Rapporten behandlar ämnet att göra det enklare att öppna plastpåsar och görs på uppdrag av Leif Gustavsson vid Binar Elektronik AB i Trollhättan. Arbetetet utförs i kursen Examensarbete för högskoleingenjörsexamen i innovationsteknik och design, MSGC12 vid fakulteten för hälsa, natur- och teknikvetenskap på Karlstad universitet under våren 2013. Idag sker öppnandet av påsar ofta genom att ett tumme-pekfingergrepp skjuvar isär påsens väggar. Informationssökningen visar att behovet av en lösning som gör det enklare att öppna olika typer av plastpåsar i butik och inom hushåll är mycket stort för människor både med och utan funktionsnedsättning. Dels ur ett användningsperspektiv, då operationen kräver en hög motorisk förmåga men även ur ett smittspridningsperspektiv, då fingrarna ofta måste blötas med saliv för att åstadkomma tillräckligt hög friktion mot påsen för att skjuva upp den. Eftersom individen då får i sig de bakterier hon har på handen och för sina munhålebakterier vidare när hon tar i ett annat föremål. Även om ett fåtal patent påträffas inom området finns inga lösningar tillgängliga på marknaden för föreskrivna hjälpmedel eller för produkter inom egenansvar. Utifrån uppdragsgivarens krav, egna premisser, vad som observeras i butik och framkommit från intervjuer med butiksvan säljare, hygiensköterska, arbetsterapeut, utredare vid socialtjänsten samt vid samtal med Reumatikerförbundet har en produktspecifikation gjorts. Specifikationen ställer bland annat krav på användarvänlighet, att kunna brukas i butik och inom hushåll, att minimera smittspridning, att hjälpa funktionsnedsatta samt att tillåta storserietillverkning till låg kostnad. Konceptgenerering sker tillsammans med kurskamrater som är bekanta med den kreativa processens metodik och med reumatiker som är väl bekanta med behovet. Det leder till att ett trettiotal konceptuella lösningar tas fram som sedan utvärderas med hjälp av eliminerings-, relativ besluts- och kriterieviktsmatriser samt spindelvävsdiagram som bygger på den kravspecifikation som tidigare definierats. Den valda lösningen konfigureras och testas vid prototyptillverkning med återkoppling till den slutliga användaren, för att sedan få sin slutkonstruktion och mönsterskyddas. Lösningen är en produkt som orsakar skjuvning med sin osymmetriska u-form genom att armarna i sträcks i olika riktningar vid kompression samtidigt som dess gap är försett med friktionsmaterial som gör att påsens väggar skjuvas isär. Produktens enkla form gör det enklare att öppna plastpåsar samtidigt som den minimerar smittspridning och tillåter storserietillverkning till låg kostnad. Enkelheten gör det även möjligt att ge indirekt skydd av den tekniska funktionen genom mönsterskydd av form. Produktens material, tillverkning och dimension behöver dock specificeras noggrannare genom produkttest så att konstruktionen tillåter lämplig skjuvning för att kunna öppna en plastpåse. / The report deals with the subject of making it easier to open plastic bags and is commissioned by Leif Gustavsson at Binar Elektronik AB in Trollhättan. The work is performed within the course Degree project for Degree of Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Design Engineering, MSGC12 at the Faculty of Health, Nature and Engineering Science at Karlstad University in the spring of 2013. Today the opening of the plastic bags often is performed by a thumb-index finger grip that shears apart the walls of the bag. The research shows that the need for a solution that makes it easier to open different types of plastic bags in stores and within households is very high for people with and without disabilities. Both from a usage perspective when the operation requires a high motor performance but also from a contamination perspective when fingers often have to be soaked with saliva to provide sufficient friction against the bag to shear it up. The individual then ingests the bacteria she has on her hand and passing her oral cavity further on when she touches another object. Although a few patents were found within the area there are no solutions available in the market. Based on the requirements from the employer, the author’s own terms, what is observed in the store and emerged from interviews with experienced seller, health nurse, occupational therapist, researcher at the social services and in conversation with the Swedish Rheumatism Association a product specification was made. The specification includes requirements on ease of use, to be managed in-store and in households, to minimize the spread of infection, to help the disabled and to allow large series manufacturing at a low cost. Concept generation was performed together with fellow students who are familiar with the methodology of the creative process and with rheumatics who are well acquainted with the need of making it easier to open plastic bags. Approximately thirty conceptual solutions are developed, which is being evaluated by means of elimination, relative decision-making and criterion-weight matrixes and web charts based on the product specification previously defined. The final choice of solution is configured and prototypes constructed. Feedback from the user leads to the final product design and the design was protected. The product causes shearing with its asymmetrical U shape by stretching its arms in different directions during compression while its mouth is provided with friction material that allows the walls of the bag to be sheared apart. The product's simple design makes it easier to open plastic bags while at the same time minimizing the spread of infection and allowing large series manufacturing at a low cost. The simplicity also makes it possible to provide indirect protection of the technical function through design. Although the product’s materials, manufacturing and dimension needs to be specified more accurately by tests to confirm that the design allows adequate shear to open a plastic bag.

