The ITA Space Center and Its Role in Space Education in Brazil

This paper presents the ITA Space Center and its mission in the formation of human resources and in the research and development of space products. In 2012 the first aerospace engineers were graduated at ITA, and since then many efforts have been done to improve the engineering education. The first effort was the development of AESP-14 CubeSat project, then the development and launch of ITASAT, a 6U CubeSat. These two projects showed that small satellites projects provide a good learning approach once students were deeply involved in the development process. These two projects opened the opportunity for the creation of the ITA Space Center (CEI -acronym for Centro Espacial ITA in Portuguese). Inside its facilities the ITA Space Center provides capabilities for the development of small space projects such as electronics, software engineering, mechanical design, and simulation with the aid of systems engineering and project management. By means of the graduate and undergraduate programs the ITA Space Center is providing education and integration with the industries and other partner organizations. In developing and delivering space products, and fostering higher education in space, the ITA Space Center is accomplishing of its proposed mission

The Genome of Anopheles darlingi, the main neotropical malaria vector

Anopheles darlingi is the principal neotropical malaria vector, responsible for more than a million cases of malaria per year on the American continent. Anopheles darlingi diverged from the African and Asian malaria vectors ∼100 million years ago (mya) and successfully adapted to the New World environment. Here we present an annotated reference A. darlingi genome, sequenced from a wild population of males and females collected in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 10 481 predicted protein-coding genes were annotated, 72% of which have their closest counterpart in Anopheles gambiae and 21% have highest similarity with other mosquito species. In spite of a long period of divergent evolution, conserved gene synteny was observed between A. darlingi and A. gambiae. More than 10 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and short indels with potential use as genetic markers were identified. Transposable elements correspond to 2.3% of the A. darlingi genome. Genes associated with hematophagy, immunity and insecticide resistance, directly involved in vectorhuman and vectorparasite interactions, were identified and discussed. This study represents the first effort to sequence the genome of a neotropical malaria vector, and opens a new window through which we can contemplate the evolutionary history of anopheline mosquitoes. It also provides valuable information that may lead to novel strategies to reduce malaria transmission on the South American continent. The A. darlingi genome is accessible at www.labinfo.lncc.br/index.php/anopheles- darlingi. © 2013 The Author(s)

Preparation and characterization of mono-component two-phase system (SBM) by oxypropylation reaction of cellulose fibres and starch

Modificações químicas foram aplicadas às fibras celulósicas e ao amido com o objetivo de obter produtos com uma camada termoplástica externa, preservando a parte interna desses substratos (não modificada). O produto final deveria se comportar como um material compósito onde a parte interna não modificada é o agente de reforço e a camada termoplástica a matriz. As modificações foram realizadas através da inserção de pequenas cadeias de óxido propileno a cadeia carbônica do polissacarídeo (celulose e amido). As cadeias de poli(oxido propileno) enxertadas proporcionará uma camada termoplástica em torno da porção de polissacarídeo não modificada. A obtenção destes materiais pode dispensar as etapas de mistura e permitir o processamento térmico sem a necessidade de utilização de um segundo componente (matriz), uma vez que a própria capa polimérica desempenharia este papel. A construção da capa polimérica envolvente foi conduzida através da reação da celulose ou amido pré-ativados com o óxido de propileno. A etapa de ativação foi realizada com o tratamento dos substratos com KOH ou DABCO e a reação de enxertia foi realizada em sistema heterogêneo. Os materiais obtidos utilizando esses tratamentos foram caracterizados por diferentes técnicas (FTIR, Raios-X, MEV, TG, DSC, Ângulo de contato e ensaios de Resistência à Tração). Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que é possível de produzir materiais com características termoplásticas reforçadas através da reação em uma única etapa, sem a necessidade de laboriosos procedimentos sintéticos.Chemical modifications were applied to cellulosic materials and starch with the objective to obtain products with an external thermoplastic layer while preserving the inner part of these substrates. The final products should behave as composite materials where the unmodified inner part is the reinforcement agent and the thermoplastic layer the matrix. The modifications were performed by grafting polypropylene oxide short chains to the polysaccharide backbone (cellulose and starch). The grafted polypropylene oxide chains will render a thermoplastic layer around the unmodified polysaccharide portions. The attainment of these materials can excuse the stages of mixture and allow the thermal processing without the necessity of use the second component (matriz), a time that the proper polymeric layer would play this role. The construction of the involving polymeric layer was conducted by reacting pre-activated cellulose (or starch) and propylene oxide (PO). The activation step was performed with KOH (or DABCO) treatment and the grafting reaction was carried through in heterogeneous system. The materials obtained following these treatments were characterized by different techniques (FTIR, X-Ray, MEV, TG, DSC, Contact Angle and Mechanical Analyses). The results had demonstrated that it is possible to produce materials with strengthened thermoplastic characteristics through the reaction in an only stage, without the necessity of laborious synthetic procedures

Extrusion and Characterization of Functionalized Cellulose Whisker Reinforced Polyethylene Nanocomposites

International audienceThe surface of ramie cellulose whiskers has been chemically modified by grafting organic acid chlorides presenting different lengths of the aliphatic chain by an esterification reaction. The occurrence of the chemical modification was evaluated by FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, elemental analysis and contact angle measurements. The crystallinity of the particles was not altered by the chain grafting, but it was shown that covalently grafted chains were able to crystallize at the cellulose surface when using C18. Both unmodified and functionalized nanoparticles were extruded with low density polyethylene to prepare nanocomposite materials. The homogeneity of the ensuing nanocomposites was found to increase with the length of the grafted chains. The thermomechanical properties of processed nanocomposites were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests. A significant improvement in terms of elongation at break was observed when sufficiently long chains were grafted on the surface of the nanoparticles. It was ascribed to improved dispersion of the nanoparticles within the LDPE matrix

Correlation among volumetric conductivity, electrical threshold field and compensation plots by oxidation induction time on LDPE/CB composites

The thermodynamic compensation effect plot derived from Eyring rate process theory was applied to the thermal and UV ageing of LDPE/Carbon Black composites containing commercial carbon black (CB) and carbon black surface oxidized with nitric acid. Correlations were tested among compensation effect, electrical threshold field and volumetric electrical conductivity. Compensation plots from OIT measurements correlate with thermal and UV ageing effect on activation ΔS and ΔH values, giving a good linear correlation for all samples studied. The relative changes in dc conductivity and electrical threshold field are consistent with the OIT compensation plot, demonstrating that this analysis can be used to monitor LDPE/CB composite degradation under thermal or UV ageing. It can also be used to evaluate, quite accurately, the effect of oxidizing the surface of the CB on the electrical properties (dc conductivity and electrical threshold field) of the LDPE/CB composites

Extrusion and characterization of functionalized cellulose whiskers reinforced polyethylene nanocomposites

The surface of ramie cellulose whiskers has been chemically modified by grafting organic acid chlorides presenting different lengths of the aliphatic chain by an esterification reaction. The occurrence of the chemical modification was evaluated by FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, elemental analysis and contact angle measurements. The crystallinity of the particles was not altered by the chain grafting, but it was shown that covalently grafted chains were able to crystallize at the cellulose surface when using C18. Both unmodified and functionalized nanoparticles were extruded with low density polyethylene to prepare nanocomposite materials. The homogeneity of the ensuing nanocomposites was found to increase with the length of the grafted chains. The thermomechanical properties of processed nanocomposites were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests. A significant improvement in terms of elongation at break was observed when sufficiently long chains were grafted on the surface of the nanoparticles. It was ascribed to improved dispersion of the nanoparticles within the LDPE matrix. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.CAPES (Brazil)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES