Used frying oil biodiesel production: experimental factorial design and multivariate analysis

<div align="justify">Biodiesel é derivado de fontes renováveis ereduz significativamente as emissões atmosféricas. Pode serobtido de diversos processos, como a alcoolise. Nestetrabalho, o biodiesel foi produzido através da alcoolise doóleo de fritura usado de indústrias de alimentação. Umplanejamento experimental foi utilizado e os produtos dereação foram analisados por cromatografia gasosa (CG)espectroscopia na região do infravermelho com acessório dereflexão total atenuada horizontal (IV-HATR) e análiseexploratória por análise de componentes principais (PCA) eanálise hierárquica de grupos (HCA). De acordo com ascondições analisadas obteve-se alta conversão em ésteresmetílicos. Por IV-HATR, a conversão máxima foi observadaem condições experimentais de temperatura ( 50 e 60°C),concentração de catalisador (0,6 e 1,2%) e a 1:8 de relaçãomolar entre óleo e metanol. Também foi possíveldiscriminar por análise quimiométrica, 4 grupos noplanejamento experimental e determinar as melhorescondições para a produção de biodiesel de óleo de friturausado.<br><br>Abstract Biodiesel is derived from renewable sources and it significantly reduces atmospheric emissions. It can be obtained byseveral processes, such as alcoholysis. In this work, biodiesel was produced through alcoholysis of used frying oil from a cateringbusiness. An experimental factorial design was used and the reaction products were analyzed through gas chromatography (GC),horizontal attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (HATR/FT-IR) spectroscopy and exploratory analysis withprincipal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Under the conditions analyzed, a high degree ofconversion to methyl ester was found. As shown by HATR/FT-IR, the maximum conversion was obtained when the experimentalconditions had the temperature ( 50 e 60°C), largest catalyst concentration (0,6 e 1,2%) and a 1:8 molar proportion of oil tomethanol. It was possible to discriminate, through chemometrics analysis, four groups in the proposed experimental factorialdesign and determine the better condition for biodiesel production from used frying oil.</div

HETEROGENEIDADE AMBIENTAL E VARIAÇÃO FLORÍSTICO-ESTRUTURAL EM UM FRAGMENTO DE FLORESTA COM ARAUCÁRIA NA COXILHA RICA -

The present study aimed to verify the relationships between tree species organization and environmental variables in a fragment of Araucaria Forest. To do so, in the locality of Coxilha Rica, in the region called “Planalto Sul Catarinense” region, a total of 50 plots of 200 m2 were allocated in a forest fragment, where all living trees with CAP (circumference at breast height, measured at 1.30 m above ground) greater than or equal to 15.7 cm were sampled, measured and identified. Environmental variables related to the terrain, canopy cover and soil chemical and physical properties were obtained for each plot. Phytosociological estimators were calculated and the plots ordinated in function of species abundance by NMDS analyze (Nonmetric multidimensional scalling). Then, the environmental variables were fitted to the produced ordination, being those significant variables (p ≤ 0.01) plotted as vectors. A total of 1,447 individuals, distributed in 69 species were sampled. Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC. was the most relative important species (10.43% of IV). Drimys brasiliensis Miers stood out in steeper areas, with higher elevation and with less fertile soils, with greater values of OM, Al and Na. Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) LB Sm & Downs and others stood out in flat areas, with more fertile soils and low content of OM, Al and Na. We concluded that terrain and soil chemical properties represent an important source of floristic-structural heterogeneity in the study fragment.O presente estudo objetivou verificar a relação entre a organização da comunidade arbórea e variáveis ambientais em um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista. Para isso, na localidade da Coxilha Rica, no planalto sul catarinense, foram alocadas 50 parcelas de 200 m2 em um fragmento florestal, no qual foram amostrados, medidos (circunferência a altura peito, CAP) e identificados todos os indivíduos arbóreos vivos que apresentaram CAP igual ou superior a 15,7 cm. Em cada parcela, foram obtidas as variáveis ambientais: topografia, cobertura do dossel e características químicas e físicas dos solos. Foram calculados os estimadores fitossociológicos e ordenadas as parcelas em função da abundância das espécies, por meio da análise NMDS (Nonmetric multidimensional scalling). Em seguida, foi realizado ajuste entre a ordenação produzida e as variáveis ambientais, com as variáveis significativas (p ≤ 0,01) plotadas na forma de vetores. Foram amostrados 1.447 indivíduos, distribuídos em 69 espécies. Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC. foi a espécie de maior valor de importância (VI=10,43%). Nas áreas com terreno mais declivoso, com maiores cotas altimétricas médias e com solos menos férteis, com maiores teores de MO, Al e Na, destacou-se a presença, entre outras espécies, de Drimys brasiliensis Miers. Nas áreas com o terreno mais plano e solos com maior fertilidade e menores teores de MO, Al e Na, foi comum Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) L.B. Sm. & Downs. Conclui-se que a topografia e as características químicas dos solos foram determinantes para a heterogeneidade florístico-estrutural no fragmento estudado

ENVIRONMENTAL HETEROGENETY AND FLORISTIC-STRUCTURAL VARIATION IN A ARAUCARIA FOREST FRAGMENT IN COXILHA RICA, SANTA CATARINA STATE

O presente estudo objetivou verificar a rela\ue7\ue3o entre a organiza\ue7\ue3o da comunidade arb\uf3rea e vari\ue1veis ambientais em um fragmento de Floresta Ombr\uf3fila Mista. Para isso, na localidade da Coxilha Rica, no planalto sul catarinense, foram alocadas 50 parcelas de 200 m2 em um fragmento florestal, no qual foram amostrados, medidos (circunfer\ueancia a altura peito, CAP) e identificados todos os indiv\uedduos arb\uf3reos vivos que apresentaram CAP igual ou superior a 15,7 cm. Em cada parcela, foram obtidas as vari\ue1veis ambientais: topografia, cobertura do dossel e caracter\uedsticas qu\uedmicas e f\uedsicas dos solos. Foram calculados os estimadores fitossociol\uf3gicos e ordenadas as parcelas em fun\ue7\ue3o da abund\ue2ncia das esp\ue9cies, por meio da an\ue1lise NMDS (Nonmetric multidimensional scalling). Em seguida, foi realizado ajuste entre a ordena\ue7\ue3o produzida e as vari\ue1veis ambientais, com as vari\ue1veis significativas (p 64 0,01) plotadas na forma de vetores. Foram amostrados 1.447 indiv\uedduos, distribu\ueddos em 69 esp\ue9cies. Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC. foi a esp\ue9cie de maior valor de import\ue2ncia (VI=10,43%). Nas \ue1reas com terreno mais declivoso, com maiores cotas altim\ue9tricas m\ue9dias e com solos menos f\ue9rteis, com maiores teores de MO, Al e Na, destacou-se a presen\ue7a, entre outras esp\ue9cies, de Drimys brasiliensis Miers. Nas \ue1reas com o terreno mais plano e solos com maior fertilidade e menores teores de MO, Al e Na, foi comum Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) L.B. Sm. &amp; Downs. Conclui-se que a topografia e as caracter\uedsticas qu\uedmicas dos solos foram determinantes para a heterogeneidade flor\uedstico-estrutural no fragmento estudado.The present study aimed to verify the relationships between tree species organization and environmental variables in a fragment of Araucaria Forest. To do so, in the locality of Coxilha Rica, in the region called \u201cPlanalto Sul Catarinense\u201d region, a total of 50 plots of 200 m2 were allocated in a forest fragment, where all living trees with CAP (circumference at breast height, measured at 1.30 m above ground) greater than or equal to 15.7 cm were sampled, measured and identified. Environmental variables related to the terrain, canopy cover and soil chemical and physical properties were obtained for each plot. Phytosociological estimators were calculated and the plots ordinated in function of species abundance by NMDS analyze (Nonmetric multidimensional scalling). Then, the environmental variables were fitted to the produced ordination, being those significant variables (p 64 0.01) plotted as vectors. A total of 1,447 individuals, distributed in 69 species were sampled. Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC. was the most relative important species (10.43% of IV). Drimys brasiliensis Miers stood out in steeper areas, with higher elevation and with less fertile soils, with greater values of OM, Al and Na. Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) LB Sm &amp; Downs and others stood out in flat areas, with more fertile soils and low content of OM, Al and Na. We concluded that terrain and soil chemical properties represent an important source of floristic-structural heterogeneity in the study fragment

Floristic-structural variations of a tree community associated to edge distance in a forest patch in “Planalto Sul Catarinense” region

