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Sisal fibers were benzylated under different conditions and were characterized with infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The benzylation reaction was monitored by the mass gain as a function of the reaction time. In the first stage, there was a mass loss associated with the loss of lignin and polyoses from the raw fiber, which was accompanied by an increase in mass due to benzyl incorporation. When fiber delignification was carried out before benzylation, the mass gain curves of the benzylation reaction presented no initial mass loss and a much higher mass gain. Benzylation promoted several morphological changes: (1) the loss of the parenchyma cells, (2) the defibrillation of the technical fibers into ultimate fibers, (3) the microdefibrillation of the ultimate fibers, and (4) benzyl incorporation. The crystallinity of the fibers decreased with benzylation, as observed by X-ray diffraction. The thermal stability of the fibers varied according to the treatment used. Other changes promoted in the fibers by chemical modification were examined.

The Paraná River basin has about 600 fish species. In the Upper Paraná, 310 fish species were recorded, with 52 species were registered in the streams and headwaters of the Paranapanema River. The aim of this study was to characterize the stream fish communities in the Upper Paranapanema River basin. Samplings were conducted with electrofishing during the dry season in the year of 2014. The collection effort consisted of 30 streams stretches. As a result, 41 species of stream fish were recorded in the Upper Paranapanema River basin, distributed in 26 genera, 11 families and 7 orders. Thirty-nine percent of the species can be considered rare, 41% intermediate and 20% common. We captured approximately eight species by stream stretch and the estimated richness (Schao2) was 40 ± 6 species. Around 40% of the individuals had less than 50 mm in length.

The thermal degradation behaviour of rubber from six new Hevea brasiliensis clones (IAC 40, 56, 300, 301, 302 and 303) from Sa ˜o Paulo State, Brazil was studied by thermogravimetry using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa approach to assess the kinetic parameters (reaction order, activation energy and pre-exponential factor) of the decomposition process. This study indicated that the thermal behaviour is a complex multiple step process, which depends on the type of rubber Hevea clones studied. The rubber from these clones can be classified, following the order of decreasing thermal stability, as IAC 303 . 302 . 56 . 40 . 300 . 301.

The literature on species abundance models is extensive and a great deal of new and important contributions have been published in the last three decades. Broadly speaking, one can recognize five families of species abundance models: i) purely statistical or classic models (Broken-stick, Log-normal, Logarithmic and Geometric series); ii) branching process (Zipf-Mandelbrot and Fractal branching models); iii) population dynamics (Neutral models included); iv) spatial distribution of individuals (Multifractal and HEAP models) and v) niche partitioning (Sugihara´s breakage and Tokeshi models). Among these the neutral, the classic and the niche partitioning models have been the most applied to natural communities, the former having been more extensively discussed than the others in the last years. The objective of this paper is to comment some aspects of the classic, neutral and niche partitioning models in a way that the proposed distributions may contribute to the analysis of the empirical patterns of species abundance. In spite of the variety of models, the distributions in general vary between the log-normal and the logarithmic series. From these models the Power-Fraction, together with independent niche dimensions measures, are amenable to experimental tests and may offer answers on which resources are important in the structuring of biological communities.Keywords: species abundance patterns, neutral models, niche partitioning models, log-normal curve, Power fraction model. Comentários sobre alguns padrões de espécie-abundância: modelos clássicos, neutros e de partição de nicho ResumoA literatura sobre modelos de espécie-abundância é extensa e importantes contribuições têm sido publicadas nas últimas três décadas. De forma geral, são reconhecidos cinco grandes grupos de modelos: i) os que descrevem distribuições puramente estatísticas ou modelos clássicos (Broken-stick, log-normal, série logarítmica e série geométri-ca); ii) os que simulam processos de ramificação hierárquica (modelos Zipf-Mandelbrot e Fractal); iii) de dinâmica de populações (modelos Neutros); iv) de distribuição espacial de indivíduos (modelos Multifractal e HEAP); e v) de partição de nicho (modelos de Sugihara e de Tokeshi). Os modelos clássicos, os de partição de nicho e principalmente os modelos neutros têm sido os mais utilizados em estudos de comunidades naturais. O objetivo deste artigo é discutir de que forma as distribuições geradas por estes três grupos, bem com as suas bases conceituais, podem contribuir com a análise de padrões empíricos de espécie-abundância. Em geral, estes padrões variam entre as curvas log-normal e série logarítmica. Dentre a variedade de modelos existentes, o Power-fraction possibilita a simulação de uma grande amplitude de padrões de abundância relativa e é de utilização relativamente simples, podendo ser utilizado em testes experimentais de perturbação ou de sucessão ecológica. Aliado a medidas independentes de dimensões de nicho, este modelo pode ainda oferecer respostas sobre quais recursos são ess...

Resumo: A qualidade do látex de borracha natural (Hevea brasiliensis) de diferentes clones (RRIM 600, IAN 873, GT 1, PB 235), uma mistura destes clones e uma borracha comercial foi avaliada por ensaios padrões (plasticidade Wallace, PRI, viscosidade Mooney, % de cinzas, extrato acetônico e % de nitrogênio), DMA, DSC e TG. As borrachas estudadas apresentam propriedades competitivas com as da borracha presente no mercado, ficando dentro dos padrões de qualidade exigidos pela norma brasileira e pelo padrão internacional. Entre os clones, o clone RRIM 600 foi o que apresentou o melhor desempenho, principalmente em relação à viscosidade Mooney e ao PRI. Palavras-chave: Borracha natural, clone, látex, análise térmica. Evaluation of Clones of the Raw Natural Rubber by Standard Test and Dynamic Mechanical PropertiesAbstract: Natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) from different clones (RRIM 600, IAN 873, GT 1, PB 235), a mixture made from these clones, and a commercial rubber, have been characterized by DMA, DSC, TGA, and standards methods (Wallace plasticity, PRI, Mooney viscosity, ash percentage, acetonic extract and nitrogen percentage). All the samples studied complied with standard specifications required for application in the rubber industry, and can be used in the rubber industry in blended or unblended forms. Among the clones, the best results of the standards methods were obtained from the RRIM 600 clone, and the blended form of the natural rubber increases its storage modulus.

Compósitos de PVC, plastificados com diferentes sistemas de plastificação e reforçados com fibras de sisal, foram processados em moinho de dois rolos. A influência do tipo e teor do plastificante, do comprimento e do teor das fibras nas propriedades dos compósitos obtidos foi estudada. Dois tipos de plastificantes foram usados, um líquido (do tipo poliéster) e um sólido permanente (copolímero etileno/ acetato de vinila/ monóxido de carbono). As fibras usadas foram previamente lavadas com água a 80 °C por uma hora. Os compósitos, com fibras curtas aleatoriamente distribuídas, foram caracterizados através de ensaio mecânico de resistência à tração, microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), e análises térmicas de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) e análise por termogravimetria (TG). O comprimento ótimo de fibra obtido para os compósitos foi de 6 mm. O uso do plastificante sólido mostrou-se viável e promoveu uma maior molhabilidade da fibra pela matriz nos compósitos, principalmente para teores acima de 40 pcr. As análises térmicas mostraram que a substituição do plastificante líquido pelo plastificante sólido não afetou a estabilidade térmica das matrizes e dos compósitos.