Combustion of Metals in Reduced-Gravity and Extra Terrestrial Environments

The combustion of metals is a field with important practical applications in rocket propellants, high-temperature flames, and material synthesis. Also, the safe operation of metal containers in high-pressure oxygen systems and with cryogenic fuels and oxidizers remains an important concern in industry. The increasing use of metallic components in spacecraft and space structures has also raised concerns about their flammability properties and fire suppression mechanisms. In addition, recent efforts to embark on unmanned and manned planetary exploration, such as on Mars, have also renewed the interest in metal/carbon-dioxide combustion as an effective in situ resource utilization technology. In spite of these practical applications, the understanding of the combustion properties of metals remains far behind that of the most commonly used fuels such as hydrocarbons. The lack of understanding is due to the many problems unique to metal- oxidizer reactions such as: low-temperature surface oxidation prior to ignition, heterogeneous reactions, very high combustion temperatures, product condensation, high emissivity of products, and multi-phase interactions. Very few analytical models (all neglecting the influence of gravity) have been developed to predict the burning characteristics and the flame structure details. Several experimental studies attempting to validate these models have used small metal particles to recreate gravity-free conditions. The high emissivity of the flames, rapid reaction, and intermittent explosions experienced by these particles have made the gathering of any useful information on burning rates and flame structure very difficult. The use of a reduced gravity environment is needed to clarify some of the complex interactions among the phenomena described above. First, the elimination of the intrusive buoyant flows that plague all combustion phenomena is of paramount importance in metal reactions due to the much higher temperatures reached during combustion. Second, a low-gravity environment is absolutely essential to remove the destructive effect of gravity on the shape of a molten metal droplet in order to study a spherically symmetric condition with large bulk samples. The larger size of the spherical metal droplet and the longer burning times available in reduced gravity extend the spatial and temporal dimensions to permit careful probing of the flame structure and dynamics. Third, the influence of the radiative heat transfer from the solid oxides can be studied more carefully by generating a stagnant spherical shell of condensed products undisturbed by buoyancy

Avaliação de cultivares de mandioca na Região Noroeste do Paraná Evaluation of cassava cultivars in Northwest Region of Paraná State, Brazil

As cultivares de mandioca IAC 12, IAC 13, IAC 14, Fécula Branca, Espeto, Branca-de-Santa Catarina, Fibra, Verdinha e Mico foram avaliadas quanto à produção de raízes, parte aérea, teores de matéria seca e resistência à bacteriose, nos anos agrícolas 1994/95, 1995/96 e 1996/97, na localidade de Araruna, noroeste do Paraná. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Na análise conjunta verificou-se efeito significativo (P < 0,05) da interação cultivares vs. anos para todas as características avaliadas. Apesar da interação foi possível concluir, de modo geral, que as maiores produções de parte aérea foram obtidas na cultivar IAC 14. Em relação à produção de raízes tuberosas as cultivares Fécula Branca, Mico, Fibra, Espeto, IAC 14 e Verdinha mostraram-se mais produtivas na média dos três anos. As cultivares IAC 14, Fécula Branca, IAC 13 e IAC 12 apresentaram os maiores teores de matéria seca nas raízes tuberosas. Quanto à bacteriose as cultivares Mico, IAC 14 e Fécula Branca mostraram-se mais resistentes.<br>Nine cassava cultivars IAC 12, IAC 13, IAC 14, Fécula Branca, Espeto, Branca-de-Santa Catarina, Fibra, Verdinha and Mico were evaluated for roots and branches productivity, dry matter contents and bacterium resistance. The trials were carried out during the years of 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97, in Araruna, Northwest Region of Paraná State, Brazil. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. In the joint analyses, the cultivar vs. year interaction effect was significant (P < 0,05) for all the characteristics evaluated. In spite of that, it was possible to conclude that IAC 14 and Fécula Branca had the highest branch yield and root yield, respectively. The cultivars IAC 14, Fécula Branca, IAC 13 and IAC 12 presented the highest root dry matter contents. Mico, IAC 14 and Fécula Branca showed the highest bacterium resistance

Current threats faced by Neotropical parrot populations

Berkunsky I, Quillfeldt P, Brightsmith DJ, et al. Current threats faced by Neotropical parrot populations. Biological Conservation. 2017;214:278-287.Psittaciformes (parrots, cockatoos) are among the most endangered birds, with 31% of Neotropical species under threat. The drivers of this situation appear to be manifold and mainly of anthropogenic origin. However, this assessment is based on the last extensive consultation about the conservation situation of parrots carried out in the 1990s. Given the rapid development of anthropogenic threats, updated data are needed to strategize conservation actions. Using a population approach, we addressed this need through a wide-ranging consultation involving biologists, wildlife managers, government agencies and non-governmental conservation organizations. We gathered up-to-date information on threats affecting 192 populations of 96 Neotropical parrot species across 21 countries. Moreover, we investigated associations among current threats and population trends. Many populations were affected by multiple threats. Agriculture, Capture for the Pet Trade, Logging, each of them affected > 55% of the populations, suggesting a higher degree of risk than previously thought. In contrast to previous studies at the species level, our study showed that the threat most closely associated with decreasing population trends is now Capture for the local Pet Trade. Other threats associated with decreasing populations include Small-holder Farming, Rural Population Pressure, Nest Destruction by Poachers, Agro-industry Grazing, Small-holder Grazing, and Capture for the international Pet Trade. Conservation actions have been implemented on < 20% of populations. Our results highlight the importance of a population-level approach in revealing the extent of threats to wild populations. It is critical to increase the scope of conservation actions to reduce the capture of wild parrots for pets