Determination of water content in Brazilian honeybee-collected pollen by Karl Fischer titration

This paper assesses the performance of a chemical method based on the Karl Fischer titration to determine the water content in samples of dehydrated honeybee-collected pollen. The following analysis parameters were investigated: extraction temperature, particle size, reaction time, and weight of a dried pollen sample. After optimization, the method was used to determine the water content of 154 samples of dried honeybee-collected pollen from different geographical regions of Brazil. The Karl Fischer titration method, performed using a solvent mixture of methanol and n-octanol (1:1 v/v) at 50 °C on pollen particles 600 μm in size produced the best results. Mean values for water content of the 154 samples of dried honeybee-collected pollen from 12 Brazilian regions ranged from 3% to 9%.     

Spatial and Time Variability of Drought Based on SPI and RDI with Various Time Scales

The spatial and temporal variability of droughts were studied for the Northeast Algeria using SPI and RDI computed with monthly precipitation data from 123 rainfall stations and CFSR reanalysis monthly temperature data covering the period 1979–80 to 2013–14. The gridded temperature data was interpolated to all the locations having precipitation data, thus providing to compute SPI and RDI with the time scales of 3-, 6- and 12-month with the same observed rainfall data. Spatial and temporal patterns of droughts were obtained using Principal Component Analysis in S-Mode with Varimax rotation applied to both SPI and RDI. For all time scales of both indices, two principal components were retained identifying two sub-regions that are similar and coherent for all SPI and RDI time scales. Both components explained more than 70% and 74% of drought spatial variability of SPI and RDI, respectively. The identified sub-regions are similar and coherent for all SPI and RDI time scales. The Modified Mann-Kendall test was used to assess trends of the RPC scores, which have shown non-significant trends for decreasing drought occurrence and severity in both identified drought sub-regions and all time scales. Both indices have shown a coherent and similar behavior, however with RDI likely showing to identify more severe and moderate droughts in the southern and more arid sub-region which may be due to its ability to consider influences of global warming. Results for RDI are quite uniform relative to time scales and show smaller differences among the various climates when compared with SPI. Further assessments covering the NW and NE of Algeria using longer time series should be performed to better understand the behavior of both indices.     

Emission factors for gas-powered vehicles traveling through road tunnels in São Paulo, Brazil

The objective of this study was to improve the vehicular emissions inventory for the light- and heavy-duty fleet in the metropolitan area of S?o Paulo (MASP), Brazil. To that end, we measured vehicle emissions in road tunnels located in the MASP. On March 22-26, 2004 and May 04-07, 2004, respectively, CO, CO2, NOx, SO2, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions were measured in two tunnels: the Janio Quadros, which carries light-dutyvehicles; and the Maria Maluf, which carries light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty diesel trucks. Pollutant concentrations were measured inside the tunnels, and background pollutant concentrations were measured outside of the tunnels. The mean CO and NOx emission factors (in g km(-1)) were, respectively, 14.6 +/- 2.3 and 1.6 +/- 0.3 for light-duty vehicles, compared with 20.6 +/- 4.7 and 22.3 +/- 9.8 for heavy-duty vehicles. The total VOCs emission factor for the Maria Maluf tunnel was 1.4 +/- 1.3 g km(-1). The main VOCs classes identified were aromatic, alkane, and aldehyde compounds. For the heavy-duty fleet, NOx emission factors were approximately 14 times higher than those found for the light-duty fleet. This was attributed to the high levels of NOx emissions from diesel vehicles.     

Fatty acid composition, conjugated linoleic acid isomers and cholesterol in beef from crossbred bullocks intensively produced and from Alentejana purebred bullocks reared according to Carnalentejana-PDO specifications

The purpose of this study was to characterise and compare the nutritional value of Portuguese Carnalentejana-PDO beef, obtained from Alentejana purebred bullocks reared in a semi-extensive system, with the meat from Alentejana×Charolais crossbred bullocks produced in a conventional intensive concentrate-based system. In addition, seasonal changes in Carnalentejana-PDO beef quality were assessed, by analysing meat samples from animals slaughtered in early autumn and late spring. The results showed that beef-PDO has different intramuscular fat characteristics in comparison with meat from crossbred bullocks fed intensively with concentrate. However, the finishing period of Alentejana purebred bullocks with concentrate seems to attenuate most of the typical grass-fed characteristics of meat fat. Nevertheless, from a human nutrition perspective, Carnalentejana-PDO beef seems to be healthier than that from intensively reared animals since it has a lower n-6/n-3 ratio, although always above the recommended guidelines for human diet, and higher proportions of c9,t11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomer and total CLA relative to saturated fatty acids plus total cholesterol (CLA/SFA+CHR). Furthermore, no seasonal variation in the nutritional quality of beef-PDO was apparent. Taken together, the data indicate that Carnalentejana-PDO beef is of greater nutritional value than intensively produced beef from crossbred bullocks throughout the year.     

Unveiling contamination sources and dissemination routes of Salmonella sp. in pigs at a Portuguese slaughterhouse through macrorestriction profiling by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Sixty-nine isolates of Salmonella sp. isolated from the ileum, tonsils, carcass and mandibular and ileocolic lymph nodes of individual pigs slaughtered for consumption in one abattoir were analyzed using serotyping and macrorestriction profiling by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (RFLP-PFGE), in order to identify clonal relationships. XbaI macrorestriction was able to distinguish 18 genotypes among the eight identified serotypes: Salmonella Typhimurium (4 genotypes), Salmonella Rissen (3), Salmonella Tennessee (2), Salmonella Enteritidis (2), Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- (4), Salmonella Give (1), Salmonella Anatum (1), and Salmonella Derby (1). Except for one sample, the serotype and the genotype identified in the samples from the same pork were always the same, allowing to unravel possible dissemination routes of Salmonella sp. through these pork tissues and equate presumptive sources of contamination or infection. Highly significant associations (p < 0.001) were observed for the presence of Salmonella sp. in the ileum and in the ileocolic lymph nodes, as well as between the carcass contamination and the presence of Salmonella sp. in others samples of the correspondent slaughtered pig, such as the ileum, the ileocolic and mandibular lymph nodes and the tonsils. Moreover, 80% of the pigs with ileum and ileocolic lymph nodes positive samples also presented the same salmonella genotype in the correspondent tonsils and, among pigs with positive tonsils, 70% also carried the same genotype in the corresponding mandibular lymph nodes. The occurrence of cross-contamination was also detected, since a genotype identified in other pigs slaughtered in the same day was found in 31% of positive carcasses. The global analysis of the genotypes suggested three different sources of pig infection: the farm of origin, the transportation and the lairage. A particular attention should be paid to the last one, since the majority of the isolates from pig samples were related to infection in the lairage. Since the presence of Salmonella sp. in the ileum of pigs and faeces ingestion promotes tonsils infection and internal dissemination of the agent through the mandibular lymph nodes, as well as drainage to the ileocolic lymph nodes, a potential risk exists at slaughter for Salmonella sp. contamination in the carcasses during pork processing. This risk may be increased by incorrect evisceration techniques and by hygienically inappropriate meat inspection procedures, especially those concerned to the mandibular lymph nodes incisions.     

On the determination of Poisson’s ratio of stressed monolayer and bilayer submicron thick films

In this paper, the bulge test is used to determine the mechanical properties of very thin dielectric membranes. Commonly, this experimental method permits to determine the residual stress (σ₀) and biaxial Young’s modulus (E/(1 − υ)). Associating square and rectangular membranes with different length to width ratios, the Poisson’s ratio (υ) can also be determined. LPCVD Si₃N₄ monolayer and Si₃N₄/SiO₂ bilayer membranes, with thicknesses down to 100 nm, have been characterized giving results in agreement with literature for Si₃N₄, E = 212 ± 14 GPa, σ₀ = 420 ± 8 MPa and υ = 0.29.     

New experimental evidence on the formation of platinum superactive sites in an electrochemical environment

New electrochemical results are found after the application of a constant cathodic polarization to the platinum/aqueous acid solution interface within the hydrogen evolution region. Voltammograms reveal highly stable anodic peaks emerging in the double-layer region assigned to the so-called “superactive” states. The severe cathodization produces the disruption of the platinum/aqueous solution interface leading to an open outer layer composed of metallic species highly coordinated to the solvent. These active sites are related with electrocatalytic features since the onset potential for water discharge is diminished. Voltammetry and modulated voltammetry explain the fact that platinum species highly coordinated to the solvent can be more oxidized since the reduction potential shifts toward more negative values. The alkalinization of the interface and the formation of new surface oxides in a different potential range are proposed. The latter produces electrocatalytic effects on methanol electrooxidation.     

Sigma phase morphologies in cast and aged super duplex stainless steel

Solution annealed and water quenched duplex and super duplex stainless steels are thermodynamically metastable systems at room temperature.These systems do not migrate spontaneously to a thermodynamically stable condition because an energy barrier separates the metastable and stable states. However, any heat input they receive, for example through isothermal treatment or through prolonged exposure to a voltaic arc in the welding process, cause them to reach a condition of stable equilibrium which, for super duplex stainless steels, means precipitation of intermetallic and carbide phases. These phases include the sigma phase, which is easily identified from its morphology, and its influence on the material's impact strength.The purpose of this work was to ascertain how 2-hour isothermal heat treatments at 920 °C and 980 °C affect the microstructure of ASTM A890/A890M GR 6A super duplex stainless steel. The sigma phase morphologies were found to be influenced by these two aging temperatures, with the material showing a predominantly lacy microstructure when heat treated at 920 °C and block-shaped when heat treated at 980 °C.     

Three-Phase Low-Frequency Commutation Inverter for Renewable Energy Systems

The connection of distributed power sources with the utility grid generally needs an electronic power converter for processing the locally generated power and injecting current into the system. If the source provides a dc voltage, the converter must be able to produce a low-distortion high-power-factor ac current. The same aspects related with the voltage and current distortion produced by nonlinear loads can be considered for the injection of power into the grid. In the absence of a specific standard, this paper takes as a reference the limits for current harmonics given by international standards. The justification for this approach is that, from the resulting line voltage degradation, there is no difference between injected and absorbed currents. This paper presents a three-phase inverter using low-frequency commutation. An auxiliary circuit is added to the inverter topology to reduce the output voltage distortion, thus improving the current waveform. The main advantages of this approach are the minimization of the switching losses and the elimination of the electromagnetic interference, which avoids high-frequency filters necessary in high-frequency commutation inverters     

A Comparative Study of Several Material Models for Prediction of Hyperelastic Properties: Application to Silicone-Rubber and Soft Tissues

Abstract:  The correct modelling of constitutive laws is of critical importance for the analysis of mechanical behaviour of solids and structures. For example, the understanding of soft tissue mechanics, because of the nonlinear behaviour commonly displayed by the mechanical properties of such materials, makes common place the use of hyperelastic constitutive models. Hyperelastic models however, depend on sets of variables that must be obtained experimentally. In this study the authors use a computational/experimental scheme, for the study of the nonlinear mechanical behaviour of biological soft tissues under uniaxial tension. The material constants for seven different hyperelastic material models are obtained via inverse methods. The use of Martins's model to fit experimental data is presented in this paper for the first time. The search for an optimal value for each set of material parameters is performed by a Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. As a control measure, the process is fully applied to silicone-rubber samples subjected to uniaxial tension tests. The fitting accuracy of the experimental stress–strain relation to the theoretical one, for both soft tissues and silicone-rubber (typically nonlinear) is evaluated. This study intents also to select which material models (or model types), the authors will employ in future works, for the analysis of human soft biological tissues.