Markedly Divergent Tree Assemblage Responses to Tropical Forest Loss and Fragmentation across a Strong Seasonality Gradient

We examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the structure and composition of tree assemblages within three seasonal and aseasonal forest types of southern Brazil, including evergreen, Araucaria, and deciduous forests. We sampled three southernmost Atlantic Forest landscapes, including the largest continuous forest protected areas within each forest type. Tree assemblages in each forest type were sampled within 10 plots of 0.1 ha in both continuous forests and 10 adjacent forest fragments. All trees within each plot were assigned to trait categories describing their regeneration strategy, vertical stratification, seed-dispersal mode, seed size, and wood density. We detected differences among both forest types and landscape contexts in terms of overall tree species richness, and the density and species richness of different functional groups in terms of regeneration strategy, seed dispersal mode and woody density. Overall, evergreen forest fragments exhibited the largest deviations from continuous forest plots in assemblage structure. Evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests diverge in the functional composition of tree floras, particularly in relation to regeneration strategy and stress tolerance. By supporting a more diversified light-demanding and stress-tolerant flora with reduced richness and abundance of shade-tolerant, old-growth species, both deciduous and Araucaria forest tree assemblages are more intrinsically resilient to contemporary human-disturbances, including fragmentation-induced edge effects, in terms of species erosion and functional shifts. We suggest that these intrinsic differences in the direction and magnitude of responses to changes in landscape structure between forest types should guide a wide range of conservation strategies in restoring fragmented tropical forest landscapes worldwide

Internet Use by Older Adults with Bipolar Disorder: International Survey Results

Background: The world population is aging and the number of older adults with bipolar disorder is increasing. Digital technologies are viewed as a framework to improve care of older adults with bipolar disorder. This analysis quantifies Internet use by older adults with bipolar disorder as part of a larger survey project about information seeking. Methods: A paper-based survey about information seeking by patients with bipolar disorder was developed and translated into 12 languages. The survey was anonymous and completed between March 2014 and January 2016 by 1222 patients in 17 countries. All patients were diagnosed by a psychiatrist. General estimating equations were used to account for correlated data. Results: Overall, 47% of older adults (age 60 years or older) used the Internet versus 87% of younger adults (less than 60 years). More education and having symptoms that interfered with regular activities increased the odds of using the Internet, while being age 60 years or older decreased the odds. Data from 187 older adults and 1021 younger adults were included in the analysis excluding missing values. Conclusions: Older adults with bipolar disorder use the Internet much less frequently than younger adults. Many older adults do not use the Internet, and technology tools are suitable for some but not all older adults. As more health services are only available online, and more digital tools are developed, there is concern about growing health disparities based on age. Mental health experts should participate in determining the appropriate role for digital tools for older adults with bipolar disorder

Methods and trends of applying supercritical micronization

Mikronizacja nadkrytyczna jest procesem wykorzystującym rozpuszczalnik w stanie nadkrytycznym, najczęściej ditlenek węgla, do zamknięcia substancji aktywnych w osłonkach. W pracy scharakteryzowano proces mikronizacji nadkrytycznej, omówiono jego podstawy teoretyczne oraz sposoby prowadzenia. Dokonano podziału procesu mikronizacji ze względu na sposób użycia nadkrytycznego CO₂. W wyniku podziału wyodrębniono mikronizację, w której CO₂ w stanie nadkrytycznym używany jest jako rozpuszczalnik (Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solution - RESS) lub jako antyrozpuszczalnik (Supercritical Anti-Solvent –SAS, Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions – PGSS, Aerosol Solvent Extraction System - ASES). Każdy z tych procesów może być zastosowany do mikronizacji w przemyśle spożywczym. Jednak większość metod mikronizacji jest do tej pory w sferze badań laboratoryjnych, jedynie opatentowany proces PGSS znalazł zastosowanie przemysłowe.Supercritical micronization is the process that uses a supercritical solvent, usually carbon dioxide, to close active substances in shells. In this paper, the process of supercritical micronization was characterized as were its theoretical basis and methods of performing it. The supercritical micronization process was divided by the supercritical CO₂ application technique. The division resulted in selecting the micronization process with the supercritical CO₂ applied as a solvent (RESS Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solution) or as an anti-solvent (SAS Supercritical Anti-Solvent, PGSS Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions, and ASES Aerosol Solvent Extraction System). Any of those processes can be used for the micronization in the food industry. However, until now, the majority of the micronization methods are still tested in laboratories, and only the patented PGSS process was applied on the industrial scale

Black currant seeds after supercritical carbon dioxide extraction as a potential dietary supplement

Celem pracy była ocena fizjologicznego oddziaływania nasion porzeczki czarnej po ekstrakcji nadkrytycznej ditlenkiem węgla na przewód pokarmowy oraz metabolizm u szczurów użytych jako model doświadczalny. Zastosowany preparat zawierał 25% białka ogółem i 57,9% błonnika pokarmowego oraz 4% tłuszczu. Szczury, zestawione w dwie grupy po 10 sztuk, żywiono przez 4 tygodnie półsyntetycznymi dietami kazeinowymi z wysoką zawartością fruktozy (69%). Obie diety były wyrównane pod względem zawartości białka i błonnika pokarmowego. Włączenie do diety badanych nasion (10% zamiast celulozy, skrobi kukurydzianej i 2,5% kazeiny) obniżyło aktywność enzymów glikolitycznych śluzówki jelita cienkiego, a zwiększyło aktywność glikolityczną mikroflory jelita, skutkującą zwiększoną produkcją krótkołańcuchowych kwasów tłuszczowych w jelicie ślepym. Stwierdzono wyraźne właściwości hipoglikemizujące badanego preparatu, natomiast jego właściwości przeciwutleniające były relatywnie niskie i jedynie w nerkach stwierdzono obniżenie zawartości substancji reagujących z kwasem tiobarbiturowym.The aim of this study was to estimate the physiological effects of black currant seeds after supercritical carbon dioxide extraction on the gastrointestinal tract and metabolism of rats used as an experimental model. The preparation contained 25% of total protein, 57.9% of dietary fiber and 4% of fat. Young Wistar rats divided into two experimental groups of 10 animals each, were fed for 28 days using semi-purified casein diets with a high fructose content (69%). The diets contained the same amount of protein and fiber. An inclusion of the tested seeds to the diet (10% as expense of cellulose, corn starch and part of casein) lowered the activity of glycolytic enzymes in the mucosa of the small intestine, whereas intestinal microflora elevated its glycolytic activity, and in consequence, increased production of short-chain fatty acids in the caecum. A distinct hypoglycemic actions of the tested preparation were also observed, while its antioxidant properties were found to be rather low and expressed by the decreased content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the kidney tissue

Swelling of plant material in supercritical carbon dioxide

Swelling of plant material belonging to several plant families and the influence of swelling on supercritical fluid extraction process were investigated in this study. While swelling of Lamiaceae family species as well as hop cones and pellets occurred during the exposure of plant material to supercritical carbon dioxide, swelling of valerian root and ginger rhizome happened after the decompression step. Optimal pretreatment of herbaceous matrix which will enable commencement of continuous extraction from already swollen plant material was defined on the basis of swelling test results. Experimental results were modeled and energy savings due to the optimal processing on the laboratory scale were calculated. Sorption of carbon dioxide into the hop pellet was measured and the diffusion coefficient in the solid phase was determined. Obtained results indicated that the effective diffusion coefficient in the hop pellet was increased by one order of magnitude due to swelling

Neural network based control of an absorption column in the process of bioethanol production

Gaseous ethanol may be recovered from the effluent gas mixture of the sugar cane fermentation process using a staged absorption column. In the present work, the development of a nonlinear controller, based on a neural network inverse model (ANN controller), was proposed and tested to manipulate the absorbent flow rate in order to control the residual ethanol concentration in the effluent gas phase. Simulation studies were carried out, in which a noise was applied to the ethanol concentration signals from the rigorous model. The ANN controller outperformed the dynamic matrix control (DMC) when step disturbances were imposed to the gas mixture composition. A security device, based on a conventional feedback algorithm, and a digital filter were added to the proposed strategy to improve the system robustness when unforeseen operating and environmental conditions occured. The results demonstrated that ANN controller was a robust and reliable tool to control the absorption column.<br>Deseja-se recuperar o etanol perdido por evaporação durante o processo de fermentação da cana-de-açúcar. Para tanto, faz-se uso de uma coluna de absorção. O controle da concentração de etanol no efluente gasoso da coluna é realizado pela manipulação da vazão de solvente, sendo esta determinada pelo controlador não linear proposto, baseado em um modelo inverso de redes neurais (controlador ANN). Foram feitas simulações adicionando-se um sinal de ruído a medida de concentração de etanol na fase gasosa. Quando perturbações degrau foram inseridas na mistura gasosa afluente, o controlador ANN demonstrou desempenho superior ao controle por matriz dinâmica (DMC). Um dispositivo de segurança, baseado em um controlador feedback convencional, e um filtro digital foram implementados à estratégia de controle proposta para agregar robustez no tratamento de distúrbios ocorridos no ambiente operacional. Os resultados demonstraram que o controlador ANN é uma ferramenta robusta e confiável no controle de uma coluna de absorção

Conservation of tropical birds: Mission possible?

10.1007/s10336-007-0180-yJournal of Ornithology148SUPLL. 2S305-S30