Potencial fisiológico de sementes de soja enriquecidas com molibdênio no armazenamento e sua influência na atividade de enzimas do metabolismo do nitrogênio

Molybdenum is one of the essential micronutrients for soybeans, acting directly on nitrogen metabolism as enzyme cofactor of nitrogenase. Usually, this nutrient is supplied to the plants through seed treatment or foliar application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the molybdenum effects by foliar in the physiological potential of soybean seeds and verify its interference in the enzyme activities involved in nitrogen metabolism. Soybean seeds of BMX Turbo cultivar were used, produced in Erechim, RS, harvest 2013, from plants treated with the following Mo concentrations: 0; 25; 50 and 75 g ha-1, supplied through two commercial products (Biomol and Molybdate) and stored during 0 and 6 months in uncontrolled conditions. The first experiment was conducted in Seedtes Seed Analysis Laboratory in Pato Branco, PR. The used design was completely randomized in a factorial analysis 4 x 2 x 2 with four replications each. The physiological potential of the seeds was evaluated by the germination test, seedling growth, accelerated aging and emergence on the soil. The second experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, where the seeds derived from treatments with different concentrations of Mo: 0; 25; 50 and 75 g ha-1 supplied through two commercial products (Biomol and Molybdate) were grown in vases. The used design was completely randomized in a factorial analysis 4 x 2 with four replications. Evaluations were performed when the plants reached the R1 phenological stage concerning the nodulation, dry matter of root and shoot of the plants and the determination of the activity of the enzymes glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthetase and the content of total soluble proteins. The data were submitted to variance analysis and when significant they were assessed by Tukey’s test for comparison of products and seed storage and with regression study to the concentrations at 5% probability. Analyses were performed using SISVAR statistical software. The soybean seed storage under uncontrolled conditions affected the seed vigour produced with Mo, regardless of the commercial product used during production. The application of Mo through foliar positively influences the production of soya beans which presented increasing responses in the germination and vigour with the application of Mo above 25 g ha-1 . The enrichment of Mo through foliar did not affect the nodulation of plants of the next generation, however, the use of Mo above 25 g ha-1 provided an increase in the activity of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism as well as on the total protein content.

Aplicação foliar de molibdênio em adubos verdes e o desempenho do feijoeiro em sucessão

The knowledge of molybdenum application in legumes on the availability of N, by BNF, increased enzymatic activity and the residual effect caused on crops growth and yield can contribute to the greater scientific understanding involved in green manure processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Mo application and the N from Crotalaria juncea and Canavalia ensiformis green manures on common bean performance. Were conducted field experiments for the crops succession system (green manures - common bean) and laboratory essays for the enzymatic activities. Green manure production was installed in a factorial arrangement 2 x 4, with two green manure legumes species, sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) and jack beans (Canavalia ensiformis), and four Mo doses (0, 40, 80, 120 g ha-1) in the form of sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4), foliar applied, in a randomized block design with four replicates. For succession crop (common bean) additional treatment was added, beans grown without any fertilization, following the same experimental design from the previous crop. The dry matter decomposition and the N mineralization of green manure were monitored through collection of residues over time, by using the litter bags method. In laboratory were carried out tests of nitrate reductase activity in green manures and common beans at 90 and 66 days after sowing, respectively. The sunnhemp responded linearly positively to the application of Mo as the dry matter and N accumulation. While the jack beans presented a negative quadratic response for dry matter and there was no adjustment of regression models to N. The jack beans showed a higher decomposition rate and N mineralization compared to sunnhemp. The half lives for decomposing 50% of dry matter on the soil was 123 and 104 days to sunnhemp and jack beans, respectively, and 50% of N present in the residues was mineralized at 93 and 85 days. In common bean, differed from the control for number of pods the dose of 40 g ha-1 of Mo in both species of green manures and the dose 80 g ha-1 of Mo in jack beans. For number of grains only in sunnhemp on the dose of 40 g ha-1 of Mo differ from the control. The nitrate reductase activity was influenced by developmental stage of green manure species. In common bean, the activity of nitrate reductase was up to three times higher than the dose 0 g ha-1 of Mo compared to treatment with application of Mo in both species. There was no effect of Mo doses or species of green manure on common bean yield.

Badanie sprzężeń magnetosprężystych w multiferroikach heterostrukturalnych

Wydział Fizyki

Avaliação da radioatividade natural em mármores e granitos comerciais do estado do Espírito Santo

Tese (Doutorado em Tecnologia Nuclear)

Surface Activity and Bulk Defect Chemistry of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes

In the first half of this thesis, a new robotic instrument called a scanning impedance probe is presented that can acquire electrochemical impedance spectra in automated fashion from hundreds of thin film microelectrodes with systematically varied properties. Results from this instrument are presented for three catalyst compositions that are commonly considered for use in state-of-the-art solid oxide fuel cell cathodes. For (La_0.8Sr_0.2)_0.95Mn_O3+δ (LSM), the impedance spectra are well fit by a through-the-film reaction pathway. Transport rates are extracted, and the surface activity towards oxygen reduction is found to be correlated with the number of exposed grain boundary sites, suggesting that grain boundaries are more surface-active than grains. For La_0.5Sr_0.5Co_O3-δ (LSC), the surface activity degrades ~50x initially and then stabilizes at a comparable activity to that of previously measured Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O3-δ films. For Sr_0.06Nb_0.06Bi_1.87O₃ (SNB), an example of a doped bismuth oxide, the activity of the metal-SNB boundary is measured.

In the second half of this thesis, SrCo_0.9Nb_0.1O_3-δ is selected as a case study of perovskites containing Sr and Co, which are the most active oxygen reduction catalysts known. Several bulk properties are measured, and synchrotron data are presented that provide strong evidence of substantial cobalt-oxygen covalency at high temperatures. This covalent bonding may be the underlying source of the high surface activity.

Estudo de inibidores de corrosão em concreto armado, visando a melhoria na sua durabilidade

This thesis has as objective presents a methodology to evaluate the behavior of the corrosion inhibitors sodium nitrite, sodium dichromate and sodium molybdate, as well as your mixture, the corrosion process for the built-in steel in the reinforced concrete, through different techniques electrochemical, as well as the mechanical properties of that concrete non conventional. The addition of the inhibitors was studied in the concrete in the proportions from 0.5 to 3.5 % regarding the cement mass, isolated or in the mixture, with concrete mixture proportions of 1.0:1.5:2.5 (cement, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate), superplasticizers 2.0 % and 0.40 water/cement ratio. In the modified concrete resistance rehearsals they were accomplished to the compression, consistence and the absorption of water, while to analyze the built-in steel in the concrete the rehearsals of polarization curves they were made. They were also execute, rehearsals of corrosion potential and polarization resistance with intention of diagnose the beginning of the corrosion of the armors inserted in body-of-proof submitted to an accelerated exhibition in immersion cycle and drying to the air. It was concluded, that among the studied inhibitors sodium nitrite , in the proportion of 2.0 % in relation to the mass of the cement, presented the best capacity of protection of the steel through all the studied techniques and that the methodology and the monitoring techniques used in this work, they were shown appropriate to evaluate the behavior and the efficiency of the inhibitors

NONLINEAR EFFECTS IN MAGNETIC GARNET FILMS AND NONRECIPROCAL OPTICAL BLOCH OSCILLATIONS IN WAVEGUIDE ARRAYS

This dissertation presents detailed experimental and theoretical investigations of nonlinear and nonreciprocal effects in magnetic garnet films. The dissertation thus comprises two major sections. The first section concentrates on the study of a new class of nonlinear magneto-optic thin film materials possessing strong higher order magnetic susceptibility for nonlinear optical applications. The focus was on enlarging the nonlinear performance of ferrite garnet films by strain generation and compositional gradients in the sputter-deposition growth of these films. Under this project several bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi,Y) 3 (Fe,Ga)5 O12(acronym as Bi:YIG) films have been sputter-deposited over gadolinium gallium garnet (Gd 3 Ga5 O12 ) substrates and characterized for their nonlinear optical response. One of the important findings of this work is that lattice mismatch strain drives the second harmonic (SH) signal in the Bi:YIG films, in agreement with theoretical predictions; whereas micro-strain was found not to correlate significantly with SH signal at the micro-strain levels present in these films. This study also elaborates on the role of the film's constitutive elements and their concentration gradients in nonlinear response of the films. Ultrahigh sensitivity delivered by second harmonic generation provides a new exciting tool for studying magnetized surfaces and buried interfaces, making this work important from both a fundamental and application point of view. The second part of the dissertation addresses an important technological need; namely the development of an on-chip optical isolator for use in photonic integrated circuits. It is based on two related novel effects, nonreciprocal and unidirectional optical Bloch oscillations (BOs), recently proposed and developed by Professor Miguel Levy and myself. This dissertation work has established a comprehensive theoretical background for the implementation of these effects in magneto-optic waveguide arrays. The model systems we developed consist of photonic lattices in the form of one-dimensional waveguide arrays where an optical force is introduced into the array through geometrical design turning the beam sideways. Laterally displaced photons are periodically returned to a central guide by photonic crystal action. The effect leads to a novel oscillatory optical phenomenon that can be magnetically controlled and rendered unidirectional. An on-chip optical isolator was designed based on the unidirectionality of the magneto-opticBloch oscillatory motion. The proposed device delivers an isolation ratio as high as 36 dB that remains above 30 dB in a 0.7 nm wavelength bandwidth, at the telecommunication wavelength 1.55 μm. Slight modifications in isolator design allow one to achieve an even more impressive isolation ratio ~ 55 dB, but at the expense of smaller bandwidth. Moreover, the device allows multifunctionality, such as optical switching with a simultaneous isolation function, well suited for photonic integrated circuits.

Locating the maximum power point for thermoelectric generators for constant heat operation

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are solid-state devices that can be used for the direct conversion between heat and electricity. These devices are an attractive option for generating clean energy from heat. There are two modes of operation for TEGs; constant heat and constant temperature. It is a well-known fact that for constant temperature operation, TEGs have a maximum power point lying at half the open circuit voltage of the TEG, for a particular temperature. This work aimed to investigate the position of the maximum power point for Bismuth Telluride TEGs working under constant heat conditions i.e. the heat supply to the TEG is fixed however the temperature across the TEG can vary depending upon its operating conditions. It was found that for constant heat operation, the maximum power point for a TEG is greater than half the open circuit voltage of the TEG.

Cálculo de constantes ópticas de películas delgadas de Cu3BiS3 a través del método de Wolfe

Se calculó la obtención de las constantes ópticas usando el método de Wolfe. Dichas contantes: coeficiente de absorción (α), índice de refracción (n) y espesor de una película delgada (d ), son de importancia en el proceso de caracterización óptica del material. Se realizó una comparación del método del Wolfe con el método empleado por R. Swanepoel. Se desarrolló un modelo de programación no lineal con restricciones, de manera que fue posible estimar las constantes ópticas de películas delgadas semiconductoras, a partir únicamente, de datos de transmisión conocidos. Se presentó una solución al modelo de programación no lineal para programación cuadrática. Se demostró la confiabilidad del método propuesto, obteniendo valores de α = 10378.34 cm−1, n = 2.4595, d =989.71 nm y Eg = 1.39 Ev, a través de experimentos numéricos con datos de medidas de transmitancia espectral en películas delgadas de Cu3BiS3.

Hall Effect and transient surface photovoltage (SPV) study of Cu3BiS3 thin films

Se presentan las propiedades eléctricas del compuesto Cu3BiS3 depositado por co-evaporación. Este es un nuevo compuesto que puede tener propiedades adecuadas para ser utilizado como capa absorbente en celdas solares. Las muestras fueron caracterizadas a través de medidas de efecto Hall y fotovoltaje superficial transiente (SPV). A través de medidas de efecto Hall se encontró que la concentración de portadores de carga n es del orden de 1016 cm-3 independiente de la relación de masas de Cu/Bi. También se encontró que la movilidad de este compuesto (μ del orden de 4 cm2V -1s-1) varía de acuerdo con los mecanismos de transporte que la gobiernan en dependencia con la temperatura. A partir de las medidas de SPV se encontró alta densidad de defectos superficiales, defectos que son pasivados al superponer una capa buffer sobre el compuesto Cu3BiS3.

Procesos hopping a través del modelo difusional en materiales nanocristalinos usados para aplicaciones fotovoltaicas

Se presentan los modelos de hopping de rango variable (variable range hopping; VRH), vecinos cercanos (nearest neighbor hopping; NNH) y barreras de potencial presentes en las fronteras de grano; como mecanismos de transporte eléctrico predominantes en los materiales semiconductores para aplicaciones fotovoltaicas. Las medidas de conductividad a oscuras en función de temperatura fueron realizadas para región de bajas temperaturas entre 120 y 400 K con Si y compuestos Cu3BiS2 y Cu2ZnSnSe4. Siguiendo la teoría de percolación, se obtuvieron parámetros hopping y la densidad de estados cerca del nivel de Fermi, N(EF), para todas las muestras. A partir de los planteamientos dados por Mott para VRH, se presentó el modelo difusional, que permitió establecer la relación entre la conductividad y la densidad de estados de defecto o estados localizados en el gap del material. El análisis comparativo entre modelos, evidenció, que es posible obtener mejora hasta de un orden de magnitud en valores para cada uno de los parámetros hopping que caracterizan el material.