Com o propósito de comparar a organização florístico-estrutural de uma comunidade de espécies arbóreas nos setores de borda e interior em um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista localizado no município de Lages, SC, foi realizado um levantamento vegetacional em cinco transeções de 100 x 20 m, subdivididas em parcelas de 10 x 20 m, perpendiculares à borda do fragmento. Todas as árvores com circunferência na altura do peito (CAP) ≥ 15,7 cm foram mensuradas (CAP e altura) e determinadas. Os dados foram analisados por meio do índice de valor de importância (IVI), da análise de correspondência retificada (DCA), da análise de variância multivariada não paramétrica (NPMANOVA), dos valores médios de abundância, área basal, altura, riqueza, diversidade e equabilidade e da frequência de indivíduos em classes de diâmetro e altura. Apesar de tanto o setor borda quando o interior apresentarem Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze e Lithraea brasilisiensis Marchand entre as espécies de maior IVI, houve substituição nas demais posições de IVI, que refletiu na variação da organização da comunidade entre os setores (p = 0,022), também observada na DCA. Em relação aos valores médios das demais variáveis mensuradas, não foram encontradas diferenças. Conclui-se que a borda representara uma importante fonte de heterogeneidade florístico-estrutural no fragmento estudado.Palavras-chave: Fragmentação; floresta com araucárias; espécies arbóreas. AbstractFloristic-structural variations of a tree community associated to edge distance in a forest patch in “Planalto Sul Catarinense” region. In order to compare the floristic-structural organization of a tree species community in an Araucaria Forest patch, in the municipality of Lages, SC, a phytossociological survey was conducted in five 100 x 20 m transections, subdivided into 10 x 20 m plots, perpendicular to the patch edges. It were measured and determined all trees with circumference at breast height (dbh) ≥ 15,7 (cbh and height). The data were analyzed by the importance value index (IVI), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA); non-parametric multivariate analyze of variance (NPMANOVA); mean values of abundance, basal area, tree height, richness, diversity and evenness; and frequency of individuals within diameter and height classes. Although both sectors had Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze and Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand among the species with the highest IVI values, there was a turnover in other IVI positions, which reflected in the variation of tree species organization among sectors (p=0.022), also observed in DCA. Related to community structure (mean values of abundance and tree height and individuals frequency in size classes), no differences were detected. We conclude that edges represented an important source of floristic-structural heterogeneity in the studied patch.Keywords: Fragmentation; araucaria forest; tree species.In order to compare the floristic-structural organization of a tree species community in an Araucaria Forest patch, in the municipality of Lages, SC, a phytossociological survey was conducted in five 100 x 20 m transections, subdivided into 10 x 20 m plots, perpendicular to the patch edges. It were measured and determined all trees with circumference at breast height (dbh) ≥ 15,7 (cbh and height). The data were analyzed by the importance value index (IVI), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA); non-parametric multivariate analyze of variance (NPMANOVA); mean values of abundance, basal area, tree height, richness, diversity and evenness; and frequency of individuals within diameter and height classes. Although both sectors had Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze and Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand among the species with the highest IVI values, there was a turnover in other IVI positions, which reflected in the variation of tree species organization among sectors (p=0.022), also observed in DCA. Related to community structure (mean values of abundance and tree height and individuals frequency in size classes), no differences were detected. We conclude that edges represented an important source of floristic-structural heterogeneity in the studied patch

Diversity and regeneration guilds of tree species in an edge of a natural forest in contact with a pinus plantation.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar a influência do efeito borda sobre a diversidade e a participação de diferentes guildas de regeneração em um fragmento florestal nativo em contato com reflorestamento de pínus. Para isso, foram amostrados o estrato arbóreo adulto (DAP - diâmetro à altura do peito ≥ 5 cm) e regenerante (altura maior que 15 cm e DAP < 5 cm) em cinco transeções de 20 x 100 m perpendiculares à borda do fragmento. Cada transeção foi subdividida em cinco subparcelas de 20 x 20 m, definindo-se os setores representando o gradiente borda-interior: 0-20 m, 20-40 m, 40-60 m, 60-80 m e 80-100 m. As espécies foram classificadas em guildas de regeneração: pioneira, clímax exigente em luz e clímax tolerante a sombra. Foram determinadas a diversidade (Índice de Shannon) e a abundância das guildas em cada setor e estrato. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste t de Hutcheson e teste de proporção. Enquanto que no estrato adulto não houve variações na diversidade ao longo do gradiente borda-interior, no componente regenerativo a maior diversidade foi observada na borda (0-20 m). Apenas no estrato adulto foram observadas variações na participação relativa das guildas, com maior concentração de indivíduos de pioneiras nos primeiros 40 m.Palavras-chave: Ecologia; fragmentação de hábitats; Floresta Ombrófila Mista. AbstractDiversity and regeneration guilds of tree species in an edge of a natural forest in contact with a pinus plantation. The objective of the present study was to verify the influence of edge-effect on diversity and regeneration guilds participation in a forest fragment in contact with a Pinus plantation. For this, the adult (dbh - diameter at breast height≥5 cm) and regenerative (height higher than 15 and dbh<5 cm) components were sampled in five, 20×100 m, transects perpendiculars to the edge of a fragment. Each transect was subdivided in five, 20×20 m, subplots, defining the following sectors representing the edge-interior gradient: 0-20 m, 20-40 m, 40-60 m, 60-80 m and 80-100 m. The species were classified according to the following regeneration guilds: pioneer, light demanding climax and shade tolerant climax. The diversity (Shannon Index) and guilds abundance in each sector were determined. The data were analyzed by Hutcheson t test and proportion test. While no variation was observed for the adult component, the highest of diversity was observed in the edge (0-20 m) for the regenerative component. Variations along the edge gradient of the relative participation of guilds were observed only for adults, with a concentration of Pioneer within the first 40 m.Keywords: Ecology; habitat fragmentation; Araucaria Forest.The objective of the present study was to verify the influence of edge-effect on diversity and regeneration guilds participation in a forest fragment in contact with a Pinus plantation. For this, the adult (dbh - diameter at breast height≥5 cm) and regenerative (height higher than 15 and dbh<5 cm) components were sampled in five, 20×100 m, transects perpendiculars to the edge of a fragment. Each transect was subdivided in five, 20×20 m, subplots, defining the following sectors representing the edge-interior gradient: 0-20 m, 20-40 m, 40-60 m, 60-80 m and 80-100 m. The species were classified according to the following regeneration guilds: pioneer, light demanding climax and shade tolerant climax. The diversity (Shannon Index) and guilds abundance in each sector were determined. The data were analyzed by Hutcheson t test and proportion test. While no variation was observed for the adult component, the highest of diversity was observed in the edge (0-20 m) for the regenerative component. Variations along the edge gradient of the relative participation of guilds were observed only for adults, with a concentration of Pioneer within the first 40 m.Keywords: Ecology; habitat fragmentation; Araucaria Forest

US Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter 2017: Community Report

This white paper summarizes the workshop "U.S. Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter" held at University of Maryland on March 23-25, 2017.Comment: 102 pages + reference

Noncoding deletions reveal a gene that is critical for intestinal function.

Large-scale genome sequencing is poised to provide a substantial increase in the rate of discovery of disease-associated mutations, but the functional interpretation of such mutations remains challenging. Here we show that deletions of a sequence on human chromosome 16 that we term the intestine-critical region (ICR) cause intractable congenital diarrhoea in infants1,2. Reporter assays in transgenic mice show that the ICR contains a regulatory sequence that activates transcription during the development of the gastrointestinal system. Targeted deletion of the ICR in mice caused symptoms that recapitulated the human condition. Transcriptome analysis revealed that an unannotated open reading frame (Percc1) flanks the regulatory sequence, and the expression of this gene was lost in the developing gut of mice that lacked the ICR. Percc1-knockout mice displayed phenotypes similar to those observed upon ICR deletion in mice and patients, whereas an ICR-driven Percc1 transgene was sufficient to rescue the phenotypes found in mice that lacked the ICR. Together, our results identify a gene that is critical for intestinal function and underscore the need for targeted in vivo studies to interpret the growing number of clinical genetic findings that do not affect known protein-coding genes

A united statement of the global chiropractic research community against the pseudoscientific claim that chiropractic care boosts immunity.

BACKGROUND: In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) posted reports claiming that chiropractic care can impact the immune system. These claims clash with recommendations from the World Health Organization and World Federation of Chiropractic. We discuss the scientific validity of the claims made in these ICA reports. MAIN BODY: We reviewed the two reports posted by the ICA on their website on March 20 and March 28, 2020. We explored the method used to develop the claim that chiropractic adjustments impact the immune system and discuss the scientific merit of that claim. We provide a response to the ICA reports and explain why this claim lacks scientific credibility and is dangerous to the public. More than 150 researchers from 11 countries reviewed and endorsed our response. CONCLUSION: In their reports, the ICA provided no valid clinical scientific evidence that chiropractic care can impact the immune system. We call on regulatory authorities and professional leaders to take robust political and regulatory action against those claiming that chiropractic adjustments have a clinical impact on the immune system

Farmacologia clínica da doença de Parkinson: Clinical pharmacology of Parkinson's disease

As patologias neurodegenerativas cursam com depleção progressiva e irreversível dos neurônios existentes em regiões específicas do cérebro. A Doença de Parkinson (DP) é um protótipo, na qual o extravio neuronal do hipocampo e do córtex resulta em déficit de memória e disfunção cognitiva. O seguinte artigo objetivou descrever de modo narrativo as considerações clínicas da doença de Parkinson que justifiquem a ação farmacológica dos fármacos empregados em sua terapêutica. Atualmente, a intervenção farmacológica e a cirúrgica não são capazes de reverter o quadro clínico, mas evitam a progressão da morbimortalidade da DP. O tratamento é individual, baseado na reação específica, o quadro clínico, resposta farmacológica e aspectos socioeconômicos, ocupacionais e emocionais. A finalidade se baseia em perpetuar a autonomia e funcionalidade, o máximo de tempo possível. A escolha dos fármacos mais apropriados para cada paciente e o início do tratamento e o acompanhamento ao longo da evolução são etapas difíceis. Devido a cronicidade, o tratamento deve continuar por toda a vida, considerando que os fármacos e suas doses mudam com o tempo, o surgimento de efeitos adversos