There is anecdotal and scientific evidence to suggest that schoolbag carriage is associated with musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) and possibly long-term back pain. Thus schoolbag carriage is an area of concern for students, parents and both education and health professionals. A schoolbag weight limit of 10% of body weight (BW) is currently recommended. However, it is based on subjective observations rather than objective findings and does not consider other aspects of schoolbag carriage such as schoolbag design and adjustment or carriage patterns. Five studies were conducted in order to determine the effects on students' responses to schoolbag carriage of schoolbag design, adjustment, carriage duration and weight. Backpack design had a significant effect on reported musculoskeletal discomfort and choice of backpack. Schoolbag hip-belt and shoulder strap adjustment and weight significantly affected shoulder strap tension forces and shoulder interface pressure in simulated schoolbag carriage. Using activity monitoring, school students were found to spend approximately two hours carrying their schoolbags each day. This usually comprised 11-15 times per day of 8-9 minutes of carriage. Using this temporal pattern information, 16 boys (13-14 years) were exposed to a simulated school day using schoolbags weighing 0, 5, 10, 12.5 and 15% BW and an additional condition of 10% BW with tighter shoulder straps. Posture, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), muscular strain and reported ability to walk and balance were significantly affected when schoolbag load reached 10% BW. However, despite these findings, the magnitude of self reported muscular strain and MSD suggested that 15% BW may be too heavy for school students. Thus, 10% BW may be an appropriate upper schoolbag weight limit for a typical school day. Using a psychophysical approach the mean (standard deviation) maximum acceptable schoolbag weight (MASW) selected by 16 school boys (13-14 years) was 10.4(3.8) %BW. This finding agrees with the findings of the previous study and supports the current schoolbag weight recommendation of 10% BW. The results of the five studies can be used in developing schoolbag carrying guidelines to help reduce the prevalence of MSD amongst school students.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:55:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 4002692 bytes, checksum: 85600be9b689a4e4048b5414df434ab6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Studies related to litter dynamics are important to comprehend decomposing deciduos material, nutrients cycling, succession patterns, ecological disturbance and environmental variables interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. In opposition to Caatinga's degradation speed, a lack of studies related to litter production dynamics is observed. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate climatic factors (rainfall and evapotranspiration) and vegetation effects over temporal and spatial dynamics of litter production in Brazilian Northeastern's semiarid. A phytosociologic survey was performed in Paraiba's Cariri in 12 sampling areas. Two 1 m2 collectors (with 0,15 m3) were placed about 50 m distant from each other in order to estimate litter monthly production between November 2009 and 2011. Litter deposition values observed in this study varied between 3430 and 4600 kg.ha-1.year-1. Litter production was significantly bigger in the second year of survey and it varied between months in both years. Intra-annual variation was positive to total litter production, showing peaks of litterfall in dry period about three or four months after the greatest rates of monthly rainfall. While reproductive structures and branches corresponded to 14% and miscellany from 3% to 5%, leaves, which represented more than 60% of the total, corresponded to the predominant part of litter. Litter production was significantly different between areas so as each of its parts. The density of plant species, vegetation height and trunk diameter at ground were responsible for 79% of annual litter production in those different areas. Results reveal that litter production in Caatinga have a spatiotemporal heterogeneity, which is related to climate and vegetation and must provide effects over substratum in edaphic microorganisms activities and, consequently, in edaphic conditions and nutrients availability. Therefore, in Caatinga, associations of spatial variations in microhabitats conditions and inter-annual variations could interfere in the offering period of floral resource, substrate nutrients availability and, possibly, in the behavior of substrate-using animals. / Apesar do reconhecimento de que a fauna seja importante na ciclagem de nutrientes, as suas relações com a decomposição da serrapilheira ainda são pouco conhecidas em ambientes semiáridos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito espacial e temporal das condições do habitat e dos microartrópodes do solo sobre a decomposição na Caatinga. No Cariri paraibano, entre novembro de 2009 e outubro de 2011, a taxa de decomposição foliar foi avaliada através de dois transectos com 30 bolsas de serrapilheira, com 10±0,5 g de folhas de Caesalpinia pyramidalis e Croton blanchetianus, em igual proporção, distribuídos em 12 áreas de amostragem. No transecto denominado controle, as bolsas foram preenchidas apenas com folhas, enquanto no segundo transecto, denominado fauna-reduzida, além das folhas, as bolsas de serrapilheira apresentavam cerca de 30 bolas de naftalina (~33,2 g), para avaliação do efeito da fauna sobre a decomposição. No primeiro ano, a taxa de decomposição foi menor independentemente do período de exposição, sendo decomposto cerca de 32%, 47% e 63% em 120, 240 e 360 dias, respectivamente. Enquanto, no segundo ano, a perda de massa foi de 45%, 54% e 73%, respectivamente. A taxa de decomposição correlacionou-se com a precipitação (acumulada) e a evapotranspiração (acumulada). Analisando os efeitos da fauna de microartrópodes e de cada área de amostragem sobre a taxa de decomposição, verificou-se que estes fatores tanto atuam isoladamente, quanto de forma conjunta sobre esse processo, entre os diferentes períodos de exposição (120, 240, 360 dias). A riqueza de espécies, densidade, altura da vegetação e o diâmetro do tronco à altura do solo (DTS), a serrapilheira produzida e o efeito da fauna, juntas, explicaram 91% da taxa de decomposição anual da serrapilheira, porém o DTS foi à única variável não significativa neste modelo. A precipitação e ETR tem efeito chave sobre a decomposição, pois além de atuarem sobre as perdas por lixiviação de compostos lábeis solúveis em água, estes fatores influenciam a vegetação, a produção de serrapilheira e a fauna decompositora e, portanto, desencadeiam estímulos sobre diferentes fatores, que atuam sobre o processo de decomposição. Este experimento mostrou que a decomposição de plantas pode ser influenciada por fatores bióticos em uma Floresta Tropical Seca, como a Caatinga, e que a decomposição não pode ser explicada apenas pelo clima e pela qualidade do substrato, visto que no sistema solo-serrapilheira, a vegetação e os organismos edáficos são fatores críticos na manutenção e disponibilidade de nutrientes.

Abstract: It is very important for the whole society to pay attention to the health condition of small children. The thesis is focused on a possible effect of chemical and toxic substances which may endanger child{\crq}s health every day. In every house with children there are many types of food, products, medicine, or also plants which can endanger children. According to the research (e.g. with milk, vitamin A or paracethamol) there are provable food items unsuitable for children in many cases. Also house plants or bushes commonly grown at home or at yards in pre-schools may also be a cause of health problems of small children. Another important aspect, which is often neglected by parents, is a material that the toys are made of. The second part of the thesis is devoted to the research which was carried out at the territory of Karviná region in 19 pre-schools (PS). There were two files of entities designed for the needs of the thesis. In one file there are 87 pedagogical workers who are employed in pre-schools. The second file covers 155 parents whose children attend randomly selected pre-schools. Both parents and pedagogical workers were asked similar questions in the form of questionnaire, which are related to the information from the area of civilian protection. The main topic here was the danger of hazardous chemical substances release. These questions were to test theoretical competence of adults to react in proper way in such cases, immediately and correctly, thus protecting themselves and children mainly. The conclusion with both groups is that the knowledge from the area of civilian protection is insufficient. Most of the respondents (67 % of teachers and 57 % of parents) would not react in a correct way. Only a very little part of the questioned persons was able to name some of the tools of the individual protection. These outcomes were then handed to the Fire Rescue Brigade of the Moravian-Silesian Region, and they will be used as support material for making changes in the system of information for citizens, and especially pedagogy workers in the area of civilian protection. One of the possible benefits of this thesis is also a creation of an education aid for the officers in duty with handicapped citizens.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Derval dos Santos Rosa / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, 2017. / Nos dias de hoje, tem sido crescente a preocupação com os impactos ambientais provocados pelo descarte inadequado de sacolas plásticas após seu uso. Em busca de uma solução parcial para o descarte dessas, nos últimos anos vem aumentando o interesse em incrementar e desenvolver materiais biodegradáveis com características que permitam a sua utilização em embalagens e utensílios descartáveis e que contribuam com a sustentabilidade. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver filmes poliméricos biodegradáveis, para uso em sacolas descartáveis de supermercado. Os filmes foram preparados utilizando PBAT, PLA e CaCO3, em diferentes composições. Os filmes das composições foram caracterizados por ensaios mecânicos e avaliação da biodegradação. Foram analisados também os desempenhos ambiental e econômico, ao longo do ciclo de vida dos filmes preparados, em comparação com sacolas usuais disponibilizadas nos supermercados (kraft e PEAD). Essa Análise de Ecoeficiência foi realizada segundo as normas ABNT NBR da série ISO 14040, com base em ferramentas de cálculo e bancos de dados de Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida internacionalmente reconhecidos. Os resultados do ensaio mecânico demonstraram que a incorporação de CaCO3 nos filmes diminuiu o alongamento na ruptura e a resistência máxima à tração e aumentou o módulo de Young dos materiais. Todas amostras apresentaram caráter hidrofílico, com ângulos de contato menores que 90º. As amostras com CaCO3 não apresentaram nítidas separação de fases, diferentemente da amostra sem carga, demonstrando que a incorporação do material favoreceu a dispersão e interação de PBAT/PLA. O CaCO3 reduziu e temperatura máxima de degradação das amostras. Com exceção da amostra de papel, todas apresentaram pequenos percentuais de massa sorvida. Após 360 dias do ensaio de biodegradação, os resultados mostraram que não houve uma perda de massa expressiva, no entanto, as amostras já apresentaram uma modificações superficiais, indicando ação de micro-organismos. Na Análise de Ecoeficiência foi possível observar que a incorporação de CaCO3 diminuiu significantemente os impactos econômicos das alternativas em estudo e favoreceu a ecoeficiência dos polímeros biodegradáveis. / Nowadays, there has been growing concern about the environmental impacts caused by the improper disposal of disposable plastic bags after use. In search of a partial solution for their disposal, the interest in improving and developing biodegradable materials of low cost with characteristics that allow its use in disposable containers and utensils that contribute to the sustainability have increased in recent years. This work aimed to develop polymeric biodegradable films for use in disposable supermarket bags. The films were prepared using PBAT, PLA and CaCO3, in different compositions. These films were characterized by mechanical tests and evaluation of biodegradation. There were also analyzed the environmental and economic performance over the life cycle of the films prepared in comparison with the usual alternatives available in supermarkets (paper and PEAD). This Eco-efficiency Analysis was performed according to NBR ISO 14040 standards series, based on calculation internationally recognized tools and databases of Life Cycle Assessment. The results of the mechanical tests demonstrated that the incorporation of CaCO3 in the films decreased the elongation at break and the maximum tensile strength at break of the materials, but increased the Young's modulus. All samples presented a hydrophilic character, with contact angles smaller than 90º. The samples with CaCO3 did not present a clear phase separation, unlike the sample with no load, demonstrating that the incorporation of the material favors the interaction of PBAT with PLA. The CaCO3 reduced the maximum degradation temperature of the samples. With the exception of the paper sample, all presented small percentage of sorbed mass. After 360 days of biodegradation test, the results showed that there was no significant mass loss, however, the samples already presented a superficial modifications, indicating action of microorganisms. In the Eco-efficiency Analysis it was possible to observe that the incorporation of CaCO3 significantly decreased the economic impacts of the alternatives under study and favored the eco-efficiency of the biodegradable polymers.

Este trabalho objetivou relacionar a produtividade agroindustrial da cana-de-açúcar com o aproveitamento do nitrogênio (N) das adubações sucessivas em cana-planta e soqueiras, em sistema de cultivo mínimo sem o revolvimento do solo ou escarificações das entrelinhas na reforma do canavial ou após os cortes, respectivamente - e quantificar a contribuição da palhada proveniente da colheita mecanizada na nutrição da cultura. O experimento foi instalado em março de 2005, em um Latossolo Vermelho Eutrófico muito argiloso da Fazenda Santa Terezinha, Jaboticabal, SP e foi conduzido durante quatro ciclos agrícolas consecutivos até julho de 2009. O delineamento experimental na cana-planta foi blocos casualizados, com quatro tratamentos (doses de N-uréia 0, 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1 no sulco de plantio, juntamente com 120 kg ha-1 de P2O5 e K2O) e quatro repetições (parcelas de 48 sulcos x 15 m). Nos ciclos de 1ª a 3ª soqueiras, as parcelas de cana-planta foram subdivididas em outros quatro tratamentos (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg ha-1 de N) e quatro repetições (subparcelas de 12 linhas x 15 m). Na 3ª soqueira a adubação com N foi de 100 kg ha-1 em todas as parcelas, visando detectar efeitos residuais das fertilizações anteriores na produtividade da cana no 4º ciclo. Em todas as parcelas dos ciclos de soqueiras também aplicou-se 150 kg ha-1 de K2O como KCl. Na dose 80 kg ha-1 de N em cana-planta, foram instaladas microparcelas contendo uréia e/ou material vegetal marcado com 15N, simulando os resíduos anteriores à reforma (palhada, PAR ou rizomas, RAR da variedade RB855536) remanescentes no solo após o cultivo mínimo. O objetivo foi avaliar a contribuição do fertilizante-15N e dos resíduos vegetais-15N na nutrição nitrogenada da cultura em ciclos consecutivos. Após o corte da cana-planta, novas microparcelas contendo palhada pós colheita (PPC-15N, variedade SP81-3250) foram dispostas nos tratamentos 800 e 80150 kg ha-1 de N em cana-planta e soqueiras, respectivamente, para avaliar a contribuição do N-PPC na nutrição da cultura e a influência do N aplicado em soqueiras na disponibilização do N-PPC. Um estudo complementar foi desenvolvido em sacos telados contendo PAR-15N em cana-planta (dose 80 kg ha-1 de N) e PPC- 15N em soqueiras (doses 80-0 e 80-150 kg ha-1 de N), visando quantificar a decomposição dos resíduos durante os ciclos agrícolas e possíveis diferenças na intensidade da decomposição devido às aplicações de N em cana-planta e em soqueiras respectivamente. Nos quatro ciclos consecutivos avaliou-se a: i) produtividade agroindustrial (TCH, Mg de cana ha-1 de colmos e TPH, Mg ha-1 de pol) e características tecnológicas da matéria-prima (pol % cana e fibra %) em função dos tratamentos de N em cana-planta e soqueiras; ii) recuperação do 15Nuréia, 15N-PAR, 15N-RAR e 15N-PPC pela parte aérea da cultura (colmos, folhas secas e ponteiro) e o balanço de carbono (C) e N no sistema solo-planta e iii) decomposição da PAR e PPC pela redução da matéria seca (MS), do C, 10 macronutrientes (N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S) e carboidratos estruturais (lignina, celulose e hemicelulose). A TCH e TPH foram influenciadas pelas doses de N no plantio e nas soqueiras subseqüentes. Houve resposta linear na produtividade agroindustrial da cana-planta às doses de N do plantio e na média dos quatro ciclos agrícolas. Porém, não houve interação entre as doses de N em cana-planta e soqueiras. O tratamento 120100 kg ha-1 de N em cana-planta e soqueiras proporcionou a maior TCH acumulada nos quatro ciclos consecutivos, porém o tratamento 12050 kg ha-1 de N foi o mais viável economicamente. A recuperação do N-uréia de plantio foi mais alta no primeiro ciclo (24, 7 kg ha-1 ou 31% da dose aplicada) decrescendo ao longo ciclos agrícolas subsequentes (5%; 4% e 3%, respectivamente). O balanço de N após os quatro ciclos (2006 a 2009) indicou 43% (34,4 kg ha-1) de recuperação do Nuréia pela parte aérea da cultura, 0,2% permaneceu nos rizomas, 20% no solo e 37% foram contabilizados como perdas. Para os resíduos vegetais PAR e RAR as recuperações na parte aérea foram de 28% e 23% da quantidade inicial (14,2 e 7,4 kg ha-1, respectivamente). Em média, 0,2% do N-resíduos vegetais permaneceu nos rizomas, 52% no solo e 22% foram perdas. A soma da recuperação do N-PAR e NRAR de foi de 24,4 kg, ou seja, 39% da contribuição total de N destes resíduos, indicando serem fontes de N a longo prazo para a cana-de-açúcar. Houve correlação entre a recuperação acumulada do N-uréia e N-resíduos vegetais com a evapotranspiração acumulada dos quatro ciclos agrícolas. A recuperação do N-PPC pela parte aérea da cultura praticamente dobrou após três ciclos, devido à aplicação de N em soqueiras, 17% vs. 31% (6,9 e 12,6 kg ha-1 de N, respectivamente). O restante do N-PPC permaneceu nos rizomas (0,3% e 0,4%), no solo (69% e 61%) ou resultaram em perdas (13,4% e 7,6%). Não houve alterações nos estoques de C e N do solo com a adição de N-uréia ou N-resíduos vegetais. A decomposição da PAR e PPC foi influenciada pelas aplicações de N em cana-planta e soqueiras e pela ação biológica ao longo dos ciclos agrícolas avaliados. Essa degradação ocorreu devido à redução da relação C:N, do crescimento de raízes sob a palhada, perdas de MS, C, N, macronutrientes e carboidratos estruturais da palhada ao longo dos ciclos agrícolas. Para a PAR e PPC, a degradação da MS foi de 96% e 73% após quatro e três anos, respectivamente. Os macronutrientes que apresentaram maiores liberações foram o K 98% e 92%; Mg 97% e 70% e o Ca 95% e 55%, da quantidade inicial dos nutrientes (kg ha-1) aplicadas via PAR e PPC, respectivamente. Após quatro ciclos agrícolas os teores (g kg-1) de lignina, celulose e hemicelulose da PAR decresceram 60%, 29% e 70%. Para a PPC a redução foi de 47%, 35% e 70% em três ciclos. A degradação dos carboidratos estruturais foi influenciada pelas condições climáticas ocorridas durante os ciclos agrícolas e pela composição bioquímica inicial dos resíduos (carboidratos e nutrientes totais). Não houve diferença na degradação da MS da PPC devido à aplicação de N em soqueiras, porém houve diferença na degradação do C, na liberação de Ca, na concentração de raízes e na decomposição da lignina quando se realizou a adubação com N sobre a palhada em soqueiras / This work aimed to relate the agroindustrial yield of sugarcane with nitrogen (N) fertilization in successive cropping cycles in plant-cane and ratoons under minimum tillage system - without soil plowing or interows scarification in crop renewal and after the harvesting seasons, respectively - and to quantify the contribution of straw from mechanical harvesting on crop N nutrition. The field trial was planted in March 2005 in a very clayey Rhodic Eutrustox at Santa Terezinha Farm, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo State and was conducted during four consecutive cropping cycles until July 2009. The plant-cane trial was designed as randomized blocks with four treatments (N-urea in increasing rates 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 at planting added to 120 kg ha-1 P2O5 and K2O) and four replicates (48 furrows of 15 m length). For the ratoon-cane trial, (1st to 3rd ratoons) the plant-cane plots were subdivided into other four treatments (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1 N) and four replicates (12 rows x 15 m). The N fertilization of the 3rd ratoon was leveled to 100 kg ha-1 in all plots in order to detect residual effects of previous N fertilizations on sugarcane yield in this cycle. All ratoon cycles also received 150 kg ha-1 K2O as KCl. It has been installed microplots containing 15N-urea and/or 15N-labeled plant material at the 80 kg ha-1 N dose in plant-cane, simulating the crop residues prior to renewal (trash PAR or rhizomes, RAR of RB855536 variety) and which remained in soil after minimum tillage. The objective was to assess the contribution of N-fertilizer and N-residues in sugarcane N nutrition in consecutive cycles. After the plant-cane harvesting, new microplots containing post harvest trash (PPC-15N, variety SP81-3250) were placed in treatments 80-0 and 80- 150 kg N ha-1 in plant-cane and ratoons, respectively, aiming to assess the contribution of N-PPC in crop nutrition and the influence of N applied to ratoons in the N-PPC availability for sugarcane uptake. An additional study was conducted in litter bags containing PAR-15N in plant-cane (dose 80 kg ha-1 N) and PPC-15N in ratoons (doses 80-0 and 80-150 kg N ha-1) in order quantify the decomposition of trash during the crop cycles and possible differences in the decomposition rates due to N applications in plant-cane (PAR) and ratoons (PPC), respectively. In the four consecutive cycles were evaluated: i) Agroindustrial yields (TCH, Mg cane ha-1 stalks and TPH, Mg ha-1 of sugar) and raw material quality (pol% cane and fiber%) in plantcane and ratoon treatments; ii) Recovery of urea-15N, PAR-15N, 15N- RAR and 15NPPC by crop above ground parts (stalks, dry leaves and tips) and carbon (C) and N balances in the soil-plant system and iii) decomposition of PAR and PPC as reduction of dry matter (DM), C, nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and structural carbohydrates (lignin cellulose and hemicellulose). The agroindustrial yields (TCH and TPH) were influenced by N rates at planting and subsequent ratoons. It hás been found linear response in crop yield due to N rates at planting and in the average of four crop cycles. However, no responses were detected in the interaction between 12 N doses in plant or ratoon cane. The highest accumulated yield (TCH) in four consecutive cycles was obtained in treatment 120-100 kg ha-1 N in plant-cane and ratoons, but treatment 120-50 kg ha-1 N has been found as the more economically viable. The recovery of N-urea applied in plant-cane was higher in the first cycle (24, 7 kg ha-1 or 31% of the applied dose) and decreased over subsequent crop cycles (5%, 4% and 3% respectively). The N balance after four cycles (2006-2009) showed 43% (34.4 kg ha-1) of total N-urea recovery by the crop above ground parts, 0.2% was found in the rhizomes, 20% in soil and 37% were counted as losses. Cane trash N-PAR and N-RAR recoveries in the above ground parts were 28% and 23% of the initial amount of N applied as crop residues (14.2 and 7.4 kg ha-1, respectively). On average, 0.2% of N-plant residues remained in the rhizomes, 52% in the soil and 22% were accounted as losses. The total recovery of N-PAR N-and RAR was 24.4 kg, or 39% of the total N of these residues, indicating that they are long term N sources for the sugarcane crop. There had been found a close correlation between the cumulative recovery of N-urea and N-residues with the accumulated evapotranspiration of the four crop cycles. The N-PPC recovery by sugarcane above ground parts almost doubled after three cycles due to N application in ratoons, 17% vs. 31% (6.9 and 12.6 kg ha-1 N, respectively). In other compartments, 0.3% and 0.4% of N-PPC remained in the rhizomes, 69% and 61%) in the soil and 13.4% and 7.6%) resulted in losses. There was detected no major changes in soil C and N stocks C due to the addition of N-urea and N-residues. The decomposition of PAR and PPC was influenced by N fertilizations in plant-cane and ratoons cane and by biological action over the cropping cycles. The major effects detected as trash decomposed over the agricultural cycles were the reduction in residues C:N ratio, sugarcane root growth under the trash blanket, and losses of DM, C, N, macronutrients and structural carbohydrates. The DM degradation of PAR and PPC was 96% and 73% after four and three years respectively. The nutrients that showed higher release rates were K 98% to 92%, Mg 97% to 70% Ca and 95% to 55% of the initial amount of nutrients (kg ha-1) sourced by PAR and PPC residues, respectively. After four agricultural cycles, the levels (g kg-1) of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose from PAR decreased 60%, 29% and 70%, and for PPC the reduction was 47%, 35% and 70% in three cycles. The degradation of structural carbohydrates was influenced by climatic conditions that occurred during the agricultural cycles and the initial biochemical composition those residues (total carbohydrates and nutrients content). There was no difference in DM degradation of PPC due to N application in ratoons, however there were differences in C degradation, in the release of Ca, concentration of roots and in the decomposition of lignin when N- fertilizer has been applied over the trash blanket

Neste trabalho, foram estudadas blendas de poliésteres sintéticos e de fonte renovável - poli(tereftalato de butileno-co-adipato de butileno) - PBAT e poli(ácido láctico) - PLA, respectivamente, utilizados em sacolas de supermercado. Amostras destes materiais foram pesadas e enterradas em solo simulado por quatro meses para simular uma compostagem tradicional. As amostras foram então analisadas por Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC), Termogravimetria e Termogravimetria Derivada (TG e DTG, incluindo uma Análise Cinética não isotérmica comparativa com sacolas de PE aditivadas com agente pró-degradante, Espectroscopia Vibracional Raman com Transformada de Fourier (FT-Raman), Difração de Raios X e Cromatografia de exclusão por tamanho. Embora não tenha havido perda de massa significativa no período do envelhecimento por compostagem tradicional, foram constatadas importantes alterações estruturais nas amostras, tais como a redução nas energias de ativação (Ea) para os processos de decomposição térmica, a redução na intensidade da banda relativa ao estiramento da carbonila presente nos poliésteres e também uma drástica redução da massa molecular dos polímeros. Em paralelo, a aceleração do processo de biodegradação com Vermicompostagem foi investigado, com resultados bastante promissores, incluindo a degradação total da amostra após um tratamento prévio de exposição à luz solar. / In this study, blends of the synthetic polyester poly(butylene adipate-cotherephtalate) - PBAT - and the natural one poly(lactic acid) - PLA - used as biodegradable plastic shopping bags were studied. Samples of these materials were weighed and buried in simulated soil for four months to simulate domestic composting. These samples were then studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetry (TG, including a comparative non-isothermal Kinetic Analysis with PE shopping bags containing prodegradation agents), Transformed Fourier Raman Vibrational Spectroscopy (FT-Raman), Wide Angle X-Ray Diffraction (WAXD) and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). It was observed that even though there was no significant mass loss in the period of the ageing when using conventional home composting, important structural changes were detected in the samples, such as the reduction of activation energies (Ea) for the thermal decomposition processes, the reduction of intensity of the peak associated with the stretching of the carbonyl present in both polyesters and also a dramatic decrease in molecular weights. In parallel, the acceleration of the biodegradation process with vermicomposting was investigated, with very promising results, including the total disintegration of the samples when submitted to a previous treatment of sun light exposure.

This study was conducted in South Africa. South Africa is the first country within the Southern African Development Community to have regulated plastic shopping bags waste through the imposition of both a standard on thickness and a levy. Given this scenario, the Plastic Bags Regulations present an illustrative case for researching complexity, uncertainty and controversies surrounding a new trend in environmental policy making, namely waste product regulation. The thesis focuses on understanding and investigating tensions, debates and responses emerging from the policy process as actors and actor-networks put not only the Plastic Bags Regulations asfocal actant (token) but also other actants and actant-networks as well. To this end, a research question that addressed environmental policies, tensions, debates and responses that informed the development of South Africa's Plastic Bags Regulations was spelt out. The research objectives included the need to: (I) analyse selected international environmental policy processes surrounding plastic shopping bags litter and waste regulation and how these influenced developments in South Africa; (2) identify actors, actants and actor/actant-networks that shaped and were being transformed by South Africa's Plastic Bags Regulations and explain the tensions, debates and responses arising in the policy processes; (3) identify environmental policy outputs and assess outcomes emerging from the formulation and implementation of South Africa's Plastic Bags Regulations; and (4) establish patterns in environmental policy process reforms around South Africa's Plastic Bags Regulations. The language of actors (human), actants (non-human) and actor/actant-networks brings to the fore the aspects of processes and relationships that exist around them. As such, insights from the actor/actant-network theory (AANT) were drawn upon to inform the research. AANT enquiry framework collapses binaries such as nature/society, art/science, structure/agency and global/local historically associated with a particular type of social theory. AANT also denies that purely technical, scientific or social relations are possible (the notion of quaSi-objects or token). Data sets were generated following' the Plastic Bags Regulations as token actant with time frames ranging from prior to, during and after the formulation of the regulations. Similarly, data analysis drew insights from AANT's four moments of translation namely problematisation, interessement, enrolment and mobilisation, with the intervention theory providing an evaluative perspective that complemented AANT. The findings were that after the promulgation of the first draft of the Plastic Bags Regulations in May 2000, tensions emerged around the nature of regulation (whether command and control - preferred by government or self regulation - preferred by industry and labour). In this regard the latter group raised concerns about jobs, income and equipment loss as well as the need to have a holistic approach to waste management rather than targeting a single product at a time whilst the former maintained that this would not be so. As such, education, awareness and stringent antilitter penalties were proposed by industry and labour as sustainable responses to the problem of plastic shopping bags waste rather than regulation. These debates continued and resulted in minor amendments to the original regulations as finalised by Government in May 2002. However, industry and labour continued lobbying government resulting in the conclusion of the Plastic Bags Agreement in September 2002 and the ultimate repulsion of the May 2002 regulations in May 2003. As revealed by this research, these responses led to broader social responses and further tensions as demand for plastic shopping bags went down by about 80% although an estimated 1000 jobs were lost and a number of companies lost equipment and business (with some closing down) following the implementation of the regulations. During implementation, debates emerged around the need to promote locally made carry facilities with two alternatives in sight namely: the Green Bag and the Biodegradable Plastic Bag. Debates also took place regarding enforcement of the new law resulting in the amendments of various pieces of legislation including the Environmental Conservation Act, Environmental Management Act and the Revenue Laws Act. Overall, a 15-year policy reform cycle and sub-cycles was determined. The research also established that the government considered the regulations a success and was already implementing simi lar initiatives to regulate other waste products, among them, used tyres, used oil and glass, confirming the trend towards waste product regulation in South Africa. From these research findings, a series of conceptual frameworks were drawn up to clarify the nature of tensions, debates and responses surrounding certain lead actors, actants and actorlactant-networks. Some of the conceptual frameworks that emerged around the actors and actor-networks include Organised Government, Organised Industry and Organised Labour. Conceptual frameworks that emerged around key actants and actant-networks include the Integrated Pollution and Waste Management, Plastic Bags Regulations as well as the discourses surrounding the Green bag and biodegradable plastic bags. The thesis concludes by reflecting on how the above and the grand actor/actant-network conceptual frameworks emerging from this research might be adopted with varying degrees of flexibility to research environmental and waste management policy processes in different waste product regulation set-ups. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in

Kocúrová, Z.: The things we /do not/ need /Graduation Thesis/ Praha 2012 - Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Education, Department of Art Education. Supervisor M. Sedlák. The aim of the graduation thesis is the relation of human and space in the context of philosophy, psychology, social history, art and education. The theoretical part is focused on open and closed space, on their relationship to basic human needs as safeness and solidarity. Individuals apply isolation and control to defeat their fears. The means of open architecture are connected with these issues as well. The second part of my work concentrates on my art projects inspired by the mentioned concepts. My installations, actions and cycle of photographs is described. The third part is focused on applications of these topics in the art teaching. Key words: open space, closed space, fear, safeness, architecture, folding screen, bags, transparency, education.

Los insectos saproxílicos, que dependen de la presencia de madera muerta y/o en descomposición, de hongos de la madera, o bien de la presencia de otros organismos saproxílicos, en algún momento de su ciclo vital, desempeñan una función clave para el correcto funcionamiento de los ecosistemas de bosque, actuando como recicladores de los nutrientes contenidos en la madera en descomposición. La diversidad de insectos saproxílicos, y más concretamente de coleópteros, así como la estructura de los ensambles que conforman, se encuentran condicionadas por una serie de variables de carácter físico, químico y biótico. Comprender cómo este amplio conjunto de variables afecta a los patrones espacio-temporales de las comunidades, resulta esencial a la hora de elaborar estrategias de manejo de los ecosistemas, que permitan preservar este tipo de fauna, en muchas ocasiones, amenazada. Con este marco de fondo, el objetivo general de esta tesis doctoral reside en analizar el conjunto de factores ambientales que afectan a la diversidad y a la distribución espacio-temporal de los ensambles de coleópteros saproxílicos que habitan los bosques mediterráneos de roble melojo ubicados en el oeste de la península ibérica para, de este modo, poder proponer una serie de directrices a seguir, a la hora de manejar este tipo de ecosistemas. Este objetivo general se divide en una serie de objetivos específicos, cada uno de los cuales ha derivado en la redacción de un artículo científico y que pueden ser consultados de manera individualizada en los capítulos II, III y IV. En el capítulo II se evaluó la influencia de un total de 24 variables ambientales a nivel de paisaje y a nivel de árbol, muchas de ellas consecuencia del manejo tradicional del bosque en el oeste ibérico por parte del hombre, analizando la riqueza observada de especies y empleando los estimadores de diversidad verdadera. El estudio permitió demostrar que, son muchas las variables que deben ser tenidas en cuenta a la hora de aplicar estrategias de manejo de los ecosistemas forestales y que no todos los métricos empleados para evaluar la diversidad de los ensambles saproxílicos responden de la misma manera frente a esas variables derivadas del manejo. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, es posible establecer una serie de recomendaciones para la gestión forestal de áreas sometidas a técnicas tradicionales de manejo: favorecer en cierta medida la apertura del medio, reducir la carga ganadera y la explotación de madera a nivel vecinal, mantener en el paisaje un elevado volumen de madera en avanzado estado de descomposición, realizar un trasmoche selectivo de cierta cantidad de árboles para acelerar la aparición de oquedades y conservar los denominados “árboles hábitat”, que presenten microhábitats potenciales para este tipo de fauna, ya sean oquedades o tumores. El capítulo III se centró en analizar la posible influencia de los factores abióticos de temperatura y humedad relativa, en los patrones intranuales mostrados por los ensambles de coleópteros saproxílicos que habitan los bosques de roble melojo en la península ibérica, tanto en términos de riqueza como de composición de especies. Además, se abordó el estudio del tamaño corporal, como un rasgo que puede afectar tanto a la fisiología como a la eficacia biológica (fitness) de las especies y que podría explicar, al menos en parte, la dinámica temporal de estos ensambles. Este estudio permitió demostrar que la dinámica temporal de los ensambles de coleópteros saproxílicos que habitan los bosques de roble en el oeste ibérico está condicionada, al menos en gran medida, por las fluctuaciones anuales de las variables abióticas de temperatura y humedad relativa. Considerando el marco actual de calentamiento global, el hecho de conocer cómo ambas variables abióticas afectan a la estructura y diversidad de estos ensambles, permitirá predecir algunas de las consecuencias que el cambio climático puede tener en la distribución temporal de estas comunidades faunísticas. Además, se observó que no todas las especies de coleópteros saproxílicos muestran la misma plasticidad a la hora de adaptarse a esas fluctuaciones de temperatura y que muchas de ellas pueden permanecer activas únicamente bajo un cierto rango térmico. En este sentido, se recomienda profundizar en el estudio de los rangos térmicos de las especies, ya que proporcionará información muy valiosa a la hora de tratar de entender los patrones temporales mostrados por estos ensambles. Finalmente, en el capítulo IV, se estudió la influencia que pueden tener las emisiones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) por parte del roble melojo, en los ensambles de coleópteros saproxílicos que emplean esta especie arbórea como planta hospedadora. Para ello, se partió de la premisa de que los árboles añosos (generalmente de mayor tamaño y en un estado de descomposición avanzado) son más visitados por los insectos saproxílicos, que en el caso de los árboles más jóvenes (generalmente de menor porte y en un estado de descomposición nulo o poco avanzado); las emisiones de COVs podrían explicar, al menos en parte, ciertos aspectos de la etología de este grupo de insectos. A pesar de la ausencia de significación estadística, los resultados mostraron una tendencia clara, que indicó que los árboles de mayor porte (árboles añosos, en un estado de descomposición avanzado) emiten este tipo de compuestos con una mayor intensidad que los árboles de menor tamaño. Si tenemos en cuenta, además, que este estudio demostró que los árboles añosos, de mayor perímetro (generalmente en un estado de senescencia más avanzado) albergaron una mayor riqueza de especies de coleópteros saproxílicos, se llega a la conclusión de que la emisión de COVs debe ser tenida en cuenta como una variable más (dentro del amplio conjunto de las ya comentadas en apartados previos), que puede estar condicionando la dinámica espacio-temporal de los ensambles de coleópteros saproxílicos que habitan los bosques de roble melojo en la península ibérica. Este estudio abre una novedosa vía de investigación que permitirá profundizar en el estudio de la relación directa que puede existir entre los compuestos químicos emitidos por los árboles y la fauna saproxílica circundante.