Characterization of the magnetic interactions of multiphase magnetocaloric materials using first-order reversal curve analysis

In order to understand the magnetocaloric response of materials, it is important to analyze the interactions between the different phases present in them. Recent models have analyzed the influence of these interactions on the magnetocaloric response of composites, providing an estimate value of the interaction field that is consistent with experimental results. This paper analyzes to which extent magnetization first-order reversal curve (FORC) method can be used to calculate these interactions. It is shown that the different field ranges that are explored using these techniques (inside the hysteretic region for FORC; close to magnetic saturation for magnetocaloric effect) produce interaction field values that differ in order of magnitude, with FORC being sensitive to the lower values of the interaction field and magnetocaloric analysis accounting for the larger interactions

Trilobites en facies de lutitas oscuras del Miembro Alfarcito (Formación Santa Rosita, Furongiano alto-Ordovícico Inferior bajo) de la quebrada de Moya, Cordillera Oriental de Jujuy, Argentina

La Formación Santa Rosita (Furongiano tardío - Ordovícico Temprano) presenta una amplia distribución en la Cordillera Oriental del noroeste argentino. Su historia depositacional es compleja ya que incluye episodios transgresivos-regresivos de gran alcance, los cuales generaron una gama diversa de ambientes y facies sedimentarias. La quebrada de Moya constituye una localidad clásica de la unidad en la quebrada de Humahuaca (sierra de Tilcara, Jujuy), en la que se destacan las facies de lutitas oscuras del intervalo superior del Miembro Alfarcito. De estos niveles se describe una fauna de trilobites compuesta por Leptoplastides marianus (Hoek), Angelina? sp., Parabolinella sp. 1, Parabolinella sp. 2, Hapalopleura acantha Malanca y Brandán, Hapalopleura clavata Harrington y Leanza, y Asaphellus sp. Una calcarenita interestratificada en las limolitas contiene los conodontes Teridontus gallicus Serpagli, Ferretti, Nicoll y Serventi, Variabiloconus n. sp., Semiacontiodus minutus Zeballo, Albanesi y Ortega, y Problematoconites perforatus Müller, refiriendo a la Zona de Cordylodus angulatus (Tremadociano inferior). La edad ordovícica temprana está confirmada, además, por el registro del graptolito Rhabdinopora flabelliformis ssp. en una arenisca que subyace a los niveles estudiados. Las pelitas oscuras se acumularon por decantación durante períodos de máxima inundación. Análisis de difracción de rayos X revelaron la presencia de minerales opacos finamente particulados, lo que permite inferir deficiencia de oxígeno en el medio de sedimentación. La fauna de trilobites está dominada por L. marianus, seguida por olénidos bentónicos especialmente adaptados a vivir en condiciones disóxicas (Parabolinella). La morfología de Hapalopleura es interpretada, asimismo, como una adaptación a este último hábito. La parte superior del Miembro Alfarcito no exhibe facies oscuras en otros sectores de la sierra de Tilcara. Las características sedimentológicas de la sección descripta, la baja diversidad de la asociación de conodontes y la ausencia de trilobites agnóstidos podrían indicar condiciones de cierto aislamiento en este sector de la cuenca.Simposio I: 2º Simposio de Bioestratigrafía y Eventos del Paleozoico inferior.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Computational simulation of aerodynamic interaction between bodies for wind energy harvesting applications

Los dispositivos de cosecha de energía eólica representan una potencial alternativa a pequeñas baterías para alimentar dispositivos electrónicos de baja potencia, tales como sensores inalámbricos, transceptores de radiofrecuencia, cámaras, etc. Entre los mecanismos de cosecha de energía, se destacan los basados en los fenómenos aeroelásticos de flutter y de vibraciones inducidas por vórtices. En este artículo, se analiza el fenómeno de vibraciones inducidas por vórtices en un arreglo de dos cuerpos inmersos en una corriente de aire. Se emplea el software OpenFoam para realizar las simulaciones de CFD. Se analiza la influencia de la separación entre los cuerpos sobre la frecuencia y la amplitud de la potencia transferida por el fluido al cuerpo móvil. El fin de este estudio es cuantificar la potencialidad de estas configuraciones para su aplicación en la cosecha de energía eólica.Facultad de Ingenierí

Pain assessment in surgical patients with impaired cognition

Pain is considered the 5th vital sign and its measurement/assessment and records are required and must be systematic. Ineffective pain management involves complications in clinical status of patients, longer hospitalization times and higher costs with health. In the surgical patient with impaired cognition, hetero measurements should be made, based on behavioural and physiological indicators. We used to determine the efficacy and efficiency of the Observer Scale, the Abbey Pain Scale and Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD). Our study is an applied, non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive and analytical research. The data collection instrument consisted of patients’ sociodemographic and clinical data, the Observer Scale, the Abbey Pain Scale (Rodrigues, 2013) and PAINAD (Batalha et al., 2012). We assessed pain at an early phase and 45 minutes after an intervention for its relief. The sample is non-probabilistic for convenience, consisting of 76 surgical patients with impaired cognition, admitted to the surgery services of a central hospital, aged between 38 and 96 years. There was a positive correlation between the results of the three scales, most evident in the initial evaluation. Pain intensity in the same patient is higher when assessed with PAINAD (OM = 2.16) and lower when assessed with the Observer Scale (OM = 1.78). The most effective and efficient scale is PAINAD. Due to the small sample size, we suggest confirmatory studies so that the results can be generalized

