The crescent number of scientific articles published per year shows that research on biodiesel continues to play an important role to support the growing demand for this biofuel. The second edition of Biodiesel: An Overview presents the worldwide research in the last 15 years. Microalgae biomass is the most studied raw material alternative in this period and several studies have been carried out to develop basic heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production. Concerning to production technologies, supercritical conditions and intensification process have been extensively investigated. The development of new antioxidants additives has focused mainly on biomass-derived formulations and there are few studies on biocide candidates. In terms of pollutant emissions, in general, the studies showed that the addition of biodiesel generates lower concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), CO and n-alkanes pollutants, but carbonyl compounds, major ions and NOx are emitted in a higher concentration compared to pure diesel.

RESUMO Neste estudo analisou-se a capacidade abrasiva dos sedimentos do leito do Rio Acre, Brasil, no desgaste de 3 materiais ferrosos diferentes utilizados na fabricação de rotores de bombas centrífugas, utilizados na captação de água bruta. Para determinar o modo de desgaste e a relação do coeficiente de desgaste específico do material (k), em função da concentração de sedimentos, foram realizados ensaios em abrasômetro de esfera rotativa em amostras de aço SAE 8620, ferro fundido nodular e em ferro fundido cinzento, usando como suspensões abrasivas as concentrações de 1, 2, 3, 5 e 10 g L-1 de sedimento em água destilada. O volume de desgaste em função da velocidade relativa do fluxo da água em relação às pás do rotor foi estimado matematicamente. Os resultados mostraram que: i) As formas semiangulares e semiarredondadas dos sedimentos do Rio Acre produziram evidencias de microssulcamento e deformação plástica nas três ligas metálicas; ii) O aço SAE 8620 mostrou maior resistência ao desgaste abrasivo do que as amostras de ferros fundidos cinzento e nodular; e iii) O aumento do volume de desgaste decorrente da aumento da concentração de sedimento e da velocidade relativa que a mistura (água + sedimento) para pelas pás do rotor.

ABSTRACT This study presents an analysis of the abrasive effects of sediments from the bed of the Acre River, Brazil, on the wear of three different ferrous materials employed in the manufacture of impellers of centrifuge pumps used to catch raw water. In order to evaluate the abrasive wear and specific wear coefficient (k) as a function of sediment concentration, tests were conducted in samples of SAE 8620 steel, nodular cast iron and gray cast iron by using a rotary-ball abrasion meter. These tests employed abrasive slurry with concentration of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 g L-1 of sediments in distilled water. The volume of worn material as a function of the relative velocity of water flow in relation to the impeller blades was mathematically estimated. The experimental results showed that: i) The semi-angular and semi-rounded shapes of the sediments from the Acre River produced evidence of micro-grooving and plastic deformation in the three metallic alloys; ii) SAE 8620 steel showed higher resistance to abrasive wear than samples of gray and nodular cast iron; iii) the increase in the volume of worn material due to increment in sediment concentration and the relative velocity of the mixture (water + sediment) to the rotor pads.

BACKGROUND: Grip strength is used to infer functional status in several pathological conditions, and the hand dynamometer has been used to estimate performance in other areas. However, this relationship is controversial in neuromuscular diseases and studies with the bulb dynamometer comparing healthy children and children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) are limited. OBJECTIVE: The evolution of grip strength and the magnitude of weakness were examined in boys with DMD compared to healthy boys. The functional data of the DMD boys were correlated with grip strength. METHOD: Grip strength was recorded in 18 ambulant boys with DMD (Duchenne Group, DG) aged 4 to 13 years (mean 7.4±2.1) and 150 healthy volunteers (Control Group, CG) age-matched using a bulb dynamometer (North Coast- NC70154). The follow-up of the DG was 6 to 33 months (3-12 sessions), and functional performance was verified using the Vignos scale. RESULTS: There was no difference between grip strength obtained by the dominant and non-dominant side for both groups. Grip strength increased in the CG with chronological age while the DG remained stable or decreased. The comparison between groups showed significant difference in grip strength, with CG values higher than DG values (confidence interval of 95%). In summary, there was an increment in the differences between the groups with increasing age. Participants with 24 months or more of follow-up showed a progression of weakness as well as maintained Vignos scores. CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude of weakness increased with age in the DG. The bulb dynamometer detected the progression of muscular weakness. Functional performance remained virtually unchanged in spite of the increase in weakness.

Neste trabalho, relatamos uma análise morfológica qualitativa da degeneração Walleriana em um marsupial. Os nervos ópticos direito de gambás da espécie Didelphis marsupialis foram esmagados com uma pinça fina. Após 24, 48, 72, 96 e 168 horas, os animais foram anestesiados e perfundidos com fixador. A seguir, os nervos foram imersos em fixador e processados para microscopia eletrônica de rotina. Entre as alterações precoces típicas da degeneração, observamos fibras nervosas com degeneração focal do citoesqueleto axoplasmático, degeneração aquosa e degeneração escura, com o último tipo prevalente às 168 horas após esmagamento. Nossos resultados indicam uma desintegração gradual do citoesqueleto axoplasmático, oposta à prévia visão de um processo "tudo-ou-nada''. Relatamos também que, devido a um mecanismo desconhecido, as fibras mostram ou um padrão aquoso ou um padrão escuro de degeneração axonal, conforme observado nos perfis axonais. Observamos também fibras cuja mielina sofria uma degradação precoce na ausência de alterações axonais.

In this paper we report a qualitative morphological analysis of Wallerian degeneration in a marsupial. Right optic nerves of opossums Didelphis marsupialis were crushed with a fine forceps and after 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 hours the animals were anaesthetized and perfused with fixative. The optic nerves were immersed in fixative and processed for routine transmission electron microscopy. Among the early alterations typical of axonal degeneration, we observed nerve fibers with focal degeneration of the axoplasmic cytoskeleton, watery degeneration and dark degeneration, the latter being prevalent at 168 hours after crush. Our results point to a gradual disintegration of the axoplasmic cytoskeleton, opposed to the previous view of an "all-or-nothing'' process (Griffin et al 1995). We also report that, due to an unknown mechanism, fibers show either a dark or watery pattern of axonal degeneration, as observed in axon profiles. We also observed fibers undergoing early myelin breakdown in the absence of axonal alterations.