Banks’ capital, regulation and the financial crisis

This paper investigates whether regulatory capital requirements play an important role in determining banks’ equity capital. We estimate equity capital regressions using panel data of a sample of 560 banks for 2004-2010. Our results suggest that regulatory capital requirements are not first order determinants of banks’ capital structure. We document differences on the effect of most factors on banks’ share of equity according to the type of bank and to the region of the bank. Finally, we show that the determinants of this share are sensitive to the recent international financial crisis and to a set of regulatory country factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Zygosaccharomyces bailii strain talf1 inulinases: a versatile tool for bioprocesses

Fructans are one of the most abundant non-structural polysaccharides found in a wide range of plants. Inulin is a polydisperse fructan polymer composed by linear chains of b-2, 1-linked D-fructofuranose molecules terminated by a glucose residue through a sucrose-type linkage at the reducing end. Inulin or inulin-rich materials can be actively hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars (glucose and fructose) using inulinases and then further used within bioprocesses

Antilisterial active compound from lactic acid bacteria present on fresh iceberg lettuce

Pediococcus pentosaceus DT016, a bacteriocin producing strain, was isolated from fresh lettuce. A protein with antilisterial activity (bacDT016), between 11 to 17 kDa, was identified and characterized as the bioactive substance from the LAB culture. Highest bacteriocin production was noted after 15 h of growth. Antibacterial activity was affected by some enzymes and detergents, as well as by temperatures equal or above 80 ºC. DT016 strain contains an 1110 bp DNA fragment with homology to pediocin AcH/PA-1

Análise numérica da propagação de ondas sobre a plataforma continental interna e antepraia da costa sul do Brasil: de Torres a Mostardas

The shoreface and the inner shelf along the northern and the central coast of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, between Torres and Mostardas, although displaying a homogeneous bottom relief show variations in slope and width. In the northern sector, between Torres and Pinhal, the inner shelf is wide, while the shoreface is narrow. Towards the south, these patterns are just the opposite. In this study, a model based on the parabolic approximation of the mild slope equation, REF/DIF.1, is used to simulate the wave propagation in this region. Wave refraction diagrams based on the predominant wave climate show a dominant and invariable divergent pattern for wave incidence from 90° to 135°. Numerical analyses of changes in wave energy, regarding differences in width and slope using a bottom friction coefficient fw = 0.01 in the different coastal sectors, show little influence of the bottom friction over the wave transformation processes. In general, a friction coefficient fw = 0.2 shows that wave energy reduction due to bottom friction over the wider shoreface south of Pinhal by comparison with the sector to the north is compensated by its shorter inner shelf width. The analyses show that lateral gradients of wave energy along the 10 m isobaths regarding the morphological differences between the two sectors are negligible.A plataforma continental interna e a antepraia ao longo do litoral norte e médio do estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brasil, entre Torres e Mostardas, têm o relevo do fundo homogêneo, mas apresentam variações de inclinação e largura. No setor norte, entre Torres e Pinhal, a plataforma interna é mais larga, enquanto a largura de antepraia é mais estreita. Por outro lado, o oposto ocorre ao Sul de Pinhal. Este trabalho analisa numericamente a propagação de ondas nesta região através do REF/DIF 1, modelo que adota a aproximação parabólica da equação de declive suave. Os diagramas de refração de ondas, baseados em um clima de onda predominante, indicam que o padrão dominante é o divergente para ondas incidentes de 90° a 135°. Análises numéricas das variações de energia de ondas, investigando a influência das variações da largura da plataforma interna e da largura de antepraia, e da fricção com o fundo considerando um coeficiente de atrito fw = 0,01, revelam a pouca influência do atrito com o fundo sobre a transformação das ondas. Adotando-se um coeficiente de atrito fw = 0,2, constata-se, de forma geral, que a influência do aumento da largura da antepraia do sul de Pinhal para o norte no atrito com o fundo é compensada pela influência da diminuição da largura da plataforma continental interna. As análises mostram que os gradientes laterais da energia da onda ao longo da isobatimétrica de 10 m, mesmo considerando as diferenças morfológicas entre os dois setores, são desprezíveis

Influence of the carbon source on Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B resistance to 2-hydroxybiphenyl toxicity

The viability of bacteria plays a critical role in the enhancement of fossil fuels biodesulfurization efficiency since cells are exposed to toxic compounds such as 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), the end product of dibenzothiophene (DBT) biodesulfurization. The goal of this work was to study the influence of the carbon source on the resistance of Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B to 2-HBP. The physiological response of this bacterium, pregrown in glucose or fructose, to 2-HBP was evaluated using two approaches: a growth inhibition toxicity test and flow cytometry. The results obtained from the growth inhibition bioassays showed that the carbon source has an influence on the sensitivity of strain 1B growing cells to 2-HBP. The highest IC50 value was obtained for the assay using fructose as carbon source in both inoculum growth and test medium (IC50-48 h=0.464 mM). Relatively to the evaluation of 2-HBP effect on the physiological state of resting cells by flow cytometry, the results showed that concentrations of 2-HBP >1 mM generated significant loss of cell viability. The higher the 2-HBP concentration, the higher the toxicity effect on cells and the faster the loss of cell viability. In overall, the flow cytometry results highlighted that strain 1B resting cells grown in glucose-SO4 or glucose-DBT are physiologically less resistant to 2-HBP than resting cells grown in fructose-SO4 or fructose-DBT, respectively

Sistema electrónico de condicionamento e processamento, em tempo real, das tensões e correntes do motor de indução trifásico alimentado por conversores de frequência

Este trabalho apresenta um sistema integrado, baseado em módulos electrónicos, desenvolvido para condicionamento, filtragem e processamento das tensões e intensidades das correntes do motor de indução trifásico, alimentado por conversores de frequência. O sistema é constituído, basicamente, por um conjunto de módulos que permitem adaptar e isolar os sinais captados relativamente aos sinais de potência, realizar a função de filtragem anti-aliasing com frequência de corte regulável, obter o ângulo da posição do rotor via codificador incremental e realizar a transformação dos sistemas trifásicos de tensões e correntes em sistemas bifásicos equivalentes, em quadratura e efectuar a mudança de coordenadas entre o referencial do estator e do rotor, isto é, realizar as transformadas de Clark e Park, respectivamente. Os sinais processados, referidos ao estator ou ao rotor ou outro referencial, podem ser visualizados e armazenados para processamento off-line, ou utilizados em processamento de sinal para estimação, controlo, monitorização e diagnóstico, em tempo real, principalmente na área dos accionamentos electrónicos de velocidade variável

Microbiological profile of salpicão de vinhais and chouriça de vinhais from raw materials to final products: Traditional dry sausages produced in the North of Portugal

Salpicão de Vinhais and Chouriça de Vinhais are traditional dry-fermented meat sausages produced in the North of Portugal. The microbiological profile during production of both products was followed in three small processing units. Lactic acid bacteria were the most prevalent microorganisms, with enhanced growth during the smoking process and a consequent decrease of pH. This study demonstrated that when highly contaminated raw ingredients are used, pathogens might not be eliminated during processing (from seasoning until the end of smoking). Therefore, it is important to highlight that to produce safe Salpicão and Chouriça following traditional recipes and methodologies it is necessary to work under hygienic conditions using raw materials of good microbiological quality. Industrial relevance: Preservation of pork meat in the form of semi-dry, fermented and smoked products having a long shelf-life, is an age-old artisanal process that is still practiced in many areas of the world. In many rural communities production has a significant impact on the local economy and food supply, but these products are now becoming increasingly popular in urban areas. In a more widespread distribution of such artisanal products, it is important that consumers are not exposed to undue risks of food-borne infections or intoxications. This study investigates the evolution of the microflora and microbiological safety during the production processes of two such traditional products in the North of Portugal, and during storage of the final products.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Interface para condicionamento das tensões e correntes à saída de conversores de frequência

Neste trabalho apresentamos o desenvolvimento de uma interface baseada num circuito electrónico de condicionamento e filtragem anti-aliasing, destinado à medida e/ou processamento do sistema trifásico de tensões e correntes à saída de um conversor de frequência industrial que alimenta um motor de indução trifásico. Os sinais produzidos à saída do circuito da interface desenvolvida estão galvanicamente isolados do sistema de alimentação de potência, condicionados e filtrados, de modo a tornar possível a aquisição para PC ou outro qualquer sistema de processamento digital de sinal