In the past the mature market was often misunderstood and not considered to be a profitable market segment for hotel operators to pursue. Growing demographic numbers and increased affluence within the mature market are reasons for reconsideration. This study examined the business value of the mature traveler and the provision of services and attributes desired by mature travelers, as perceived by managers.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal avaliar o sêmen da jararaca ilhoa, Bothrops insularis, quanto ao volume, motilidade, vigor e concentração, além de verificar se estes paramentos estão relacionados ao comprimento ou massa dos animais ou se variam ao longo das estações, uma vez que esta espécie possui ciclo reprodutivo sazonal. Para tanto, foram avaliadas amostras de sêmen de 18 machos, com comprimento rostro-cloacal (CRC) variando de 43,5 a 73,70 cm, pertencentes ao plantel do Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução do Instituto Butantan, entre os meses de agosto de 2012 e maio de 2013. O sêmen de Bothrops insularis apresentou coloração variando de esbranquiçada a amarelada e consistência cremosa e espessa. Foi possível observar amostras de sêmen viáveis em todos os 18 animais avaliados, indicando que animais com CRC igual ou acima de 43,5 cm já são sexualmente maduros. O espermatozoide de Bothrops insularis é filiforme, possui cabeça alongada, fina e com formato pontiagudo, seguindo o padrão morfológico descrito para outros Squamata. Não foi observada nenhuma relação entre o comprimento, massa e cada um dos parâmetros seminais avaliados. Foi observada variação significativa da motilidade e da concentração do sêmen de Bothrops insularis entre as estações, porém o volume e o vigor do sêmen não variaram. Foi no outono, época de cópula da espécie, que o sêmen apresentou as maiores médias para os parâmetros avaliados. / This study aimed to evaluate sperm parameters of the golden lancehead, Bothrops insularis, including appearance, sperm motility, vigor, volume and concentration, determine if these parameters varied with body size or weight and to verify whether these vestments vary throughout seasons, since this species has a seasonal reproductive cycle. Samples of semen of 18 males with snout-vent length (SVL) ranging from 43.5 to 73.70 cm, belonging to the squad of the Ecology and Evolution Laboratory at Instituto Butantan, were collected between August 2012 and May 2013. Sperm color from Bothrops insularis ranged from whitish to yellowish, and a creamy and thick consistency. Viable sperm was observed in samples from all 18 males evaluated, indicating that animals with SVL equal to or above 43.5 cm are sexually mature. Sperm of Bothrops insularis is thready, has elongated, thin and pointed shaped head, following the morphological pattern described for other Squamata. No relationship between length, mass and each of seminal parameters evaluated was observed. Significant variation of concentration and motility of semen from Bothrops insularis between seasons was observed, but volume and vigor did not change. It was during Fall, mating season of the species, that sperm had the highest means for all parameters evaluated.

O gênero Eucalyptus é a fonte principal de madeira para a indústria de papel e celulose de países tropicais e subtropicais e tem sido extensivamente estudado. Apesar de sua importância econômica, muito pouco é conhecido sobre o controle genético da formação da madeira (xilogênese) no eucalipto. Diferentes propriedades da madeira são observadas durante o desenvolvimento das árvores e a madeira é classificada como madeira juvenil e adulta. A madeira juvenil comparada à adulta apresenta células com paredes delgadas, alta concentração de lignina e baixa densidade; características indesejáveis para a indústria florestal. A identificação de proteínas e genes que regulam os processos genéticos de formação da madeira juvenil e adulta é, portanto, alvo potencial para estudos relacionados a modificações específicas visando melhorar a qualidade da madeira. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as proteínas da região cambial de árvores de Eucalyptus grandis envolvidas no processo de formação da madeira adulta. A proteína total foi extraída de árvores com 22 anos e submetida à eletroforese bidimensional. Os spots foram isolados de cada uma das repetições do gel e após digestão tríptica, submetidos ao sequenciamento por cromatografia líquida associada ao espectrômetro de massas Q-TOF Ultima API (Waters, UK). Os espectros foram analisados pelo programa MASCOT MS/MS Ion Search, utilizando o banco de dados MSDB. Um total de 82 proteínas foram identificadas e classificadas em seis categorias funcionais: metabolismo e energia (36%), processos celulares (11%), transporte (2%), estrutura e organização da estrutura (11%), vias de informação (30%) e sem função definida (10%). Muitas das proteínas identificadas participam dos mecanismos de controle da biossíntese da parede celular e, conseqüentemente, da formação da madeira. Os dados gerados irão facilitar uma futura comparação e seleção de proteínas diferencialmente expressas em árvores juvenis e adultas durante xilogênese. / The Eucalyptus genus is the main source of hardwood for the pulp and paper industry in tropical and subtropical countries and is being extensively studied. Despite its economical importance, very little is known about the genetic control of wood formation (xylogenesis) in eucalypts. Different wood properties are observed during tree development and the wood is classified as juvenile and mature. The juvenile wood is characterized by cells with large lumen and thinner walls, lower