Otimização das técnicas de seleção do dendezeiro para avaliação da resistência à fusariose.

Resumo 454

Quark matter revisited with non extensive MIT bag model

In this work we revisit the MIT bag model to describe quark matter within both the usual Fermi-Dirac and the Tsallis statistics. We verify the effects of the non-additivity of the latter by analysing two different pictures: the first order phase transition of the QCD phase diagram and stellar matter properties. While, the QCD phase diagram is visually affected by the Tsallis statistics, the resulting effects on quark star macroscopic properties are barely noticed.Comment: 10 pagens, 5 figure

Construção de Terra: Projecto de Andorinha

O presente trabalho de investigação tem como principal objectivo dar um contributo na temática das soluções de melhoramento do comportamento e do reforço de elementos construtivos de terra a partir do estudo biomimético do ninho da andorinha-dos-beirais. Os resultados experimentais obtidos apontam para a existência de polissacarídeos/açucares no material do ninho e que possívelmente são adicionados pela andorinha-dos-beirais durante o processo de construção do ninho

Avaliacao de gramineas forrageiras para equinos.

bitstream/item/137594/1/PESQ-EM-ANDAMENTO-45.pdfCNPGC

Aprender a construir com terra através da andorinha-dos-beirais

O facto de a terra ser natural, ecológica, reciclável e abundante faz com que possa ser considerada um material de construção de eleição e com um enorme potencial. Na construção tradicional portuguesa as soluções construtivas que usam terra como material de construção têm uma importante expressão. Este património construído necessita de ser conservado. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem como principal objectivo dar um contributo na temática das soluções de melhoramento do comportamento e do reforço de elementos construtivos de terra a partir do estudo biomimético de um ninho da andorinha-dos-beirais. De modo a identificar a eventual existência de algum fenómeno de aglutinação ocorrido durante o processo de construção do ninho da andorinha-dos-beirais, procedeu-se a um trabalho experimental de caracterização a partir de amostras extraídas de diferentes ninhos recolhidos na zona de Vila Real. Para a identificação/caracterização da composição química inorgânica elementar e mineralógica realizaram-se análises em Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) e em difracção de raios-X. Para a identificação/caracterização da composição orgânica foi feita a quantificação colorimétrica do teor de proteínas pelo método do biureto, e do teor de polissacarídeos/açucares pelo método dos açúcares totais. Os resultados experimentais apontam para a existência de polissacarídeos/açucares no material do ninho e que possívelmente foram adicionados pela andorinha-dos-beirais. Por sua vez, uma simulação numérica de um ninho permitiu compreender o funcionamento desta estrutura natural de terra e verificando-se que ele funciona essencialmente à compressão. Ensaios mecânicos de provetes de solo argiloso misturado com uma solução aquosa à base de um polímero extraído do ninho revelaram uma melhoria de comportamento mecânico. Pretende-se que a partir dos resultados obtidos neste trabalho de investigação se possam retirar sugestões para o desenvolvimento de soluções de estabilização e de melhoramento de elementos construtivos existentes de terra

Earth construction: bird teaching

The paradigm of earth being a traditional and a modern building material has been related to the fact that it is natural, ecological, recycled, abundant and economic. Among the traditional Portuguese building techniques, earth construction was always one very common. The construction built with these techniques must be preserved. In this context, the main objective of this research work is to give a contribution on the material properties characterization and, in particular, for the development of adequate rehabilitation and strengthening techniques for this type of construction, based upon a biomimetics study focused on the andorinha-dos-beirais nest. A structural numerical model of a nest using a finite element computer analysis program was done in order to understand the structural behavior of this kind of natural structures. In order to identify a possible occurrence of a certain agglutination phenomenon during the building process of the nest by the birds, an experimental identification/characterization study of nest’s material using samples taken in Vila Real area was carried out. The identification of the elementary chemical and the mineralogical compositions of the material were done by the scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and by the X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The identification/characterization of the organic composition was done using the colorimetric method, being the protein components detected by the biuret method and the polysaccharides/sugars components by the total sugar method. The identification of the type of polysaccharides/sugars and their amount was done by the anion-exchange chromatography method. In order to verify if the addition of polysaccharides/sugars into the nest’s material results in an improvement of the mechanical properties, in particular, of its compressive strength, mechanical tests were carried out on cubic specimens, The results show that there is a strong possibility of the bird andorinha-dos-beirais adds a certain amount of glucose into the clay material during the building process of the nest, which may increase the quality of this raw material

Bird nest construction - lessons for building with earth

The climate changes issue is probable the top priority concern of the governments of the most countries of the world. Rigid and drastic measures have to be taken by all nations in order to reduce the noxious gases emission to the atmosphere. This ambitious goal can be achieved by ruling the energy production, by having a much more sustainable industry and adopting a much more sustainable way of living by all of us. The building industry has also to adapt to these circumstances to make its contribution to achieve the above goal. Focusing on traditional building techniques which require simple technology and use natural and local building materials and, eventually, to adapt them for the present required quality standards may be a step to solve this problem. Half of the world' population, 3 billion people approximately, on six continents, live or work in buildings constructed by earth based building materials. The fact that earth is natural, abundant and local result in an unexpressive amount of energy spending and noxious gases emission when it is used as a building material and, consequently, makes it undoubtedly much more ecological and economic when compared to the others building materials such as reinforced concrete or steel. In this context, the main objective of this research work is to give a contribution on the earth based building material properties and, in particular, for the development of adequate rehabilitation and strengthening techniques, based upon a biomimetic study focused on the andorinha-dos-beirais nest. A structural numerical model of a nest using a finite element computer analysis program was done in order to understand the structural behavior of this kind of natural structures. In order to identify a possible occurrence of a certain agglutination phenomenon during the building process of the nest by the birds, an experimental identification/characterization study of nest's material using samples taken in Vila Real area was carried out. The identification of the elementary chemical and the mineralogical compositions of the material were done by the scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and by the X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The identification/characterization of the organic composition was done using the colorimetric method, being the protein components detected by the biuret method and the polysaccharides/sugars components by the total sugar method. The identification of the type of polysaccharides/sugars and their amount was done by the anion-exchange chromatography method. In order to verify if the addition of polysaccharides/sugars into the nest's material results in an improvement of the mechanical properties, in particular, of its compressive strength, mechanical tests were carried out on cubic specimens, The results show that there is a strong possibility of the bird andorinha-dosbeirais adds a certain amount of glucose into the clay material during the building process of the nest, which may increase the quality of this raw material. This result may be easily extrapolated for the building industry by mixing up a certain percentage of glucose obtained by an abundant plant or fruit with the earth resulting in this way in a better performance earth based building material

Perspectiva biomimética do ninho de andorinha-dos-beirais

A terra é um material natural, ecológico, reciclável e abundante e, como tal, foi sempre e volta agora a ser considerado como sendo um dos materiais/soluções de construção de eleição, com enorme potencial. Na construção tradicional portuguesa encontram-se várias soluções construtivas recorrendo ao uso da terra crua, com uma importante expressão. Este património construído necessita de ser conservado. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem como principal objectivo dar um contributo na temática das soluções de melhoramento do comportamento e reforço de elementos construtivos em terra a partir do estudo biomimético de um ninho de andorinha-dos-beirais. De modo a identificar a eventual existência de algum fenómeno de aglutinação ocorrido durante o processo de construção de um ninho de andorinha-dos-beirais, procedeu-se a um trabalho experimental de caracterização a partir de amostras recolhidas em diferentes ninhos encontrados na zona de Vila Real. Para a identificação da composição química inorgânica e mineralógica das amostras recolhidas realizaram-se análises em Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) e por difracção de raios-X. Para a identificação da composição orgânica das amostras recolhidas foi feita a quantificação colorimétrica do teor de proteínas pelo método de biureto, e do teor de polissacarídeos/açucares pelo método dos açúcares totais. Os resultados experimentais relativos às amostras retiradas dos ninhos quando comparados com resultados similares relativos a amostras de argila recolhidas na mesma zona de origem dos ninhos, são muito semelhantes, destacando-se apenas a presença de polissacarídeos/açucares nas amostras de ninho. Pretende-se que a partir dos resultados da caracterização do material constituinte dos ninhos se possam retirar sugestões para o desenvolvimento de soluções de estabilização e de melhoramento de elementos construtivos existentes de terra crua

