Loops in the fundamental group of \mathrm{Symp} (\mathbb C\mathbb P^2\#\,5\overline{ \mathbb C\mathbb P}\,\!^2) which are not represented by circle actions

We study the generators of the fundamental group of the group of symplectomorphisms \mathrm{Symp} (\mathbb C\mathbb P^2\#\,5\overline{ \mathbb C\mathbb P}\,\!^2, \omega) for some particular symplectic forms. The monotone case was studied by P. Seidel and J. Evans: they proved that this group is homotopy equivalent to the group of orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms of $S^2$ preserving 5 points. Recently J. Li, T. J. Li and W. Wu completely determined the Torelli symplectic mapping class group as well as the rank of the fundamental group of the group \mathrm{Symp}_{h}(\mathbb C\mathbb P^2\#\,5\overline{\mathbb C\mathbb P}\,\!^2) of symplectomorphisms that act trivially on homology, for any given symplectic form. In general, we expect the generators of the fundamental group to be given by circle actions on the manifold. However, we show that in some particular cases, there are loops in the fundamental group which cannot be realized by circle actions. This is a new phenomenon since in \pi_1 (\mathrm{Symp}_h(\mathbb C\mathbb P^2\#\,k\overline{\mathbb C\mathbb P}\,\!^2)), with $k \leq 4$, all the generators can be represented by circle actions on the manifold. Our work depends on Delzant classification of toric symplectic manifolds, Karshon's classification of Hamiltonian circle actions and the computation of Seidel elements of some circle actions.Comment: 27 figure

A benchmark for validation of numerical results in sheet metal forming

Advances in FE codes for simulation of sheet metal forming processes have enabled its use during pre-production stage of a component. Some of recent developments include improvements and implementation of new material models of mechanical behaviour. However, these developments and corresponding results need to be validated, which means being compared with experimental results. On the other hand, in order that experimental results are a reference data, they need to be tested to repeatability and need to be obtained with such characteristic preferably by different institutions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TGJ-4CS4NXC-M/1/11b425ff3006b6fcdad85f1f6b4fa57

Combining biotechnology with circular bioeconomy: from poultry, swine, cattle, brewery, dairy and urban wastewaters to biohydrogen

ABSTRACT: The ability of microalgae to grow in nutrient-rich environments and to accumulate nutrients from wastewaters (WW) makes them attractive for the sustainable and low-cost treatment of WW. The valuable biomass produced can be further used for the generation of bioenergy, animal feed, fertilizers, and biopolymers, among others. In this study, Scenedesmus obliquus was able to remove nutrients from different wastewaters (poultry, swine and cattle breeding, brewery and dairy industries, and urban) with removal ranges of 95-100% for nitrogen, 63-99% for phosphorus and 48-70% for chemical oxygen demand. The biomass productivity using wastewaters was higher (except for poultry) than in synthetic medium (Bristol), the highest value being obtained in brewery wastewater (1025 mg/(L.day) of freeze-dried biomass). The produced biomass contained 31-53% of proteins, 12-36% of sugars and 8-23% of lipids, regardless of the type of wastewater. The potential of the produced Scenedesmus obliquus biomass for the generation of BioH(2) through batch dark fermentation processes with Enterobacter aerogenes was evaluated. The obtained yields ranged, in mL H-2/g Volatile Solids (VS), from 50.1 for biomass from anaerobically digested cattle WW to 390 for swine WW, whereas the yield with biomass cultivated in Bristol medium was 57.6 mL H-2/gvs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hydroxybenzoate paralytic shellfish toxins induce transient GST activity depletion and chromosomal damage in white seabream (Diplodus sargus)

Fish are routinely exposed to harmful algal blooms that produce noxious compounds and impact the marine food web. This study investigates the role of phase I and II detoxification enzymes on metabolism of the novel paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), the hydroxybenzoate analogues recently discovered in Gymnodinium catenatum strains, in the liver of white seabream, assessing ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities. Additionally, the genotoxic potential of hydroxybenzoate PSTs was examined through the erythrocytic nuclear abnormality (ENA) assay. Fish were injected with hydroxybenzoate PSTs into the coelomic cavity and sacrificed 2 and 6 days later for biochemical and cytogenetic analyses. While the activity of EROD was unresponsive to toxins, a significant GST activity decrease was observed at 2 days after injection indicating an impairment of this line of the detoxification system. The genotoxic potential of PSTs was demonstrated by the induction of clastogenic/aneugenic effects at 2 days, as measured by the ENA assay. Overall, this study contributes to better understand the impact of toxins produced by G. catenatum blooms in fish, revealing effects that, even transitory, point out a risk associated to hydroxybenzoate analogues.publishe

Biotransformation modulation and genotoxicity in white seabream upon exposure to paralytic shellfish toxins produced by Gymnodinium catenatum

