The ecological apparency hypothesis and the importance of useful plants in rural communities from northeastern Brazil: an assessment based on use value

The ecological apparency hypothesis in ethnobotanical studies predicts that the apparent plants (i.e., the most easily found in the vegetation) would be the most commonly collected and used by people. To test this hypothesis, it has been used the concept of use value (VU), which measures the relative importance of useful plants for a group of people. However, the use value has got some limitations, including the fact that it does not distinguish "current use" (plants which are effectively used) from "potential use" (well known plants, however not used). Therefore, this study has tested whether the obtained results through three different use value calculations could be useful in testing the ecological apparency hypothesis. These calculations have included the current use value, the potential use value, and the general use value. It has been carried out a vegetation survey and an interview for residents from the rural communities from Barrocas and Cachoeira (Soledade, Paraíba, Brazil). It has been used Spearman's coefficient to correlate phytosociological and ethnobotanical data. It has been observed that phytosociological parameters in Cachoeira were not correlated with any of the use values calculations, except the relationship between the current use value and the relative dominance (r(s)?=?0.57; p?相似文献   

Toxic effects of four sulphonylureas herbicides on soil microbial biomass

The effect of four triazinyl-sulfonylurea herbicides (cinosulfuron, prosulfuron, thifensulfuron methyl, triasulfuron) on soil microbial biomass, soil respiration, metabolic activity, metabolic quotient, and some enzymatic activities (acid and alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, arylsulphatase, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) were monitored under controlled conditions over 30 days. The herbicides were applied at the normal field dose (FD) and at ten-fold (10 FD) the field dose, in order to mimic a long term toxic effect. The measured soil microbial parameters showed that the FD had slight effects on soil microflora, while at 10 FD the tested herbicides exerted a stronger detrimental effect on soil microbial biomass and its biochemical activities.     

A weighted fuzzy linear programming model in economic input–output analysis: an application to risk management of energy system disruptions

Climate change exposes economic systems to numerous risks, including reduced agricultural production and electric power supply shortages. The interdependent nature of economic systems causes disruptions in any sector to cascade to other sectors via forward and backward linkages. This work develops an optimization model with which allocation of scarce goods or resources can be optimized; the model uses an overall index of satisfaction of fuzzy economic output goals under conditions of scarcity caused by climatic disruptions. The proposed model includes a vulnerability measure that integrates information elicited from expert judgment. A case study based on a scenario of drought-induced electricity shortage in the Philippine economy is examined. Results show that trade, transportation and service-oriented industries suffer losses in gross domestic product in the Philippine case.     

Photo-oxidation of NO using an exterior paint--screening of various commercial titania in powder pressed and paint films

The present work aims to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of photo-TiO(2) from various producers (Evonik, Kemira, Kronos, Millennium, Sachtleben and Tayca), in the form of powder pressed films and upon incorporation in a water-based paint, for outdoor NO abatement. The photocatalytic activity of the different samples was evaluated in terms of NO conversion and selectivity towards nitrite and nitrate ions following approximately the ISO 22197-1:2007(E) standard. The highest yields obtained for powder pressed films were achieved with VLP7000 (0.70), followed by VLP7101 (0.55) and UVLP7500 (0.55), all from Kronos. On the other hand, when incorporated in paint films, the highest yields were obtained with PC500 and PC105 from Millennium and UV100 from Sachtleben (ca. 0.15). The paint matrix plays an important role on the photocatalytic activity. In particular, the time for steady state is one or two orders of magnitude higher when the photocatalysts are incorporated in paint films in relation to the powder pressed films. The paint films were activated following the procedure recommended by the above-mentioned standard. However, the photocatalytic activity of films incorporating P25 (Evonik) was displayed only when higher power radiation and higher humidity conditions were used. This allowed for similar levels of photocatalytic activity as the other paint films.     

A Simulation Study on the Efficacy of Advanced Belt Restraints to Mitigate the Effects of Obesity for Rear-Seat Occupant Protection in Frontal Crashes

Objective: Recent field data analyses have shown that the safety advantages of rear seats relative to the front seats have decreased in newer vehicles. Separately, the risks of certain injuries have been found to be higher for obese occupants. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of advanced belt features on the protection of rear-seat occupants with a range of body mass index (BMI) in frontal crashes.

Methods: Whole-body finite element human models with 4 BMI levels (25, 30, 35, and 40 kg/m²) developed previously were used in this study. A total of 52 frontal crash simulations were conducted, including 4 simulations with a standard rear-seat, 3-point belt and 48 simulations with advanced belt features. The parameters varied in the simulations included BMI, load limit, anchor pretensioner, and lap belt routing relative to the pelvis. The injury measurements analyzed in this study included head and hip excursions, normalized chest deflection, and torso angle (defined as the angle between the hip–shoulder line and the vertical direction). Analyses of covariance were used to test the significance (P <.05) of the results.

Results: Higher BMI was associated with greater head and hip excursions and larger normalized chest deflection. Higher belt routing increased the hip excursion and torso angle, which indicates a higher submarining risk, whereas the anchor pretensioner reduced hip excursion and torso angle. Lower load limits decreased the normalized chest deflection but increased the head excursion. Normalized chest deflection had a positive correlation with maximum torso angle. Occupants with higher BMI have to use higher load limits to reach head excursions similar to those in lower BMI occupants.

Discussion and Conclusion: The simulation results suggest that optimizing load limiter and adding pretensioner(s) can reduce injury risks associated with obesity, but conflicting effects on head and chest injuries were observed. This study demonstrated the feasibility and importance of using human models to investigate protection for occupants with various BMI levels. A seat belt system capable of adapting to occupant size and body shape will improve protection for obese occupants in rear seats.     

Pyrolysis of polypropylene waste using sulfonated carbon catalyst synthesized from sugarcane bagasse

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this study, thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene waste (PP) was investigated using a batch reactor in the temperature range...     

Multiple perspectives of congruence: relationships between value congruence and employee attitudes

The relative importance of multiple types of value congruence—person–environment (P‐E), person–person (P‐P), and perceptual fit—across two hierarchical levels (workgroup and manager) and across multiple dimensions of values was investigated in a sample of 951 employees from 113 bank branches. As expected, different types of value congruence and different value dimensions were differentially important for outcomes. Both P‐E fit (between an individual's personal values and the cultural values of the organization) and perceptual fit (between an individual's perception of the organization's values and the organization's values as perceived by others) were found to be related to satisfaction, commitment, and turnover intentions, while P‐P fit (between an individual's personal values and the personal values of others) was not. Further, P‐E congruence results were generally stronger for fit with the workgroup than fit with the manager and results were stronger for the rational goal dimension which focused on external customer service. In contrast, results for perceptual fit revealed that fit was generally more important for fit with the manager than fit with the workgroup and was generally more important for the open system dimension which focused on flexibility and innovation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection of combustion formed nanoparticles

UV–visible extinction and scattering and two extra situ sampling techniques: atomic force microscopy (AFM) and differential mobility analysis (DMA) are used to follow the evolution of the particles formed in flames. These particle sizing techniques were chosen because of their sensitivity to detect inception particles, which have diameters, d<5 nm, too small to be observed with typical particle measurement instrumentation. The size of the particles determined by AFM and DMA compares well with the size determined by in situ optical measurements, indicating that the interpretation of the UV–visible optical signal is quite good, and strongly showing the presence of d=2–4 nm particles. UV–visible extinction measurements are also used to determine the concentration of d=2–4 nm particles at the exhausts of practical combustion systems. A numerical model, able to reproduce the experimentally observed low coagulation rate of nanoparticles with respect to soot particles, is used to investigate the operating conditions in the combustion chamber and exhaust system for which 2–4 nm particles survive the exhaust or grow to larger sizes. Combustion generated nanoparticles are suspected to affect human and environmental health because of their affinity for water, small size, low rate of coagulation, and large surface area/weight ratio. The ability to isolate nanoparticles from soot particles in hydrosols collected from combustion may be useful for future analysis by a variety of techniques and toxicological assays.     

Carrier detection of duchenne muscular dystrophy through analysis of dna from deciduous teeth of a dead affected child

The sister of a child affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was referred for genetic counselling to assess the risk of her being a carrier. Her brother had died 15 years previously at the age of 8. There were no other affected males in the family. There were no methods for DNA investigation at the time of the child's death and the family had never been studied for linkage with polymorphic probes on the chromosomal region Xp21. The only tissue from which an assessment of the risk could be made by DNA linkage analysis was two of the child's deciduous teeth that the parents had kept. DNA was extracted using a protocol described for the recovery of ancient DNA from museum specimens and archaeological finds. Multiplex amplification did not reveal deletions in 19 exons spanning the hot-spot regions for deletions within the dystrophin gene in Xp21. Linkage analysis using three highly polymorphic microsatellites demonstrated that the sister had not received the X chromosome borne by her brother. These results show that DNA extracted from teeth is a reliable source for molecular diagnosis.     

hCG,AFP, and uE3 patterns in the 14–20th weeks of Down's syndrome pregnancies

A marked gestational-age-dependent variation in the 15-20th week pattern of human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations in Down's syndrome (DS) pregnancies is described and its weight in DS screening is discussed.