Increased lung inflammation with oxygen supplementation in tracheotomized spontaneously breathing rabbits: an experimental prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation is a well-known trigger for lung inflammation. Research focuses on tidal volume reduction to prevent ventilator-induced lung injury. Mechanical ventilation is usually applied with higher than physiological oxygen fractions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the after effect of oxygen supplementation during a spontaneous ventilation set up, in order to avoid the inflammatory response linked to mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A prospective randomised study using New Zealand rabbits in a university research laboratory was carried out. Rabbits (n = 20) were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 5 each group). Groups 1 and 2 were submitted to 0.5 L/min oxygen supplementation, for 20 or 75 minutes, respectively; groups 3 and 4 were left at room air for 20 or 75 minutes. Ketamine/xylazine was administered for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Lungs were obtained for histological examination in light microscopy. RESULTS: All animals survived the complete experiment. Procedure duration did not influence the degree of inflammatory response. The hyperoxic environment was confirmed by blood gas analyses in animals that were subjected to oxygen supplementation, and was accompanied with lower mean respiratory rates. The non-oxygen supplemented group had lower mean oxygen arterial partial pressures and higher mean respiratory rates during the procedure. All animals showed some inflammatory lung response. However, rabbits submitted to oxygen supplementation showed significant more lung inflammation (Odds ratio = 16), characterized by more infiltrates and with higher cell counts; the acute inflammatory response cells was mainly constituted by eosinophils and neutrophils, with a relative proportion of 80 to 20% respectively. This cellular observation in lung tissue did not correlate with a similar increase in peripheral blood analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Oxygen supplementation in spontaneous breathing is associated with an increased inflammatory response when compared to breathing normal room air. This inflammatory response was mainly constituted with polymorphonuclear cells (eosinophils and neutrophils). As confirmed in all animals by peripheral blood analyses, the eosinophilic inflammatory response was a local organ event.The authors would like to thank Centro Hospitalar do Porto for funding regarding the purchase of animals, animal food, and other husbandry expenses. No funding was used to reimburse any of the authors, nor any of the persons who helped and are herein thanked. Funding for open access publication was supported by the Anesthesia Department at Centro Hospitalar do Port

Bioprospecting endophytic bacteria for biological control of coffee leaf rust.

Supressão de doenças de plantas por microrganismos endofíticos tem sido demonstrada em diversos patossistemas. Neste trabalho foram selecionados isolados de bactérias endofíticas de folhas e ramos de cafeeiro com potencial para o controle biológico da ferrugem do cafeeiro, pois é conhecido que esses microrganismos podem possuir essa característica. Bactérias endofíticas isoladas previamente de folhas e ramos de Coffea arabica L e Coffea robusta L foram avaliadas quanto ao seu potencial de biocontrole da ferrugem do café causada pelo fungo Hemileia vastatrix Berk. & Br., raça 2. As bactérias foram testadas para a inibição da germinação de urediniosporos do fungo e em bioensaios para o controle do desenvolvimento da ferrugem alaranjada do cafeeiro em discos de folhas, folhas destacadas e mudas da cv. Mundo Novo. Os isolados de bactérias endofíticas testados demonstraram eficácia na inibição da germinação de urediniosporos e/ou no desenvolvimento da ferrugem, com valores acima de 50%, embora os resultados obtidos nos testes de germinação de urediniosporos tenham sido inferiores ao tratamento com propiconazole (testemunha padrão). Nos testes em discos de folhas, folhas destacadas e em plantas de cafeeiro, os isolados endofíticos TG4-Ia, TF2-IIc, TF9-Ia, TG11-IIa e TF7-IIa demonstraram melhor controle da ferrugem do cafeeiro. Os isolados endofíticos TG4-Ia e TF9-Ia foram identificados como Bacillus lentimorbus Dutky e Bacillus cereus Frank. & Frank., respectivamente. De acordo com os resultados verifica-se que alguns isolados foram eficientes em controlar a ferrugem do cafeeiro, embora alguns tenham aumentado a severidade da doença. Apesar do número relativamente baixo de bactérias endofíticas testadas, resultados promissores foram obtidos em relação ao controle biológico da ferrugem, sendo que esses poderão no futuro apresentar uma alternativa aos fungicidas