density, higher lignin content and poor quality for pulp production, when compared to mature wood. The identification of proteins and genes that regulate the process in both mature and juvenile wood formation is, therefore, a potential target for studies related to specific modifications to alter wood quality. The aim of this work was to identify proteins which participate in the process involved in mature wood formation by isolating proteins from the cambial region of Eucalyptus grandis. The total protein was extracted from 22 year-old trees and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was carried out. Proteins were excised from the gels and after tryptic digestion, MS analysis was conducted by on line chromatography using a Cap-LC coupled to a Q-TOF Ultima API mass spectrometer (Waters, UK). The spectra were processed using MASCOT MS/MS Ion Search (www.matrixscience.com), and the sequences searched against MSDB database. A total of 82 proteins were identified and classified into six main functional categories: metabolism and energy (36%), cellular processes (11%), transport (2%), structure and structural organization (11%), information pathways (30%), non defined function (10%). Many of the identified proteins play a role in the mechanisms involved in the control of cell wall biosynthesis, and consequently in wood formation. The generated data will facilitate a further comparison and selection of proteins differentially expressed in mature and juvenile trees during xylogenesis.

Com a lei 9478/97, a Lei do Petróleo, a flexibilização do monopólio sobre exploração e produção de petróleo e gás natural concedido pela União à Petrobras, torna-se realidade. Neste sentido, abre-se, através de rodadas de licitação promovidas pela Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (ANP), a possibilidade de acesso às atividades de exploração e produção ao capital privado em geral e, também, àquele capital oriundo de pequenas e médias empresas orientadas a esse segmento de atividades. Nesse contexto, várias dessas empresas passam a dedicar-se, mais especificamente, às atividades em campos maduro e áreas com acumulações marginais. Os empreendimentos nestes campos e áreas possuem características técnicas e econômicas que se adéquam a essas empresas de menor porte por necessitarem de investimentos e capacidade técnica distintos daqueles dos empreendimentos em novas fronteiras exploratórias. Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar um panorama da atividade econômica de exploração de petróleo e gás natural exercida pelas pequenas e médias empresas que atuam na região compreendida pela Bacia Sedimentar do Recôncavo Baiano, a partir da análise da oferta gerada pelos produtores independentes e pela demanda gerada pela Petrobras e por outros poucos compradores. Nesta dissertação são analisados os principais fatores e agentes que influenciam a relação entre oferta e demanda, a saber: a influência das recentes variações do preço do barril de petróleo; as descobertas na camada pré-sal na Bacia de Santos; as ações do órgão regulador a ANP; a geografia física e humana do Recôncavo Baiano, sua geologia local e fatores ambientais. Por fim, é apresentado, um estudo de viabilidade econômica de um empreendimento de revitalização de um campo maduro de petróleo. Tal estudo visa responder a partir de simulações em um campo real típico, se houve resultado econômico satisfatório para os investidores. Com o conjunto de simulações realizadas é possível ter um olhar crítico sobre o passado constatar como tais empreendimentos são sensíveis ao custo de capital e aos preços de venda do óleo produzido. / With law 947/97, the Crude Oil Law, the monopoly flexibilization over oil and natural gas exploitation and production, granted to Petrobras by the Brazilian Government, has come true. This way, the possibility through public tenders promoted by the National Crude Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP) of access to private capital in general, as well as to capital from small, and mid-sized firms in the crude oil, natural gas exploitation and production business, has been opened. In this context, many of those firms started to dedicate themselves, more specifically, to activities in mature oil fields and marginal oil fields. The undertakings in these fields and areas bear technical and economic characteristics that adapt to such small firms, once the latter need different types of investment and technical capacity as compared to undertakings in new exploitation frontiers. This dissertation aims to present a broad view of the crude oil and natural gas business undertaken by small and mid-sized firms in the Sedimentary Bay of Recôncavo Baiano region (Bacia Sedimentar do Recôncavo Baiano), stemming from an analysis of the supply generated by independent producers, and by the demand generated by Petrobras and few other purchasing agents. The main factors and agents that influence the relationship between supply and demand are analyzed, namely: the influence of the recent price variation of the crude oil barrel; the findings of the pre-salt layers in the Santos Bay; the actions of the regulatory agency ANP; the physical and human geography of the Recôncavo Baiano, its local geology and environmental factors. To conclude, by use of simulations in a real typical field put to tender in the First Round of Mature Fields, an economic viability study of a mature oil field revitalization program is shown. With this group of simulations, it is possible to have a critical eye towards the past and conclude how sensitive such undertakings are in face of the capital cost and sales prices of the oil produced.

Gas injection, the fastest growing tertiary oil recovery technique, holds the promise of significant recoveries from those depleted oil reservoirs around the world which fall into a pressure range of (50-200) bar mainly. However, its application with the usual techniques is restricted by the need for various surface facilities such as enormous gas supply and storage. The only surface facility that downhole gasification of hydrocarbons (DHG) requires, on the other hand, is a portable electricity generator. DHG consists in producing inert gases, H2, CO, CO2 and CH4 through the steam reforming reaction of a part of the produced oil in a gasifier-reformer reactor positioned alongside the producer well in the reservoir. The gases, mainly H2 -the most effective displacing gas among produced gases- are injected into a gas cap above the oil formation, to increase oil recovery through a gas displacement drive mechanism. So far, DHG has only been tested under laboratory conditions using methane, pentane/reservoir gas and naphtha/reservoir gas as feedstock at conditions of reservoir pressure up to 130 bar. The studies varied reaction temperature, steam to carbon (S/C) ratio, catalyst types and catalyst loading in the gasifier-reformer reactor of a small pilot scale rig. These experimental studies demonstrated that pressure is one of the main factors influencing the effectiveness of the DHG process. From this starting point, the present investigation was directed at extending the pressure range up to 160 bar in the gasifier-reformer reactor using a naphtha fraction as feedstock in order to investigate whether the conversion and H2 concentration in produced dry gas can be maintained at acceptable levels under conditions of high pressure. To this end, experimental studies were carried out within the laboratory using the existing DHG rig on the small pilot scale, which was successfully commissioned and revamped for the purposes of this study. Initially, the investigation focused on exploring operating conditions, namely, steam to carbon (S/C) ratio, length of the gasifier-reformer reactor tube/ catalyst loading and the relative performance of two different catalysts. Subsequently, experiments on shutdown/start up cycles followed by variation of temperature were performed to simulate the effect of sudden electrical disruptions that usually occur in field operations. Experimental results using naphtha at pressure from 80 to 160 bar at 650 ºC, S/C= 6 achieved total feedstock conversion, no coke deposits and, most importantly, high H2 concentration in the produced dry gas (56-63 vol. % plus other gases). The best result was obtained with a crushed HiFUEL R110 catalyst (40-60 wt. % of NiO/CaO.Al2O3) and a reactor tube length of 72 cm, but the results with a C11-PR catalyst (40 wt. % of NiO/MgO.Al2O3) and a reactor tube length of 30 cm were similarly favourable. These results were supported by results of a numerical DHG model which indicated total feedstock conversion and values of H2 around 67 vol. % (using n-heptane as model surrogate). The results suggest that the DHG process is technically feasible at the pressure values studied, perhaps up to 200 bar where there are many hundreds of depleted, light oil reservoirs, especially in North America and other parts of the world below that pressure value.

Orientador: Elias Taylor Durgante Severo / Banca: Valdemir Antonio Rodrigues / Banca: Daniel Dias Rosa / Banca: Wagner Roberto Batista / Banca: Fred Willians Calonego / Resumo: No Brasil a exploração e a utilização da madeira de Hevea brasiliensis Mull Arg., no final do ciclo produtivo de látex de 30 a 35 anos, é praticamente desconhecida. Contudo, um dos problemas mais sérios relacionados à sua utilização diz respeito à alta susceptilibilidade da madeira ao ataque de fungos manchadores e insetos, notadamente na fase entre o corte e o processamento primário. Portanto, a adoção de medidas visando à preservação entre os lenhos juvenil e adulto é altamente necessária, garantindo uma maior durabilidade econômica na utilização desse recurso. No presente trabalho foi avaliado o efeito dos ingredientes ativos a base de Quinolinolato de Cobre - 8 e Carbendazim (T1); 2-4-6 Tribromofenol (T2); Extrato vegetal a base de Tanino (T3); Carbendazim e Prochloraz (T4), contra o ataque do fungo manchador Botryodiplodia theobromae em laboratório seguindo a norma ASTM 4445 (2003) e ingredientes ativos a base de Ciflutrina (T5) e Cipermetrina (T6), na avaliação de infestação do cupim de madeira seca Cryptotermes brevis em madeira de Hevea brasiliensis, seguindo a norma IPT - 1157 (1980) e ASTM 3345 (1990). Os resultados mostraram que os ingredientes ativos testados e avaliados isoladamente em laboratório o T1, T2, T3 e T4, não previnem na totalidade a contaminação do Botryodiplodia theobromae nos Lenhos Juvenil e Adulto da madeira de Hevea brasiliensis ao nível de 5% de significânca, e que a velocidade de penetração do fungo manchador difere nos Lenhos Juvenil e Adulto e entre as Secções Transversal, Radial e Longitudinal da madeira. De posse destes resultados, foi estabelecido um modelo que melhor se ajustou estatísticamente foi o não linear do tipo exponencial (Growth 1). Das interações avaliadas na prevenção ao ataque de cupim de madeira seca Cryptotermes brevis... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In Brazil the exploration and use of the Hevea brasiliensis Mull Arg. wood at the end of the latex production cycle from 30 to 35 years, is practically unknown. However, one of the most significant problems with its use relates to the highly susceptable wood staining fungi and insects, especially in the phase between the primary processing and cutting. The adoption of measures aimed at preserving the trunks between juvenile and adult is highly necessary, ensuring a greater durability in the economic use of this feature. The present study evaluated the effect of the active ingredients of the base Quinolinolato Copper - 8 and Carbendazim (T1); Tribromofenol 2-4-6 (T2); extract-based vegetable Tannin (T3); Carbendazim and Prochloraz (T4), against the attack of the fungus stainer Botryodiplodia theobromae standard ASTM 4445 (2003) and active ingredients the basis of Cypermethrin (T5) and Cyfluthrin (T6) in the evaluation of infestation of the dry wood termite Cryptotermes brevis wood of Hevea brasiliensis standard IPT-1157 (1980) and ASTM 3345 (1990). The results showed that the active ingredients separately tested and evaluated in the laboratory; T1, T2, T3 and T4, will not prevent the total contamination of Botryodiplodia theobromae Firewood in juvenile and adult wood of Hevea brasiliensis the 5% level of significance. The rate of the Firewood in juvenile and adult wood differ when it comes to the stainer's rate of penetration between the transverse, radial and longitudinal timber of Hevea brasiliensis as a function of time. Armed with these results, the non-linear exponential (Growth 1). Interactions evaluated in preventing the attack of dry wood termite Cryptotermes brevis, the two active ingredients the basis of Cypermethrin and Cyfluthrin demonstrated effective in the evaluation of different juvenile... ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

A bioengenharia tecidual tem sido aplicada na Endodontia na busca de tratamentos mais biológicos. A revascularização pulpar tem sido observada em dentes com ápice aberto, porém há poucos estudos direcionados aos dentes com ápice formado. A angiogênese é primordial para a nutrição celular durante a regeneração tecidual. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito do fator de crescimento endotelial (VEGF) na angiogênese após pulpectomia de canais radiculares de rato com apicigênese completa. A câmara pulpar dos primeiros molares superiores de 12 ratos machos Wistar com 13 semanas foi acessada. A polpa radicular do canal mésio vestibular foi removida e o canal instrumentado até a lima K25. Com uma lima K20, além do limite foraminal, foi induzido o sangramento periapical para o canal radicular. Os dentes do lado direito da arcada foram preenchidos com coágulo sanguíneo (GS), e nos dentes do lado esquerdo foi utilizado VEGF165 recombinante (Prospec, Israel) adicionado ao coágulo (GV). Os dentes foram selados com ionômero de vidro fotopolimerizável, e 60 dias depois os animais foram sacrificados. A maxila foi dissecada, fixada, descalcificada e incluída em parafina. Cortes transversais seriados foram feitos e corados com hematoxilina-eosina para avaliação morfológica ou incubados com anticorpo de coelho anti-fator VIII (Bioss, EUA) para análise da angiogênese. A análise histológica demonstrou canais preenchidos por tecido conjuntivo sem presença de odontoblastos nos dois grupos. A imuno-histoquímica demonstrou positividade para o anticorpo no tecido neoformado em ambos os grupos. No grupo 1 foi predominante a marcação difusa, e no grupo 2 foi a marcação definida. Pode-se concluir que o uso de VEGF acelera a angiogênese que ocorre em canais pulpectomizados de molares com apicigênese completa. / The tissue engineering has been applied in Endodontics in search of more biological treatments. The pulp revascularization has been observed in immature teeth, but there are few studies directed to the closed-apex teeth. Angiogenesis is essential for cellular nutrition during tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis after pulp removal in rats with mature teeth. The pulp chamber of upper first molars of 12 male Wistar rats with 13-weeks-old was accessed. The pulp of the mesiobuccal root canal was removed, and the root canal was shaped up to 25K-file. Then, a 20K-file was introduced beyond the apex to induce bleeding. The teeth on the right side of the arch are filled using blood clot alone (GS) and the teeth on the left side was filled using blood clot + VEGF165 recombinant (Prospec, Israel) (GV). The teeth were coronally sealed using light-curing glass ionomer, and the animals were sacrificed after 60 days. The samples were dissected, fixed, decalcified and included in paraffin. Transverse serial sections were made, and stained using hematoxylin-eosin to morphological evaluation or expressed by immunostaining using anti-Factor VIII rabbit antibody (BIOSs, USA) to angiogenesis analysis. Morphological analysis showed root canals filled by connective tissue without the presence of odontoblasts in both groups. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for the antibody in the new tissue in both groups, with marking defined in group 2. Diffuse marking was predominant in the group 1, and the well-maked type was predominant in the group 2. It can be concluded that the use of VEGF accelerates angiogenesis that occurs in root canal of closed-apex molars after pulpectomy.

A purposive study conducted among mature adults aged 55 and older in Northeast Tennessee examined variants of volunteerism as well as volunteer needs of agencies and organizations and what percent of volunteers in those agencies fall within the specified age group. Mature volunteers in the region match profiles of other studies -- predominantly white, married, homeowners, who are protestant, females with educational levels beyond high school, and who have income levels above the regional average. Findings show that most volunteers attend religious services at least once each week but found no association between gender and informal volunteerism, between health and volunteerism, or that rural volunteers are more likely to participate in informal volunteer activities. Results were analyzed using the chi-square test of statistical significance.

[Abstract]: The combination of increased numbers of ageing consumers, decreased access to personal services, and reluctance to use self-service technologies (SSTs) among some mature consumers highlighted the need to identify the factors that influence the use of these technologies. In the Australian context, research investigating mature consumers is an emerging area with limited knowledge relating to their use of SSTs.Through extending the original technology acceptance model (TAM), a well-established model from the information technology domain, this thesis incorporated six external variables into the model and investigated the use of SSTs among mature consumers in the financial services context. The thesis also examined the moderating effects of demographic characteristics on the relationships within the extended TAM (ETAM).Using cross sectional data from a sample of 208 mature consumers in Study 1, the original TAM and ETAM were tested. Based on these findings, improvements were made for Study 2, where the modified models were tested on data from a national sample of 2,253 mature consumers. Path analysis indicated that self-efficacy, technology discomfort, perceived risk and personal contact made a significant unique contribution to predicting attitude and behaviour over and above the two belief variables in TAM, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The four variables in the ETAM were significant predictors of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Results also suggested that age and education act as moderating variables in this model. These findings can serve as a basis for designing educational and communication strategies to foster greater use of SSTs in the financial context among mature consumers.A second aim of this thesis was to explore usage patterns of self-service banking technologies (SSBTs) among different segments of the mature consumer market in Australia. The diversity of the mature consumer market was reflected through establishing three behavioural segments, namely non-users, low users and medium-to-high users of SSBTs, providing a deeper understanding of mature consumers’ knowledge and patterns of behaviour towards using these technologies and personal services in the financial context.The findings contributed to the understanding of mature consumers’ behaviour towards SSBTs for academics, financial practice and policy formation by government and not-for-profit senior organisations responsible for improving financial literacy and productive ageing among mature consumers.

<p>The thesis aims at understanding mechanisms behind knowledge generation and learning in a mature cluster by analysing firms in south-east Sweden engaged in the development and manufacturing of aluminium products. The point of departure is in concepts and assumptions related to spatially concen-trated systems of similar and related firms and industries, such as agglomera-tions, clusters or innovation systems.</p><p>Three sets of empirical analyses have been conducted: a mail survey, a series of in-depth interviews and a register-based analysis. The analyses focus on three themes: inter-firm relations, the embeddedness of the clustered firms in the region, and the role of labour and labour mobility in cluster development. </p><p>It is shown that also in a rather mature and low-tech cluster, firm competi-tiveness rests on continuous knowledge upgrading and innovation. In general terms, firms in this cluster do have business relations with other firms at all different spatial scales. While there are manifold buyer-supplier relations within the cluster, most firms have their most important linkages outside the region. The firms regard themselves as part of a cluster and various mecha-nisms contribute to this. There is a strong sense of trust and loyalty, and this applies in particular to those engaged either in some of the more organized supplier networks or the regional cluster initiative Aluminiumriket. Finally, the cluster does not seem to constitute a very fluid labour market for special-ised skills. Labour mobility between firms in this particular cluster seems to be fairly low.</p>