Selection of native trees for intercropping with coffee in the Atlantic Rainforest biome

A challenge in establishing agroforestry systems is ensuring that farmers are interested in the tree species, and are aware of how to adequately manage these species. This challenge was tackled in the Atlantic Rainforest biome (Brazil), where a participatory trial with agroforestry coffee systems was carried out, followed by a participatory systematisation of the farmers experiences. Our objective was to identify the main tree species used by farmers as well as their criteria for selecting or rejecting tree species. Furthermore, we aimed to present a specific inventory of trees of the Leguminosae family. In order to collect the data, we reviewed the bibliography of the participatory trial, visited and interviewed the farmers and organised workshops with them. The main farmers' criteria for selecting tree species were compatibility with coffee, amount of biomass, production and the labour needed for tree management. The farmers listed 85 tree species; we recorded 28 tree species of the Leguminosae family. Most trees were either native to the biome or exotic fruit trees. In order to design and manage complex agroforestry systems, family farmers need sufficient knowledge and autonomy, which can be reinforced when a participatory methodology is used for developing on-farm agroforestry systems. In the case presented, the farmers learned how to manage, reclaim and conserve their land. The diversification of production, especially with fruit, contributes to food security and to a low cost/benefit ratio of agroforestry systems. The investigated agroforestry systems showed potential to restore the degraded landscape of the Atlantic Rainforest biome

Annealing of RF-magnetron sputtered SnS2 precursors as a new route for single phase SnS thin films

Tin sulphide thin films have been grown on soda-lime glass substrates through the annealing of RF-magnetron sputtered SnS2 precursors. Three different approaches to the annealing were compared and the resulting films thoroughly studied. One series of precursors was annealed in a tubular furnace directly exposed to a flux of sulphur vapour plus forming gas, N2 + 5%H2, and at a constant pressure of 500 mbar. The other two series of identical precursors were annealed in the same furnace but inside a graphite box with and without elemental sulphur evaporation again in the presence of N2 + 5%H2 and at the same pressure as for the sulphur flux experiments. Different maximum annealing temperatures for each set of samples, in the range of 300–570 C, were tested to study their effects on the properties of the final films. The resulting phases were structurally investigated by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Annealing of SnS2 precursors in sulphur flux produced films where SnS2 was dominant for temperatures up to 480 C. Increasing the temperature to 530 C and 570 C led to films where the dominant phase became Sn2S3. Annealing of SnS2 precursors in a graphite box with sulphur vapour at temperatures in the range between 300 C and 480 C the films are multi-phase, containing Sn2S3, SnS2 and SnS. For high annealing temperatures of 530 C and 570 C the films have SnS as the dominant phase. Annealing of SnS2 precursors in a graphite box without sulphur vapour at 300 C and 360 C the films are essentially amorphous, at 420 C SnS2 is the dominant phase. For temperatures of 480 C and 530 C SnS is the dominant phase but also same residual SnS2 and Sn2S3 phases are observed. For annealing at 570 C, according to the XRD results the films appear to be single phase SnS. The composition was studied using energy dispersive spectroscopy being then correlated with the annealing temperature. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that the SnS films exhibit small grain structure and the film surface is rough. Optical measurements were performed, from which the band gap energies were estimated. These studies show that the direct absorption transitions of SnS are at 1.68 eV and 1.41 eV for annealing in graphite box with and without elemental sulphur evaporation, respectively. For the indirect transition the values varied from 1.49 eV to 1.37 eV. The results of this work show that the third approach is better suited to produce single phase SnS films. However, a finer tunning of the duration of the high temperature plateau of the annealing profile is required in order to eliminate the b-Sn top layer.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Automated PECVD System for Fabrication of a-Si:H Devices

AbstractThis paper reports a fully automated plasma-enhanced plasma chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system for thin-film deposition. This system can be used for the deposition of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and nanocrystalline silicon for devices like solar cells or optical sensors with good film homogeneity and material properties reproducibility. The control software enables two modes of system operation: semi-manual and full-auto. In the semi-manual mode the user sets all process parameters and controls all depositions steps. In the full-auto mode, the program performs the process steps according to script commands in a recipe file. This way, complex multilayered devices can be fabricated, with a high degree of reproducibility of the device characteristics

Effect of selenization conditions on the growth and properties of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films

The opto-electronic properties of copper zinc tin sulfide can be tuned to achieve better cell efficiencies by controlled incorporation of selenium. In this paper we report the growth of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) using a hybrid process involving the sequential evaporation of Zn and sputtering of the sulfide precursors of Cu and Sn, followed by a selenization step. Two approaches for selenization were followed, one using a tubular furnace and the other using a rapid thermal processor. The effects of annealing conditions on the morphological and structural properties of the films were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed to investigate the morphology and composition of the films. Structural analyses were done using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Structural analyses revealed the formation of CZTSSe. This study shows that regardless of the selenization method a temperature above 450 °C is required for conversion of precursors to a compact CZTSSe layer. XRD and Raman analysis suggests that the films selenized in the tubular furnace are selenium rich whereas the samples selenized in the rapid thermal processor have higher sulfur content

Study of polycrystalline Cu2ZnSnS4 films by Raman scattering

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a p-type semiconductor that has been seen as a possible low-cost replacement for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 in thin film solar cells. So far compound has presented difficulties in its growth, mainly, because of the formation of secondary phases like ZnS, CuxSnSx+1, SnxSy, Cu2−xS and MoS2. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), which is mostly used for phase identification cannot resolve some of these phases from the kesterite/stannite CZTS and thus the use of a complementary technique is needed. Raman scattering analysis can help distinguishing these phases not only laterally but also in depth. Knowing the absorption coefficient and using different excitation wavelengths in Raman scattering analysis, one is capable of profiling the different phases present in multi-phase CZTS thin films. This work describes in a concise form the methods used to grow chalcogenide compounds, such as, CZTS, CuxSnSx+1, SnxSy and cubic ZnS based on the sulphurization of stacked metallic precursors. The results of the films’ characterization by XRD, electron backscatter diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques are presented for the CZTS phase. The limitation of XRD to identify some of the possible phases that can remain after the sulphurization process are investigated. The results of the Raman analysis of the phases formed in this growth method and the advantage of using this technique in identifying them are presented. Using different excitation wavelengths it is also analysed the CZTS film in depth showing that this technique can be used as non destructive methods to detect secondary phases

Probing the distribution of pharmaceutical compounds in cells using ToF-SIMS

The primary objective of this thesis is to describe the work that I have undertaken during my PhD, evaluating the applicability of Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to study intracellular drug distribution. ToF-SIMS, as a technique has been widely used to characterize inorganic1 and organic materials, or even unexpected mixtures of both. My objective is to determine if that can be extended to drug discovery, by identifying pharmaceutical drugs in biological matrices such as cells. In drug discovery, intracellular drug distribution is a subject of profound interest, as scientists need to know if the drug is reaching the target of interest, or if is having adverse off-target activity. However, the techniques currently used to inform on this do not provide a definitive answer to the question, as either spatial resolution or molecular properties are compromised. For example, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation (MALDI) cannot achieve sub-cellular spatial resolution4 and even the most advance microscopy applications are dependent on labels that might compromise the physical-chemical properties of a drug molecule. ToF-SIMS bridges the gap, as it has improved spatial resolution and the drug molecules are presented to the in vitro or in vivo system label free with minimal sample preparation. SIMS is also capable of providing three-dimensional information and even potential metabolomics information when OrbiSIMS is employed3.In this study, I describe the first time a drug molecule, amiodarone, was visualized inside a mammalian cell using ToF-SIMS, this work was published in 2015. I then extend that methodology to other cell lines, and compare the ToF-SIMS data with Liquid-Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry data. This study also considers the variability found within cell populations and how different cells have a range of amiodarone intensities, and therefore exhibit different incorporation rates despite being derived from the same clones; this work was published in 2017. This thesis then focuses on the applicability of ToF-SIMS to the analysis of other drug molecules and investigates if a compound’s physical-chemical properties can provide any indication of the ionisation efficiency of a pharmaceutical drug in ToF-SIMS, this work is currently being written for a peer reviewed publication. The last chapter concentrates on bacterial imaging using both ToF and Orbi SIMS; the former allows the visualization of a drug molecule inside the bacteria of interest and the latter allows lower resolution imaging but extraction of metabolomic information as a result of the high mass resolution, high mass accuracy data generated by the Orbitrap mass analyser

