Particle size and potential toxic element speciation in municipal solid waste incineration (Mswi) bottom ash

The speciation of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in bottom ashes from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) and their relationship with grain size is investigated. The proposed enrichment of several potential toxic elements in lower sized grains is discussed, comparing the literature and new data on Parma’s waste incinerator. Results from X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), SEM-EDS, and XRD analyses on different grain size show (1) a positive Si-trend, correlated with grain size and few lithophile elements, such as Zr and Rb. In Parma, Al, K, Mg, and Fe also correlate with Si for the portion below 2 mm; (2) a Ca-trend, with a strong negative correlation with Si and a positive correlation with loss on ignition (LOI), S, Cl, Ti, Zn, Pb, and Sn. Mineralogical composition shows a little change in grain size, as in previous investigations, but with substantial differences in amorphous content. SEM-EDS analysis shows that the amorphous portion is highly heterogeneous, with portions coming from melting during incineration, residual glass, and unburnt loss on ignition (LOI). The above results show that PTE elements are either present as metals (such as Cu and Ni, or Zn, Pb and Sn) in carbonate, sulfate, and amorphous residual LOI portions

Analisi intervallare per modelli di selezione del portafoglio

Rapporto del Dipartimento di Matematica Applicata dell'Università di Venezi

Seismic assessment of unreinforced masonry structures: a coupled mesoscale-DMEM approach

A numerical investigation is performed to investigate the potential of a discrete macro-element coupled with a mesoscale approach for the seismic assessment of unreinforced masonry structures. At first, parametric analyses are performed on a U-shape stone masonry prototype. Nonlinear static analyses are performed to investigate parameters that affect the results when a mesoscale masonry pattern representation is adopted. Results prove the suitability of a mesoscale representation of unreinforced masonry structures through a discrete macro-element approach. Furhthermore, it is demonstrated that an irregular placement of masonry units’ have a significant role in the structural response, either from a strength and ductility standpoints, when compared to a regular and periodic distribution of units

Effects of pollen collection on colony development and in the bromatological composition Apis mellifera L. pupae

Africanized bees (Apis mellifera L.) were studied in the Botucatu region (São Paulo State), Brazil, from August to November, 1996, with the objective of quantifying pollen trapping and its effects on colony development and composition of worker bee pupae. Mean trapped pollen yield was 1.47 kg/beehive. Trapping had little effect on brood production, causing only a 9.7% reduction in total worker brood area and a 4.0% reduction in drone brood area, as compared to the treatment without pollen types. Pollen harvest did not affect the bromatological composition of worker pupae (white bodies and slightly pigmented eyes), mean values obtained for both treatments being 18.87% dry matter, 48.07% crude protein, 18.52% ether extract and 3.72% ash

Short stature caused by SHOX gene haploinsufficiency: from diagnosis to treatment

Estudos realizados em pacientes portadores de deleções parciais dos cromossomos sexuais permitiram a caracterização do SHOX, gene localizado na região pseudoautossômica no braço curto dos cromossomos sexuais, fundamental na determinação da altura normal. A perda de uma cópia deste gene na síndrome de Turner (ST) explica dois terços da baixa estatura observada nesta síndrome. A haploinsuficiência do SHOX é detectada em 77% dos pacientes com discondrosteose de Leri-Weill, uma forma comum de displasia esquelética de herança autossômica dominante e em 3% das crianças com baixa estatura idiopática (BEI), tornando os defeitos neste gene a principal causa monogênica de baixa estatura. A medida da altura sentada em relação à altura total (Z da AS/AT para idade e sexo) é uma forma simples de identificar a desproporção corpórea e, associada ao exame cuidadoso do paciente e de outros membros da família, auxilia na seleção de pacientes para o estudo molecular do SHOX. O uso de hormônio de crescimento (GH) está bem estabelecido na ST e em razão da causa comum da baixa estatura com o de crianças com defeitos isolados do SHOX o tratamento destes pacientes com GH é também proposto. Neste artigo será revisado os aspectos clínicos, moleculares e terapêuticos da haploinsuficiência do SHOX.Studies involving patients with short stature and partial deletion of sex chromosomes identified SHOX gene in the pseudoautosomal region of the X and Y chromosomes. SHOX haploinsufficiency is an important cause of short stature in a diversity of clinical conditions. It explains 2/3 of short stature observed in Turner syndrome (TS) patients. Heterozygous mutations in SHOX are observed in 77% of patients with Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis, a common dominant inherited skeletal dysplasia and in 3% of children with idiopathic short stature, indicating that SHOX defects are the most frequent monogenetic cause of short stature. The sitting height/height ratio (SH/H) standard deviation score is a simple way to assess body proportions and together with a careful exam of other family members, effectively selected a group of patients that presented a high frequency of SHOX mutations. Growth hormone treatment of short stature due to TS is well established and considering the common etiology of short stature in patients with isolated defects of SHOX gene, this treatment is also proposed for these patients. Here, we review clinical, molecular and therapeutic aspects of SHOX haploinsufficiency.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Bromatological and mineral compositions of collected pollen for africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in Botucatu, São Paulo State

The bromatological and mineral compositions of pollen collected by Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in the Botucatu region, São Paulo State, Brazil, from August to November, 1966, were investigated. The pollen collections from six beehives, at weekly intervals, lasted for seven consecutive days. Mean fresh pollen composition was: 75.9% dry matter, 26.2% crude protein (CP), 5.1% ether extract (EE), 2.6% ash, 1.1% crude fiber, 3.58% nitrogen, 0.43% phosphorus, 0.67% potassium, 0.26% calcium, 0.08% magnesium, 0.21% sulfur, 114.2 ppm iron, 88.4 ppm zinc, 15.0 ppm copper, 32.4 ppm manganese, and 9.9 ppm boron. Statistical analysis showed that pollen collected in October had the highest contents of CP, and of the elements P, S and Mn compared to the other months. According to cluster and principal components analyses for bromatological composition, the variables with most and least discriminatory power were the percentages of CP and EE, respectively. As to mineral composition, the most discriminatory variables were S, Mn, and N, while the least discriminatory were Mg, B, and K

Structure formation in poly(ethylene terephthalate) upon annealing as revealed by microindentation hardness and X-ray scattering

Abstract The micromechanical properties (microindentation hardness, H, elastic modulus, E) of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), isothermally crystallized at various temperatures (T a ) from the glassy state are determined to establish correlations with thermal properties and nanostructure. Analysis of melting temperature and crystal thickness derived from the interface distribution function analysis of SAXS data reveals that for T a !190 8C the occurrence of two lamellar stack populations prevails whereas for samples annealed at T a O190 8C a population of lamellar stacks with a unimodal thickness distribution emerges. The H and E-values exhibit a tendency to increase with the degree of crystallinity. The results support a correlation E/Hw20 in accordance with other previously reported data. The changes of microhardness with annealing temperature are discussed in terms of the crystallinity and crystalline lamellar thickness variation. Unusually high hardness values obtained for PET samples crystallized at T a Z190 8C are discussed in terms of the role of the rigid amorphous phase which offers for the hardness of amorphous layers constrained between lamellar stacks a value of H a w150 MPa. On the other hand, for T a Z 240 8C the decreasing H-tendency could be connected with the chemical degradation of the material at high temperature.