Sistema para produção de tinta de impressão utilizando resina obtida de óleo residual

Trabalho de conclusão de curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Química, 2016.Óleos e gorduras residuais destinados inadequadamente podem causar grandes problemas ambientais. Por isso há a necessidade de reciclá-los, utilizando-os na produção de outros produtos. Uma possibilidade é a produção de resina polimérica a partir de óleos residuais de fritura, que pode ser utilizada para a produção de tintas. Neste trabalho realizou-se um dimensionamento de um sistema de produção de tinta off set, conforme formulação testada em escala de bancada por MELLO, OLIVEIRA e SUAREZ (2013), utilizando resinas poliméricas obtidas a partir de óleos e gorduras residuais. Considerou-se um sistema com capacidade mensal de produção de 13.200 litros de tinta. Os principais equipamentos dimensionados e selecionados foram os envolvidos nos processos de preparo do pigmento; dispersão, moagem, agitação para a incorporação do pigmento na resina, a filtração e por fim o envasamento da tinta em galões para posteriormente ser comercializada

Contenido de azúcares en variedades de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L.) para etanol en el centro de Chiapas, México

Objective: The objective was to evaluate varieties of sweet sorghum for their sugar content and stability in different environments. Design/methodology/approximation: The experiments were established in the localities of Ocozocoautla and Suchiapa of the Center of Chiapas during the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. The varieties RB-Cañaveral, RB-Tehua, RB-Cañero, RB-Norteño, RB-Paloma and Fortuna were evaluated, under the experimental design of randomized complet blocks with four repetitions. The sugar conten (°Brix) in the phenological stages of flowering and physiological maturity of the grain was quantified. A combined analysis of variance was modeled using the site regression method (SREG). Results: The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences (P<0.01) between environments, varieties and for genotype x environment interaction. In the flowering stage, the varieties RB Cañaveral and Fortuna stood out with 15.92 and 14.28 °Brix; while in physiological maturity of the grain the varieties RB-Cañaveral, Fortuna, RB-Paloma and RB-Tehua stood out with values of 17.9, 15.86, 14.82 and 14.69 °Brix, respectively. Limitatons of the study/implications: It is desirable to promote these varieties in environments with drought problems in the Center of Chiapas.Finding/Conclusions: The varieties RB-Cañaveral and Fortuna were the ones that produced the highest sugar content on average of the five environments. The RB-Cañaveral variety showed stability through the environments for the production of sugar.Objetivo: evaluar variedades de sorgo dulce (Sorghum bicolor L.) por su contenido de azúcares y estabilidad en ambientes diferentes. Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Los experimentos se establecieron en las localidades de Ocozocoautla y Suchiapa del Centro de Chiapas durante los años 2015, 2016 y 2017.  Se evaluaron las variedades RB-Cañaveral, RB-Tehua, RB-Cañero, RB-Huasteco, RB-Norteño, RB-Paloma y Fortuna, bajo el diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Se cuantificó el contenido de azúcares (°Brix) en las etapas fenológicas de floración y madurez fisiológica del grano. Se realizó un análisis de varianza combinado. La interacción genotipo ambiente y la estabilidad de la producción de azúcares se modeló con el método de regresión en los sitios (SREG). Resultados: El análisis de varianza mostró diferencias altamente significativas (P<0.01) entre los ambientes, variedades y para la interacción genotipo x ambiente. En la etapa de floración destacaron las variedades RB-Cañaveral y Fortuna con 15.92 y 14.28 °Brix; mientras que en madurez fisiológica del grano sobresalieron las variedades RB-Cañaveral, Fortuna, RB-Paloma y RB-Tehua con valores de 17.9, 15.86, 14.82 y 14.69 °Brix, respectivamente. Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: Es deseable la promoción de estas variedades en ambientes con problemas de sequía del Centro de Chiapas. Conclusiones: Las variedades RB-Cañaveral y Fortuna fueron las que produjeron mayor contenido de azúcares en promedio de los cinco ambientes. La variedad RB-Cañaveral mostró estabilidad a través de los ambientes para la producción de azúcares

