Artificially-aged cachaça samples characterised by direct infusion electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Direct infusion electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode [ESI()-MS] was employed to evaluate the authenticity of aged cachacas, a traditional and valuable Brazilian alcoholic beverage prepared from the distillation of brewed sugarcane juice and aged in barrels made of common woods. Counterfeit samples were prepared by adding dyes, sawdust or essences to a freshly-distiled, much less valuable sample (white cachaca) to simulate the 1-2 years long natural ageing in wooden barrels. A simple visual inspection revealed remarkable differences between the ESI()-MS of the authentic samples (aged in oak or amburana casks) and the artificially-aged counterfeit samples. A set of diagnostic ions were detectable in the ESI()-MS of the authentic samples aged in oak (m/z 197, 241, 301 and 307) and amburana (m/z 271 and 377/379). This fast and direct methodology seems useful as a routine procedure to monitor this highly profitable and common counterfeit practice. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Direct infusion electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode [ESI(−)-MS] was employed to evaluate the authenticity of aged cachaças, a traditional and valuable Brazilian alcoholic beverage prepared from the distillation of brewed sug1437781FAPEMIG - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAISFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)sem informaçãosem informaçãosem informaçã

Importância e encadeamento dos setores de produção e abate e processamento da cadeia suinícola em Minas Gerais

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a importância e os encadeamentos dos setores de produção e abate e processamento da cadeia suinícola em Minas Gerais, nos anos de 1980 e 1995, por meio dos índices de Rasmussen-Hirschman, do campo de influência e do índice puro de ligação (GHS). De acordo com os resultados, ambos os setores analisados foram considerados setores-chave com base apenas no índice de Rasmussen-Hirschman e no campo de influência, ou seja, apresentaram maior relevância quando considerados os seus impactos na demanda final e os seus poderes de encadeamento na economia. Apesar de não terem sido considerados setores-chave pelo GHS, os setores de produção e abate e processamento apresentaram grande potencialidade de impactos para trás. Em face desses resultados e dado que esses setores continuaram aumentando a sua participação na economia de Minas Gerais nos anos subseqüentes a 1995, tem-se indicação de que estes devam ter prioridade na alocação de recursos e na estratégia de promoções industriais por meio de políticas estaduais.<br>The main objective of this study was to establish the importance and the enchainment of the production sector and butchery/making up sector of pork chain in Minas Gerais, in the years of 1980 and 1995, applying the Rasmussen-Hirschman index, the influence field index and GHS index. The results showed that both sectors were considered key sectors only by the Rasmussen-Hirschman index and the influence field index, i.e., they presented greater importance when observed its impacts on the final demand and its power of enchainment in the economy. Despite not being considered key sectors by the GHS index, they presented great potential of backward impacts. This result, and the fact that the participation of these sectors had been increasing in the Minas Gerais economy since 1995, suggests that those sectors the state policy makers need to give priority in resources allocation and in the strategy for the industrial development

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora