Search

Increasing building energy efficiency is one the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions. The use of thermal insulation materials mitigates heat loss in buildings, therefore minimising heat energy needs. In recent years, several papers were published on the subject of foam alkali-activated cements with enhanced thermal conductivity. However, on those papers cost analysis was strangely avoided. This paper presents experimental results on one-part alkali-activated cements. It also includes global warming potential assessment and cost analysis. Foam one-part alkali-activated cements cost simulations considering two carbon dioxide social costs scenarios are also included. The results show that one-part alkali-activated cements mixtures based on 26%OPC + 58.3%FA + 8%CS + 7.7%CH and 3.5% hydrogen peroxide constitute a promising cost-efficient (67 euro/m3), thermal insulation solution for floor heating systems. This mixture presents a low global warming potential of 443 KgCO2eq/m3. The results confirm that in both carbon dioxide social cost scenarios the mixture 26 OPC + 58.3 FA + 8 CS + 7.7 CH with 3.5% hydrogen peroxide foaming agent is still the most cost efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the formation of doublet craters generated by binary projectiles (steel beads or granular agglomerates) impacting simultaneously at low speed against a sand bed. For impacts of two solid beads, we observed different morphologies depending on the initial separation between the projectiles: two well defined craters, overlapping craters, or a single larger circular crater produced when the separation between projectiles is negligible. Doublet craters are characterized by an extended ridge between the depressions produced by the collision of the ejected curtains. When there is a slight delay between both impacts, the ridge and the ejecta curtains are not symmetric, and the delayed projectile penetrates deeper than its partner due to the bed fluidization and material displacement induced by the first impact. For experiments with sand agglomerates that are destroyed by the collision, doublets are also generated, but their morphology is considerably affected by the ejection of the projectiles debris. The resulting morphologies are similar to those found in numerical simulations (Miljković et al. in Earth Planet Sci Lett 363:121–132, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2012.12.033) and experiments reported at considerably higher impact energies (Oberbeck and Aoyagi in J Geophys Res (1896–1977) 77(14):2419–2432, 1972. https://doi.org/10.1029/JB077i014p02419; Oberbeck in Moon 6(1–2):83–92, 1973. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02630653), showing that the main features of doublet impact cratering can also be reproduced at low-energy scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied experimentally and numerically the compaction and subsequent expansion dynamics of a granular bed composed of cylindrical repelling magnets contained in a two-dimensional cell. The particles are firstly compressed vertically with a piston at a given strain rate until a maximum force is reached. The piston is then removed at the same strain rate while the bed expands due to the magnetic repulsion of the particles. In the experiments, two different initial configurations were generated, a standard and a loose packing bed. The standard packing bed was simulated, and modelling the dry friction between the magnetic particles and the walls of the cell was crucial for the correct description of the compression and expansion dynamics. We found that the force acting on the piston increases continuously and exponentially with the piston stroke during compression, being very sensitive to the initial packing conditions of the bed. In contrast, a history-independent exponential decrease of this force was found during the expansion phase. The hysteresis in the system was quantified in terms of the average displacement of the particles. The continuous compression contrasts with the sudden force drops observed during the compaction of granular materials with direct particle-particle contacts, where stick-slip motion is induced by friction and force chain breakage. Moreover, we found that the short range of magnetic interaction induces density inversion and crystallization of the system. Our results can be useful to develop a new kind of magnetic granular dampers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being considered an endemic country for HTLV infection, the prevalence of infection also varies widely according to the region of the country. On the other hand, the relationship between HTLV infection and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is well established. References 1 Cohen L, Chen PL, Zhang L, Sokol L, Seminario-Vidal L. Skin-first nodulotumoral adult T-cell lymphoma mimicking cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. [Extracted from the article]

Background and Objectives. The concept of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery aims to reduce the incidence of postoperative infection, with minimal patient morbidity. It is common to find theoretical protocols designed to optimize, unify, facilitate and standarize clinical processes. However when they are put into practice, execution errors that diminish their effectiveness, are made. In this paper we value objectively the application of protocol antibiotic prophylaxis during breast surgery at the University Hospital of A Coruña, Spain, and the most frequent errors that occur during the execution of the process, with the idea that our findings may be also valid for application in other centers. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the percentage of adequate compliance in the administration of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in breast surgery (both benign and malignant), analyzing variables considering 5 objective quality standards. Results. All breast surgeries performed between 2008 and 2012 were collected from the hospital database, obtaining a representative sample of 45 cases / year that was studied through the qualification of 5 quality variables: 1. indication of prophylaxis, 2. appropriate choice of antibiotic, 3. dose and route of administration, 4. time of administration of the first dose, and 5. duration of prophylaxis. It was reflected a higher percentage of correct application to 90% in all quality indicators, except in 4, time of administration of the first antibiotic dose. Conclusions. We found that the most frequent errors in the administration of antibiotic prophylaxis in our center is that it is done at the wrong time, being the ideal between 2 hours and 15 minutes before the start of surgery, depending on the antibiotic used. Any improvement in the organizational circuit during the administration of prophylaxis, results in an improvement in its application and of course, in a better effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, countries with the highest human development index (HDI) dominate the production of ecological research. This is problematic because ecology is a discipline that is highly relevant to the challenges facing countries with lower indices. We characterize the full state of current inequity at the authorship and editorial levels, investigating the relative role of gross domestic product (GDP) versus research investment in driving publication patterns. We find that the representation of low HDI countries decreases dramatically from authorship to editorial levels. GDP was the best predictor of publication rate for high HDI countries, whereas research investment was an equal or better predictor for low HDI countries. In light of our results, we propose an alternative model of knowledge sharing and production that emphasizes (a) increasing equity in the communication of ecological science at a global scale, (b) expanding ecology funding in low HDI countries, and (c) prioritizing ecological science in low HDI regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new carbon-composite material is proposed for the production of affordable sensors. • Carbon nitride provided electrocatalytic properties for the detection of amaranth. • Amaranth is determined for the first time using a 3D-printed electrochemical platform. • The proposed method can be applied to different food samples. • Results similar to those of UV–Vis spectrometry confirmed the method's accuracy. The production of sustainable materials with properties aimed at the additive manufacturing of electrochemical sensors has gained prestige in the scientific scenario. Here, a novel lab-made composite material using graphite (G) and carbon nitride (C 3 N 4) embedded into polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymer is proposed to produce 3D-printed electrodes. PLA offers printability and mechanical stability in this composition, while G and C 3 N 4 provide electrical properties and electrocatalytic sites, respectively. Characterizations by Raman and infrared spectroscopies and Energy Dispersive X-rays indicated that the G/C 3 N 4 /PLA composite was successfully obtained, while electron microscopy images revealed non-homogeneous rough surfaces. Better electrochemical properties were achieved when the G/C 3 N 4 /PLA proportion (35:5:60) was used. As a proof of concept, amaranth (AMR), a synthetic dye, was selected as an analyte, and a fast method using square wave voltammetry was developed. Utilizing the 3D-printed G/C 3 N 4 /PLA electrode, a more comprehensive linear range (0.2 to 4.2 μmol/L), a 5-fold increase in sensitivity (9.83 μmol−1 L μA), and better limits of detection (LOD = 0.06 μmol/L) and quantification (LOQ = 0.18 μmol/L) were achieved compared to the G/PLA electrode. Samples of jelly, popsicles, isotonic drinks, and food flavoring samples were analyzed, and similar results to those obtained by UV–vis spectrometry confirmed the method's reliability. Therefore, the described sensor is a simple, cost-effective alternative for assessing AMR in routine food analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring nitrate in aquatic systems is of fundamental importance since its presence at high levels can result in adverse effects on human health. Thus, in this work, manufactured carbon black (CB)/polylactic acid (PLA)-based 3D-printed electrochemical sensors modified with electrodeposited silver particles (AgPs) for nitrate analysis in real water samples. Raman and FT-IR spectra, scanning electron microscopy images, and analysis by energy-dispersive spectroscopy confirmed the presence of AgPs on the porous carbonaceous surface. The preliminary electrochemical studies showed that using the modified electrode (CB-PLA/AgPs) an incredible increase in the electrochemical response (around 16.5-fold in terms of current density) was obtained for the electroreduction of nitrate at around − 1.08 V vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl(sat.) compared to the unmodified electrode (CB-PLA). The linear sweep voltammetry technique was employed whose instrumental parameters have been carefully optimized. Under optimized conditions, a linear range between 5 and 80 mg L−1 (R2 > 0.99) was achieved, with a detection limit of 2.7 mg L−1, which is below the maximum level permitted (50 mg L−1) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Repeatability (intra-electrode, n = 8) and reproducibility (inter-electrode, n = 3) studies were performed, and RSDs < 2.1% were found, demonstrating good precision of the analysis and reproducible manufacturing process of the sensors. Moreover, the proposed sensor proved to be selective in the presence of other inorganic compounds frequently found in environmental waters. Importantly, in the recovery tests, percentage values between 91 and 117% confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the analyses. Thus, the developed strategy can be useful for nitrate sensing in real water samples in remote locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study experimentally the cratering process due to the explosion and collapse of a pressurized air cavity inside a sand bed. The process starts when the cavity breaks and the liberated air then rises through the overlying granular layer and produces a violent eruption; it depressurizes the cavity and, as the gas is released, the sand sinks under gravity, generating a crater. We find that the crater dimensions are totally determined by the cavity volume; the pressure does not affect the morphology because the air is expelled vertically during the eruption. In contrast with impact craters, the rim is flat and, regardless of the cavity shape, it evolves into a circle as the cavity depth increases or if the chamber is located deep enough inside the bed, which could explain why most of the subsidence craters observed in nature are circular. Moreover, for shallow spherical cavities, a collimated jet emerges from the collision of sand avalanches that converge concentrically at the bottom of the depression, revealing that collapse under gravity is the main mechanism driving the jet formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the result of a study on the extent of cocaine contamination in Real banknotes in circulation in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). A study of the percentage of contaminated banknotes was made, as well as a study on the contamination of banknotes based on different values, and a study of contamination depending on the region where the banknote was collected. The idea of this last study was to verify if the peculiar characteristics of the region of study (in particular, the city of Rio de Janeiro) influence the amount of cocaine in the banknotes. Some regions have higher consumption/drug trafficking of cocaine than others. Also, some contaminated banknotes confiscated directly from drug dealers and users were analyzed. Also, is showed in this paper all the optimization of the available analytical techniques for making the measurements possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the development of a novel green analytical procedure for the determination of total anionic surfactants in waters. The method was based on the replacement of CHCl 3 by polyurethane foam (PUF) for the extraction of an ionic-pair formed between methylene blue (MB + ) and anionic surfactants. Besides, colored species retained on PUF were measured directly on the foam surface by treating digital images recorded with a scanner. Several parameters that could affect the performance of the method were evaluated. At optimum conditions, the concentration of MB + used was 1.7 × 10 − 5 mol L − 1 , PUF mass was 50 mg and shaking time was 15 min. Collection parameters related to the analysis of digital images presented no significant influence on the method. The application of the proposed method in the analysis of river waters was only possible after adjustment of the ionic strength and pH of the standard solutions and samples with a 0.01 mol L − 1 phosphate buffer solution with pH 7.5. The limit of quantification was 0.14 mg L − 1 , enough to attend the Brazilian legislation regarding the maximum concentration permitted of total anionic surfactant in surface waters. The developed method was compared with a standard method and presented no significant difference at 95% confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing importance of wireless communications, involving electronic devices, has been widely recognized. Performance is a crucial issue, leading to more reliable and efficient communications. Security is also critically important. Laboratory measurements were performed about several performance aspects of Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a, b, g) WPA2 point-to-multipoint links. Our study contributes to the performance evaluation of this technology, using available equipments (DAP-1522 access points from D-Link and WPC600N adapters from Linksys). New detailed results are presented and discussed, namely at OSI levels 4 and 7, from TCP, UDP and FTP experiments: TCP throughput, jitter, percentage datagram loss and FTP transfer rate. Comparisons are made to corresponding results obtained for WPA2 point-to-point and Open point-to-multipoint links. Conclusions are drawn about the comparative performance of the links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the mechanisms underlying the endogenous control of nociception at the peripheral level during inflammation. We hypothesized that angiotensin receptors could modulate pain at the peripheral level via endogenous processes because angiotensin receptors are present in peripheral nerve terminals. We evaluated the role of the angiotensin receptors system (RAS) in the modulation of inflammatory and neuropathic pain states. Mas receptor KO mice exhibited major inflammatory pain compared to wild-type mice. Similar results were observed when rats were injected with the Mas receptor antagonist A779 or the AT 1 receptor antagonist, losartan after inflammatory stimulation by carrageenan. However, these antagonists were not effective in animals with neuropathic-induced pain (e.g., sciatic nerve constriction). Therefore, RAS seems to play an important role in inflammatory but not neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention is focussed on a truncated version of the extended two-piece skew-normal distribution, studied by Arnold et al. [On multiple constraint skewed models. Statistics. 2009;3(3):279–293]. When the truncation point is set equal to zero, the resulting model can be viewed as a flexible extension of the half-normal model. Properties of the truncated distribution are investigated and corresponding likelihood inference is considered. The methodology is applied to data set involving non-negative observations and it is verified that the fit of the truncated model compares favourably with that of the half-normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the evolution and evaluation of protocol-based multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) in women undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for radiologically suspected and pathologically confirmed placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for PAS disorders between March 2009 and June 2018. Two distinct periods were defined to compare outcomes: 2009–2011 (initial period) and 2017–2018 (current period). Primary outcomes included blood loss and administration of blood products. Secondary outcomes included perioperative levels of hemoglobin, adverse events and complications, time to mobilization, and length of hospitalization. Results: Among the 105 consecutive patients identified, there were 26 in the initial period and 32 in the current period. With the implementation of all QI care bundles, median estimated surgical blood loss halved from 2000 ml in the initial period to 1000 ml in the current period, and fewer patients required allogenic blood transfusion (61.5% vs 25%). Patients in the current period demonstrated improved postoperative levels of hemoglobin compared to those in the initial period (101 g/L vs 89 g/L) and had a shorter median postoperative hospital stay (3 days vs 5 days). Conclusion: These results support the implementation of a multifaceted QI and patient care initiative for women with PAS disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials with properties aimed at the additive manufacturing of affordable electrochemical sensors have received special attention in the scientific scenario. For this reason, we proposed a new composite material based on alumina oxide (Al 2 O 3) and graphite (Gpt) dispersed in polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymer. Various proportions between the materials were studied, and a better compromise between printability and electrochemical performance was obtained using Gpt/Al 2 O 3 /PLA (30:10:60% w/w). The electrodes were manufactured using a 3D pen, a portable, user-friendly, and low-cost tool. Characterizations by Raman and infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy indicated that Gpt and Al 2 O 3 were successfully incorporated into the PLA matrix. Preliminary studies using species with well-known electrochemical behavior revealed that Al 2 O 3 positively impacts the electrochemical response of the sensor. As a proof of concept, sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), a low-cost antibiotic widely used in beekeeping practices, was selected as the target analyte, and a simple, fast, and selective method using square wave voltammetry was proposed. Using the 3D-printed Gpt/Al 2 O 3 /PLA electrode, a wider linear range (2.0 to 40.0 μmol L−1), a 6.5-fold increase in sensitivity, limits of detection (LOD = 0.4 μmol L−1) and quantification (LOQ = 1.2 μmol L−1) were achieved compared to the Al 2 O 3 -free electrode (Gpt/PLA). In addition, the proposed sensor was selective against other antibiotics commonly used in beekeeping practices. Three honey samples were analyzed after simple dilution in 0.12 mol L−1 Britton-Robinson buffer, pH 7.0 (background electrolyte), and recoveries close to 100% as well as statistically comparable results from chromatographic analysis certified the accuracy and reliability of the analysis. The proposed approach is innovative and valuable in contributing to the advancement of additive manufacturing in electrochemical sensing, especially in the on-site analysis of antibiotic species in food, a public health challenge. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: The anti-inflammatory effects of exogenous opioid compounds have been demonstrated in several conditions. Nevertheless, the function of endogenous opioid peptides released by the host during inflammatory processes deserves further characterization. The aim of this study was to verify whether endogenous opioids are involved in the progression of the inflammatory alveolar bone loss induced by ligature in rats. Main methods: The experimental model of periodontal disease (PD) induced by ligature in rats was used throughout the study. A silk ligature was placed around the 2nd upper molar of male Holtzman rats, for 7days. Rats received different doses of either the non-selective opioid antagonist naloxone or vehicle, locally into the afflicted gingival tissue, from the 3rd to the 5th day after ligature placement. In the 7th experimental day, rats were euthanized and their maxillae were collected for evaluation of alveolar bone and fiber attachment loss, presence of neutrophils (myeloperoxidase assay), osteoclast amount, and levels of cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 in periodontal tissues. Key findings: Naloxone increased alveolar bone loss significantly, in a dose-dependent manner, in relation to vehicle-treated rats. In contrast, the opioid antagonist did not affect the loss of fiber attachment. The treatment with naloxone also induced a significant increase in myeloperoxidase levels, osteoclast number and cytokines in periodontal tissues of rats with ligature-induced PD. Significance: Endogenous opioids protect the host from the progression of inflammatory alveolar bone loss that occurs in chronic periodontitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, a study was performed to evaluate the use of Amberlite XAD resins (XAD-2, XAD-4 and XAD-16), for the first time, as filling materials for low-density polyethylene membranes, which will be inserted as passive samplers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in gas phase. The use of samplers deployed for 48h evidenced a relative capability to retain the compounds under study. A detailed study was performed to evaluate the recovery of analytes from the sampler through microwave-assisted extraction by using acetonitrile. A clean-up step using alumina-C18 cartridges was necessary before determination of the PAHs by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The limits of detection were of the order of μgL−1 with relative standard deviation values that varied from 1 to 16% as a function of the compound and the XAD resin employed. Amberlite XAD resins can be considered an excellent alternative as filling material of semipermeable membrane devices for passive sampling of PAHs in air due to their low cost, ease of manipulation and suitable chemical and mechanical characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Interesting collective motion emerges when several heavy intruder disks fall in a loose packed, quasi-two-dimensional granular bed of extremely light grains [F. Pacheco-Vázquez and J. C. Ruiz-Suárez, Nat. Commun. 