A Low-Cost Visible Light Positioning System for Indoor Positioning

Currently, a high percentage of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this proportion will increase in the coming decades. In this context, indoor positioning systems (IPSs) have been a topic of great interest for researchers. On the other hand, Visible Light Communication (VLC) systems have advantages over RF technologies; for instance, they do not need satellite signals or the absence of electromagnetic interference to achieve positioning. Nowadays, in the context of Indoor Positioning (IPS), Visible Light Positioning (VLP) systems have become a strong alternative to RF-based systems, allowing the reduction in costs and time to market. This paper shows a low cost VLP solution for indoor systems. This includes multiple programmable beacons and a receiver which can be plugged to a smartphone running a specific app. The position information will be quickly and securely available through the interchange between the receiver and any configurable LED-beacon which is strategically disposed in an area. The implementation is simple, inexpensive, and no direct communication with any data server is required.This research was funded by INDRA-Adecco Foundation Chair on Accessible Technology, Comunidad de Madrid and the FSE/FEDER Program under grant SINFOTON2-CM (S2018/NMT-4326) and the UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID under grant 2020/00038/001

Amyloid β, lipid metabolism, basal cholinergic system, and therapeutics in Alzheimer\u27s disease

The presence of insoluble aggregates of amyloid β (Aβ) in the form of neuritic plaques (NPs) is one of the main features that define Alzheimer\u27s disease. Studies have suggested that the accumulation of these peptides in the brain significantly contributes to extensive neuronal loss. Furthermore, the content and distribution of cholesterol in the membrane have been shown to have an important effect on the production and subsequent accumulation of Aβ peptides in the plasma membrane, contributing to dysfunction and neuronal death. The monomeric forms of these membrane-bound peptides undergo several conformational changes, ranging from oligomeric forms to beta-sheet structures, each presenting different levels of toxicity. Aβ peptides can be internalized by particular receptors and trigger changes from Tau phosphorylation to alterations in cognitive function, through dysfunction of the cholinergic system. The goal of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the role of lipids in Alzheimer\u27s disease and their relationship with the basal cholinergic system, as well as potential disease-modifying therapies

Assessing site quality using the National Forest Inventory

A pre-print version of the same manuscript is also available, which entitles "Assessing site quality using the National Forest Inventory"Sustainable production of wood is one of the main services provided by forest systems. Site productivity in the case of forests is often evaluated through the site quality. However, most of the works addressing the site quality have been done at local or regional scale. In this work, we aim to develop site quality models for five dominant species in Spanish forests (Fagus sylvatica, Pinus pinaster atlantica, Quercus pyrenaica, Pinus nigra, Pinus sylvestris) and create site quality maps at a national-scale from these models. First, we develop site quality models using site form (height-diameter relationship) as the reference index and the Spanish National Forest Inventory as dataset. Then, we fit spatial additive models entering physiographic and climatic variables in order to predict the site quality over the whole country. Additionally, we plot site form maps for the five species in order to describe spatial pattern in site quality at a national scale. Altitude and aspect appeared to be fundamental variables in the assessment of site quality. The accuracy of the spatial additive models ranged from 38.2% to 47.9%. The correspondence between the predicted and observed maps of site qualities is clear. Our results provide a tool which could be used by forest managers in land use planning as well as in forest policy decision-making at a national scale. We suggest that this method could be used in other countries and that the maps could be expanded to the European scale to assessing the way in which site quality varies across Europe always considering that the relationships between forest productivity and environmental variables could vary among biogeoclimatic zonesMarie Sklodowska-Curie Action, Towards a worldwide quantification of forest degradation (QUAFORD) 699884 AEI/FEDER, UE, AGL, AGL2016-76769-C2-2-R AEI/FEDER, UE, IJCI-2014-20614S

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes.

8 páginas, 4 tablas, 8 figuras.The effect of salinity level and extended exposure to different salinity and flooding conditions on germination patterns of three saltmarsh clonal growth plants (Juncus subulatus, Scirpus litoralis, and S. maritimus) was studied. Seed exposure to extended flooding and saline conditions significantly affected the outcome of the germination process in a different, though predictable, way for each species, after favorable conditions for germination were restored. Tolerance of the germination process was related to the average salinity level measured during the growth/germination season at sites where established individuals of each species dominated the species cover. No relationship was found between salinity tolerance of the germination process and seed response to extended exposure to flooding and salinity conditions. The salinity response was significantly related to the conditions prevailing in the habitats of the respective species during the unfavorable (nongrowth/nongermination) season. Our results indicate that changes in salinity and hydrology while seeds are dormant affect the outcome of the seed-bank response, even when conditions at germination are identical. Because these environmental-history-dependent responses differentially affect seed germination, seedling density, and probably sexual recruitment in the studied and related species, these influences should be considered for wetland restoration and managementFinancial support from the Spanish Ministry of the Environment (MMA, project 05/99) and the Junta de Andalucía (research group 4086)enabled us to carry out the present work.Peer reviewe

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes.

8 páginas, 4 tablas, 8 figuras.The effect of salinity level and extended exposure to different salinity and flooding conditions on germination patterns of three saltmarsh clonal growth plants (Juncus subulatus, Scirpus litoralis, and S. maritimus) was studied. Seed exposure to extended flooding and saline conditions significantly affected the outcome of the germination process in a different, though predictable, way for each species, after favorable conditions for germination were restored. Tolerance of the germination process was related to the average salinity level measured during the growth/germination season at sites where established individuals of each species dominated the species cover. No relationship was found between salinity tolerance of the germination process and seed response to extended exposure to flooding and salinity conditions. The salinity response was significantly related to the conditions prevailing in the habitats of the respective species during the unfavorable (nongrowth/nongermination) season. Our results indicate that changes in salinity and hydrology while seeds are dormant affect the outcome of the seed-bank response, even when conditions at germination are identical. Because these environmental-history-dependent responses differentially affect seed germination, seedling density, and probably sexual recruitment in the studied and related species, these influences should be considered for wetland restoration and managementFinancial support from the Spanish Ministry of the Environment (MMA, project 05/99) and the Junta de Andalucía (research group 4086)enabled us to carry out the present work.Peer reviewe

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

A candidate super-Earth planet orbiting near the snow line of Barnard’s star

Barnard’s star is a red dwarf, and has the largest proper motion (apparent motion across the sky) of all known stars. At a distance of 1.8 parsecs, it is the closest single star to the Sun; only the three stars in the α Centauri system are closer. Barnard’s star is also among the least magnetically active red dwarfs known and has an estimated age older than the Solar System. Its properties make it a prime target for planetary searches; various techniques with different sensitivity limits have been used previously, including radial-velocity imaging, astrometry and direct imaging, but all ultimately led to negative or null results. Here we combine numerous measurements from high-precision radial-velocity instruments, revealing the presence of a low-amplitude periodic signal with a period of 233 days. Independent photometric and spectroscopic monitoring, as well as an analysis of instrumental systematic effects, suggest that this signal is best explained as arising from a planetary companion. The candidate planet around Barnard’s star is a cold super-Earth, with a minimum mass of 3.2 times that of Earth, orbiting near its snow line (the minimum distance from the star at which volatile compounds could condense). The combination of all radial-velocity datasets spanning 20 years of measurements additionally reveals a long-term modulation that could arise from a stellar magnetic-activity cycle or from a more distant planetary object. Because of its proximity to the Sun, the candidate planet has a maximum angular separation of 220 milliarcseconds from Barnard’s star, making it an excellent target for direct imaging and astrometric observations in the future. © 2018, Springer Nature Limited.The results are based on observations made with the CARMENES instrument at the 3.5-m telescope of the Centro Astronomico Hispano-Aleman de Calar Alto (CAHA, Almeria, Spain), funded by the German Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG), the Spanish Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), the European Union and the CARMENES Consortium members; the 90-cm telescope at the Sierra Nevada Observatory (Granada, Spain) and the 40-cm robotic telescope at the SPACEOBS observatory (San Pedro de Atacama, Chile), both operated by the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (IAA); and the 80-cm Joan Oro Telescope (TJO) of the Montsec Astronomical Observatory (OAdM), owned by the Generalitat de Catalunya and operated by the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC). This research was supported by the following institutions, grants and fellowships: Spanish MINECO ESP2016-80435-C2-1-R, ESP2016-80435-C2-2-R, AYA2016-79425-C3-1-P, AYA2016-79245-C3-2-P, AYA2016-79425-C3-3-P, AYA2015-69350-C3-2-P, ESP2014-54362-P, AYA2014-56359-P, RYC-2013-14875; Generalitat de Catalunya/CERCA programme; Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); German Science Foundation (DFG) Research Unit FOR2544, project JE 701/3-1; STFC Consolidated Grants ST/P000584/1, ST/P000592/1, ST/M001008/1; NSF AST-0307493; Queen Mary University of London Scholarship; Perren foundation grant; CONICYT-FONDECYT 1161218, 3180405; Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF); Koshland Foundation and McDonald-Leapman grant; and NASA Hubble Fellowship grant HST-HF2-51399.001. J.T. is a Hubble Fellow