Expanding The Knowledge On Lignocellulolytic And Redox Enzymes Of Worker And Soldier Castes From The Lower Termite Coptotermes Gestroi

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Termites are considered one of the most efficient decomposers of lignocelluloses on Earth due to their ability to produce, along with its microbial symbionts, a repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Recently, a set of Pro-oxidant, Antioxidant, and Detoxification enzymes (PAD) were also correlated with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lignin in termites. The lower termite Coptotermes gestroi is considered the main urban pest in Brazil, causing damage to wood constructions. Recently, analysis of the enzymatic repertoire of C. gestroi unveiled the presence of different CAZymes. Because the gene profile of CAZy/PAD enzymes endogenously synthesized by C. gestroi and also by their symbiotic protists remains unclear, the aim of this study was to explore the eukaryotic repertoire of these enzymes in worker and soldier castes of C. gestroi. Our findings showed that worker and soldier castes present similar repertoires of CAZy/PAD enzymes, and also confirmed that endo-glucanases (GH9) and beta-glucosidases (GH1) were the most important glycoside hydrolase families related to lignocellulose degradation in both castes. Classical cellulases such as exo-glucanases (GH7) and endo-glucanases (GH5 and GH45), as well as classical xylanases (GH10 and GH11), were found in both castes only taxonomically related to protists, highlighting the importance of symbiosis in C. gestroi. Moreover, our analysis revealed the presence of Auxiliary Activity enzyme families (AAs), which could be related to lignin modifications in termite digestomes. In conclusion, this report expanded the knowledge on genes and proteins related to CAZy/PAD enzymes from worker and soldier castes of lower termites, revealing new potential enzyme candidates for second-generation biofuel processes.7FAPESP (The State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation) [11/20977-3, 15/06971-3, 12/19040-0, 14/10351-8, 06/59086-8, 14/20576-7, 13/03061-0, 10/11469-1]National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [140796/2013-4][08/58037-9][14/50371-8][08/50114-4][310186/2014-5][442333/2014-5]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Functional characterization and target discovery of glycoside hydrolases from the digestome of the lower termite Coptotermes gestroi

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lignocellulosic materials have been moved towards the forefront of the biofuel industry as a sustainable resource. However, saccharification and the production of bioproducts derived from plant cell wall biomass are complex and lengthy processes. The understanding of termite gut biology and feeding strategies may improve the current state of biomass conversion technology and bioproduct production.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study herein shows comprehensive functional characterization of crude body extracts from <it>Coptotermes gestroi </it>along with global proteomic analysis of the termite's digestome, targeting the identification of glycoside hydrolases and accessory proteins responsible for plant biomass conversion. The crude protein extract from <it>C. gestroi </it>was enzymatically efficient over a broad pH range on a series of natural polysaccharides, formed by glucose-, xylose-, mannan- and/or arabinose-containing polymers, linked by various types of glycosidic bonds, as well as ramification types. Our proteomic approach successfully identified a large number of relevant polypeptides in the <it>C. gestroi </it>digestome. A total of 55 different proteins were identified and classified into 29 CAZy families. Based on the total number of peptides identified, the majority of components found in the <it>C. gestroi </it>digestome were cellulose-degrading enzymes. Xylanolytic enzymes, mannan- hydrolytic enzymes, pectinases and starch-degrading and debranching enzymes were also identified. Our strategy enabled validation of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry recognized proteins, by enzymatic functional assays and by following the degradation products of specific 8-amino-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulfonic acid labeled oligosaccharides through capillary zone electrophoresis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Here we describe the first global study on the enzymatic repertoire involved in plant polysaccharide degradation by the lower termite <it>C. gestroi</it>. The biochemical characterization of whole body termite extracts evidenced their ability to cleave all types of glycosidic bonds present in plant polysaccharides. The comprehensive proteomic analysis, revealed a complete collection of hydrolytic enzymes including cellulases (GH1, GH3, GH5, GH7, GH9 and CBM 6), hemicellulases (GH2, GH10, GH11, GH16, GH43 and CBM 27) and pectinases (GH28 and GH29).</p

Description and evaluation of the Earth System Regional Climate Model (Reg CM-ES)

We describe a new, state-of-the-art, Earth System Regional Climate Model (RegCM-ES), which includes the coupling between the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface, as well as a hydrological and ocean biogeochemistry model, with the capability of using a variety of physical parameterizations. The regional coupled model has been implemented and tested over some of the COordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) domains and more regional settings featuring climatically important coupled phenomena. Regional coupled ocean-atmosphere models can be especially useful tools to provide information on the mechanisms of air-sea interactions and feedbacks occurring at fine spatial and temporal scales. RegCM-ES shows a good representation of precipitation and SST fields over the domains tested, as well as realistic simulations of coupled air-sea processes and interactions. The RegCM-ES model, which can be easily implemented over any regional domain of interest, is open source, making it suitable for usage by the broad scientific community

Lateral hypothalamic activity indicates hunger and satiety states in humans

Lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded in a Prader–Willi patient undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for obesity. During hunger, exposure to food-related cues induced an increase in beta/ low-gamma activity. In contrast, recordings during satiety were marked by prominent alpha rhythms. Based on these findings, we have delivered alphafrequency DBS prior to and during food intake. Despite reporting an early sensation of fullness, the patient continued to crave food. This suggests that the pattern of activity in LHA may indicate hunger/satiety states in humans but attest to the complexity of conducting neuromodulation studies in obesity

Sistema de Previsão da Qualidade do Ar para o Vale do Paraíba

Sistema de previsão da qualidade do ar para oVale do Paraíb