1, 123 (2010)]. In particular, when two disks impact side by side, they initially repel and then they attract each other until they finally stop. Here we perform experiments and discrete-element soft-particle simulations to determine the range of action and the origin of these attractive and repulsive flow-mediated forces. We find that (1) the drag force on the disks fluctuate with a characteristic length linked to force chains that build up and break; (2) the repulsive force is present when the separation of the intruder disks is less than 6 times the size of the grains of the granular bed, which is the size of an aperture that allows a continuous discharge flow from a container; (3) the attractive force has a range of action between 5 and 6 times the size of the intruder disks; and (4) attraction exists only when intruders move faster than 1 m/s. These results suggest that repulsion originates from jamming of grains between intruders, and it supports the idea that attraction could be due to a "granular pressure" drop in the region between intruders caused by a high flow velocity of grains: a Bernoulli-like effect. However, our results do not rule out other mechanisms of interaction, like fluctuation-induced forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Low-cost alternative composite sensors using PLA, Al 2 O 3, and graphite. • Al 2 O 3 significantly improves the electrochemical properties of the sensors. • Determination of minoxidil by batch injection analysis is proposed for the first time. • Superior analytical performance than expensive sensors was achieved. • Electrochemical results statistically comparable to the UV–vis spectrometry. The development of new sensors, which are low-cost, portable, and disposable, is currently highly required. In this sense, this work describes a simple way for lab-made fabrication of new composite electrodes exploiting an environmental friendly matrix based on thermoplastic polylactic acid (PLA). Great conductive features were achieved using graphite and aluminum oxide in PLA. The amount of aluminum oxide has been carefully optimized (0 to 12.25 % m/m). The manufacturing process presented reproducibility (between-device % relative standard deviation (RSD) < 7.3). Additionally, the electrode was characterized by electrochemical, spectroscopy, and morphological techniques. Improved cyclic voltammetric responses regarding I pa, I pc, and Δ E p were obtained towards the detection of the redox probes [Fe(CN) 6 ]3-/4- and dopamine using the electrode incorporated with aluminum oxide. Moreover, electrochemical impedance measurements revealed a more facilitated charge transfer process in the alumina-loaded electrode (Rct = 2070 Ω) than without alumina (Rct = 2810 Ω). The developed sensor was associated with batch injection analysis for the simple, fast, and sensitive amperometric monitoring of minoxidil (MXD) in pharmaceuticals, achieving a greater sensitivity with a detection limit of 2.9 µmol/L. A wide linear behavior from 10 to 1000 µmol/L and a between-measurement % RSD of less than 6 were acquired. Also, the method is free of interference from compounds commonly used as excipients in pharmaceutical products. When applied to the pharmaceutical sample, results statistically comparable to the reference method (UV–Vis spectrometry) were achieved, which confirmed the method's accuracy. Thus, the proposed sensor proves to be a powerful alternative tool for MXD monitoring, providing comparable and even better results with other high-cost electrochemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to standards, the durability performance of fiber-cement sheets must be evaluated by comparing the modulus of rupture (MOR) before and after durability tests (freeze-thaw, soak-dry, and warm water) are completed. This paper investigated the MOR of two different fiber-cement sheets samples before and after durability tests as well as its ductility and toughness. Results showed no significant difference between the MOR of control specimens and that of the specimens submitted to durability tests except in the case of the freezing and thawing test where after 100 cycles, a 7-9% decrease was observed. The differences between the MOR of the control specimens and that of the specimens submitted to durability tests were negligible and acceptable in accordance to the requirements of the standard. However, toughness and ductility decreased considerably in specimens of sample 1 by 25, 35, and 15%, respectively, when exposed to soak-dry (25 and 50 cycles) and warm water conditions. In turn, the reduction in toughness and ductility for specimens of sample 2 exposed to soak-dry (50 cycles) and warm water conditions were of 40 and 7%, respectively. The results of this investigation suggest that ductility and toughness should also be considered to assess the durability performance of fiber-cement sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the endogenous control of nociception at a peripheral level during inflammation. Using a pharmacological approach and the rat paw pressure test, we assessed the effect of an intraplantar injection of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, and bestatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, on hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan, which mimics an inflammatory process, or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which directly sensitizes nociceptors. Naloxone induced a significant and dose-dependent (25, 50 or 100 μg) increase in carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, but not PGE2-induced hyperalgesia. Bestatin (400 μg/paw) significantly counteracted carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, inducing an increase in the nociceptive threshold compared to control, but it did not modify hyperalgesia induced by PGE2 injection into the rat paw. Positive β-endorphin immunoreactivity was increased in paw inflammation induced by carrageenan in comparison with the control group. However, PGE2 did not significantly alter the immunostained area. These results provide evidence for activation of the endogenous opioidergic system during inflammation and indicate that this system regulates hyperalgesia through a negative feedback mechanism, modulating it at a peripheral level. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This present work reports a study about the adsorption of some cationic dyes (Malachite Green and Methyl Green) by polymeric resins called Amberlite XAD-2 and XAD-4, in a medium containing sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). The effect of several parameters (SDS concentration, pH, ionic strength and temperature) on the adsorption of each dye by the resins was investigated. Also, the adsorption was characterized in relation to thermodynamic and kinetic aspects in order to define the nature of the process. For Malachite Green, the SDS concentration did not affect the adsorption efficiency, only changing the adsorption rate at the process occurs, happening faster in the presence of the surfactant. On the other hand, the adsorption efficiency of the Methyl Green was increased with the increase of the surfactant concentration when both Amberlite XAD-2 and XAD-4 resins were tested. For both dyes, the Amberlite XAD-4 resin showed higher efficiency than the Amberlite XAD-2. According to the obtained thermodynamic data, the adsorption of the dyes by the two resins appeared to be a physical process, once adsorption enthalpies values of approximately 20kJmol−1 were obtained in all cases. The kinetic study also showed that the whole adsorption process was governed by a pseudo first-order kinetics and that the adsorption rate was regulated by an intraparticle diffusion mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Several recurrences in the dynamics of an individual species in the one-dimensional Bak–Sneppen model are analysed. The distributions of the time intervals for stasis and crisis are separately calculated together with the respective hazard functions for the transition between them. The predictabilities of when a crisis will start and when it will conclude are evaluated by using one- and two-parameter strategies and the information is represented in standard error diagrams. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We illustrate how a simple statistical model can describe the quasiperiodic occurrence of large earthquakes. The model idealizes the loading of elastic energy in a seismic fault by the stochastic filling of a box. The emptying of the box after it is full is analogous to the generation of a large earthquake in which the fault relaxes after having been loaded to its failure threshold. The duration of the filling process is analogous to the seismic cycle, the time interval between two successive large earthquakes in a particular fault. The simplicity of the model enables us to derive the statistical distribution of its seismic cycle. We use this distribution to fit the series of earthquakes with magnitude around six that occurred at the Parkfield segment of the San Andreas fault in California. Using this fit, we estimate the probability of the next large earthquake at Parkfield and devise a simple forecasting strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests conversion to agriculture has increased in recent years, though often followed by land abandonment and subsequent conversion to secondary forest. In this study, we evaluated the effect of disturbance on Nymphalid butterfly assemblages in an area of mountain foothill forests in Bolivia by comparing the butterfly diversity and species composition among primary forests, secondary forests and cacao crops. Data were obtained in two seasons, dry and dry-to-wet transition, using two sampling methods (bait traps and hand net). Species richness and butterfly abundance were higher in the understory of primary forests than in crops during the transition season. The sampling method can influence the detection of community variation: with traps, we only detected seasonal variation, while we registered higher abundance in both types of forests than crops with manual sampling, with higher heterogeneity in the understory of primary forests than in crops. There was also a difference in butterfly species composition between crops and both types of forest. Although some understory butterflies are capable of inhabiting disturbed sites, we should highlight the importance of primary forest for the maintenance of specific species and groups that could be lost if the disturbance dynamics intensify. Finally, long-term studies are necessary to understand species dynamics in the area, both their seasonality and the interrelationship with available resources in each type of habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five compositions of the system LaFe0.2Cr0.8-XCoXO3 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were synthesized by using a combustion technique to investigate the structural and morphological properties of doped LaCrO3 perovskite oxides. The optimal physicochemical conditions for the synthesis of the materials from citrate precursors at low temperature were studied through gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy (SEM-TEM) characterization of the calcined oxides confirmed the formation of a single perovskite-type structure in all the materials. The incorporation of cobalt into the structure was associated with an evolution from a rhombohedral R3-c to an orthorhombic Pnma 62 structure, with nanometric particle sizes and relevant surface properties. The results obtained from Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evidenced that the chemical composition and the electronic state of the cations were in accordance with the proposed system and the employed synthesis method. The conversion of CO and O2 was between 83.5 and 100% for all oxides, depending on the cobalt content, and the positive effect of temperature on the conversion and the selectivity for the formation of CO2. Stability tests confirmed a stable conversion of CO and O2, with high initial values around 96% ± 0.97, which stabilized at 83.5% ± 0.87 for the less reactive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the development and application of a method based on synchronous fluorescence coupled with chemometric tools to classify different vodka samples. The chemometric methods used encompasses partial least squares – discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM). A total of 18 authentic vodkas (3 brands, 6 of each brand, all donated by the producers) and six counterfeit vodka samples were used to validate the method. The samples suspect of falsification were seized in a police action that has occurred in the state of São Paulo, Brazil named Operation Chicago. The spectrofluorescence dataset was processing using the centering on the mean before to apply principal component analysis (PCA), which did not correctly discriminate the samples. Considering that the PCA suffers from the presence of outliers, robust PCA was applied, which detected outliers. After this undesirable detection, the transformation of the spatial signal was applied, and the robust PCA has applied again and did not detect outliers. The PLS-DA and SVM were able to classify all the vodka samples correctly in authentic and counterfeit. Both methods showed the highest values for the accuracy and Kappa index, as well the sensitivity and specificity, respectively. However, the KNN has not been able to correctly classify the samples. Finally, only the SVM based on radial base function was able to classify all brands of vodka samples correctly using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work integrated a lab-made conductive graphite/polylactic acid (Grp/PLA, 40:60% w/w) filament into a 3D pen to print customized electrodes (cylindrical design). Thermogravimetric analysis validated the incorporation of graphite into the PLA matrix, while Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy images indicated a graphitic structure with the presence of defects and highly porous, respectively. The electrochemical features of the 3D-printed Gpt/PLA electrode were systematically compared to that achieved using commercial carbon black/polylactic acid (CB/PLA, from Protopasta®) filament. The 3D printed Gpt/PLA electrode "in the native form" provided lower charge transfer resistance (Rct = 880 Ω) and a more kinetically favored reaction (K0 = 1.48 × 10−3 cm s−1) compared to the 3D printed CB/PLA electrode (chemically/electrochemically treated). Moreover, a method by batch injection analysis with amperometric detection (BIA-AD) was developed to determine atorvastatin (ATR) in pharmaceutical and water samples. Using the 3D printed Gpt/PLA electrode, a wider linear range (1–200 μmol L−1), sensitivity (3-times higher), and lower detection limit (LOD = 0.13 μmol L−1) were achieved when compared to the CB/PLA electrode. Repeatability studies (n = 15, RSD <7.3%) attested to the precision of the electrochemical measurements, and recovery percentages between 83 and 108% confirmed the accuracy of the method. Remarkably, this is the first time that ATR has been determined by the BIA-AD system and a low-cost 3D-printed device. This approach is promising to be implemented in research laboratories for quality control of pharmaceuticals and can also be useful for on-site environmental analysis. [Display omitted] • Thermoplastic carbon composite is proposed for the detection of atorvastatin. • The electrode was printed using a portable 3D pen. • Better analytical performance than a commercial conductive CB/PLA (protopasta®) filament was achieved. • The proposed electrode does not require surface treatment protocols. • First time that atorvastatin was determined by batch injection analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Letter introduces a class of fixed-length to variable-length balanced binary line codes. By considering fixed size blocks of source digits, a balanced line code is constructed by appending a minimum number of 0's or 1's to each such block in order to produce words having equal number of 0's and 1's, i.e. balanced words of variable length. By taking into account the design constraint of being easily implementable in practice, the construction introduced achieves high coding efficiency and is at least asymptotically optimal in terms of redundancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The two-way slab is tested to study bi-axial flexural behaviors of TRC panel. • Macro PP fibers may enhance the load bearing capacity in the post-peak region. • Fiber textile and macro PP fiber show positive hybrid effect on flexural capacity. • The hybrid use of basalt fiber textile and macro PP fiber may replace steel mesh. • A steel-free PP fiber reinforced BTRC panel is created. This paper presents an experimental study on the two-way concrete slabs with steel-free reinforcements. These include basalt fiber textile, macro polypropylene (PP) fiber and a combination of both. The plain concrete (PC) slab and steel reinforced concrete (RC) slab are studied as references. Furthermore, a comparative analysis on load bearing capacity, toughness and failure pattern of the slabs is performed. The test results indicate that the incorporation of basalt fiber textile and macro PP fibers can significantly improve load bearing capacity and toughness, and there is a positive synergetic effect between basalt fiber textile and macro PP fiber in the hybrid system. Similar to PC slab, the concrete slab reinforced with only 1-layer basalt fiber textile (BTRC1) demonstrates clearly brittle behavior. The addition of macro PP fibers may enhance the load bearing capacity in the post-peak region and convert the brittle failure pattern into a ductile one. In addition, BTRC1 slab with 8 kg/m3 macro PP fibers shows higher flexural capacity than those of RC slab with a steel ratio of 0.31%, and this implies that the combination of basalt fiber textile and macro PP fiber can be used to replace the steel mesh as a new type of durable reinforcement in structural members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the development of a new electrochemical method for the indirect determination of atorvastatin (ATO) using Pb2+ as a probe at a potential value of -0.40 V. The square-wave voltammetric parameters such as the frequency (50 Hz), amplitude (100 mV) and step size (2 mV) were adjusted to obtain the most symmetrical and intense probe peak. The influences of pH (2.0), background electrolyte composition (HNO3), and probe concentration (250 μmol L−1) were studied in order to achieve highest signal attenuation. The signal suppression mechanism was investigated, indicating that it occurs due to the adsorption of atorvastatin and its oxidation products on the working electrode surface competing with the probe deposition. This suppression approach enhanced the analytical signal by a factor of 100 times when compared to the atorvastatin signal monitoring, leading the optimized method to a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.41 μmol L−1 with the linear response up to 2.85 μmol L−1. The repeatability was determined to be 2.95% (n = 10) and the method showed selectivity against other statins (rosuvastatin and pravastatin). As a proof of concept, atorvastatin was determined in a pharmaceutical formulation sample, with a satisfactory recovery of 100.3 ± 3.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of various dietary energy levels on the carcass and meat characteristics of feedlot-finished steers. A total of 27 purebred and crossbred Charolais and Nellore steers were used, with a mean initial age of 22 months and weight of 253 kg. The animals were allotted to a completely randomized design with three treatments and nine replicates each. Dietary treatments were arranged so that the average forage to concentrate ratio (FCR) was equivalent to that of a constant FCR treatment. The treatments consisted of CT (constant FCR at 60 to 40), CT5 (starting with 70: 30 FCR and finishing with 50: 50 FCR, that is, a mean overall FCR of 60: 40), and CT10 (starting with 80: 20 FCR and finishing with 40: 60, that is, a mean overall FCR of 60: 40). The dietary treatments did not affect slaughter weight, carcass weight, carcass conformation, physiological maturity, subcutaneous fat thickness, ribeye area, marbling score, and carcass measurements or the yield of commercial cuts. Chilling loss was higher in CT10 steers (2.41%) than in CT (2.26%) and CT5 (2.15%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Grass cell walls have hydroxycinnamic acids attached to arabinosyl residues of arabinoxylan (AX), and certain BAHD acyltransferases are involved in their addition. In this study, we characterized one of these BAHD genes in the cell wall of the model grass Setaria viridis. RNAi silenced lines of S. viridis (SvBAHD05) presented a decrease of up to 42% of ester‐linked p‐coumarate (pCA) and 50% of pCA‐arabinofuranosyl, across three generations. Biomass from SvBAHD05 silenced plants exhibited up to 32% increase in biomass saccharification after acid pre‐treatment, with no change in total lignin. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that SvBAHD05 is a p‐coumaroyl coenzyme A transferase (PAT) mainly involved in the addition of pCA to the arabinofuranosyl residues of AX in Setaria. Thus, our results provide evidence of p‐coumaroylation of AX promoted by SvBAHD05 acyltransferase in the cell wall of the model grass S. viridis. Furthermore, SvBAHD05 is a promising biotechnological target to engineer crops for improved biomass digestibility for biofuels, biorefineries and animal feeding. Significance Statement: A BAHD acyltransferase gene was studied, and it was demonstrated that its suppression causes reduction of ester‐linked p‐coumaric acid in the cell walls of Setaria viridis. RNAi silenced lines had higher biomass digestibility with no alteration in the biomass production. Molecular dynamics simulation reinforced the evidence that SvBAHD05 is mainly responsible for the incorporation of p‐coumaric acid onto arabinoxylan, the main hemicellulose in grass cell walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work exploits the applicability of a chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) modification on the electrochemical response of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the first-time sensitive determination of furosemide in natural waters. The batch injection analysis (BIA) is proposed as an analytical method, where CRGO-GCE is coupled to a BIA cell for amperometric measurements. Acetate buffer (0.1 μmol L−1, pH 5.2) was used as the background electrolyte. The modification provided an increase in sensitivity (0.024 μA/μmol L−1), low limit of detection (0.7 μmol L−1), RSD (< 4%), and broad linear range (1–600 μmol L−1). Recovery tests performed in two different concentration ranges resulted in values between 89 and 99%. Recovery tests were performed and compared with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-Vis detection using Student's t test at a 95% significance level, and no significant differences were found, confirming the accuracy of the method. The developed method is proven faster (169 h−1) compared with the HPLC analysis (5 h−1), also comparable with other flow procedures hereby described, offering a low-cost strategy suitable to quantify an emerging pharmaceutical pollutant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water jet penetrating into a water pool produces air entrainment and bubbles that rise to the surface and disintegrate. A similar scenario can be expected when a granular jet enters into water. This phenomenon is common in natural and industrial processes but remains so far unexplored. A collimated jet of monodisperse silica beads was poured into water and the process was filmed with a high-speed camera. The grain size, jet impact velocity, and the liquid physical properties were systematically varied. For grains of ~ 50 – 300 μ m in diameter, the granular jet deforms the air-water interface, penetrates the pool and produces air entrainment. Most of the entrained air is contained in the interstitial space of the jet, and its volume is linearly proportional to the volume of grains. The bubbles formed in this process are covered by a layer of grains attached to the bubble air-water interface due to capillary-induced cohesion. These "granular bubbles" are stable over time because the granular shell prevents coalescence and keeps the air encapsulated, either if the bubbles rise to the surface or sink to the bottom of the pool, which is determined by the competition of the buoyancy and the weight of the assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the development and characterization of an electrochemical sensor of tin hexacyanoferrate (SnHCF), produced from the modification by drop casting of the boron-doped diamond electrode (BDD), and its subsequent evaluation in the determination of dopamine (DP) in a synthetic saliva sample. The sensors, BDD-SnHCF and unmodified BDD, were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, where the BDD-SnHCF presented higher roughness and lower resistance to electronic transfer. Raman spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to confirm the chemical composition and bonding of the SnHCF film. The electroactive area and the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k0) presented higher values for BDD-SnHCF. Analytical curves were constructed, by batch injection analysis (BIA) with amperometric detection (BIA-AMP), and the slope obtained for BDD-SnHCF was significantly higher when compared with unmodified BDD. The detection limit for BDD-SnHCF (0.21 μmol L−1) presented a value sevenfold lower than unmodified BDD and good analytical frequency (72 h−1) obtained for the modified electrode. The determination of DP in saliva, as a proof-of-concept, achieved an excellent accuracy, reported by a recovery of (90% ± 8) in the sample. The results showed that SnHCF is an interesting alternative for the BDD drop casting modification, presenting a significant improvement in the electrochemical characteristics and analytical performance of DP in the determination by BIA-AMP compared with unmodified BDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrastructure of the Harderian gland of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus) was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found the following surface features: the typical round appearance of the ascinar glandular unit with a finely granular surface, a thin cortex and immediately below two types of cells: type I cells (characterized by small lipid vacuoles) and type II cells (characterized by large lipid vacuoles). It has been suggested that different cells forms represent a single cell type in varying activity states. Additionally, a coalescent tubular complex, a small balloon-like structures and large globular structures were observed. These structures may be reservoirs of secretion products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sceloporus variabilis is a species with males larger than females on body size. • Morphological variation in size and shape attributes in this species are unknown. • Sexual dimorphism between sexes and populations using size and shape was evaluate. • There was variation in sexual dimorphism in size, with male-biased. • There was variation in both sexes considering the shape. Sexual dimorphism in lizards is determined by ecological and environmental factors. Broadly distributed species may show variation in patterns of sexual dimorphism toward either sex, as well as exhibiting variation in morphological dimensions. In the present study, sexual dimorphism in size and shape attributes was evaluated in three populations of the lizard Sceloporus variabilis from different environments in Mexico. We evaluated the size attributes of 10 morphological variables: snout-vent length (SVL), tibia length (TL), femur length (FeL), forearm length (FoL), interaxial distance (ID), head length (HL), head width (HW), head height (HH), jaw length (JL), and jaw width (JW). We also evaluated the attributes of shape (relative dimensions of the 10 morphological variables). In the size attribute, sexual dimorphism was found, with males being larger than females. In the case of shape, sexual dimorphism was found, with the females being larger in relative dimensions of ID and JW. Also, the males showed larger relative dimensions in TL, FeL and FoL. Differences were found between populations in the dimension of the variables analyzed in each sex. The pattern in size can be explained by sexual selection, where the males of each population maintain larger dimensions to compete for territory and access to females. In shape, females can be favored if they have larger relative ID and JW, as it promotes maintenance of clutch sizes, and use of microhabitats and different consumption of prey types than males. In the case of males, relative dimensions of TL, FeL and FoL may be functioning as important traits for escape from predators. The present study shows the importance of incorporating size and shape variables into analyses of sexual dimorphism among populations of a single species with a wide distribution. These types of studies help to identify the causes that promote sexual dimorphism, as well as the degree of difference among populations that inhabit different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Magnetocrystals are brittle/ductile depending on the direction of applied stress. • Cubic magnetocrystals are ductile under tension and brittle under bending. • Hexagonal arrays are brittle under tension and ductile under bending. • Hybrid crystals combine the elasticity of cubic arrays with the strength of hexagonal arrays. • Crystalline magnetic arrays are of potential use in the design of metamaterials. Abstract We studied experimentally and by numerical simulations the mechanical response of arrays of macroscopic magnetic spheres when an external stress is applied. First, the tensile strength of single chains and ribbons was analyzed. Then, simple cubic (cP), hexagonal (Hx) and hybrid (cP-Hx) structures, called here magnetocrystals , were assembled and subjected to tensile stress, bending stress and torsion until failure was reached. Atomistic crystalline structures are isotropic, but in the case of magnetocrystals, even when geometric isotropy is obeyed, dipolar magnetic interactions introduce a physical anisotropy which modifies, in a non-usual manner, the structures response to the kind of external stress applied. For instance, cP and Hx magnetocrystals subjected to tension exhibit a behavior akin to a brittle and ductile failure, respectively, but under bending the cP structure becomes ductile while the hexagonal lattice becomes brittle. For the hybrid structure, its elastic response and strength are enhanced or reduced depending on which crystallographic direction the stress is applied. These properties, so far unexplored, give to crystalline magnetic arrays a potential interest in the design of metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Crack self-sensing ability of concrete beam added with SF, CB and CF is studied. • Two models for FCI-COD curve are found for deflection softening/hardening beam. • Signal noise of FCI-COD curves has been analyzed by the fractal geometry method. • Hybrid use of CB and SF is an optimization option for crack self sensing concrete. This work explores the mechanical and self monitoring performance of concrete beams containing steel fiber (SF), carbon black (CB) and carbon fiber (CF), when subjected to bending. The effect of the utilization of multiphase conductive materials on the compressive strength of the concrete and the load - deflection - fractional change in impedance (FCI) relationship of the concrete beam are investigated. The relationships between FCI and crack opening displacement (COD) and sensitivity (gauge factor) are also studied. Moreover, the quantitative analysis of signal noise in FCI-COD curves has been accomplished by the fractal geometry method. The result shows that a monotonic linearity and bi-linearity increasing relationship between FCI and COD can be observed for beams with deflection-softening (Group A and Group B specimens) and deflection-hardening (Group C specimens) behavior, respectively. The diphasic conductive admixture (SF + CB) improves the FCI-COD curve with higher sensitivity and lower noise signal compared to the monophasic conductive admixture (SF) and the triphasic conductive admixture (SF + CB + CF) specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective. Advances in treatment of breast cancer and different reconstructive options make it necessary to understand a variety of procedures depending on the type of oncological surgery performed on each patient. The range of reconstructive procedures varies from delayed post-mastectomy reconstruction, using skin expanders and in a second time implantation of a definitive prosthesis, to immediate reconstruction by complex microsurgical techniques in a single time. Our aim is to illustrate, step by step, an immediate breast reconstruction technique in a single time using alloplastic prostheses after a skin-sparing mastectomy in patients that are subsidiary to risk-reducing surgery, formerly called prophylactic mastectomy, is a frequent indication in our setting used for primary and secondary prevention of breast cancer. Methods. The procedure of a type IV mastectomy with nipple-areola complex free graft (MIVAP) is carefully described. Original drawings and didatic images are shown for the correct understanding of the procedure. We present 9 cases with their different indications. Results. The most frequent indication in our sample to perform a MIVAP was a history of gynecological cancer (ovary or breast) associated with a mutation in BRCA 1 or 2 gene. Other indications were: positivity for BRCA 1 or 2 mutation without cancer history, mutations in p53 suppressor gene (Li-Fraumeni syndrome), cancer-phobia or high family burden of breast or ovarian cancer (more than 3 first consanguinity line parents) without any mutation. There was a case of postoperative infection, 1 patient developed grade II postsurgical lymphedema associated with selective sentinel lymph node biopsy (BSGC), and 1 suffered nipple-areola partial necrosis. The most frequent negatively aesthetic effect was tissue fibrosis with lack of volume in the medial quadrants of the breast (broad image of the neckline). Patients returned to the habitual life around 34 days after the procedure. The prosthesis most frequently used was textured, high projection between 250 and 350 gr. Conclusions. MIVAP is a valid technique for breast reconstruction in candidates for risk-reducing mastectomy. Although there are certain aesthetic limitations, it is performed in a single surgical time and avoids complications related to cutaneous expanders. Our cases evolved favorably, with a low incidence of complications and a high degree of satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Methods for simultaneous analysis of polyols present in crude bioconverted glycerin. • It is possible to distinguish pairs, trios or quartets of isomers from polyols. • Column temperature was a key parameter for separating some stereoisomers. • Important analytical tool for bioprospecting microorganisms. Abstract The recent increase in the production of crude glycerin through the manufacture of biodiesel has imputed a commercial issue, the excess of this raw material in the market and its constant devaluation, which resulted in the need for new technologies for its use. Crude glycerin can be used in biotechnological processes for the production of high value-added compounds. This study presents novel, simple and fast methods based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) using evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) for simultaneous analysis of ten sugar alcohols with a hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) column. The selected compounds and their possible stereoisomers have major commercial importance and they can be obtained by biotechnological routes. Under optimized conditions, threitol, erythritol, adonitol, xylitol, arabitol, iditol, sorbitol, mannitol, dulcitol and volemitol can be analyzed simultaneously within 15.0 min. The use of different column temperatures was a key parameter to reach the selectivity during the separation of some stereoisomers. Regression equations revealed a good linear relationship (R > 0.995) over the range from 50.0 to 800.0 ng. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) ranged from 30.0 to 45.0 ng and 50.0–75.0 ng, respectively. The HILIC-UHPLC-ELSD methods showed good precision with low coefficient of variation (CV%) for the intra- and inter-assays experiments (≤ 5.1%) and high repeatability in terms of retention times for each analyte (≤ 0.5%). The accuracy was confirmed with an average recovery ranging from 92.3 to 107.3%. The developed methods employ an analytical technique more accessible and suitable for routine analyzes and have shown to be suitable for simultaneous analysis of sugar alcohols present in crude bioconverted glycerin samples using different classes of microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytic expression for the total energy of 4He clusters composed of N atoms is obtained by means of a variational solution of the energy density functional. The energy is calculated as an expansion in decreasing powers of the cluster radius, R∝N1/3. Contributions of volume (R3), surface (R2), curvature (R), constant (R0), (1/R), and (1/R2) are clearly separated in the formula. Chemical potentials, fusion and fission potentials, surface thickness, and unit radii are also obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Feruloylation of arabinoxylan (AX) in grass cell walls is a key determinant of recalcitrance to enzyme attack, making it a target for improvement of grass crops, and of interest in grass evolution. Definitive evidence on the genes responsible is lacking so we studied a candidate gene that we identified within the BAHD acyl‐CoA transferase family. We used RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of orthologs in the model grasses Setaria viridis (SvBAHD01) and Brachypodium distachyon (BdBAHD01) and determined effects on AX feruloylation. Silencing of SvBAHD01 in Setaria resulted in a c. 60% decrease in AX feruloylation in stems consistently across four generations. Silencing of BdBAHD01 in Brachypodium stems decreased feruloylation much less, possibly due to higher expression of functionally redundant genes. Setaria SvBAHD01 RNAi plants showed: no decrease in total lignin, approximately doubled arabinose acylated by p‐coumarate, changes in two‐dimensional NMR spectra of unfractionated cell walls consistent with biochemical estimates, no effect on total biomass production and an increase in biomass saccharification efficiency of 40–60%. We provide the first strong evidence for a key role of the BAHD01 gene in AX feruloylation and demonstrate that it is a promising target for improvement of grass crops for biofuel, biorefining and animal nutrition applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the feasibility of commercial chitosan (CQ) and modified chitosan (MQ) by epichlorohydrin to be used as a solid phase to remove fluorescein (FSC) from aqueous solutions by two different approaches: in batch and on a fixed column bed. For the batch study, all parameters that influence sorption capacity were evaluated, such as: pH, mass, ionic strength, temperature and time of contact. In the optimized condition, 75% removal was obtained for FSC using CQ, while the modification allowed an increase up to 99%, as well as an increase in the stability of the polymer. In the fixed column bed study, the influence of all the parameters was evaluated through breakthrough curves, and the thermodynamics parameters of each approach were obtained. The results of these studies demonstrate that the modification with epichlorohydrin enhanced the sorptive properties (from 35% to 95% in fixed bed experiments) and the polymer stability (making it insoluble), making it suitable to be used in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers have much higher drying shrinkage than Portland cement based composites Shrinkage performance is an important property for reinforced concrete composites just because a high shrinkage performance is associated to cracking tendency that leads to future durability problems. This paper provides results experimental and numerical investigations of fly ash based geopolymeric mortars reinforced with short hybrid polymeric fibres (SHPF). The results show that SHPF improved the flexural performance, while reducing the compressive strength and flexural stiffness of geopolymeric mortars. The addition of 0.8% SHPF increased about two times the fracture energy and about 50% the tensile strength. The adopted constitutive model well-captured the flexural performance of the tested beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of snake ecology has increased over the past two decades, but is still limited for many species. This is particularly true for the recently described Beni anaconda (Eunectes beniensis). We present the results of a radio-telemetry study of nine (3M:6F) adult E. beniensis, including home range, and habitat use. We located the snakes 242 times in wet season, and 255 in dry season. Mean wet season home range (MCP) was 25.81 ha (6.7 to 39.4 ha); while mean dry season home range was 0.29 ha (0.13 to 0.42 ha). We found no relationship between home range size and either snout-vent length, weight, or sex. Beni anacondas seem to prefer swamps, and patujusal, while avoiding forest, and rice fields. However, habitat use by individual snakes seems to vary based on the habitats available within their respective home range. Notably, rice fields were avoided by most snakes, which suggests that this type of habitat is unsuitable for anaconda management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]