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Background: To verify whether shorter telomere length is associated with anorexia of ageing in community‐dwelling older people. Methods: Conducted as a cross‐sectional investigation, the study enrolled 448 participants residing in an urban area of a municipality in Brazil. Relative telomere length in blood samples was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), whereas the presence of anorexia of ageing was determined using the Simplified Appetite Nutritional Questionnaire. Data analysis employed multiple logistic regression. Results: Among the 448 older individuals surveyed, 70.69% were female, and the predominant age bracket ranged from 60 to 69 years (45.08%). Approximately 25% exhibited the shortest telomeric length, with a corresponding anorexia of ageing prevalence of 41.16%. Older individuals with diminished telomere lengths displayed an increased likelihood of experiencing anorexia of ageing (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–3.29), independent of factors such as gender, age group, depressive symptoms, pain and performance in basic daily life activities. Conclusions: The observed association between anorexia of ageing and a telomeric biomarker underscores the imperative to meticulously evaluate the nutritional dimensions of older people, with a view to implementing interventions that may enhance their overall health status. Highlights: Older people with shorter telomere length are more likely to have anorexia of ageing.The association between shorter telomere length and anorexia of ageing is independent of sex, age group, depressive symptoms, pain and performance in basic activities of daily living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition among adult brain cells has not been extensively researched. To investigate whether healthy glia can outcompete diseased human glia in the adult forebrain, we engrafted wild-type (WT) human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) produced from human embryonic stem cells into the striata of adult mice that had been neonatally chimerized with mutant Huntingtin (mHTT)-expressing hGPCs. The WT hGPCs outcompeted and ultimately eliminated their human Huntington's disease (HD) counterparts, repopulating the host striata with healthy glia. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that WT hGPCs acquired a YAP1/MYC/E2F-defined dominant competitor phenotype upon interaction with the host HD glia. WT hGPCs also outcompeted older resident isogenic WT cells that had been transplanted neonatally, suggesting that competitive success depended primarily on the relative ages of competing populations, rather than on the presence of mHTT. These data indicate that aged and diseased human glia may be broadly replaced in adult brain by younger healthy hGPCs, suggesting a therapeutic strategy for the replacement of aged and diseased human glia. Old or diseased human glial cells in the chimeric mouse brain are eliminated by transplanted young cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, prepared according to the deductive method, seeks to identify the phenomenon of climate change protection within the scope of national constitutions, treaties, and transnational jurisprudence, concerning carbon metrics and their impacts on the economy and historicity of nations, as the colony-metropolis binomial. The objective is to reveal the justice or not of the current transnational impositions of carbon metrics. It is intended to identify the characteristics of the intergenerational climate law norm that imposes sanctions and rewards according to the carbon economy of each member state, as well as the analysis of intergenerational historical justice since future generations will suffer the impact of the actions of past generations. It also seeks to analyze how transactions and carbon metrics between exporting and importing countries of agricultural, extractive, and mineral products are processed in the new context of the Paris Agreement under the historical perspective of colony-metropolis relations, as well as what the rewards are. Historical and restorative measures would be necessary to neutralize this new climate colonialism so that progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions does not become a trap for domination by developed and historically polluting states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the epidemiological characterization and spatial distribution of bat shelters concerning livestock animal rabies in Paraná State, southern Brazil. A spatiotemporal cluster analysis was performed based on rabies-positive cases and the Desmodus rotundus shelters. A total of 1742 suspect rabies cases submitted for diagnosis from 2011 to 2017 were analyzed; 481 (27.61%) were positive, and 1261 (72.39%) were negative by direct immunofluorescence and biological testing in mice. Out of the positive samples, 413/481 (85.8%) was bovine, 44/481 (9.1%) equine, 6/481 (1.2%) sheep, 5/481 (1.0%) bubaline, and 14/481 (2.9%) were bats. From 22 Regional Units of Agricultural Health, the northeast 129 (26.82%) and central 86 (17.88%) units had the highest recurrence rates of positive cases. Paraná State was continuously endemic for livestock rabies, with the highest caseload seen in the southern-central regions, which was associated with the highest number of vampire bat shelters and natural geographical characteristics favoring bat housing. There was a decrease in the number of rabies cases in livestock in 2013 and 2014. Spatiotemporal analyses of point process mapping and control of D. rotundus shelters and suspected livestock rabies cases in the study area were steady and statistically correlated. However, as bats may travel up to 35–40 km to prey on cattle clusters, bat shelter locations may not be the most sensitive measure of exposure. Furthermore, future studies should consider landscape features such as altitude as potential associated risk factors. Rabies vaccination of livestock and bat hematophagous shelters identification combined with bat control is recommended to increase the efficacy of preventive measures, particularly in natural geographic characteristics favoring local bat housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell culture models are important tools to study epileptogenesis mechanisms. The aim of this work was to characterize the spontaneous and synchronized rhythmic activity developed by cultured hippocampal neurons after transient incubation in zero Mg2+ to model Status Epilepticus. Cultured hippocampal neurons were transiently incubated with a Mg2+-free solution and the activity of neuronal networks was evaluated using single cell calcium imaging and whole-cell current clamp recordings. Here we report the development of synchronized and spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients in cultured hippocampal neurons immediately after transient incubation in a Mg2+-free solution. Spontaneous and synchronous [Ca2+]i oscillations were observed when the cells were then incubated in the presence of Mg2+. Functional studies also showed that transient incubation in Mg2+-free medium induces neuronal rhythmic burst activity that was prevented by antagonists of glutamate receptors. In conclusion, we report the development of epileptiform-like activity, characterized by spontaneous and synchronized discharges, in cultured hippocampal neurons transiently incubated in the absence of Mg2+. This model will allow studying synaptic alterations contributing to the hyperexcitability that underlies the development of seizures and will be useful in pharmacological studies for testing new drugs for the treatment of epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper's aim is to demonstrate how South American regional rivalry influenced Brazilian developmentalism. During the early years of the XXth century, Army officers created a military paradigm which associated the defense against Argentina with the need for political centralization and industrialization. With the Revolution of 1930 this geopolitically-oriented developmental thought became a tenet for the Army High Command which, using the Army's new position in national politics, decisively backed development initiatives in the petrochemical, steel and transportation sectors. Regional geopolitics was, therefore, one of the key variables at the onset of Brazilian developmentalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decidual NK cells (dNK) are the main lymphocyte population in early pregnancy decidual mucosa. Although dNK decrease during pregnancy, they remain present in decidual tissues at term. First trimester dNK facilitate trophoblast invasion, provide protection against infections, and were shown to have many differences in their expression of NKRs, cytokines, and cytolytic capacity compared with peripheral blood NK cells (pNK). However, only limited data are available on the phenotype and function of term pregnancy dNK. In this study, dNK from human term pregnancy decidua basalis and decidua parietalis tissues were compared with pNK and first trimester dNK. Profound differences were found, including: 1) term pregnancy dNK have an increased degranulation response to K562 and PMA/ionomycin but lower capacity to respond to human CMV-infected cells; 2) term pregnancy dNK are not skewed toward recognition of HLA-C, as was previously shown for first trimester dNK; and 3) protein and gene expression profiles identified multiple differences between pNK, first trimester, and term pregnancy dNK, suggesting term pregnancy dNK are a distinct type of NK cells. Understanding the role of dNK throughout pregnancy is of high clinical relevance for studies aiming to prevent placental inflammatory disorders as well as maternal-to-fetal transmission of pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD), or chronic benign familial pemphigus, is a rare inherited acantholytic dermatosis, characterized by chronic, recurrent vesicles, erosions, and maceration in intertriginous sites. We present a case of a male patient with longstanding HHD who presented with an acute exacerbation characterized by the worsening of pre-existing lesions but also with the appearance of new large, tense bullae on an erythematous base in the areas of the groin (i.e., inguinal region), trunk, and arms, associated with intense pruritus. Blood work revealed eosinophilia. Histopathology and direct immunofluorescence were compatible with the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP). Indirect immunofluorescence showed positivity for autoantibodies to BP antigen 180. We started oral methylprednisolone, oral antihistamines, and local care with potassium permanganate baths, a potent corticosteroid, and fusidic acid, with resulting improvement of the lesions. The case was further complicated by the occurrence of eczema herpeticum, which was successfully treated with acyclovir. At the time of discharge from the hospital, the patient was medicated with a low dose of oral steroid and oral doxycycline. During a later examination, the lesions had totally disappeared, but the skin had some residual hyperpigmented patches and excoriated papules. This case was a diagnostic challenge due to the simultaneous occurrence of three distinct bullous diseases with different etiopathogeneses. To our knowledge, there are no other reports of the coexistence of HHD and BP in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD), or chronic benign familial pemphigus, is a rare inherited acantholytic dermatosis, characterized by chronic, recurrent vesicles, erosions, and maceration in intertriginous sites. We present a case of a male patient with longstanding HHD who presented with an acute exacerbation characterized by the worsening of pre-existing lesions but also with the appearance of new large, tense bullae on an erythematous base in the areas of the groin (i.e., inguinal region), trunk, and arms, associated with intense pruritus. Blood work revealed eosinophilia. Histopathology and direct immunofiuorescence were compatible with the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP). Indirect immunofiuorescence showed positivity for autoantibodies to BP antigen 180. We started oral methylprednisolone, oral antihistamines, and local care with potassium permanganate baths, a potent corticosteroid, and fusidic acid, with resulting improvement of the lesions. The case was further complicated by the occurrence of eczema herpeticum, which was successfully treated with acyclovir. At the time of discharge from the hospital, the patient was medicated with a low dose of oral steroid and oral doxycycline. During a later examination, the lesions had totally disappeared, but the skin had some residual hyperpigmented patches and excoriated papules. This case was a diagnostic challenge due to the simultaneous occurrence of three distinct bullous diseases with difierent etiopathogeneses. To our knowledge, there are no other reports of the coexistence of HHD and BP in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Pitcairnia encholirioides is a threatened species endemic to inselbergs of the Atlantic Forest. • Understanding its reproductive cycle is relevant to in vitro induction aimed at conservation strategies. • Guidelines for in vitro propagation of P. encholirioides depend on knowledge of its embryogenesis and endospermogenesis. • Guidelines for in vitro culture of P. encholirioides should take into consideration the relationship between fruit maturation and embryo/endosperm. • Stages of seed development in P. encholirioides recommended for use in in vitro protocols are indicated in the manuscript. Abstract Pitcairnia encholirioides is a threatened species endemic to the inselbergs of the Atlantic Forest. The study of the embryogenesis and endospermogenesis of Pitcairnia encholirioides aims to the establish guidelines for its in vitro propagation. Using anatomical analysis, samples of flowers in anthesis and fruits at different developmental stages were analysed. In the results was observed the first division of the sporophytic zygote occurs in the transverse plane and originates the apical and basal cells, forming a uninodal embryo through Asterad-type embryogenesis. Endosperm formation begins with the formation of free nuclei, which undergo centripetal cellularization, beginning in the chalazal domain, characterizing this endosperm as the coenocytic/multicellular type. The differentiation of the aleurone layer occurs at the end of this process. The relationship between fruit maturation and embryo/endosperm developmental stages was established, thus setting forth guidelines for the development of in vitro culture protocols aimed at the conservation of P. encholirioides , an endangered Bromeliad species of the Atlantic Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The multi-phase or four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) has emerged as a promising technique for preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), but little is known about its accuracy in patients with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT).Methods: A total of 18 patients diagnosed with PHPT underwent three methods of preoperative localization (4D CT, TC-99-Sestamibi scintigraphy and ultrasonography). After surgery, the results of imaging were compared with operative findings, pathological and biochemical data to evaluate the sensitivity and of each localization procedure.Results: In NPHPT the sensitivity for identifying the parathyroid lesion, according to presentation of PHPT (hypercalcemic or normocalcemic), was better with 4DCT in comparison to USG and scintigraphy. In these patients, the sensitivity for lateralization was as follows: USG: 22% (95% CI 0-44.9), scintigraphy: 11.1% (95% CI 0-31.6), 4DCT: 55.6% (95% CI 23.1-88). In hypercalcemic patients the results were as follows: USG: 58.3% (95% CI 30.4-86.2), scintigraphy: 75% (95% CI 50.5-99.5), 4DCT: 75% (95% CI 50.5-99.5). There was a poor agreement between the three procedures in the identification of the parathyroid lesions, with Kappa coeficients of 0.292 and 0.01 for scintigraphy and 4DCT, respectively, in comparison to USG.Conclusion: Our data showed that 4DCT had a better performance as a preoperative localization procedure of the parathyroid lesion in patients with NPHPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the knowledge center service, an aggregator of services developed under the scope of the E-ARK Project. This aims to provide a comprehensive set of services that will allow users to understand, contribute to, and validate information governance good practices. The knowledge center comprises two main services. The resources center is where users can learn more about information governance terms, requirements, and practice. It is composed of the vocabulary manager service and the reference requirements management service. The assessment services allow users to assess their information governance practices. It is comprised of the MoReq schemas validator service, the MoReq assessment, and the information governance maturity assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to measure the respiration rate of papayas (cv. Golden) stored under controlled atmosphere at room temperature, with decreasing O 2 and increasing CO 2 levels, in order to identify mathematical models capable of predicting respiration rate throughout storage. A model was proposed based on the Michaelis–Menten equation with uncompetitive inhibition and kinetic parameters that change during storage time. A second-order nonlinear regression model was used as reference for the mathematical approach. Nine experiments with three replicates were conducted under different controlled atmospheres to generate respiration data. A closed system method was used to measure the respiration rate at 2 d intervals over 13 d of storage at ambient temperature (23 °C). Peel color measurements indicated total ripening of fruit stored in high O 2 atmospheres, whereas ripening was minimal in atmospheres containing low O 2 and high CO 2 levels. The respiration rate remained at the lowest value, but gradually increased during storage at the lowest O 2 level associated with the highest CO 2 concentration. The nonlinear regression model obtained the lowest AICc value with VarPow variance, indicating a better fit than the Michaelis–Menten model. However, the latter, whose kinetic parameters change according to a polynomial second-order equation (MM Q ), displayed a better fit than the nonlinear regression model evaluated by homoscedastic variance. Additionally, MM Q was more sensitive than nonlinear regression in detecting the real change in respiration rate in a biological system as a function of different gas compositions during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work is to solve the problem of disposal of solid materials in landfills, which is worsening every day in the city of Araçatuba, SP, and the adjacent intention to do with the site increases its capacity of reception that is in the limit and as well as to carry out the reuse of rubbish received in humus, due to the problem with the proximity of the landfill of the city or municipal airport, it ended up not giving continuity as future works, even having acquired a land nearby for extensive extensions, project, to give continuity old work and due to the lack of planning and study of sustainability involved in the environment of the terrain and that ended up paralyzed, brings to a region beyond the time to spare for waste the alternative to perform a parallel work and rent in the area of production of organic fertilizer and can serve as an example to many others with as equal S restrictions and that are in l Life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is widely accepted in the staging of melanoma. The prognostic value of this technique seems to be greater in intermediate-thickness melanoma (1-4 mm) than in thick melanoma (>4 mm). Objective: To assess the prognostic value of sentinel node status in patients with thick melanoma. Patients and Methods: The disease-free survival and the overall survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves and a Cox regression model in a sample of patients with thick melanoma. Results: Forty-three patients were included (52.2% male) with a mean age of 63.9 years. Sentinel node biopsy was positive in 20 patients (46.5%). Mean follow-up was 40 months. Patients without sentinel node metastases had a 5-year disease-free survival rate significantly higher than those with positive sentinel node (63% versus 19%, p < 0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate was tendentiously lower in patients with positive sentinel node (52% versus 79%), lacking statistical significance. Conclusion: The sentinel node status was not able to predict the overall survival in our series of thick melanomas, probably due to the high risk of hematic spread. However, sentinel lymph node biopsy provided important prognostic information, since the sentinel lymph node status influenced the disease-free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several wild and domesticated ruminants rely almost exclusively on the complex carbohydrate matrix from the plant cell wall (PCW) as their primary energy source via volatile fatty acids produced through ruminal and some hindgut fermentation processes. The PCW comprises different proportions and types of polysaccharides, pectic substances, polyphenols (lignin, tannins), and amino-N compounds (amino acids, peptides, proteins) that impact its digestibility and nutritive value. Thus, understanding the biosynthetic formation of the PCW will shed some light on possible manipulation mechanisms (e.g., genetic selection, management, and fertilization) and processing methods (e.g., physical, chemical, or enzymatic treatments) to increase its digestibility, leading to better utilization of the PCW by the ruminant animal. Laboratory techniques must be developed, evaluated, and modified to accurately and reliably reflect the digestibility and nutritive value of PCW brought about by modern manipulation mechanisms or processing methods. The chemical determination of lignin and its association with carbohydrates still lack consensus, although acid detergent lignin has been demonstrated to behave uniformly as a nutritional entity. Spectroscopy (near-infrared and Raman) and in vitro gas production techniques have been adopted to assess plant chemical composition and nutritive value, but an incomplete understanding of the impacts caused by disrupting the PCW for sample processing still exists. The limitations of these laboratory techniques have partially led to their association with mathematical models to improve the explanation of fermentation dynamics. Different variations of multicompartmental and time- and age-dependent mathematical models based on gamma distribution have been proposed to determine the ruminal rates of degradation and passage of fiber. However, low-quality data due to inconsistent marker results used to determine passage rates and transit time of fiber in the gastrointestinal tract have hindered advancements and adoptions of the next generation of computer models to understand fiber degradation in the rumen. The association of mechanistic modeling and artificial intelligence will perhaps improve PCW nutritive value predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we specifically address the constraint of energy consumption related to wireless sensor networks deployed at remote regions where the geographical access is complicated and consequently the maintenance routines seldom occurs. This research proposes an energy management method for environmental monitoring at the Amazonian Basin, where the interval between maintenance routines is greater than 6 months and the geographical location constrains the access to the sensor nodes. The proposed method is based on the duty cycling technique and aims to extend the sensor node lifespan in case of its external power source fails or its power consumption increases due to damages in sensor node devices. The management energy algorithm embedded into the sensor node employs the Shepherd Equation to simulate curves of battery discharge for each power consumption condition and thus it enables to estimate accurately the lifespan of a sensor node. Therefore, the sensor node is aware of its available energy and was programmed to react to it by switching between predefined operating modes to save energy and prolong as much as possible its lifespan. The Sensor Energy Management Method (SEMM) ensures that sensor nodes are operational throughout maintenance periods so that at least data acquisition tasks are performed to guarantee historical data sets essential to hydrological forecasts. A sensor node prototype was built and the SEMM was validated by a number of indoors experiments. The sensor node lifetime was increased by 20 % when the proposed method was compared to a conventional energy use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present study was to evaluate different mathematical models to describe the growth profiles of growing male kids. The kids used in the present study came from two experimental sets: one set of Alpine wethers (castrated at 15 days of age) and another set of Saanen kids. The variables measured in the first set were live weight ( W ), empty body weight (EBW), carcass weight, organs, empty gastrointestinal tract (GIT), skin, abdominal fat, trimmed cuts, blood, fresh GIT contents, and ruminoreticular fresh, dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and lignin content at birth and at 15, 90, 135, 210, 270, and 365 days of age. The second set provided W and EBW of Saanen kids measured at 7, 37, 67, 142, and 195 days of age. The models tested were the monomolecular or Brody equation; the Gompertz, Richards, and generalized Michaelis–Menten models of sigmoid growth; and combinations of monomolecular and sigmoid models, forming biphasic models. In addition, four types of variance functions (covariance) were tested, namely, homogeneous, exponential, asymptotic, and power of the mean scaling function for each model. The model selection was based on the Akaike information criterion and its derived likelihood measures. The sigmoid simple models better described the time profiles, and the Gompertz model associated with homogeneous and scaled variances was the best choice for 57.1% of the growth profiles, most likely because of the ill-defined asymptotic phase; the biphasic models presented a lower likelihood probability of support. Nevertheless, the Brody–Gompertz and Brody-exponential growth biphasic models presented reasonable fits to certain variables, such as W , EBW, and carcass from both datasets. Therefore, despite the greater likelihood of the traditional growth functions, the biphasic models are promising for the description of the inflection points observed during the suckling-weaning and post-weaning phases of the goat kids’ growth profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering and Science projects are facing new data management challenges, which are currently being addressed through the development of data management plans. However, project stakeholders are unable to proper assess if their plan is representative of good data management practices. To address this issue, we propose a risk management framework to assist the definition of a data management plan in engineering and science projects. To validate our proposal, we present an application to a civil engineering project concerning dam safety. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare fibrohistiocytic tumor with frequent locoregional recurrences and a low metastatic ability. Only 6% of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans are diagnosed in children. The gold standard treatment is the surgical excision and the lower recurrence rates are observed with wide surgical margins (2,5cm) or with margin control by Mohs micrographic surgery. The authors report the case of a female 8-year-old child with a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the abdominal wall. The tumor was excised with wide margins with a good outcome after a 12-month follow-up. The typical features of this tumor in children and the main differential diagnoses were pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of Clitoria ternatea L. (Cunhã) were harvested at 35, 50, 70, and 90 d after a uniformity harvest in a field study designed as a completely randomized design with a total of 18 experimental plots. The dry matter yield of the whole plant was separated quantitatively into leaves, stems, and pods at each harvesting age. Chemical analyses and in vitro gas production kinetics were performed to assess the quality of the plant parts. Yields, chemical composition, and estimates of gas production parameters were analyzed by fitting a mixed statistical model with two types of covariance structures as follows: variance components and an unrestricted structure with heterogeneous variances. Fast and slow gas yielding pools were detected for both leaves and stems, but only a single pool was detected for pods. The homoscedasticity assumption was more likely for all variables, except for some parameters of the gas production kinetics of leaves and stems. There was no presence of typical pods at 35 and 50 d. In the leaves, the fibrous fractions were affected, whereas the non-fibrous fractions were unaffected by the harvesting age. The harvesting age affected the majority of the chemical constituents and gas kinetic parameters related to the stems. The leaves of this legume were the least affected part by the aging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The goals of this study were to evaluate the ability of a nonlinear optimization tool to provide solutions for maintaining consistent qualities of diets irrespective of the plane of nutrition and to evaluate the effect of the plane of nutrition on intake and digestibility of dry matter , organic matter , crude protein , crude fat , non fibrous carbohydrates , neutral detergent fiber , and metabolizability of diets using sheep as a generalized experimental model. Eight wethers were randomly assigned to two balanced four-treatment Latin squares conducted simultaneously with four diets providing nutritional levels that were multiples of maintenance levels ( ; ; ; and , where is the metabolizable energy intake, and is the metabolizable energy intake for maintenance). The , , metabolizable protein and of the diet were subjected to nonlinear constraints; the model was considered a general nonlinear programming problem and solved using Microsoft Excel Solver® with Newton's method of resolution. The intake of nutrients, digestible nutrients, digestible energy and the amounts of feces and urine produced daily were measured and analyzed statistically by fitting a linear mixed model. The corrected metabolizability ( ) and plane of nutrition ( ) were obtained on the basis of the digestible, urinary, and simulated methane losses. The trends of some variables were reanalyzed by regressing observed values against . All measured variables were affected by . The intakes of and increased in an asymptotic fashion as increased, whereas the intake of increased linearly as increased. At levels immediately below maintenance, observed values were approximately constant. Digestible amounts of , , , and consumed increased linearly at levels above maintenance, whereas the digestible amounts of total carbohydrates, neutral detergent solubles, and ashes increased in an asymptotic fashion. Under conditions of controlled feeding, the nonlinear optimization tool yielded dietary solutions with a nearly constant metabolizability in which the rate of increase in crude protein, digestible crude protein, and digestible energy intakes remained constant as the plane of nutrition increased. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article, based on the Risk Society Theory (Ulrich Beck), is focused in n.1, 12th article of Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament, about environmental liability, and intends its analysis from the perspective of Public Participation Principle in environmental decisions. Based on the inductive investigation method, the paper first discusses about the democratic quality of legal dispositive; second, it makes a comparative interpretation with Aarhus Convention, searching for indicate incongruences between the legal documents. In the end, it concludes that this legal dispositive is inadequate for a shared environmental risk administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional studies examining the evolution of the gynoecium in Rubiaceae focus on variations in ovule morphology. However, development of the gynoecium is poorly understood. Only a few studies have been conducted to examine the formation of the carpellary septa in the subfamilies Cinchonoideae and Ixoroideae. A trend in reduced ovule structures has been observed. The origin of the carpellary septa is also relevant. Therefore, to provide insight into the evolution of embryological characteristics in Rubiaceae, we investigated the ontogeny of the carpels and ovules in Guettarda pohliana (Cinchonoideae), focusing on the carpellary septa, placenta, nucellus, and integument. Guettarda pohliana has a long basal septum and pendulous ovules. The ovules are anatropous, unitegmic, and tenuinucellate. The nucellus is dome-like, the epidermis contains between seven and eight cells, and there are between four and six subepidermal initials. Based on these observations, we propose a new ovule type in the evolutionary diagram of this group. This new Chomelia type is very similar to the Ixora type, but the pendulous ovules differ and Chomelia has a long basal septum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is a critique to the mono-disciplinary approach often adopted in many legal studies presently. It provides an analysis of transdisciplinarity as an alternative paradigm for the resolution of social conflicts particularly environmental or socioenvironmental issues. As an alternative civilizational perspective, or as a bifurcation, the transdisciplinary scientific theory arises as a possibility of change in the structural logic for law professionals. Guided by an inductive research method, the study sought to determine the potential of the transdisciplinary paradigm as a tool for the proper enforcement of environmental law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a standard procedure for patients with localized cutaneous melanoma. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)Melanoma Panel has reinforced the status of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) as an important prognostic factor for melanoma survival. We sought to identify predictive factors associated with a positive SLNB and overall survival in our population. Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review of 221 patients who have done a successful SLNB formelanoma between 2004 and 2010 at our department. Univariate andmultivariate analyses were done. Results. The SLNB was positive in 48 patients (21.7%). Univariate analysis showed that male gender, increasing Breslow thickness, tumor type, and absence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were significantly associated with a positive SLNB.Multivariate analysis confirmed that Breslow thickness and the absence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are independently predictive of SLN metastasis. The 5-year survival rates were 53.1% for SLN positive patients and 88.2% for SLN negative patients. Breslow thickness and the SLN status independently predict overall survival. Conclusions. The risk factors for a positive SLNB are consistent with those found in the previous literature. In addition, the SLN status is a major determinant of survival, which highlights its importance in melanoma management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DLEC1 has been suggested as a tumor suppressor gene in several cancers. DLEC1 D215N somatic mutation (COSM36702) was identified in a melanoma cell line throughwhole genome sequencing. However, little is known about the implication and prevalence of this mutation in primary melanomas or in melanocytic nevi. The aim of this study was to genotype DLEC1 D215N mutation in melanoma tissue and melanocytic nevi samples to confirm its occurrence and to estimate its prevalence. Primary melanomas (n = 81) paired with synchronous or asynchronous metastases (n = 21) from 81 melanoma patients and melanocytic nevi (n = 28) were screened for DLEC1 D215N mutation. We found the mutation in 3 primary melanomas and in 2 melanocytic nevi, corresponding to a relatively low prevalence (3.7% and 7.1%, resp.). The pathogenic role of DLEC1 215N mutation is unclear. However, since the mutation has not been previously described in general population, its involvement in nevogenesis and melanoma progression remains a possibility to be clarified in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--The importance of complete revascularization remains unclear and contradictory. This current investigation compares the effect of complete revascularization on 10-year survival of patients with stable multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) who were randomly assigned to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods and Results--This is a post hoc analysis of the Second Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study (MASS II), which is a randomized trial comparing treatments in patients with stable multivessel CAD, and preserved systolic ventricular function. We analyzed patients who underwent surgery (CABG) or stent angioplasty (PCI). The survival free of overall mortality of patients who underwent complete (CR) or incomplete revascularization (IR) was compared. Of the 408 patients randomly assigned to mechanical revascularization, 390 patients (95.6%) underwent the assigned treatment; complete revascularization was achieved in 224 patients (57.4%), 63.8% of those in the CABG group and 36.2% in the PCI group (P=0.001). The IR group had more prior myocardial infarction than the CR group (56.2%X39.2%, P=0.01). During a 10-year follow-up, the survival free of cardiovascular mortality was significantly different among patients in the 2 groups (CR, 90.6% versus IR, 84.4%; P=0.04). This was mainly driven by an increased cardiovascular specific mortality in individuals with incomplete revascularization submitted to PCI (P=0.05). Conclusions--Our study suggests that in 10-year follow-up, CR compared with IR was associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality, especially due to a higher increase in cardiovascular-specific mortality in individuals submitted to PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--The Second Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study (MASS II) included patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and normal systolic ventricular function. Patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG, n = 203), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, n=205), or medical treatment alone (MT, n=203). This investigation compares the economic outcome at 5-year follow-up of the 3 therapeutic strategies. Methods and Results--We analyzed cumulative costs during a 5-year follow-up period. To analyze the cost-effectiveness, adjustment was made on the cumulative costs for average event-free time and angina-free proportion. Respectively, for event-free survival and event plus angina-free survival, MT presented 3.79 quality-adjusted life-years and 2.07 quality-adjusted life-years; PCI presented 3.59 and 2.77 quality-adjusted life-years; and CABG demonstrated 4.4 and 2.81 quality-adjusted life-years. The event-free costs were $9071.00 for MT; $19 967.00 for PCI; and $18 263.00 for CABG. The paired comparison of the event-free costs showed that there was a significant difference favoring MT versus PCI (P<0.01) and versus CABG (P<0.01) and CABG versus PCI (P=0.01). The event-free plus angina-free costs were $16 553.00, $25 831.00, and $24 614.00, respectively. The paired comparison of the event-free plus angina-free costs showed that there was a significant difference favoring MT versus PCI (P=0.04), and versus CABG (P0.05). Conclusions--In the long-term economic analysis, for the prevention of a composite primary end point, MT was more cost effective than CABG, and CABG was more cost-effective than PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Long-term in situ incubations were performed to verify the likelihood of the heterogeneity concept of the potentially digestible fraction of the insoluble fiber (NDFom) by fitting both heterogeneous and homogeneous potentially digestible NDFom versions of a generalized compartmental model of digestion (GCMD). Corn silage and eleven tropical grasses and alfalfa hay were studied. Data were gathered from a study in which forage samples in nylon bags were incubated in rumen cannulated steers so that three profiles per forage were generated. The incubation endpoint was used to form sets of time profiles. The original set consisted of profiles ending at 1440h, and the other two were formed by using 96 and 240h as the incubation endpoints, respectively. The indigestible residue was estimated using nonlinear least squares or by assuming it to be 2.4 times lignin determined by the sulphuric acid method (Lignin (sa)). Therefore, eight different models were evaluated by combining end points of digestion, and the homogeneous and heterogeneous versions of GCMD with the two ways of estimating the indigestible residue. The likelihood of the models was assessed by computing Akaike information criteria. The effects of forage, model, and their interaction were analyzed by taking model as a repeated measurement. Heterogeneity of the potentially degradable fraction for NDFom was detected with long-term incubation trials (up to 1440h) for some forages, and the introduction of the 2.4×Lignin (sa) as a direct measure of the indigestible residue improved the likelihood of the heterogeneous version of GCMD. The forage by model interaction was significant for many comparable parameter estimates, which means that specific and inconsistent results for models within forages were produced depending on the definition of the incubation end-point. The indigestible residue was overestimated with short-term incubation profiles, but the overestimation was lower for the profiles ending at 240h whether compared to profiles ending at 96h. Given the likelihood of the heterogeneous version of GCMD fitted to profiles ending at 1440h and at 240h for some forages, the heterogeneity concept should be investigated whenever the research interest relies on estimating the kinetic attributes of the degradation profiles of the NDFom in situ. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper aims the evaluation of the possible antibacterial an antifungical activity of benzydamine.Minimum inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericide/Fungicide concentration in several microorganism samples were determined. Agar Difusion (tecnic of well)and tube dilution were the techniques used. Evaluation of microorganisms sensibility to benzydamine , was made through the reading of the inhibition halos in the agar difusion and growth inhibition n the tube dilution technique. The results showed that benzydamine has an antimicrobial activity in the yeast samples and in the tested bacteria. The comparison of the two techniques showed that in agar difusion technique the minimum inhibitory concentration value (MIC) was higher than in the tube dilution one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulse oximetry (PO) is a well-accepted non-invasive method for assessing vascular health, based on oxygen saturation (SaO) measurements. The objectives of this study were to design and build a custom-made PO dental sensor holder, to evaluate the effectiveness of PO in determining pulp blood flow in primary and permanent teeth, and to compare the SaO levels obtained in teeth and on the little finger of patients. The PO sensor adapted to the custom-made sensor holder is termed as a device to position and hold the PO sensor. This study evaluated SaO readings obtained in the pulp of 123 teeth of 84 children aged 4-13 years. The teeth were divided into three groups: group I - primary teeth: 23 central incisors and 28 canines; group II - permanent teeth: 25 central incisors and 28 canines; and group III - endodontically treated teeth (control): 12 permanent central incisors and seven primary central incisors. The pulp blood flow and SaO were measured and were compared with readings of the patient's finger. Data were analyzed by paired t-tests and Pearson's analysis method. The PO was able to identify all the clinically normal pulps contained in the sample, and all the endodontically treated teeth (controls) showed no response. The mean SaO values were 85.27% in the teeth and 92.85% in the fingers. In conclusion, PO readings were effective in determining pulp blood flow in primary and permanent teeth. However, there was no correlation between the SaO values in the fingers and in the teeth of the patients ( P < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Planktonic bacteria are recognized as important drivers of biogeochemical processes in all aquatic ecosystems, however, the taxa that make up these communities are poorly known. The aim of this study was to investigate bacterial communities in aquatic ecosystems at Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a preserved insular environment of the Atlantic rain forest and how they correlate with a salinity gradient going from terrestrial aquatic habitats to the coastal Atlantic Ocean. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed chemical and microbiological parameters of water samples and constructed 16S rRNA gene libraries of free living bacteria obtained at three marine (two coastal and one offshore) and three freshwater (water spring, river, and mangrove) environments. A total of 836 sequences were analyzed by MOTHUR, yielding 269 freshwater and 219 marine operational taxonomic units (OTUs) grouped at 97% stringency. Richness and diversity indexes indicated that freshwater environments were the most diverse, especially the water spring. The main bacterial group in freshwater environments was Betaproteobacteria (43.5%), whereas Cyanobacteria (30.5%), Alphaproteobacteria (25.5%), and Gammaproteobacteria (26.3%) dominated the marine ones. Venn diagram showed no overlap between marine and freshwater OTUs at 97% stringency. LIBSHUFF statistics and PCA analysis revealed marked differences between the freshwater and marine libraries suggesting the importance of salinity as a driver of community composition in this habitat. The phylogenetic analysis of marine and freshwater libraries showed that the differences in community composition are consistent. Conclusions/Significance: Our data supports the notion that a divergent evolutionary scenario is driving community composition in the studied habitats. This work also improves the comprehension of microbial community dynamics in tropical waters and how they are structured in relation to physicochemical parameters. Furthermore, this paper reveals for the first time the pristine bacterioplankton communities in a tropical island at the South Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The starting point is the principle that there is no immigrant culture, but rather, different ways of living, coexisting and identifying oneself within the cultural worlds that each subject crosses on his or her social path. Here we study Brazilian immigrants in Portugal, working with the first wave (starting at the end of the 1980s) and the second wave (at the turn of the 20th to 21st century). We intend, firstly, to show how identity is reconstructed between two banks: the departure culture and the arrival culture. Secondly, we intend to give a voice to the most silent in the understanding of immigrants: the process of identity reconstruction of Brazilian immigrants is presented, resulting from ethno-biographic interviews. We will consider the cultural transfusion theory and observe the heterogeneous ways of living between cultures, whether by rejecting the departure culture (the Oblato's case), refusing the arrival one at a given moment (the mono-cultural subject according to the source culture), living in an ambivalent manner between the two (the multicultural self), or, finally, inventing a third bank, as the poets say, which corresponds to an attitude of including the cultural differences through which one crosses during his or her life history in an intercultural self (the Intercultural Transfuga). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The presence of cork-warts on foliar lamina was first described at end of the 19th century, and since then these warts have been considered an additional taxonomic character for different taxa. In Celastraceae cork-warts have been reported so far only for the genus Euonymus. The objective of this study was to document the presence and morphology of cork-warts in Celastroideae-Celastraceae. The occurrence of cork-warts was investigated by paradermal and transversal views of the leaf epidermis of 15 species from five genera of the Celastroideae subfamily, using histological techniques and optical and scanning electron microscopy. The structures observed in paradermal view are characterized by suberin-incrusted areas forming layers of juxtaposed rectangular cells that originate through tangential divisions and form concentric structures. These structures were classified as either ordinary or stomatal cork-warts. Cork-warts are reported for the first time on Celastrus, Goniodiscus, Maytenus and Plenckia. Among the studied genera, only Fraunhofera lacked cork-warts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a case study of a 73-year-old woman who submitted to an excision biopsy of a nodular achromic melanoma of the right helix. The woman underwent wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The resultant surgical defect included skin and cartilage from the helical rim and was corrected by using a Kirschner Wire.

Mining of metallic sulfide ore produces acidic water with high metal concentrations that have harmful consequences for aquatic life. To understand the composition and structure of microbial communities in acid mine drainage (AMD) waters associated with Zn mine tailings, molecular diversity of 16S genes was examined using a PCR, cloning, and sequencing approach. A total of 78 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from samples collected at five different sites in and around mining residues in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil. We analyzed metal concentration, physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters related to prokaryotic diversity in low metal impacted compared to highly polluted environments with Zn at level of gram per liter and Cd–Pb at level of microgram per liter. Application of molecular methods for community structure analyses showed that Archaea and Bacteria groups present a phylogenetic relationship with uncultured environmental organisms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that bacteria present at the five sites fell into seven known divisions, α- Proteobacteria (13.4%), β- Proteobacteria (16.3%), γ- Proteobacteria (4.3%), Sphingobacteriales (4.3%), Actinobacteria (3.2%) Acidobacteria (2.1%), Cyanobacteria (11.9%), and unclassified bacteria (44.5%). Almost all archaeal clones were related to uncultivated Crenarchaeota species, which were shared between high impacted and low impacted waters. Rarefaction curves showed that bacterial groups are more diverse than archaeal groups while the overall prokaryotic biodiversity is lower in high metal impacted environments than in less polluted habitats. Knowledge of this microbial community structure will help in understanding prokaryotic diversity, biogeography, and the role of microorganisms in zinc smelting AMD generation and perhaps it may be exploited for environmental remediation procedures in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Models used to predict digestibility and fill of the dietary insoluble fibre (NDF) treat the ruminoreticular particulate mass as a single pool. The underlying assumption is that escape of particles follows first-order kinetics. In this paper, we proposed and evaluated a model of two ruminoreticular sequential NDF pools. The first pool is formed by buoyant particles (raft pool) and the second one by fluid dispersed particles (escapable pool) ventrally to the raft. The transference of particles between these two pools results from several processes that reduce particles buoyancy, assuming the gamma distribution. The exit of escapable pool particles from the ruminoreticulum is exponentially distributed. These concepts were evaluated by comparing ruminoreticular NDF masses as 43 and 27 means from cattle and sheep, respectively, to the same predicted variable using single- and two-pools models. Predictions of the single-pool model were based on lignin turnover and the turnover associated to the descending phase of the elimination of Yb-labelled forage particles in the faeces of sheep. Predictions of the two-pool model were obtained by estimating fractional passage rates associated to the ascending and descending phases of the same Yb excretion profiles in sheep faeces. All turnovers were scaled to the power 0.25 of body mass for interspecies comparisons. Predictions based on lignin turnover (single pool) and the two-pool model presented similar trends, accuracies and precisions. The single-pool approach based solely on the descending phase of the marker yielded biased estimates of the ruminoreticular NDF mass. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Parameters related to the microbial digestion of nutrients in the ruminoreticulum have been estimated by fitting mathematical models to degradation profiles generated from kinetic studies. In the present paper, we propose a generalized compartmental model of digestion (GCMD) based on implicit theoretical concepts and the gamma probability density function to estimate fibre digestion parameters. The proposed model is consistent to a broader compartmental model presented in a companion paper that integrates aspects of fibre digestion and passage. Different versions of the GCMD were generated by increasing the integer order of time dependency of the gamma function. These versions were fitted to 192 published fibre degradation profiles that were obtained using an in vitro fermentation technique. The quality of fit was evaluated based on the frequency of minimum sum of squares of errors (SSE), the number of runs of signs of residuals, and its likelihood probability calculated according to the Akaike''s Information Criterion. The likelihood of the proposed model was also compared to a discrete lag time model (DLT), which is commonly used to interpret fibre degradation profiles. The GCMD had superior quality of fit compared to the DLT and was considered more likely in describing 68.75% of the profiles evaluated. Only 9.38% of the degradation profiles that were fitted to the DLT model had a lower SSE. Even though the degradation profiles studied were generated by incubating feed samples up to 96h, the true asymptotic limit of fibre degradation can only be achieved by long-term fermentations. This fact leads to questioning the uniformity of the potentially digestible fibre fraction and a further approach based on GCMD-type model was used to account for its heterogeneous nature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study is the first to apply a comparative analysis of environmental chemistry, microbiological parameters and bacterioplankton 16S rRNA clone libraries from different areas of a 50 km transect along a trophic gradient in the tropical Guanabara Bay ecosystem. Higher bacterial diversity was found in the coastal area, whereas lower richness was observed in the more polluted inner bay water. The significance of differences between clone libraries was examined withlibshuff statistics. Paired reciprocal comparisons indicated that each of the libraries differs significantly from the others, and this is in agreement with direct interpretation of the phylogenetic tree. Furthermore, correspondence analyses showed that some taxa are related to specific abiotic, trophic and microbiological parameters in Guanabara Bay estuarine system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guanabara Bay is an eutrophic estuarine system located in a humid tropical region surrounded by the second largest metropolitan area of Brazil. This study explores the contrasting environmental chemistry and microbiological parameters that influence the archaeaplankton diversity in a pollution gradient in Guanabara Bay ecosystem. The environments sampled ranged from completely anoxic waters in a polluted inner channel to the adjacent, relatively pristine, coastal Atlantic Ocean. Partial archaeal 16S rDNA sequences in water samples were retrieved by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), cloning, and sequencing. Sequences were subjected to phylogenetic and diversity analyses. Community structure of the free-living archaeal assemblages was different from that of the particle-attached archaea according to DGGE. Gene libraries revealed that phylotype identification was consistent with environmental setting. Archaeal phylotypes found in polluted anoxic waters and in more pristine waters were closely related to organisms that have previously been found in these environments. However, inner bay archaea were related to organisms found in oil, industrial wastes, and sewage, implying that water pollution controls archaea communities in this system. The detection of a substantial number of uncultured phylotypes suggests that Guanabara Bay harbors a pool of novel archaeaplankton taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with a uniform diameter of ca. 30 nm and a productivity of were grown by catalytic decomposition of a C2H6/H2 mixture over a nickel (1 wt%) catalyst supported on graphite microfibers, which constitutes the macroscopic shape of the final C/C composite. The catalyst particle size and dispersion before CNF growth was characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The resulting composite consisting of a weblike network of CNFs covering the starting catalyst was characterized by SEM and transmission electron microscopy to gain more insight into the relationship between the starting nickel catalyst particles and the as-grown CNFs. Apparently, CNF growth proceeds from different mechanisms: a base-growth mechanism, involving especially the large nickel particles; a tip-growth mechanism, involving mostly the smaller nickel particles; and a tip/octopus-growth mechanism (the most common), involving all particles. In all cases, restructuring of the nickel particle from a globular to a more faceted structure seems to be the key step in producing an extremely large quantity of CNFs with yields up to 100 wt%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this work is to report the catalytic performances of iridium supported on carbon nanofibre with macroscopic shaping in the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine. The performances obtained are compared to those of the commercial catalyst Shell 405. Catalytic experiments are carried out in a 2 N microthruster. The carbon nanofibre based catalyst shows better activity performances than the commercial one due to its high external surface area and its high thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethane was successfully used as an active and efficient carbon source in a large scale synthesis of high quality carbon nanotubes by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) over Fe/Al2O3 catalyst with an iron loading of 20wt.%. The carbon nanotubes yield of 20g per gram of catalyst per hour was obtained at a synthesis temperature of 660°C. The active phase for growing carbon nanotubes is a mixture of a metastable iron carbide (Fe3C) and α-Fe which were formed in situ by the ethane dissociation followed by carbon diffusion through the starting α-Fe phase similarly to that reported in the literature. The reaction products only contained multi-walled carbon nanotubes with very homogeneous diameters between 20 and 40nm and lengths up to several hundred nanometers without any trace of other impurities such as nanoparticles or amorphous soot. The high yield of the MWNT significantly decreases the amount of the catalyst in the final product and the product can be used directly without need for post-synthesis treatment in order to remove the catalyst. Ethane is an active carbon source for growing MWNTs with high yield and selectivity. The reaction temperature should be keep ≤750°C as synthesis carried out at 800°C under similar reaction conditions led to the formation of amorphous soot and carbon nanoparticles mixed with nanotubes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrazine-type monopropellant propulsion is well suited to attitude and orbit control systems on satellites. These systems are powered by micro thrusters with 30–40wt.% iridium supported on alumina as catalyst for hydrazine decomposition. Carbon nanofibers with macroscopic shaping can be used as an alternative to the traditional support. This new material is prepared by chemical vapor deposition of ethane on nickel particles dispersed upon the surface of the graphite felt. The carbon nanofiber-based composite was impregnated with 30wt.% of iridium. The overall performances of these catalysts have been evaluated for the hydrazine catalytic decomposition reaction in a 2N micro thruster into a vacuum chamber, i.e., under near actual flight conditions. The results obtained were compared with those of a commercial catalyst (Shell 405). The carbon nanofibers-based catalysts showed far better performance than the commercial catalyst from a standpoint of activity due to its texture and its high thermal conductivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carbon nanofibres composites with macroscopic shaping were successfully synthesised by chemical vapour decomposition (CVD) using a low loading in nickel as catalyst (≤1 wt.%). A high carbon nanofibres yield, i.e. 100 wt.% weight gain per hour of synthesis with respect to the initial catalyst weight was obtained, which significantly lowered the synthesis cost while the direct macroscopic shaping rendered more reliable the applications of these materials in conventional catalytic processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]