An electrochemical study of the corrosion processes of Ni-based glassy metals in aqueous solutions

The electrochemical behavior of amorphous Ni-Co alloys in carbonate/bicarbonate solutions was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy combined with voltammetry and stationary polarization techniques. The results indicate that the kinetics of the dissolution processes are dependent on the pH and ionic strength of the electrolyte. The composition of the glassy metal is an important factor in determining the kinetic parameters involved in the complex electrochemical behavior of these materials

Evaluation of a distributed numerical simulation optimization approach applied to aquifer remediation

AbstractIn this paper we evaluate a distributed approach which uses numerical simulation and optimization techniques to automatically find remediation solutions to a hypothetical contaminated aquifer. The repeated execution of the numerical simulation model of the aquifer through the optimization cycles tends to be computationally expensive. To overcome this drawback, the numerical simulations are executed in parallel using a network of heterogeneous workstations. Performance metrics for heterogeneous environments are not trivial; a new way of calculating speedup and efficiency for Bag-of-Tasks (BoT) applications is proposed. The performance of the parallel approach is evaluated

The Second Step In The Construction Of A Stigma Scale Of Epilepsy

Rationale: The issue of stigmatization is one of the most common psychosocial problems faced by people with epilepsy. Purpose: A second step towards the development of a scale to measure epilepsy stigma. Method: We applied a closed questionnaire to 12 patients and 32 relatives from the Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic at the University Hospital of Campinas. Results: The results are grouped in three main domains: medical, social and personal areas. Medical: the subjects did not know exactly what epilepsy is or how it is caused; nonetheless they know how to treat it. Social: the most important areas that people with epilepsy are discriminated are at work and social relationships. Patients also complained about their lack of freedom and limits on recreation activities. Personal Area: subjects apparently have the same feelings and thoughts about epilepsy and seizures. Conclusion: This study analyzed the most common aspects presented in the questionnaire to assess epilepsy stigma for the Brazilian culture which are the base to the elaboration of a stigma scale of epilepsy.632 B395398Fernandes, P.T., Souza, E.A., Identification of family variables in parents' groups of children with epilepsy (2001) Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 59, pp. 854-858Li, L.M., Sander, J.W., National demonstration project on epilepsy in Brazil (2003) Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 61, pp. 153-156Leidy, N.K., Rentz, A.M., Grace, E.M., Evaluating health-related quality of life outcomes in clinical trials of antiepileptic drug therapy (2004) Epilepsia, 39, pp. 965-977Baker, G.A., Brooks, J., Buck, D., Jacoby, A., The stigma of epilepsy: A European perspective (2000) Epilepsia, 41, pp. 98-104Baker, G.A., Nashef, L., Van Hout, B.A., Current issues in the management of epilepsy: The impact of frequent seizures on cost of illness, quality of life, and mortality (1997) Epilepsia, 38 (SUPPL. 1), pp. S1-S8Baker, G.A., Jacoby, A., Chadwick, D.W., The associations of psychopathology in epilepsy: A community study (1996) Epilepsy Res, 25, pp. 29-39Jacoby, A., Felt versus enacted stigma: A concept revisited. Evidence from a study of people with epilepsy in remission (1994) Soc Sci Med, 38, pp. 269-274Placencia, M., Farmer, P.J., Jumbo, L., Sander, J.W., Shorvon, S.D., Levels of stigmatization of patients with previously untreated epilepsy in northern Ecuador (1995) Neuroepidemiology, 14, pp. 147-154Ratsepp, M., Oun, A., Haldre, S., Kaasik, A.E., Felt stigma and impact of epilepsy on employment status among Estonian people: Exploratory study (2000) Seizure, 9, pp. 394-401Scambler, G., Hopkins, A., Generating a model of epileptic stigma: The role of qualitative analysis (1990) Soc Sci Med, 30, pp. 1187-1194Ryan, R., Kempner, K., Emlen, A.C., The stigma of epilepsy as a self-concept (1980) Epilepsia, 21, pp. 433-444Fernandes, P.T., Salgado, P.C., Ala, N., Barbosa, F.D., Souza, E.A., Li, L.M., Stigma Scale of Epilepsy: Conceptual issues (2004) J Epilep Clin Neuropshysiology, 10, pp. 213-218McLin, W.M., De Boer, H.M., Public perceptions about epilepsy (1995) Epilepsia, 36, pp. 957-95