Fish are recurrently exposed to paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced by Gymnodinium catenatum. Nevertheless, the knowledge regarding metabolism of PSTs and their toxic effects in fish is scarce. Consequently, the current study aims to investigate the role of phase I and II detoxification enzymes on PST metabolism in the liver of white seabream (Diplodus sargus), assessing ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities. Moreover, the genotoxic potential of PSTs was examined through the erythrocytic nuclear abnormality (ENA) assay. Fish were intracoelomically (IC) injected with a nominal dose (expressed as saxitoxin equivalents) of 1.60 μg STXeq kg⁻¹ semipurified from a G. catenatum cell culture with previously determined toxin profile. Fish were sacrificed 2 and 6 days after IC injection. PST levels determined in fish liver were 15.2 and 12.2 μg STXeq kg⁻¹, respectively, at 2 and 6 days after the injection. Though several PSTs were administered, only dcSTX was detected in the liver after 2 and 6 days. This was regarded as an evidence that most of the N-sulfocarbamoyl and decarbamoyl toxins were rapidly biotransformed in D. sargus liver and/or eliminated. This was corroborated by a hepatic GST activity induction at 2 days after injection. Hepatic EROD activity was unresponsive to PSTs, suggesting that these toxins enter phase II of biotransformation directly. The genotoxic potential of PSTs was also demonstrated; these toxins were able to induce cytogenetic damage, such as chromosome (or chromatid) breaks or loss and segregational anomalies, measured by the ENA assay. Overall, this study pointed out the ecological risk associated with the contamination of fish with PSTs generated by G. catenatum blooms, providing the necessary first data for a proper interpretation of biomonitoring programs aiming to assess the impact of phytoplankton blooms in fish.Authors greatly appreciated the helpful assistance of Pedro Lino in injection of fish.publishe

Towards standard benchmarks and reference data for validation and improvement of numerical simulation in sheet metal forming

The last decade has witnessed many advances and a lot of improvement in FE codes for simulation of sheet metal forming processes. Such advances could be followed mainly by benchmarks proposed in Numisheet conferences. It was possible to notice that the scatter of results among numerical codes has decreased so significantly that recently scattering of experimental results among different corporations was evident. However in order to pursue further developments and validate numerical results it is fundamental to have reliable reference experimental data. This is one of the objectives of a current IMS project called 3DS-Digital Die Design System.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TGJ-462BKRM-G/1/db286c5142b5be1f012318502279b94

Correlação entre variáveis produtivas e eficiência de resposta a suplementação em vacas Guzerá em lactação

As pesquisas em nutrição especializada para zebuínos no Brasil são pouco avançadas e difundidas, logo especializar e aprofundar o conhecimento cientifico sobre a fisiologia e características produtivas deste grupo são de grande valia para os criatórios, uma vez que a pecuária está se tornando cada vez mais competitiva e o lucro do produtor está altamente relacionada com a produtividade de cada animal. Desta forma o presente trabalho avaliou de forma inédita e descreveu a eficiência de resposta a suplementação em vacas Guzerá, definindo os níveis ideias de arraçoamento para as diversas produções de leite. Foram utilizadas 109 vacas puras de origem entre primíparas e multíparas, que foram arraçoadas em média com 3,42 kg/dia e com produção leiteira média de 10,4 kg/dia. Vacas guzerá apresentam MR = 2,32 e está tem alta correlação com dias em lactação, ordem de parição e produção leiteira

Combining biotechnology with circular bioeconomy: from poultry, swine, cattle, brewery, dairy and urban wastewaters to biohydrogen

ABSTRACT: The ability of microalgae to grow in nutrient-rich environments and to accumulate nutrients from wastewaters (WW) makes them attractive for the sustainable and low-cost treatment of WW. The valuable biomass produced can be further used for the generation of bioenergy, animal feed, fertilizers, and biopolymers, among others. In this study, Scenedesmus obliquus was able to remove nutrients from different wastewaters (poultry, swine and cattle breeding, brewery and dairy industries, and urban) with removal ranges of 95-100% for nitrogen, 63-99% for phosphorus and 48-70% for chemical oxygen demand. The biomass productivity using wastewaters was higher (except for poultry) than in synthetic medium (Bristol), the highest value being obtained in brewery wastewater (1025 mg/(L.day) of freeze-dried biomass). The produced biomass contained 31-53% of proteins, 12-36% of sugars and 8-23% of lipids, regardless of the type of wastewater. The potential of the produced Scenedesmus obliquus biomass for the generation of BioH(2) through batch dark fermentation processes with Enterobacter aerogenes was evaluated. The obtained yields ranged, in mL H-2/g Volatile Solids (VS), from 50.1 for biomass from anaerobically digested cattle WW to 390 for swine WW, whereas the yield with biomass cultivated in Bristol medium was 57.6 mL H-2/gvs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio