Crossbreeding and new beef cattle breeds in Brazil.

Crossbreeding and new beef cattle breeds in Brazil.198

Random Filters for Compressive Sampling and Reconstruction

We propose and study a new technique for efficiently acquiring and reconstructing signals based on convolution with a fixed FIR filter having random taps. The method is designed for sparse and compressible signals, i.e., ones that are well approximated by a short linear combination of vectors from an orthonormal basis. Signal reconstruction involves a non-linear Orthogonal Matching Pursuit algorithm that we implement efficiently by exploiting the nonadaptive, time-invariant structure of the measurement process. While simpler and more efficient than other random acquisition techniques like Compressed Sensing, random filtering is sufficiently generic to summarize many types of compressible signals and generalizes to streaming and continuous-time signals. Extensive numerical experiments demonstrate its efficacy for acquiring and reconstructing signals sparse in the time, frequency, and wavelet domains, as well as piecewise smooth signals and Poisson processes

Processionary (Thaumetopoea Pityocampa Schiff) Induced Ocular Lesions: Case Reports

A Processionária (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff ), vulgarmente conhecida como “lagarta do pinheiro” é um inseto dos pinheiros e cedros, endêmico em meios rurais mas também em meios urbanos. A toxicidade ocular, rara nas últimas décadas pelo desenvolvimento de métodos de erradicação eficazes, é provocada pelos seus pelos e prevê-se mais frequente com o recrudescimento deste inseto. Revemos a epidemiologia da Processionária e as suas lesões oculares a partir de 3 casos clínicos. Caso 1: Doente de 64 anos recorre ao Serviço de Urgência (SU) com olho direito vermelho e sensação de corpo estranho após prática de jardinagem. A observação revela AVODc: 0,5, erosão epitelial, presença de um filamento no estroma corneano profundo, flare (++) e Tyndall (+++). Caso 2: Doente de 28 anos, recorre ao SU por dor intensa no olho direito acompanhada de hiperemia após contato com lagarta. Apresenta AVODc: 0,6 e Tyndall (+++) com presença de múltiplos filamentos (mais de 20) a diferentes profundidades da córnea. Caso 3: Doente de 26 anos, recorre ao SU por sensação de corpo estranho e lacrimejamento constante no olho direito, após realizar exercícios militares num parque urbano. Apresenta AVODc: 0,3, múltiplas erosões epiteliais puntiformes na metade nasal da córnea que recobriam filamentos de cor laranja e Tyndall (+). Foi instituída terapêutica com corticoide tópico e vigilância sintomática a cada um dos casos. A patologia ocular por Processionária decorre da toxicidade dos seus pelos, cuja migração ocorre preponderantemente no sentido intraocular. Inclui por isso lesões precoces (conjuntivite, queratite e uveíte) e tardias (catarata, pars planite, vitreíte e retinite). Os casos apresentados possuíam lesões iniciais, tendo recuperado totalmente do quadro inflamatório após seis meses mas mantendo os pelos inativos no estroma corneano. A gravidade destes casos prende-se à possibilidade de migração intraocular, que pode ocorrer anos após o episódio inicial, obrigando a uma vigilância ao longo da vida. Conclusão: O recrudescimento da Processionária, tanto em meios rurais como urbanos,justifica o conhecimento das lesões oculares que pode causar e o seu tratamento

First detection of CF+ towards a high-mass protostar

We report the first detection of the J = 1 - 0 (102.6 GHz) rotational lines of CF+ (fluoromethylidynium ion) towards CygX-N63, a young and massive protostar of the Cygnus X region. This detection occurred as part of an unbiased spectral survey of this object in the 0.8-3 mm range, performed with the IRAM 30m telescope. The data were analyzed using a local thermodynamical equilibrium model (LTE model) and a population diagram in order to derive the column density. The line velocity (-4 km s-1) and line width (1.6 km s-1) indicate an origin from the collapsing envelope of the protostar. We obtain a CF+ column density of 4.10e11 cm-2. The CF+ ion is thought to be a good tracer for C+ and assuming a ratio of 10e-6 for CF+/C+, we derive a total number of C+ of 1.2x10e53 within the beam. There is no evidence of carbon ionization caused by an exterior source of UV photons suggesting that the protostar itself is the source of ionization. Ionization from the protostellar photosphere is not efficient enough. In contrast, X-ray ionization from the accretion shock(s) and UV ionization from outflow shocks could provide a large enough ionizing power to explain our CF+ detection. Surprisingly, CF+ has been detected towards a cold, massive protostar with no sign of an external photon dissociation region (PDR), which means that the only possibility is the existence of a significant inner source of C+. This is an important result that opens interesting perspectives to study the early development of ionized regions and to approach the issue of the evolution of the inner regions of collapsing envelopes of massive protostars. The existence of high energy radiations early in the evolution of massive protostars also has important implications for chemical evolution of dense collapsing gas and could trigger peculiar chemistry and early formation of a hot core.Comment: 6 page

Clone size distributions in networks of genetic similarity

We build networks of genetic similarity in which the nodes are organisms sampled from biological populations. The procedure is illustrated by constructing networks from genetic data of a marine clonal plant. An important feature in the networks is the presence of clone subgraphs, i.e. sets of organisms with identical genotype forming clones. As a first step to understand the dynamics that has shaped these networks, we point up a relationship between a particular degree distribution and the clone size distribution in the populations. We construct a dynamical model for the population dynamics, focussing on the dynamics of the clones, and solve it for the required distributions. Scale free and exponentially decaying forms are obtained depending on parameter values, the first type being obtained when clonal growth is the dominant process. Average distributions are dominated by the power law behavior presented by the fastest replicating populations.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures. One figure improved and other minor changes. To appear in Physica

Aplicação da sequência ultra/nanofiltração para valorização e redução do impacto ambiental de lactossoro de quijo de ovelha

Proceedings of Renaissance of the regions of Southern Europe, University of Évora: july 10-11, 2014.The by‐products of agro‐industries, due to its high content of nutritive substances, in particular proteins and carbohydrates, have been the subject of intense investigation with a view to their recovery/reuse, towards sustainability. One of these by‐products is ovine cheese whey, that is mainly produced in Southern European countries, as a result of the production of ovine cheeses of Protected Designation of Origin. In most cases, that whey is disposed off into public sewage, causing problems in conventional treatment plants, due to its high organic load. In some countries, e.g. Portugal, Spain and Italy, part of the ovine cheese whey is further processed to obtain whey cheeses, designated by different names, such as requeijão, requesón and ricotta. However, not all of these cheese whey can be transformed due to the high volumes generated. Membrane technology has emerged as a significant innovation for recovery and treatment, because it is more economical than other alternatives, require much less land area than competing technologies and may produce water suitable for multiple proposes. In this work, an example of using membrane processes in the recovery of ovine cheese whey is presented. The operations of ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) of ovine cheese whey were investigated with the objective of producing added‐value products, such as protein concentrates by UF, lactose concentrates by NF and final permeates with a very low organic load. UF experiments were performed with skimmed cheese whey, both in total recirculation and concentration modes. The equipment used was a plate‐and‐frame unit (Lab Unit M20). Ultrafiltration was performed with organic membranes ETNA 10PP with a surface area of 0,072 m2 and a cut‐off of 10 kDa. Ultrafiltration allowed a clear separation between the protein fraction and a fraction rich in lactose and minerals. About 40% of organic matter, expressed as COD was retained. Nanofiltration of UF permeates was done with membranes NFT50 with a membrane surface area of 0,072 m2..This operation allowed a high retention of lactose (98.8%) and the production of a permeate with a very low organic load. The retention of organic matter, in terms of COD was about 93%. The sequence of operations UF/NF allowed to produce two added‐value products, reducing at the same time the organic pollution of the final stream. Nevertheless, the quality of the final water should be assessed, according with the intended use.RESUMO. Os subprodutos das agro‐indústrias, devido ao seu elevado teor em substâncias nutritivas, em particular proteínas e hidratos de carbono, têm sido objecto de uma intensa investigação com objectivos de recuperação/reutilização, tendo em vista um desenvolvimento sustentável. Um destes subprodutos é o soro de queijo de ovelha, produzido principalmente nos países do sul da Europa, como resultado da produção de queijos de ovelha de Denominação de Origem Protegida. Na maioria dos casos, o soro produzido é lançado nos esgotos municipais, causando problemas em estações de tratamento convencionais, devido à sua elevada carga orgânica. Em alguns países, como Portugal, Espanha e Itália, parte do soro é processado para obtenção de queijos de soro, designados por nomes diferentes, como requeijão, requesón e ricota. No entanto, nem todo o soro produzido pode ser transformado, devido aos elevados volumes gerados. As tecnologias de membranas surgiram como uma inovação significativa para a recuperação/tratamento de vários produtos, dado que relativamente a outros processos alternativos, são mais económicas, podendo produzir água de qualidade adequada para diversos fins. Neste trabalho, é apresentado um exemplo de utilização de processos de membrana na recuperação de soro de queijo de ovelha. As operações de ultrafiltração (UF) e nanofiltração (NF) foram investigadas com o objetivo de produzir produtos de valor acrescentado, como concentrados proteicos por UF, concentrados de lactose por NF e permeados finais, com cargas orgânicas baixas. Os ensaios de UF foram realizados com soro desnatado, em recirculação total e em concentração. O equipamento utilizado foi um módulo de pratos planos (Lab Unidade M20). Na ultrafiltração, foram usadas membranas orgânicas ETNA 10PP, de área superficial 0.072 m2 e com um peso molecular de corte de 10 kDa. A ultrafiltração permitiu uma nítida separação entre a fração proteica e uma fração rica em lactose e sais minerais. Cerca de 40% da matéria orgânica, expressa como CQO, foi retida. Na nanofiltração dos permeados da UF utilizaram‐se membranas NFT50, com uma área de superfície de 0.072 m2. Esta operação permitiu uma elevada retenção de lactose (98.8%) e a obtenção de um permeado com uma carga orgânica bastante reduzida. O factor de retenção da matéria orgânica, em termos de CQO, foi cerca de 93%. A sequência de separações UF / NF permitiu produzir dois produtos de valor acrescentado, reduzindo ao mesmo tempo a poluição orgânica da corrente final. No entanto, a qualidade da água final deve ser avaliada, de acordo com o uso pretendido

Sarcoidosis and Multiple Myeloma: A Case Report and Literature Review

The existence of a sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome has been previously proposed since the relation between sarcoidosis and an increased risk of lymphoproliferative disorders is well established. Multiple myeloma is a malignant multifocal proliferation of clonal plasma cells within the bone marrow, and its association with sarcoidosis has been rarely described. We present a concurrent diagnosis of sarcoidosis and multiple myeloma and make a brief analysis of the reported cases in the literature. A 65-year-old woman underwent surgery for the excision of a wrist mass that presented 3 years before. Histological analysis showed sarcoid-type epithelioid granulomas without necrosis, establishing soft tissue sarcoidosis. Further evaluation revealed marked interstitial lung parenchyma lesions and large intrathoracic adenopathies. Bronchofibroscopy with transbronchial biopsy confirmed lung sarcoidosis. In addition, blood analysis showed monoclonal IgG kappa gammopathy. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed hypercellularity with 60% plasma cells and plasmocyte infiltration. Thus, the diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis and multiple myeloma was established simultaneously. In a brief review of the literature, we identified 33 reports of cases with both sarcoidosis and multiple myeloma. We point out the importance of a high level of suspicion for the association of sarcoidosis with malignant haematological diseases such as multiple myeloma.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Study of welding strengh in PVC profiles

Polyvinyl chloride, PVC, is one of the most widely produced and used plastic, being commonly used in civil industry due to its wide range of mechanical properties (from rigid to flexible), low cost, durability, and easy to assemble. Due to its good mechanical and thermal properties, PVC can be used to produce window and door frames, protecting the interior from the external actions, such as noise and temperature gradients. In order to achieve the final dimensions and geometry, previously extruded profiles must be cut and assembled, being the butt welding one of the most efficient techniques. This plastic welding method involves three main steps: i) pressing the parts to be joined against either side of a heated plate; ii) removing the plate when the parts are sufficiently molten and iii) pressing the components together and holding them until they are cooled. The amount of molten material, generated during the heating stage at an adequate heating time and the plate temperature, as well as the amount of material forced out from the joint during the pressing stage (joining displacement), have major influence in the final welding properties. Although the lack of information about the butt welding of PVC, previous studies with for others materials [1-3] showed that the welding strength can be optimized changing the plate temperature and/or joining displacement. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the plate temperature and the heating time in the welding strength of PVC profiles used in windows frames. The profiles were welded in an industrial butt welder machine, setting the plate temperature at 245ºC, 260ºC and 275ºC and the heating time at 15 and 20s. The mechanical properties were evaluated by mechanical bending tests, according to UNE-EN 514 standard and the welding strength was correlated with the morphology of the welded parts observed by optical microscopy. The results are showing that the increase of plate temperature and heating time increase the welding strength. However, the presence of impurities in the joint, such as trapped air or degraded material, as well as the joint alignment, can have a detrimental effect on the welding strength, as observed by the morphological analyses