Protein-Ion Binding Process on Finite Macromolecular Concentration. A Poisson-Boltzmann and Monte Carlo Study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interfacial fracture of dentin adhesively bonded to quartz-fiber reinforced composite

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of interfacial failure in a multilayered structure consisting of a dentin/resin cement/quartz-fiber reinforced composite (FRC). Slices of dentin close to the pulp chamber were sandwiched by two half-circle discs made of a quartz-fiber reinforced composite, bonded with bonding agent (All-bond 2, BISCO, Schaumburg) and resin cement (Duo-link. BISCO, Schaumburg) to make Brazil-nut sandwich specimens for interfacial toughness testing. Interfacial fracture toughness (strain energy release rate, G) was measured as a function of mode mixity by changing loading angles from 0 degrees to 15 degrees. The interfacial fracture surfaces were then examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) to determine the failure modes when loading angles changed. A computational model was also developed to calculate the driving forces, stress intensity factors and mode mixities. Interfacial toughness increased from approximate to 1.5 to 3.2 J/m(2) when the loading angle increases from approximate to 0, 0 to 15 degrees. The hybridized dentin/cement interface appeared to be tougher than the resin cement/quartz-fiber reinforced epoxy. The Brazil-nut sandwich specimen was a suitable method to investigate the mechanical integrity of dentin/cement/FRC interfaces. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phytoplankton assemblages in lateral lagoons of a large tropical reservoir

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Opportunities for convergence and regional cooperation: Unity Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes Bibliography

Korean OFDI: investment strategies and corporate motivations for investing abroad

Includes bibliography

Pension reform in Europe in the 90's and lessons for Latin America

Includes bibliography

Capital flows to Latin America: third quarter 2004

Includes bibliography

Latin America and the middle-income trap

Includes bibliography.

Zona costeira resiliente: um estudo sócio-ecológico no Nordeste paraense

Esta tese de doutoramento apresenta contribuições conceituais e metodológicas de análises sistêmicas, envolvendo ciências sociais e ciências naturais, ao debate sobre a aplicabilidade do desenvolvimento sustentável no território costeiro amazônico. O principal desafio é a utilização de um referencial teórico inovador que articula sistemas sócio-ecológicos - SES e resiliência – à análise de dados primários e secundários. O universo da pesquisa abrange a região costeira bragantina, contemplando os sistemas sociais (comunidades de pescadores) e ecológicos (manguezal) como área amostral. O programa, Dinâmica e Manejo em Áreas de Manguezais – MADAM, totalizando dez anos de pesquisas interdisciplinares serve como principal fonte de informação. Com base nos conceitos do SES e da resiliência, são analisadas as relações entre o uso dos recursos naturais e a organização e estruturação sócio-econômica local. O objetivo é analisar a resiliência do sistema sócio-ecológico costeiro paraense, com base em processos contínuos de desenvolvimento sócio-econômico, identificando quais as mudanças geradas, e como o sistema costeiro reage e se adapta, a partir de novas configurações. O objetivo é fornecer alternativas para o correto desenvolvimento da referida área. O resultado reflete um panorama das condições atuais da zona costeira bragantina. Constatou-se, neste trabalho, que os principais fatos que contribuem para aumentar e diminuir a resiliência sócio-ecológica dessa região, entendida como a capacidade de se adaptar e se reorganizar frente a mudanças e distúrbios, são, particularmente, as forças motrizes endógenas, especialmente, o capital social e o Conhecimento Ecológico Local - CEL, este fornece um potencial reflexivo para um planejamento sustentável no contexto do litoral amazônico.

Análise espacial das mudanças na cobertura e uso da terra em Santarém e Belterra, Pará, Brasil

Através de um estudo de caso, este trabalho testa como a delimitação da área de estudo pode influenciar o resultado de análises multiescalares em processos espaciais de mudanças na cobertura e uso da terra na Amazônia. Partindo dos limites dos municípios de Santarém e Belterra no Oeste do Estado do Pará, foram definidos três níveis de análise. O primeiro nível abrange uma região retangular arbitrariamente definida e denominada sub-região de Santarém. O segundo nível, uma parte do primeiro, corresponde a uma área de ocupação consolidada, definida pelo limite do entorno de lotes estabelecidos pelo INCRA na década de 1970. O terceiro nível corresponde às zonas de influência de quatro eixos viários inseridos na área de ocupação consolidada e subdivididos em sub-áreas norte e sul, num total de oito sub-áreas do segundo nível de delimitação. Para cada nível de análise, foram calculadas métricas de paisagem sobre mapeamentos temáticos de cobertura e uso das terras para os anos de 1986, 1997 e 2005, analisados conjuntamente com entrevistas feitas em campo. Os resultados mostram que as peculiaridades da dinâmica de ocupação em cada nível permitem melhor identificar padrões e processos revelados pela estrutura da paisagem. Em particular, nota-se a continuidade da fragmentação da floresta e o avanço da agricultura intensiva em diferentes taxas nas distintas porções da área de estudo. Os resultados obtidos para os três níveis de análise são complementares, possibilitando uma compreensão mais abrangente das mudanças de cobertura e uso da terra e de seus fatores condicionantes.

Hydrosedimentological disequilibrium in a small, urbanized watershed

AIM: In this paper we estimate the sediment yield and other related information for a small urbanized watershed, located in Sorocaba, São Paulo State. The driving forces that produce the observed scenario are presented and discussed; METHODS: Over a year, water samples and hydrologic information concerning the river channel were collected monthly at one sampling site. In the laboratory, water samples were oven dried (80 ºC) and the total suspended solid weighed for each sample. To estimate sediment yield we used Colby's simplified method. The sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was estimated using two methods: the relief - length ratio and the bifurcation ratio; RESULTS: The annual sediment yield estimated for the period was 1,636.1 t. The total specific sediment yield was 541.7 t.km -2.y-1. Bedload was the predominant fraction. The SDR changed between 60 and 66% according to the method employed. CONCLUSIONS: The main driving forces of hydrosedimentological disequilibrium are the lack of riparian vegetation, the dumping of construction wastes at inadequate sites, and the launching of untreated sewage. Hence, if these three factors were controlled, a significant improvement in the environmental quality, particularly water quality, might be achieved.

Da Dança Armorial ao corpo motriz: em busca do corpo brincante

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA

Landscape changes in Serra do Japi: legal protection or scientific expectation?

The creation of new legally protected areas brings many conflicts that distance the real landscape from the expected according to environmental law or conservation researchers. In this study, we mapped and compared the changes in Serra da Japi (Sao Paulo State, Brazil) throughout 40 years with scenarios of legal protection and scientific expectation on forest conservation, to evaluate the distance between them. This may allow us to infer the direction of historical changes and assist in the debate among decision makers. The results showed that most legal requirements on forest protection in the current landscape have been met. The 1960s was the period when the forest cover was closest to the desirable conservation stage. Although the Serra do Japi has maintained large areas of forests during the entire study period, human interference increased with the expansion of reforestation and urban areas, and access roads were identified as a primary potential driving forces of change. In addition, habitat loss was observed in the landscape, which can represent the first phase of a sequence of modifications detrimental to the environmental conservation of this protected area, including decision changes to land use. In conclusion, the changes evolved toward conservation expectations, but not toward the forest configuration of scientific expectation.

Further results in J and CTOD estimation procedures for SE(T) fracture specimens - Part I: Homogeneous materials

This study provides further developments of the evaluation procedure for J and CTOD in SE(T) fracture specimens based on plastic eta-factors and load separation analysis. Non-linear finite element analyses for plane-strain and 3-D models provide the relationship between plastic work and crack driving forces which define the eta-values. Further analyses based on the load separation method define alternative eta-values for the analyzed specimen configurations. Overall, the present results provide improved estimation equations for J and CTOD as a function of loading condition (pin load vs. clamp ends), crack geometry and strain hardening properties. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Avian coronavirus Spike Glycoprotein Ectodomain Shows a Low Codon Adaptation to Gallus gallus with Virus-Exclusive Codons in Strategic Amino Acids Positions

This is a study on the Avian coronavirus IBV and chicken host-relationship from the codon usage point of view based on fifty-nine non-redundant IBV S1 sequences (nt 1-507) from strains detected worldwide and chicken tissue-specific protein genes sequences from IBV-replicating sites. The effective number of codons (ENC) values ranged from 36 to 47.8, indicating a high-to-moderate codon usage bias. The highest IBV codon adaptation index (CAI) value was 0.7, indicating a distant virus versus host synonymous codons usage. The ENC x GC3 % curve indicates that both mutational pressure and natural selection are the driving forces on codon usage pattern in S1. The low CAI values agree with a low S protein expression and considering that S protein is a determinant for attachment and neutralization, this could be a further mechanism besides mRNA transcription attenuation for a low expression of this protein leading to an immune camouflage.