Professional development and a discussion of the professional preparation provided by information and library science degree programs in public universities in Madrid, 2000-2005

A study was designed to determine how the degree programs in Information and library science available in 2000-2005 at the public universities of Madrid fit the tabour market needs of their students. The methodology used was the development of a questionnaire addressed to graduates. Although the number of surveys completed is not high (118), the authors believe that the results obtained permit a series of conclusions that may be extrapolated to the entire cohort.

Determination of nutritional and toxic elements in pasteurized bovine milk from Vale do Paraiba region (Brazil)

Throughout the year of 2004, 54 samples (I L each) were collected from commercial sources in the Vale do Paraiba region (eastern portion of Sao Paulo State, Brazil). The concentrations of (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Se, Zn, Cd and Pb) in these samples were analyzed by two atomic-absorption spectroscopy (AAS) methods. Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg and Zn were determined by flame atomic-absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) and (Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Se) were determined by electrothermal atomic-absorption spectroscopy (ETAAS). Tests to determine and quantify essential, nonessential and toxic elements present in bovine milk are rare in Brazil, especially so for Vale do Paraiba region. Tests were performed on standard NIST-certified milk-powder to validate the reliability of subsequently collected analytical data. Ca presented a lower recovery value (85.3%). The finding for Ca macro-nutrient was found to be below recommended international standards (1300 mg/L) for all samples possibly due to milk heterogeneity and losses in the pasteurization process. Significant results for Pb were found in all milk samples with average values at 0.230 mg/L from a minimum of 0.062 mg/L and maximum of 0.476 mg/L (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lightweight composite concrete produced with water treatment sludge and sawdust: Thermal properties and potential application

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential application of a lightweight concrete produced with lightweight coarse aggregate made of the water treatment sludge and sawdust (lightweight composite), by determining the thermal properties and possible environmental impact of future residue of this concrete. Two types of concrete were prepared: concrete produced with the lightweight composite dosed with cement/sand/composite/water in a mass ratio of 1:2.5:0.67:0.6 and conventional concrete dosed with cement/sand/crushed stone/water in a mass ratio of 1:4.8:5.8:0.8. The thermal properties were determined by the hot wire parallel technique. The possible environmental impact was measured using the procedures and guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards - ABNT. The concrete produced with the lightweight composite presented a 23% lower thermal conductivity than the conventional concrete. The concrete produced with the lightweight composite presented a set of thermal properties suitable for the application of this concrete in non-structural sealing elements. The concentration of aluminum in the solubilized extract of the concrete produced with the lightweight composite was much lower than the concentration of aluminum in the water treatment sludge, confirming the possible reduction of environmental impact of this composite for use in concrete. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Referential Model for Small Companies of Development Software

This paper presents the proposal for a reference model for developing software aimed at small companies. Despite the importance of that represent the small software companies in Latin America, the fact of not having its own standards, and able to meet their specific, has created serious difficulties in improving their process and also in quality certification. In this sense and as a contribution to better understanding of the subject they propose a reference model and as a means to validate the proposal, presents a report of its application in a small Brazilian company, committed to certification of the quality model MPS.BR.

Post-treatment of effluents from the sulfate reduction process by anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactors

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the potential use of a bench-scale anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (ASBBR) containing mineral coal as inert support for removal Of Sulfide and organic matter effluents from an ASBBR (1.2 m(3)) utilized for treatment of sulfate-rich wastewater. The cycle time was 48 h, including the steps of feeding (2 h), reaction with continuous liquid recirculation (44 h) and discharge (2 h). COD removal efficiency was up to 90% and the effluents total sulfide concentrations (H(2)S, HS(-), S(2-)) remained in the range of 1.5 to 7.5 mg.l(-1) during the 50 days of operation (25 cycles). The un-ionized Sulfide and ionized sulfides were converted by biological process to elemental sulfur (S(0)) under oxygen limited conditions. The results obtained in the bench-scale reactor were used to design an ASBBR in pilot scale for use in post-treatment to achieve the emission standards (sulfide and COD) for sulfate reduction. The pilot-scale reactor, with a total volume of 0.43 m(3), the COD and total sulfide removal achieved 88% and 57%, respectively, for a cycle time of 48 h (70 days of operation or 35 cycles).

Evaluation of austenitic-ferritic stainless steel wires for orthodontic applications

Several studies have shown that austenitic stainless steels are suitable for use in the final phases of orthodontic treatments, such as finishing and retention. These steels demonstrate appropriate mechanical properties, such as high ultimate tensile strength and good corrosion resistance. A new class of materials, the austenic-ferritic stainless steels, is substituting for austenitic stainless steels in several industrial applications where these properties are necessary. This work supports the hypothesis that orthodontic wires of austenic-ferritic stainless steels can replace austenitic stainless steels. The advantages are cost reduction and decrease of the nickel hypersensitivity effect in patients undergoing orthodontic treatments. The object of this study was to evaluate wires of austenitic-ferritic stainless steel SEW 410 Nr. 14517 (Cr26Ni6Mo3Cu3) produced by cold working through rolling and drawing processes. Tests were performed to evaluate the ultimate tensile strength, hardness, ductility, and formability. In accordance with technical standards the wires exhibited ultimate tensile strength and ductility suitable for orthodontic clinical applications. These austenitie-ferritic wires can be an alternative to substitute the common commercial wires of austenic stainless steels with the advantage of decreasing the nickel content.

The influence of moisture on the deformability of cement-polymer adhesive mortar

Adhesive mortars are widely used to set porcelain stoneware tiles on buildings because their bond strength and flexibility properties increase the cladding serviceability. However, their long-term performance is not well understood, mainly the degradation of the polymeric matrix. The influence of moisture content on the flexibility of six adhesive mortars is investigated, based on standard EN 12002. Four of them have defined formulations and the other two are commercial and are widely used to set porcelain stoneware tiles on building facades in Brazil. The results show that moisture content above 6% is sufficient to reduce 50% of the mortar deformability, but that the drying process allows it to recover to a value similar to that prior to saturation; a logarithmic function best fits the correlation between moisture content and flexibility; water immersion increases matrix rigidity. It is suggested that standards should consider flexibility tests on both dried and wet samples as a requirement for polymer-modified mortars. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Technology assessment for power quality mitigation devices - Micro-DVR case study

This work presents a case study on technology assessment for power quality improvement devices. A system compatibility test protocol for power quality mitigation devices was developed in order to evaluate the functionality of three-phase voltage restoration devices. In order to validate this test protocol, the micro-DVR, a reduced power development platform for DVR (dynamic voltage restorer) devices, was tested and the results are discussed based on voltage disturbances standards. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Computational evaluation of flexural toughness of FRC and fracture properties of plain concrete

In this paper, a computational tool concerning the computation of flexural and fracture toughness of cement based composites is presented. Firstly, RILEM`s (Reunion Internationale des Laboratoires d`Essais de Materiaux) recommendations related to the analysis of FRC in three-point bend tests are discussed in their relevant aspects regarding the computational implementations. The determination of other mechanical properties such as the Young modulus has been added to the program. Taking this into account, a new formulation based on displacements is used. In the second part of the paper, the determination of fracture properties of concrete, such as the fracture energy, G(F) , and the fracture toughness, K-IC(S), is discussed regarding the computational strategies used in the implementations. Several features whereby anterior data can be reanalyzed, obtained from other standards and recommendations, have been incorporated into the program, therefore allowing comparative studies and back analysis activities.

A mechanistic kinetic model for phenol degradation by the Fenton process

The objective of this paper is to develop and validate a mechanistic model for the degradation of phenol by the Fenton process. Experiments were performed in semi-batch operation, in which phenol, catechol and hydroquinone concentrations were measured. Using the methodology described in Pontes and Pinto [R.F.F. Pontes, J.M. Pinto, Analysis of integrated kinetic and flow models for anaerobic digesters, Chemical Engineering journal 122 (1-2) (2006) 65-80], a stoichiometric model was first developed, with 53 reactions and 26 compounds, followed by the corresponding kinetic model. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the most influential kinetic parameters of the model that were estimated with the obtained experimental results. The adjusted model was used to analyze the impact of the initial concentration and flow rate of reactants on the efficiency of the Fenton process to degrade phenol. Moreover, the model was applied to evaluate the treatment cost of wastewater contaminated with phenol in order to meet environmental standards. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of friction models applied to a control valve

Eight different models to represent the effect of friction in control valves are presented: four models based on physical principles and four empirical ones. The physical models, both static and dynamic, have the same structure. The models are implemented in Simulink/Matlab (R) and compared, using different friction coefficients and input signals. Three of the models were able to reproduce the stick-slip phenomenon and passed all the tests, which were applied following ISA standards. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measuring the eco-efficiency of cement use

At present, the cement industry generates approximately 5% of the world`s anthropogenic CO(2) emissions. This share is expected to increase since demand for cement based products is forecast to multiply by a factor of 2.5 within the next 40 years and the traditional strategies to mitigate emissions, focused on the production of cement, will not be capable of compensating such growth. Therefore, additional mitigation strategies are needed, including an increase in the efficiency of cement use. This paper proposes indicators for measuring cement use efficiency, presents a benchmark based on literature data and discusses potential gains in efficiency. The binder intensity (bi) index measures the amount of binder (kg m(-3)) necessary to deliver 1 MPa of mechanical strength, and consequently express the efficiency of using binder materials. The CO(2) intensity index (ci) allows estimating the global warming potential of concrete formulations. Research benchmarks show that bi similar to 5 kg m(-3) MPa(-1) are feasible and have already been achieved for concretes >50 MPa. However, concretes with lower compressive strengths have binder intensities varying between 10 and 20 kg m(-3) MPa(-1). These values can be a result of the minimum cement content established in many standards and reveal a significant potential for performance gains. In addition, combinations of low bi and ci are shown to be feasible. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Forest certification in Amazonia: standards matter

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification promises international consumers that `green-label` timber has been logged sustainably. However, recent research indicates that this is not true for ipe (Tabebuia spp.), currently flooding the US residential decking market, much of it logged in Brazil. Uneven or non-application of minimum technical standards for certification could undermine added value and eventually the certification process itself. We examine public summary reports by third-party certifiers describing the evaluation process for certified companies in the Brazilian Amazon to determine the extent to which standards are uniformly applied and the degree to which third-party certifier requirements for compliance are consistent among properties. Current best-practice harvest systems, combined with Brazilian legal norms for harvest levels, guarantee that no certified company or community complies with FSC criteria and indicators specifying species-level management. No guidelines indicate which criteria and indicators must be enforced, or to what degree, for certification to be conferred by third-party assessors; nor do objective guidelines exist for evaluating compliance for criteria and indicators for which adequate scientific information is not yet available to identify acceptable levels. Meanwhile, certified companies are expected to monitor the long-term impacts of logging on biodiversity in addition to conducting best-practice forest management. This burden should reside elsewhere. We recommend a clarification of `sustained timber yield` that reflects current state of knowledge and practice in Amazonia. Quantifiable verifiers for best-practice forest management must be developed and consistently employed. These will need to be flexible to reflect the diversity in forest structure and dynamics that prevails across this vast region. We offer suggestions for how to achieve these goals.

Seed development, yield and quality of two palm species growing in different tropical forest types in SE Brazil: implications for ecological restoration

Natural forest remnants have been set as seed production fields to supply seeds of native tree species for tropical forest restoration, but the effect of different forest types on seed production has not been accessed to date for palm species. In this work, we studied seed development, yield, and quality of two palm species in different tropical forest types in SE Brazil. Seed production of palmiteiro (Euterpe edulis) and queen-palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), which are largely used in restoration efforts due to their importance for vertebrate frugivores, were studied in natural remnants of Atlantic Rainforest, Restinga Forest, Seasonally Dry Forest, and Cerrado Forest. We studied seed development, yield, size, and germination of seed lots produced in some of these forest types, including seeds harvested in 2008, 2009, and both years. Seed yield and quality, as well as seed dry mass in 2009, were higher for palmiteiro seeds produced in the Atlantic Rainforest, while queen-palm seeds produced at the Restinga Forest showed the higher mass and yield, but the lowest physiological potential. Consequently, these natural differences of seed yield and quality have to be taken into account for establishing standards for seed commercialization and analysis, seed pricing, and seedling production in forest nurseries.

Listeria monocytogenes in two different poultry facilities: Manual and automatic evisceration

Listeriosis is a serious foodborne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen often found in food processing plants. Poultry meat and its derivatives may harbor L. monocytogenes even if good manufacturing practices are implanted in abattoirs. Little information exists in Brazil on the frequency of L. monocytogenes contamination, even though the country is considered the top poultry meat exporter in the world. This study attempted to compare 2 exporters poultry facilities following same the standards but differing only in manual (plant M) or automatic (plant A) evisceration. Eight hundred fifty-one samples from food, food contact and non-food contact surfaces, water, and workers` hands were collected from cage to finished products over a 1-yr period. In plant A, 20.1% of the samples were positive for L. monocytogenes, whereas in plant M, 16.4% was found. The greatest incidence of contamination with the pathogen in plant A was found in non- food contact surfaces (27.3%), while in plant M, it was found in products (19.4%). The most prevalent serovars were 1/2a or 3a (plant M) and 4b, 4d, or 4e (plant A). Despite having proper hygiene and good manufacturing practices, controlling the entry and persistence of L. monocytogenes in processing facilities remains a formidable task.