Morphology of laryngeal cartilage of the nine‐banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) Linnaeus, 1758

Armadillos, Xenarthras representatives, known for adaptability to different ecosystems, own specific morphophysiological characteristics that are not known and deserve to be studied. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology of cartilage of the larynx of the nine‐banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Five dead armadillos were donated by the Chico Mendes Institute of Biodiversity (ICMBio‐PI) to the Federal University of Piauí. The animals were fixed and dissected for removal of the larynx. The cartilages were identified and described, photodocumented, and schematized. Fragments with about 0.5 cm of each cartilage were collected and submitted to classical histology for Hematoxylin–Eosin coloring. The slides were assembled in enterlan and analyzed under a light microscope. The larynx of the armadillo (D. novemcinctus) is located in the mentonian region, ventral to the esophagus, and due to the total positioning of the tongue in the oral cavity, there is also a cranial cervical position in this species. The larynx has five cartilages, they are: a cricoid, a thyroid, an epiglottis, and two arytenoids. The corniculate process is present; however, the cuneiform process is absent. The epiglottis has a discrete bifurcation at its apex. In all cartilages epithelial variations are observed. The tissues are varied from squamoso stratified to cylindrical pseudostratified, with propria lamina rich in mucoserosas glands. With the exception of epiglottic cartilage, predominantly elastic, the rest are hyaline. The larynx of D. novemcinctus, although the same number of cartilages, differs morphologically and microscopically from the larynx of other species.     

An Integrated Model for an Industrial Production–Distribution Problem

In this paper, we are interested in a multi-facility, multi-product and multi-period industrial problem. In this problem, both production and distribution costs are significant and they are inter-related. Therefore they should be considered simultaneously in a cost optimization problem. We model this combined production-distribution problem in the form of a network flow problem with relatively few additional 0-1 variables describing the linking constraints between periods. Computational experiments show that the real size problems we encountered can be solved in reasonable time using commercial linear programming codes like CPLEX     

Towards chip prototyping: a model for droplet formation at both T and X-junctions in dripping regime

Segmented flows in both T and X-junction glass microchannels are investigated. The effective pressure domain of use of the microchips are compared for two chemical systems. After studying the flow patterns and current empirical equations proposed in the literature, a new empirical equation is validated for both T and X-junctions allowing the prediction of not only the domain of use of the microchip in terms of flow rates knowing the viscosities of the two phases but also the droplets diameter, volume, spacing, and specific interfacial area. Specific interfacial area could be optimized using the model within our specific microsystems, and a maximum of 10,000 m^?1 is determined. Ensuing the definition of the model, several insights in the way to optimize segmented flows for different purposes are discussed, i.e., for the production of monodisperse populations of droplets and mass transfer optimization.     

Effects of mouse slant and desktop position on muscular and postural stresses,subject preference and performance in women aged 18–40 years

This study compared muscular and postural stresses, performance and subject preference in women aged 18–40 years using a standard mouse, a vertical mouse and a slanted mouse in three different computer workstation positions. Four tasks were analysed: pointing, pointing-clicking, pointing-clicking-dragging and grasping-pointing the mouse after typing. Flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and extensor carpi radialis (ECR) activities were greater using the standard mouse compared to the vertical or slanted mouse. In all cases, the wrist position remained in the comfort zone recommended by standard ISO 11228-3. The vertical mouse was less comfortable and more difficult to use than the other two mice. FDS and ECR activities, shoulder abduction and wrist extension were greater when the mouse was placed next to the keyboard. Performance and subject preference were better with the unrestricted mouse positioning on the desktop. Grasping the mouse after typing was the task that caused the greatest stress.

Practitioner Summary: In women, the slanted mouse and the unrestricted mouse positioning on the desktop provide a good blend of stresses, performance and preference. Unrestricted mouse positioning requires no keyboard, which is rare in practice. Placing the mouse in front of the keyboard, rather than next to it, reduced the physical load.     

Designing of a Magnetodielectric System in Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Framework,a Perovskite Layered Phosphonate MnO3PC6H4‐m‐Br⋅H2O

Very few hybrid organic–inorganic framework (HOIF) exhibit direct coupling between spins and dipoles and are also restricted to a particular COOH‐based system. It is shown how one can design a hybrid system to obtain such coupling based on the rational design of the organic ligands. The layered phosphonate, MnO₃PC₆H₅?H₂O, consisting of perovskite layers stacked with organic phenyl layers, is used as a starting potential candidate. To introduce dipole moment, a closely related metal phosphonate, MnO₃PC₆H₄‐m‐Br?H₂O is designed. For this purpose, this phosphonate is prepared from 3‐bromophenylphosphonic acid that features one electronegative bromine atom directly attached on the aromatic ring in the meta position, lowering the symmetry of precursor itself. Thus, bromobenzene moieties in MnO₃PC₆H₄‐m‐Br?H₂O induce a finite dipole moment. This new designed compound exhibits complex magnetism, as observed in layered alkyl chains MnO₃PC_nH_2n+1?H₂O materials, namely, 2D magnetic ordering ≈20 K followed by weak ferromagnetic ordering below 12 K (T₁) with a magnetic field (H)‐induced transition ≈25 kOe below T₁. All these magnetic features are exactly captured in the T and H‐dependent dielectric constant, ε′(T) and ε′(H). This demonstrates direct magnetodielectric coupling in this designed hybrid and yields a new path to tune multiferroic ordering and magnetodielectric coupling.     

Mixed oxides as catalysts for the selective reduction of nitrobenzene

The catalytic behaviour of the PbO-Mn₃O₄ and the Bi₂O₃-MoO₃ systems was investigated in the selective reduction of nitrobenzene to nitrosobenzene. Lead compounds appeared to be good catalysts, and co-catalysts when used with Mn₃O₄. Different from oxidations by di-oxygen, Bi₃O₃ alone is a good catalyst and formation of mixed Bi-Mo-O compounds does not enhance the catalytic activity. It is suggested that the difference between these catalysts in the mentioned reaction is related to the way in which the oxygen vacancy is represented by the oxygen donor.     

Microbial Quality of Industrial Liquid Egg White: Assumptions on Spoiling Issues in Egg‐Based Chilled Desserts

As a 1st step, this study aimed at investigating the microbial quality of liquid egg white in a French egg processing company. Thirty raw and 33 pasteurized liquid egg white samples were analyzed. Pasteurization was globally found efficient on mesophilic contaminants (1.7 ± 1.6 and 0.8 ± 0.9 log CFU/mL in raw and pasteurized samples, respectively), including for the control of Salmonella. However, Gram‐positive enterococci were still detected in the pasteurized samples. As a 2nd step, a representative bacterial collection was built for exploring the spoilage issue in egg‐based chilled desserts. Custard cream was chosen as growth medium since this food is widely used for the production of French chilled desserts. All of the 166 isolates of the bacterial collection were shown to be able to grow and to induce spoilage of the custard cream at refrigeration temperature (10 °C). Several spoilage types were highlighted in the custard cream, on the basis of changes regarding pH, consistency, production of holes or gas. As a 3rd step, bacterial enzymatic activities were explored on custard cream‐based agar media. The bacterial collection was reduced to 43 isolates, based on further selection regarding the genera and the spoilage types previously highlighted. Albeit to different degrees, all these isolates were able to produce proteases. A large part of these isolates also expressed lipolytic and amylolytic activities. This study emphasizes the need to control egg white contamination and especially with Gram‐positive heat‐resistant Enterococi, in order to guarantee the shelf life of egg‐based chilled desserts.