Adsorption of ketoprofen and paracetamol and treatment of a synthetic mixture by novel porous carbon derived from Butia capitata endocarp

In this work, endocarp of the species Butia capitata was employed as precursor material to prepare a novel activated carbon with intrinsic properties to remove ketoprofen and paracetamol from water efficiently. The activated carbon presented a predominantly microporous structure, with an average pore diameter of 1.23 nm, a total pore volume of 0.449 cm3 g−1, and a high specific surface area, 820 m2 g−1. The adsorption kinetics showed a rapid initial decay for both pharmaceuticals, with the system entering equilibrium after 120 min for ketoprofen and 180 min for paracetamol. The pseudo-second-order model presented the best fit for ketoprofen and the Elovich model for paracetamol. The adsorption equilibrium data show that temperature can increase or decrease the adsorption capacity, being found a maximum adsorption capacity of 108.79 and 100.60 mg g−1 for the ketoprofen and paracetamol, respectively. The Freundlich and Langmuir models presented the best statistical adjustments for the adsorption of ketoprofen and paracetamol, respectively. The thermodynamic analysis confirmed an endothermic process for ketoprofen (ΔH0 = 11.98 kJ mol−1) and exothermic for paracetamol (ΔH0 = -13.37 kJ mol−1). The recycle tests revealed that the adsorbent has an average decrease for removal percentage of only 1.88 % for ketoprofen and 1.57 % for paracetamol. Estimations costs indicate that the price of 1 kg of activated carbon costs is 2.39 USD at minimum. Last, the material presented a highly efficient adsorptive activity to treat a synthetic mixture containing several pharmaceutical compounds and salts, reaching 84.82% removal

Modelling carbon stock and carbon sequestration ecosystem services for policy design: a comprehensive approach using a dynamic vegetation model.

Ecosystem service (ES) models can only inform policy design adequately if they incorporate ecological processes. We used the Lund-Potsdam-Jena managed Land (LPJmL) model, to address following questions for Mexico, Bolivia and Brazilian Amazon: (i) How different are C stocks and C sequestration quantifications under standard (when soil and litter C and heterotrophic respiration are not considered) and comprehensive (including all C stock and heterotrophic respiration) approach? and (ii) How does the valuation of C stock and C sequestration differ in national payments for ES and global C funds or markets when comparing both approach? We found that up to 65% of C stocks have not been taken into account by neglecting to include C stored in soil and litter, resulting in gross underpayments (up to 500 times lower). Since emissions from heterotrophic respiration of organic material offset a large proportion of C gained through growth of living matter, we found that markets and decision-makers are inadvertently overestimating up to 100 times C sequestrated. New approaches for modelling C services relevant ecological process-based can help accounting for C in soil, litter and heterotrophic respiration and become important for the operationalization of agreements on climate change mitigation following the COP21 in 2015

Thinning effect on tree growth and wood production in integrated systems.

In crop, livestock and forest integrated system (ICLF) tree thinning management is adopted to add value and minimize competition. This study aims to assess the effect of ICLF and thinning management on eucalyptus growth and wood productivity. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replicates. The treatments were: (I) F, forest with 476 tree ha-1 before and 270 trees ha-1 after thinning (II) CF-S8, with 270 and 135 trees ha-1; (III) ILF-T, with 270 and 101 trees ha-1 (IV) ICLF-S5, with 270 and 90 trees ha-1; (V) ICLFS4, with 270 and 90 trees ha-1 and (VI) ICLF-S8, with 270 and 45 trees ha-1. The ICLF systems increased tree growth and production (clone H13), due to the lower tree density in these systems than homogeneous forest. The total wood production was lower in the integrated systems due to the lower initial tree density than homogeneous forest. The differences observed in the integrated systems are due to the thinning management, such as the season, intensity and type (selection or systematic). The integrated system with the largest number of trees remaining after thinning (ILF-T) presents the highest wood production, equal to 57% of the remaining wood in homogeneous forest

Transiting exoplanets from the CoRoT space mission VIII. CoRoT-7b: the first Super-Earth with measured radius

We report the discovery of very shallow (DF/F = 3.4 10-4), periodic dips in the light curve of an active V = 11.7 G9V star observed by the CoRoT satellite, which we interpret as due to the presence of a transiting companion. We describe the 3-colour CoRoT data and complementary ground-based observations that support the planetary nature of the companion. Methods. We use CoRoT color information, good angular resolution ground-based photometric observations in- and out- of transit, adaptive optics imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy and preliminary results from Radial Velocity measurements, to test the diluted eclipsing binary scenarios. The parameters of the host star are derived from optical spectra, which were then combined with the CoRoT light curve to derive parameters of the companion. We examine carefully all conceivable cases of false positives, and all tests performed support the planetary hypothesis. Blends with separation larger than 0.40 arcsec or triple systems are almost excluded with a 8 10-4 risk left. We conclude that, as far as we have been exhaustive, we have discovered a planetary companion, named CoRoT-7b, for which we derive a period of 0.853 59 +/- 3 10-5 day and a radius of Rp = 1.68 +/- 0.09 REarth. Analysis of preliminary radial velocity data yields an upper limit of 21 MEarth for the companion mass, supporting the finding. CoRoT-7b is very likely the first Super-Earth with a measured radius.Comment: Accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysics; typos and language corrections; version sent to the printer w few upgrade

Sex differences in the associations between L-arginine pathway metabolites, skeletal muscle mass and function, and their responses to resistance exercise, in old age

This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J015911/1) and was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ClinicalTrials. gov Identifier: NCT02843009). Supplementary email included with articlePeer reviewedPostprin

<新刊紹介>瀧澤直七著稿本「日本金融史論」

<div><p></p><p><i>Background</i>: The relationship between metabolic disease and the non-modifiable risk factors sex, age and ethnicity in Africans is not well-established.</p><p><i>Aim</i>: This study aimed to describe sex, age and ethnicity differences in blood pressure (BP) and lipid status in rural Kenyans.</p><p><i>Subjects and methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among rural Kenyans. BP and pulse rate (PR) were measured while sitting and fasting blood samples were taken for analysis of standard lipid profile. Standard anthropometric measurements were collected. Physical activity energy expenditure was obtained objectively and lifestyle data were obtained using questionnaires.</p><p><i>Results</i>: In total, 1139 individuals (61.0% women) participated aged 17–68 years. Age was positively associated with BP and plasma cholesterol levels. Sitting PR was negatively associated with age in women only (sex-interaction <i>p</i> < 0.001). Ethnicity did not modify any of the age-associations with haemodynamic or lipid outcomes. Differences in intercept between women and men were found in all parameters except for diastolic BP (<i>p</i> = 0.154), with men having lower HDL-C but higher values in all other cardiovascular risk factors.</p><p><i>Conclusion</i>: BP and plasma cholesterol levels increase with age at a similar gradient in men and women, but absolute levels of the majority of the risk factors were higher in men.</p></div