Solvability of some third-order boundary value problems with asymmetric unbounded nonlinearities

In this paper, we present existence and location results for the third-order separated boundary value problems …info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Valorização agrícola de lamas de origem têxtil

Valorização agrícola de lamas de origem têxtil

ZnGa2O4:Mn2+ phosphors grown by Laser Floating Zone

Cubic zinc gallate (c-ZnGa2O4) has attracted the attention of the scientific community due to its potential phosphor applications, namely in field emission displays (FEDs) and other electroluminescent devices. Among other advantages, this oxide matrix shows superior thermal and chemical stability when compared to ZnS based phosphors. Most of the above mentioned works comprise nanostructures, thin films or pressed pellets while scarce information is found on bulk c-ZnGa2O4 material. In particular, no records were found regarding c-ZnGa2O4 crystal growth by the laser floating zone (LFZ) technique. In this work, crystalline fibres of manganese doped (0.01 mol %) zinc gallate were produced via LFZ in order to investigate its applicability in efficient phosphors. The transition metal ions are suitable activators and show some advantages over the widely used rare earths, namely at environmental and economic levels

Utilização agrícola e compostagem de lamas de origem têxtil

Utilização agrícola e compostagem de lamas de origem têxtil

Composição química e atividade antimicrobiana do óleo essencial de folhas e flores de Aloysia gratissima

Volatile oils from leaves and flowers of Aloysia gratissima were investigated for their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Bacilus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae and the Candida albicans yeast. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the oils were determined by the micro-dilution method, while the chemical composition was determined by GC-MS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry). The fresh leaves and inflorescence were subjected to hydrodistillation for 120 min using a Clevenger-type apparatus, and the essential oil was tested against microorganisms. High concentrations of sesquiterpenes were observed for the inflorescence, and monoterpenes were observed for the leaves. The main compounds of the inflorescence essential oil were E-caryophyllene, germacrene B, guaiol and bulnesol, while in the leaves the main compounds were trans-pinocamphone, trans-pinocarveyl acetate, and guaiol. The essential oil from the leaves showed an effect against P. aeruginosa and S. pneumonia, and the essential oil of the inflorescence showed an effect against P. aeruginosa, S. pneumonia, and Candida albicans.O óleo essencial de folhas e de flores de Aloysia gratissima foi avaliado quanto à composição química e ação antimicrobiana contra as bactérias Bacilus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, e a levedura Candida albicans. A concentração mínima inibitória (MIC) dos óleos essenciais foi determinada pelo método da microdiluição e a composição química determinada por CG-EM (Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada a Espectrômetro de Massas). Folhas e inflorescências frescas foram hidrodestiladas por 120 minutos em aparelho Clevenger sendo o óleo essencial testado contra microorganismos. Para as flores foi observada maior concentração de sesquiterpenos, enquanto que as folhas apresentaram maior concentração de monoterpenos. Os principais constituintes do óleo essencial da flor foram: E-cariofileno, germacreno B, guaiol e bulnesol; e das folhas foram: trans-pinocamfona, acetato de trans-pinocarveol e guaiol. O óleo essencial da folha mostrou atividade contra P. aeruginosa e S. pneumoniae, e o óleo essencial da flor mostrou atividade contra P. aeruginosa, S. pneumoniae e Candida albicans.583588Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Co-existence Of Ants And Termites In Cecropia Pachystachya Trécul (urticaceae)

Individuals of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul (Urticaceae) host Azteca (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) colonies in their hollow internodes and feed them with glycogen bodies produced in modified petiole bases (trichilia). In turn, ants keep trees free from herbivores and lianas. Here, we report for the first time the association of nests of Nasutitermes ephratae Rambur (Isoptera: Termitidae) with these trees, in South-Pantanal (Brazil). We aimed to describe the Cecropia-ant-termite relationship and to investigate how their coexistence is made possible. We hypothesize that: 1) The frequency of termite nests in C. pachystachya is lower than in neighbor trees; 2) Termite nests occur in trees with lower density of foraging ants; 3) The time that ants take to find and remove live termite baits in C. pachystachya trees is lower in leaves (close to trichilia) than in trunks; 4) Termite nests are fixed preferentially in the smallest and less branched trees; and 5) Termite nests are fixed preferentially distant from the canopies. Unexpectedly, termitaria occurred in C. pachystachya at the same frequency as in other tree species; there was no relationship between ant patrol activity and the occurrence of termite nests in C. pachystachya; and they occurred mainly in the tallest and more branched trees. However, termite nests generally were fixed in the trunk, fork or basal branches, where there is better physical support and ant patrol is more modest. The segregation of termite and ant life-areas may represent a escape strategy of termites in relation to ants inhabiting C. pachystachya, specially during nest establishment. The isolation of termites in fibrous nests and galleries may complete their defense strategy.6118894Agrawal, A.A., Leaf damage and associated cues induce aggressive ant recruitment in a neotropical ant-plant (1998) Ecology, 79, pp. 2100-2112Agrawal, A.A., Dubin-Thaler, B.J., Induced Responses to Herbivory in the Neotropical Ant-Plant Association between Azteca Ants and Cecropia Trees: Response of Ants to Potential Inducing Cues (1999) Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 45, pp. 47-54Alho, C.J.R., Gonçalves, H.C., (2005) Biodiversidade Do Pantanal: Ecologia e Conservação, p. 135. , Campo Grande: Editora UniderpBerg, C.C., Rosselli, P.F., Davidson, D.W., (2005) Flora Neotropica: Cecropia, 94, p. 236. , New York: New York Botanical Garden PressBraekman, J.C., Daloze, D., Dupont, A., Pasteels, J.M., Le-Feuve, P., Borderau, C., Declercq, J.P., Van Meerssche, M., Chemical composition of the frontal gland secretion from soldiers of Nasutitermes lujae (Termitidae: Nasutermi-tinae) (1983) Tetrahedron, 39, pp. 4237-4241Carroll, C.R., Janzen, D.H., Ecology of foraging by ants (1973) Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 4, pp. 231-257Cunha, H.F., (2000) Estudo de Colônias de Constrictotermes Cyphergaster (Isoptera, Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) No Par-que Estadual da Serra de Caldas Novas, GO, p. 51. , Dissertação de mestrado, Univ. Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Ciências Bio-lógicas/DBG, GoiâniaDavidson, D.W., Fisher, B.L., Symbiosis of ants with Cecropia as a function of light regime (1991) Ant-Plant Interactions, pp. 289-309. , Huxley, C. & Cutler, D. K. (eds.), New York: Oxford University PressDavidson, D.W., McKey, D., The evolutionary ecology of symbiotic ant-plant relationships (1993) Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2, pp. 13-83Dejean, A., Fénéron, R., Predatory behaviour in the ponerine ant, Centromyrmex bequaerti: A case of termitolesty (1999) Behavioural Processes, 47, pp. 125-133Dejean, A., Grangier, J., Leroy, C., Orivel, J., Preda-tion and aggressiveness in host plant protection: A generalization using ants of the genus Azteca (2009) Naturwissenschaften, 96, pp. 57-63Delabie, J.H.C., Inquilinismo simultâneo de duas es-pécies de Centromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicinae: Pone-rinae) em cupinzeiros de Syntermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutiterminae) (1995) Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 39, pp. 605-609Downhower, J.F., The distribution of ants on Cecropia leaves (1975) Biotropica, 7, pp. 59-62Eisner, T., Kriston, I., Aneshansley, D.J., Defensive Behavior of a Termite (Nasutitermes exitiosus) (1976) Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 1, pp. 83-125Folgarait, P.J., Johnson, H.L., Davidson, D.W., Responses of Cecropia to experimental removal of mullerian bodies (1994) Functional Ecology, 8, pp. 22-28Gonçalves, T.T., Reis, R., Desouza, O., Ribeiro, S.P., Predation and interference competition