymers due to its chemical and physical homogeneity as well as its high content of amorphous silica, which could eliminate the need for sodium silicate. However, the lack of aluminum is thought to negatively affect the mechanical performance and alkali stability of the geopolymer system. Mortars were designed using various combinations of glass and metakaolin or fly ash to supplement the aluminum in the system. Mortar made from the high-Al glass (12% Al2O3) reached over 10,000 psi at six months. Mortar made from the low-Al glass (<1% Al2O3) did not perform as well and remained sticky even after several weeks of curing, most likely due to the lack of Al which is believed to cause hardening in geopolymers. A moderate metakaolin replacement (25-38% by mass) was found to positively affect the compressive strength of mortars made with either type of glass. Though the microstructure of the mortar was quite indicative of mechanical performance, composition was also found to be important. The initial stoichiometry of the bulk mixture was maintained fairly closely, especially in mixtures made with fine glass. This research has shown that glass has great potential for use in geopolymers, when care is given to consider the compositional and physical properties of the glass in mixture design.

Design of a Novel Auto-Rotating UAV Platform for Underground Mine Cavity Surveying

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential for use of UAVs in underground mines and present a prototype design for a novel autorotating UAV platform for underground 3D data collection.

ASSESSMENT OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION IN THE WEST REGION OF PORTUGAL

Greenhouse production is a very important activity in the West region of Portugal, with an area of approximately 800 ha where the regular production consists in two crops per year, one in winter-spring and the other in summer-autumn. Many growers are now prepared to better exploit market opportunities, since they know that the big export window opportunity is from June to September, when the production is difficult in other regions of south due to high temperatures. Grower’s use new and more productive varieties, either in soil or hydroponic systems, mostly in unheated greenhouses, naturally ventilated, and equipped with modern fertigation systems. Greenhouse production causes some environmental impacts due to the high use of inputs. Several improvements in technologies and crop practices may contribute to increase the use efficiency of resources, decreasing the negative environmental impacts. Greenhouse vegetable production in Northern EU countries is based on the supply of heating and differs significantly from the production system in the Southern EU countries. In the Northern countries, direct energy inputs, mostly for heating, are predominant while in the South the indirect energy input is also important, mainly associated with fertilizers, plastic cover materials and other auxiliary materials. The main objective of this work was to characterise the greenhouse production systems in the West region of Portugal, in order to evaluate the energetic consumptions (direct and indirect), the GHH emissions, the production costs and the farmer’s income. With this work the mostly important inputs were identified, allowing proposing alternative measures to improve efficiency and sustainability. All the data was obtained by surveys performed directly with growers, previously selected to be representative of the crop practices and greenhouse type of the region. However, more research should be performed in order to develop and to test technologies capable to improve resources use efficiency in greenhouse production.

Irrigation management with remote sensing: Evaluating irrigation requirement for maize under Mediterranean climate condition

tWater use control methods and water resources planning are of high priority. In irrigated agriculture, theright way to save water is to increase water use efficiency through better management. The present workvalidates procedures and methodologies using remote sensing to determine the water availability in thesoil at each moment, giving the opportunity for the application of the water depth strictly necessaryto optimise crop growth (optimum irrigation timing and irrigation amount). The analysis is applied tothe Irrigation District of Divor, Évora, using 7 experimental plots, which are areas irrigated by centre-pivot systems, cultivated to maize. Data were determined from images of the cultivated surface obtainedby satellite and integrated with atmosphere and crop parameters to calculate biophysical indicatorsand indices of water stress in the vegetation—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Kc, andKcb. Therefore, evapotranspiration (ETc) was estimated and used to calculate crop water requirement,together with the opportunity and the amount of irrigation water to allocate. Although remote sensingdata available from satellite imagery presented some practical constraints, the study could contribute tothe validation of a new methodology that can be used for irrigation management of a large irrigated area,easier and at lower costs than the traditional FAO recommended crop coefficients method. The remotesensing based methodology can also contribute to significant saves of irrigation water.

Biological Approaches for Remediation of Metal-Contaminated Sites

Environmental pollution by several heavy metals and metalloids is a severe problem worldwide, as soils became increasingly contaminated, posing a threat to ecosystems and ultimately to human health. Contamination derives from large scale urbanization and industrialization, threatening land ecosystems, surface and groundwater, as well as food safety and human health. Remediation strategies for heavy metal-contaminated sites are necessary to protect from their toxic effects and conserve the environment for future generations. Numerous physicochemical techniques have been adopted including excavation and deposition in landfills, thermal treatment, leaching and electro-reclamation. These techniques are fast but inadequate, costly, cause adverse effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, and may lead to secondary pollution. In fact, many of these approaches only change the problem from one form or place to another, and do not completely destroy the pollutants. There was an urgent need to develop new technologies which are cost-effective and eco-friendly. In this context, biological remediation has tremendous potential. It uses plants and microorganisms to remove or contain toxic contaminants and is considered as the most effective method because it is a natural process, environmentally-friendly, has a low cost, and wide public acceptance. The present chapter aims to provide a comprehensive review of some of the promising processes mediated by plant and microbes to remediate metal-contaminated environments. Some biological processes used for the decontamination of organic compounds will also be included because of their relevance and potential common use for both purposes.

Modern viticulture in southern Europe: vulnerabilities and strategies for adaptation to water scarcity

Water is now considered the most important but vulnerable resource in the Mediterranean region. Nevertheless, irrigation expanded fast in the region (e.g. South Portugal and Spain) to mitigate environmental stress and to guarantee stable grape yield and quality. Sustainable wine production depends on sustainable water use in the wine’s supply chain, from the vine to the bottle. Better understanding of grapevine stress physiology (e.g. water relations, temperature regulation, water use efficiency), more robust crop monitoring/phenotyping and implementation of best water management practices will help to mitigate climate effects and will enable significant water savings in the vineyard and winery. In this paper, we focused on the major vulnerabilities and opportunities of South European Mediterranean viticulture (e.g. in Portugal and Spain) and present a multi-level strategy (from plant to the consumer) to overcome region’s weaknesses and support strategies for adaptation to water scarcity, promote sustainable water use and minimize the environmental impact of the sector.

Sugarcane Water Productivity Assessments in the São Paulo state, Brazil.

São Paulo state, Brazil, has been highlighted by the sugarcane crop expansion. The actual scenario of climate and land use changes, bring attention for the large-scale water productivity (WP) analyses. MODIS images were used together with gridded weather data for these analyses. A generalized sugarcane growing cycle inside a crop land mask, from September 2011 to October 2012, was considered in the main growing regions of the state. Actual evapotranspiration (ET) is quantified by the SAFER (Simple Algorithm for Evapotranspiration Retrieving) algorithm, the biomass production (BIO) by the RUE (Radiation Use Efficiency) Monteith?s model and WP is considered as the ratio of BIO to ET. During the four generalized sugarcane crop phases, the mean ET values ranged from 0.6 to 4.0 mm day-1; BIO rates were between 20 and 200 kg ha-1 day-1, resulting in WP ranging from 2.8 to 6.0 kg m-3. Soil moisture indicators are applied, indicating benefits from supplementary irrigation during the grand growth phase, wherever there is water availability for this practice. The quantification of the large-scale water variables may subsidize the rational water resources management under the sugarcane expansion and water scarcity scenarios.

Caracteres morfo-agronômicos e bioquímicos de clones elite de mandioca de mesa com raízes de polpas amarelada e rosada.

A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é considerada uma espécie relevante como fonte alimentícia para a população mundial, principalmente para os países subdesenvolvidos e emergentes. A mandioca é fornecedora de energia a partir do amido acumulado em suas raízes de reserva, mas é também importante destacar a presença dos carotenóides com atividade antioxidante. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar, por meio de descritores morfológicos, agronômicos e bioquímicos, clones elite de mandioca de mesa de polpa aparelhada e rosada do programa de melhoramento genético de mandioca da Embrapa Cerrados. Foram caracterizados durante duas safras, 13 clones de mandioca de mesa com polpa amarelada e 8 clones com polpa rosada, em comparação com a variedade testemunha IAC 576-70 (BGMC 753). Para avaliar as características morfológicas foram obtidos 40 descritores qualitativos para cada clone. Tanto nos clones de polpas amarelada quanto naqueles de raízes de polpas rosada, houve diferenças morfológicas, demostrando que nenhum clone apresentou 100% de similaridade. O fator ano/safra não influenciou a expressão fenotípica dos caracteres aferidos. Com base no coeficiente cofenético, verificou-se elevado ajuste entre a representação gráfica via dendrograma de r = 0,80 nas raízes de polpa amarelada e r = 0,92 na rosada e a matriz de dissimilaridade genética. Entre os caracteres aferidos, os que apresentaram maior entropia nas raízes amarelada foram, a coloração da epiderme externa, forma do lóbulo central da folha e cor do córtex da raiz, ao passo que na rosada foi à cor do disco, forma do lóbulo central e cor do pecíolo. Foi realizada também a caracterização com base na altura da planta, altura da primeira ramificação, peso da parte aérea sem a cepa, produtividade em raízes, índices de amido nas raízes determinados por meio do método da balança hidrostática, tempo para a cocção e teor de ácido cianídrico nas raízes. Com base nos caracteres avaliados, os clones que se destacaram com polpa amarelada e rosada respectivamente, no caractere altura da primeira ramificação (273/08 e 259/08) e (390/08, 345/08 e a testemunha IAC 576-70), altura da planta (90/08, 272/08, 273/08, 497/08, 259/08 e 450/08) e (390/08, 345/08 e 378/08), peso da parte aérea sem a cepa (94/08 e 272/08) e (390/08, 406/08, 390/08, 378/08 e 341/08), porcentagem de amido nas raízes (26/08, 272/08, 259/08 e 450/08) e (378/08, 413/08, 390/08 e a testemunha IAC 576-70), produtividade de raízes (215/08) e (testemunha IAC 576-70, 341/08, 406/08, 390/08 e 387/08). Com relação ao tempo de cocção na safra 2011/2012, todos os clones necessitaram de tempo inferior a 30 minutos. Em relação ao teor de carotenóides totais nas raízes os clones de amarelada que se destacaram foram 91/08, 94/08, 215/08, 246/08, 272/08 e 497/08, e, naqueles de raízes rosada, os clones 406/08 e 341/08. Em relação ao teor de proteínas nas raízes amarelada, os clones 26/08, 90/08 e 91/08, foram os melhores enquanto nas raízes rosada se destacaram os clones 406/08 e a testemunha IAC 576-70. Os teores de HCN nas raízes de reserva de mandioca foram inferiores a 100 mg kg-1 em todos os clones avaliados. Diferenças significativas entre clones de mandioca de polpas amarelada e rosada foram verificadas para todas as características agronômicas, morfológicas e bioquímicas avaliadas. Os clones tiveram bom desempenho nas avaliações para o cultivo comercial na região do Cerrado e, alguns destes, têm potencial para utilização no melhoramento visando o incremento de carotenóides. ABSTRACT: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is considered a relevant species as a food source for the world's population, particularly for developing and emerging countries. The cassava is a provider of energy from starch accumulated in their reserve roots, but it is also important to highlight the presence of carotenoids with antioxidant activity. In this context, this study aimed to characterize, using morphological, agronomic and biochemical, descriptors elite clones from sweet cassava of yellowish and pinkish pulps from the cassava breeding program at Embrapa Cerrados. They were characterized for two crops, 13 edible cassava clones with yellowish pulp and 8 clones with pinkish pulp, compared with the control variety IAC 576-70 (BGMC 753). To evaluate the morphological characteristics were obtained 40 qualitative descriptors for each clone. Both clones the yellowish pulp as those the roots the pinkish pulp, there was morphological differences among clones, showing that no clone showed 100% similarity. The year / crop factor did not influence the phenotypic expression of measured characters. Based on cofenetic coefficient, was found high fit between the graphical representation via dendrogram of r = 0.80 in the roots of yellowish pulp and r = 0.92 in the pinkish of genetic dissimilarity matrix. Among the measured characters, those with the highest entropy in the yellowish roots were, the color of the outer epidermis, the central lobe shape of the leaf and root cortex color, whereas the pinkish was the color to disc, central lobe shape and petiole color. We also performed the characterization based on plant height, the first branch point, and shoot weight without strain, productivity in roots, and index of starch in the roots determines by the method of hydrostatic balance, time for cooking and acid cyanide content in the roots. Based on the evaluated characters, clones stood out with pulps yellowish and pinkish respectively, characters height of the first branch (273/08 and 259/08) and (390/08, 345/08 and the witness IAC 576-70), plant height (90 / 08, 272/08, 273/08, 497/08, 259/08 and 450/08) and (390/08, 345/08 and 378/08), shoot weight without strain (94/08 and 272/08) and (390/08, 406/08, 390/08, 378/08 and 341/08), percentage of starch in the roots (26/08, 272/08, 259/08 and 450/08) and (378/08, 413/08, 390/08 and the witness IAC 576-70), roots of productivity (215/08) and (witnesses IAC 576-70, 341/08, 406/08, 390/08 and 387/08). Regarding the cooking time in the 2011/2012 harvest, all clones showed time less than 30 minutes. Regarding the total carotenoid content in the pulps clones of yellowish roots that stood out were 91/08, 94/08, 215/08, 246/08, 272/08 and 497/08, and, those the clones with pulp pinkish 406/08 and 341/08. Regarding the protein content in yellowish roots the clones 26/08, 90/08 and 91/08, was the best while the pinkish roots highlight clones 406/08 and witness IAC 576-70. The levels of HCN in reserve roots of cassava were less than 100 mg kg-1em all evaluated clones. Significant differences between yellowish and pinkish of pulps cassava clones were checked for all agronomic, morphological and biochemical characteristics evaluated. The clones had well in the ratings for commercial cultivation in the Cerrado region and some of these, clones has potential for use in breeding aimed at increase of carotenoids.