Crescimento de fungos na superfície de madeira de caixas do tipo 'K' usadas para hortaliças.

A madeira é o material mais utilizado para embalagem de hortaliças noBrasil, principalmente devido ao seu baixo custo e alta resistênciamecânica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a absorção e a perdaprogressiva de água de ripas de madeira de Pinus utilizadas namontagem de caixas do tipo "K" em três condições de umidade relativae determinar o crescimento de fungos em sua superfície. O experimentofoi conduzido no Laboratório de Pós-Colheita da Embrapa Hortaliças, emBrasília-DF, em 2003. Trinta ripas novas de madeira de Pinus (52 x 6 x0,6cm) foram pesadas individualmente, imersas em água durante 1h epesadas novamente para avaliar a absorção de água. Em outroexperimento, dez ripas foram incubadas ao acaso em cada uma das trêscâmaras úmidas (61%, 86% e 94% UR) mantidas a 25oC (±2oC). A perda progressiva de água foi avaliada por pesagens diárias das ripasindividualmente e o desenvolvimento de fungos na madeira foi avaliadocom uma escala de notas (0-3) durante oito dias. A madeira nova dePinus pode absorver até 38% de seu peso em água, e permanecerúmida durante vários dias de acordo com a condição dearmazenamento. A umidade relativa do ambiente afetou a taxa de perdade água diária da madeira, estimada em 4,7%, 2,5% e 1,0%respectivamente a 61% UR, 86% UR e 94% UR, e ao final de oito diasalcançou 37,5%, 19,9% e 7,9%, respectivamente. Os fungospredominantes foram Trichoderma harzianum e Rhizopus stolonifer, mastambém observou-se crescimento de Aspergillus sp. e Penicillium sp.

Some Extensions of the K-Means Algorithm for Image Segmentation and Pattern Classification

In this paper we present some extensions to the k-means algorithm for vector quantization that permit its efficient use in image segmentation and pattern classification tasks. It is shown that by introducing state variables that correspond to certain statistics of the dynamic behavior of the algorithm, it is possible to find the representative centers fo the lower dimensional maniforlds that define the boundaries between classes, for clouds of multi-dimensional, mult-class data; this permits one, for example, to find class boundaries directly from sparse data (e.g., in image segmentation tasks) or to efficiently place centers for pattern classification (e.g., with local Gaussian classifiers). The same state variables can be used to define algorithms for determining adaptively the optimal number of centers for clouds of data with space-varying density. Some examples of the applicatin of these extensions are also given.

One-step synthesis of 2-pentanone from ethanol over K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst

A highly active and selective K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst for the one-step synthesis of 2-pentanone from ethanol is described. The possible reaction pathways for ethanol reaction over K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst were investigated by means of TPSR, CO2- and NH3-TPD techniques. The reactions were performed in a fixed bed continuous flow reactor. Complete conversion with high selectivity for 2-pentanone, was observed under 370 similar to 390degreesC, 2 similar to 4 MPa, GHSV = 8000 similar to 10,000 h(-1) and LHSV < 1.25 h(-1) conditions. Ethanol reactions over K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst showed that the catalyst could catalyze dehydrogenation. aldol. dehydration and hydrogenation reactions. Both acidic and basic properties are found on the surface of K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst, whose multifunctionality with the combination of basic, acid and metal sites may be responsible for the efficiency of the K-PdMnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Low temperature heat capacity of (S)-ibuprofen

Molar heat capacities of ( S)-ibuprofen were precisely measured with a small sample precision automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 80 to 370 K. Experimental heat capacities were fitted into a polynomial equation of heat capacities ( C-p,C- m) with reduced temperature ( X), [ X = f(T)]. The polynomial equations for ( S)-ibuprofen were C-p,C- m(s) = - 39.483 X-4 - 66. 649 X-3 + 95. 196 X-2 + 210. 84 X + 172. 98 in solid state and C-p,C- m(L) = 7. 191X(3) + 4. 2774 X-2 + 56. 365 X + 498. 5 in liquid state. The thermodynamic functions relative to the reference temperature of 298. 15 K, H-T - H-298.15 and S-T - S-298.15, were derived for the( S)-ibuprofen. A fusion transition at T-m = (324. 15 +/- 0. 02) K was found from the C-p - T curve. The molar enthalpy and entropy of the fusion transition were determined to be (18. 05 +/- 0. 31) kJ.mol(-1) and (55. 71 +/- 0. 95) J.mol(-1).K-1, respectively. The purity of the ( S)-ibuprofen was determined to be 99. 44% on the basis of the heat capacity measurement. Finally, the heat capacities of ( S)-ibuprofen and racemic ibuprofen were compared.

Produção de mudas de pupunheira (Bactris gasipaes H.B.K.).

Procedimentos para producao de mudas de pupunha de melhor qualidade, em menor tempo e com custo reduzido. Sao descritos os principais passos: selecao das matrizes, colheita dos frutos e preparo das sementes, pre-germinacao, plantio em sementeiras, preparo do substrato, repicagem, adubacao e tratos culturais.