between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and arboreal termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) (2005) Sociobiology, 46, pp. 409-419Higashi, S., Ito, F., Defense of termitaria by termito-philous ants (1989) Oecologia, 80, pp. 145-147Hölldobler, B., Wilson, E.O., (1990) The Ants, p. 732. , Berlin: Harvard University PressJanzen, D.H., Coevolution of mutualism between ants and acacias in Central America (1966) Evolution, 20, pp. 249-275Janzen, D.H., Allelopathy by myrmecophytes: The ant Azteca as an allelopathic agent of Cecropia (1969) Ecology, 50, pp. 147-153Janzen, D.H., Dissolution of mutualism between Cecropia and its Azteca ants (1973) Biotropica, 5, pp. 15-28Lemaire, M., Lange, C., Lefevre, J., Clement, J.L., Stra-tegie de camoufage du prédateur Hypoponera eduardi dans les sociétés de Reticulitermes européens (1986) Actes Coll. Insectes So-ciaux., 2, pp. 97-101Longino, J.T., Azteca ants in Cecropia trees: Taxonomy, colony structure and behaviour (1991) Ant-Plant Interactions, pp. 198-212. , Cutler, D. F. & C. R. Huxley (eds.), New York: Oxford University PressNoirot, C., Darlington, J.P.E.C., Termites nests: Architecture, regulation and defence (2000) Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology, pp. 121-139. , Abe, T., et al. (eds.), Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic PublishersOliveira, P.S., Oliveira-Filho, A.T., Cintra, R., Ant foraging on ant-inhabited Triplaris (Polygonaceae) in western Brazil: A feld experiment using live termite-baits (1987) Journal of Tropical Ecology, 3, pp. 193-200Pott, A., Pott, V.J., Plantas do Pantanal (1994) Brasília: Embrapa-SPI, p. 320Putz, F.E., Holbrook, N.M., Further observations on the dissolution of mutualism between Cecropia and its ants: The Malaysian case (1988) Oikos, 53, pp. 121-125Quinet, Y., Tekule, N., Biseau, J.C., Behavioural interactions between Crematogasterbrevispinosa rochai Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and two Nasutitermes species (Isoptera: Termitidae) (2005) Journal of Insect Behavior, 18, pp. 1-17. , doi: 10.1007/s10905-005-9343-yRico-Gray, V., Oliveira, P.S., (2007) The Ecology and Evolution of Ant-plant Interactions, p. 320. , Chicago: University of Chicago PressRickson, F.R., Glycogen plastids in Müllerian body cells of Cecropia peltata-a higher green plant (1971) Science, 173 (3994), pp. 344-347. , doi: 10.1126/science.173.3994.344Sagers, C.L., Ginger, S.M., Evans, R.D., Carbon and nitrogen isotopes trace nutrient exchange in an ant-plant mutualism (2000) Oecologia, 123, pp. 582-586Sheppe, W., Invertebrate predation on termites of the African savanna (1970) Insectes Sociaux, 17, pp. 205-218Schupp, E.W., Azteca protection of Cecropia: Ant occupation benefts juvenile trees (1986) Oecologia, 70, pp. 319-385Soriano, B.M.A., Oliveira, H., Catto, J.B., Comastri-Filho, J.A., Galdino, S., Salis, S.M., (1997) Plano de Utilização da Fazenda Nhumirim (Documento 21), p. 72. , http://www.cpap.embrapa.br/publicacoes/online/DOC21.pdf, Corumbá: Embrapa-CPAP, (accessed date: 12 November, 2013)Thorne, B.L., Diferences in nest architecture between the neotropical arboreal termites Nasutitermes corniger and N. Ephrateae (Isoptera, termitideae) (1980) Psyche, 87, pp. 235-244Thorne, B.L., Haverty, M.I., Nest growth and survivorship in three species of neotropical Nasutitermes (Isoptera: Termitidae) (2000) Environmental Entomology, 29, pp. 256-264Vasconcelos, H.L., Casimiro, A.B., Infuence of Azteca alfari ants on the exploitation of Cecropia trees by a leaf-cutting ant (1997) Biotropica, 29, pp. 84-92Vasconcellos, A., Moura, F.M.S., Wood litter consumption by three species of Nasutitermes termites in an area of the Atlantic Coastal Forest in northeastern Brazil (2010) Journal of Insect Science, 10, p. 72. , http://insectscience.org/10.72/Vieira, A.S., Faccenda Antonialli-Junior O, W.F., Fernandes, W.D., Nest structure and occurrence of three species of Azteca (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Cecropia pachystachya (Urticaceae) in non-foodable and foodable pantanal areas (2010) Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 54, pp. 441-445. , doi: 10.1590/S0085-56262013000100013Weber, N.A., Termite prey of some African ants (1964) Entomological News, 75, pp. 197-204Wheeler, W.M., Ecological relations of ponerinae and other ants to termites (1936) Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Science, 71, pp. 159-243Wheeler, W.M., Studies of neotropical ant-plants interactions ant their ants (1942) Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard, 90, pp. 1-262Wilson, E., (1971) The Insect Societies, p. 560. , Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Pres