Fitômetros e distribuição da radiação na copa de Hevea brasiliensis cv: RRIM 600

Phytometers were used as standard systems to verify the effect of vertical distribution of leaf area in the canopy profile of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. cv. RRIM 600 under Rio Claro (SP) conditions and the relation of leaf dispersion to the penetration of light and photosynthesis. These ecological indicators were installed in 30 uniform and randomized trees, with 60 phytometers distributed at 1.50, 1.20 and 3.00 meters above the soil. Variations in growth analysis parameters of the indicator plant (Beta vulgaris L. cv. Asgrow Wonder) were established in three 14 days periods in May, July and September. As from these data, LAR and SLA showed higher values in the upper canopy, while DMV, LAV, RGR, NAR and LWR presented lower values in the lower canopy. Light distribution varied with the hour of the day. The coefficient of absorption of the incoming solar radiation increased in the morning period, presenting a tendency to attain the best landing-place of the asymptot near 11:00 AM and extending throughout the afternoon. The average of the coefficient of absorption at the landing-place of the asymptot was 0.588 for rubber tree.Com o objetivo de realizar o sensoriamento climático, no perfil da copa de Hevea bvasiliensis cv. RRIM 600, utilizaram-se fitômetros com Beta vulgaris cv, Asgrow Wonder em 3 níveis de um seringal com 4 anos de idade, em Rio Claro (SP). Os fitômetros foram alocados na copa das árvores distribuídas ao acaso, nas alturas de 1,50m, 2,20m e 3,00m, do solo; sendo que 30 fitômetros foram colocados em cada nível. A exposição dos fitômetros foi realizada em três épocas: de 04 a 17 de maio, junho e setembro. Os valores médios da RAF e AFE mostraram-se mais altos no nível superior da copa e da VPS, VAF, TCR, TAL e RPF nos níveis inferiores. A radiação líquida revelou-se mais alta: na região inferior da copa pela manhã, na região mediana em torno do meio-dia e na região superior do perfil da copa da seringueira no período da tarde. O coeficiente de absorção aumentou pela manhã, tendendo a atingir um patamar ótimo da assíntota perto das 11:00 horas, estendendo-se pela tarde; sendo que o valor médio do coeficiente de absorção em seu patamar foi da ordem de 0,588

Análise comparada de crescimento do enxerto e do porta-enxerto de Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. em viveiro

An experiment was carried out to establish a comparative growth analysis of stock and scion of rubber plant under nursery conditions. Samples were collected in four periods at 30 days intervals. The results indicated values of 0.018 to 0.031g.dm-2.day-1 for NAR, 0.0145 to 0.0165g.g-1.day-1 for RGR and 0.4363 to 0.8510dm².g-1 for LAR of RRIM 600 and Tjir 16 rubber cultivars. Dry weight variation and leaf area variation showed a higher vigour of the rootstock compared to the clone, and a difference in the growth period of 'Tjir 16' compared with 'RRIM 600'. LAR and LWR showed, respectively, a higher relative proportion of leaf area and leaf weight in the dry weight of the plant in the initial phase of growth of the stock and latter in the clone. A direct relationship was noted between the values of RGR and NAR of the stock and clone. 'Tjir 16' and 'RRIM 600' did not present sensible differences in dry matter increase with time.O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de verificar a compatibilidade entre o enxerto ('RRIM 600') e o porta-enxerto ('Tjir 16') de seringueira, através da análise comparada de crescimento. As plantas foram cultivadas em recipientes plásticos, nas condições de viveiro, em Piracicaba (SP). As amostras foram coletadas em 4 períodos (de duas épocas) com intervalos de 30 dias. Os valores da TAL da seringueira foram de 0,018 a 0,031g.dm-2.dia-1, da TCR de 0,0145 a 0,0165g.g-1.dia-1 e da RAF de 0,4363 a 0,8510dm².g-1. A VPS e a VAF revelaram um maior vigor do porta-enxerto com relação ao enxerto e uma certa incompatibilidade no período de desenvolvimento de 'Tjir 16' em relação ao 'RRIM 600'. A RAF e a RPF mostraram, respectivamente, uma maior proporção relativa da área e do peso foliar no peso total da planta no início do desenvolvimento do enxerto e mais tardiamente no porta-enxerto. Verificou-se uma relação direta entre os valores da TCR e da TAL do enxerto e do porta-enxerto, sendo que os cultivares não apresentaram diferenças sensíveis nos incrementos de matéria seca por unidade de tempo

Carnívoros

Carnivoros (Carnivora)Esta obra foi financiada pela Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) e pelo FEDER/COMPETE 2020, através do projeto exploratório CP1168/CT0001 associado ao contrato IF/00266/2013 (programa Investigador FCT), tendo também beneficiado dos fundos POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006821 à unidade de investigação UID/BIA/50027 (Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva)

Faces Merely Labelled as Artificial are Trusted Less

Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role on our daily lives. At the same time, artificial intelligence is often met with reluctance and distrust. Previous research demonstrated that faces that are visibly artificial are considered to be less trustworthy and remembered less accurately compared to natural faces. Current technology, however, enables the generation of artificial faces that are indistinguishable from natural faces. Accordingly, we tested whether natural faces that are merely labelled to be artificial are also trusted less. In three experiments (N = 399), we observed that natural faces merely labeled as being artificial were judged to be less trustworthy. This bias was robust and did not depend on the degree of trustworthiness and attractiveness of the faces, nor could it be modulated by changing raters’ attitude towards artificial intelligence. At the same time, we did not observe differences in recall performance. We conclude that understanding and changing social evaluations towards artificial intelligence goes beyond eliminating physical differences between artificial and natural entities