Simulação Em 3d Da Redução Da Fossa Posterior No Chiari Do Tipo I

We proposed a 3D model to evaluate the role of platybasia and clivus length in the development of Chiari I (CI). Using a computer aided design software, two DICOM files of a normal CT scan and MR were used to simulate different clivus lengths (CL) and also different basal angles (BA). The final posterior fossa volume (PFV) was obtained for each variation and the percentage of the volumetric change was acquired with the same method. The initial normal values of CL and BA were 35.65 mm and 112.66° respectively, with a total PFV of 209 ml. Ranging the CL from 34.65 to 29.65-24.65-19.65, there was a PFV decrease of 0.47%-1.12%-1.69%, respectively. Ranging the BA from 122.66° to 127.66°-142.66°, the PFV decreased 0.69%-3.23%, respectively. Our model highlights the importance of the basal angle and clivus length to the development of CI. © 2016, Associacao Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. All rights reserved.74540540

Longslit spectroscopy of the starburst galaxy HRG 02401

We investigate in detail the kinematics and morphology of the starburst galaxy HRG 02401. Our observational data were obtained at the 1.6-m OPD/LNA-MCT telescope with longslit spectroscopy. The original image has been enhanced to highlight some substructures and it has shown that HRG 02401 is in phase of active merging with a companion galaxy. The resulting tidal perturbations may have induced the apparent two-armed spiral pattern and driven a substantial fraction of disc gas inwards. We have been able to study the detailed picture of ionized gas motions up to galactocentric distances of 11 kpc and to construct the stellar velocity field for the inner region. Although the optical ring is quite narrow, H(alpha) emission is observed all the way through the center of the galaxy, indicating the presence of an extended gaseous disk. We have estimated nuclear redshift of z = 0.017, corresponding to a heliocentric velocity of 5,206 \pm 13.01 km s(-1). The errors in the  fluxes were mostly caused by uncertainties in the placement of the continuum level. Some other physical parameters have been derived whenever possible. All spectra were reduced and analyzed in a homogeneous way with the standard IRAF procedures

Longslit spectroscopy of the peculiar Seyfert 2 galaxy HRG 10103

We present the rst optical longslit spectroscopy for the galaxy HRG 10103, an Sa(r) type peculiar galaxy seen face-on with an asymmetrical elliptical structure. The main goal of this work is to provide the spectral classication of the current object using the `traditional' diagnostic diagrams. However, we also present a diagnostic involving the known emission line ratio R23, usually used to estimate the O/H abundance ratio. The idea is to make a better distinction between the narrow-line AGNs and the H II galaxies. The spectra were obtained in two observatories (OPD-LNA/MCT and Gemini-South) and includes some of the most important emission lines for ionization diagnostic. Based on the observed spectra, HRG 10103 is a Seyfert 2 galaxy with typical line-ratios values in the optical range. We have estimated nuclear redshift of z = 0.039. The resulting reddening values as a function of distance from the nucleus are presented too. The errors in the  fluxes were mostly caused by uncertainties in the placement of the continuum level. The rotation curve is typical of spiral disks, rising shallowly and  attening at an observed amplitude of about 200 km s^(-1). Some other physical parameters have been derived whenever possible. The spectroscopic data reduction was carried out using the GEMINI.GMOS package as well as the standard IRAF procedures

Novel biosensing device for point-of-care applications with plastic antibodies grown on Au-Screen Printed Electrodes

A gold screen printed electrode (Au-SPE) was modified by merging Molecular Imprinting and Self-Assembly Monolayer techniques for fast screening cardiac biomarkers in point-of-care (POC). For this purpose, Myoglobin (Myo) was selected as target analyte and its plastic antibody imprinted over a glutaraldehyde (Glu)/cysteamine (Cys) layer on the gold-surface. The imprinting effect was produced by growing a reticulated polymer of acrylamide (AAM) and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (NNMBA) around the Myo template, covalently attached to the biosensing surface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies were carried out in all chemical modification steps to confirm the surface changes in the Au-SPE. The analytical features of the resulting biosensor were studied by different electrochemical techniques, including EIS, square wave voltammetry (SWV) and potentiometry. The limits of detection ranged from 0.13 to 8 μg/mL. Only potentiometry assays showed limits of detection including the cut-off Myo levels. Quantitative information was also produced for Myo concentrations ≥0.2 μg/mL. The linear response of the biosensing device showed an anionic slope of ~70 mV per decade molar concentration up to 0.3 μg/mL. The interference of coexisting species was tested and good selectivity was observed. The biosensor was successfully applied to biological fluids