Probing the Conformational States of Thimet Oligopeptidase in Solution

Thimet oligopeptidase (TOP) is a metallopeptidase involved in the metabolism of oligopeptides inside and outside cells of various tissues. It has been proposed that substrate or inhibitor binding in the TOP active site induces a large hinge‐bending movement leading to a closed structure, in which the bound ligand is enclosed. The main goal of the present work was to study this conformational change, and fluorescence techniques were used. Four active TOP mutants were created, each equipped with a single‐Trp residue (fluorescence donor) and a p‐nitro‐phenylalanine (pNF) residue as fluorescence acceptor at opposite sides of the active site. pNF was biosynthetically incorporated with high efficiency using the amber codon suppression technology. Inhibitor binding induced shorter Donor‐Acceptor (D‐A) distances in all mutants, supporting the view that a hinge-like movement is operative in TOP. The activity of TOP is known to be dependent on the ionic strength of the assay buffer and D‐A distances were measured at different ionic strengths. Interestingly, a correlation between the D‐A distance and the catalytic activity of TOP was observed: the highest activities corresponded to the shortest D‐A distances. In this study for the first time the hinge‐bending motion of a metallopeptidase in solution could be studied, yielding insight about the position of the equilibrium between the open and closed conformation. This information will contribute to a more detailed understanding of the mode of action of these enzymes, including therapeutic targets like neurolysin and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)

LOWER CRETACEOUS DINOSAUR TRACKS FROM THE SEASHORE AREAS OF

Trata-se da descoberta de uma pista na praia de Parede, uma famosa área turística localizada a cerca de 20 km a partir de Lisboa, perto de Cascais, onde um dos poucos tracksites dinossauro conhecido do Cretáceo Inferior de Portugal podem ser observados. Uma visão geral da pista quase horizontal nível situado em frente ao "Bar Terraço Xana" põe em evidência uma sequência principal de pegadas interpretado como um saurópode trackway. Tem uma grande importância pedagógica - turística pela grande facilidade de acesso e observação

Improvement of Production Line in the Automotive Industry Through Lean Philosophy

This work refers to concepts and definitions of Lean Philosophy. The main targets were to study how waste reduction can be achieved on a production scenario, by identifying added-value operations, enhance productivity, levelling and over-processing reduction. The project behind this study is a massive one, which involves the installation of seven final production lines and more seven pre-assembly lines, being considered by the company, a project that must be as profitable as possible. After implementation and validation, costs were evaluated and the savings reached 10,9 % (2 159 000 €) considering all costs of industrialization.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio