Nous avons étudié les mécanismes d’interaction entre le piège du fourmilion, une dépression conique dans le sable, et ses proies. Nous avons identifié un spectre optimal de proies, pesant environ 2 à 3 mg, par une expérience d’écologie comportementale sur des fourmis. Les proies plus petites et plus grosses sont moins capturées, pour des raisons différentes. Nous avons également découvert que la compacité du milieu granulaire où les fourmilions construisent influence la probabilité de capture. Le piège garde donc en mémoire l’état du milieu, avec des conséquences sur l’alimentation du prédateur. / We studied the interactions between an antlion pit, a conical depression in sand, and its prey. We identified an optimal range of prey size with a behavioural ecology experiment with ants. Prey that are lighter or heavier are less captured, for different causes, than prey of around 2 and 3 mg. We also found that the compaction of the granular medium where antlion built impacts on the probability of capture of prey. The pit so has a memory of the initial state of the immediate soil environment, with consequences for the predator success.

No description available.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is encouraged as a first step towards people planning for their future with the condition. Despite the proposed benefits of diagnosis, it is also widely recognised that Alzheimer’s disease can expose people to stigma. Therefore, this thesis explores the relationship between stigma and future outlook, from the perspective of people affected by early and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. In order to recognise the physicality of the condition and how psychological and social factors influence experiences, a biopsychosocial perspective is employed throughout. People with Alzheimer’s disease (n=15 people with late-onset, 7 people with early-onset) and their supporters (n=22) completed questionnaires about perceived stigma. This was followed by 14 interviews with a subsample of participants, which explored stigma and future outlook in more depth. Perceived stigma reporting across participants was low in the questionnaires; whereas interviews revealed higher levels of stigma with people discussing mixed, unpredictable reactions from a range of sources. Participants expressed awareness of the unpredictable nature of their futures with the condition. The subsequent lack of control was managed through focusing on ‘one day at a time’ and avoiding looking too far ahead. Across reflections on stigma and future outlook there was a deliberate focus on positive experiences for people affected by early and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The similar management of experiences across participants minimised possible age-based differences. These findings are supported by socioemotional selectivity theory, which suggests people are motivated to maintain positive emotional states when facing ‘time-limiting’ conditions irrespective of age. The research suggests people’s experiences of stigma and future outlook interact, with stigma-driven assumptions about the future affecting how people manage their daily lives. The avoidance of looking ahead suggests that policy which encourages future planning should consider its utility and explore ways of helping people to manage both exposure to stigma, and planning for the future, whilst focusing on daily living.

Dans le domaine de la santé, l’analyse de l'haleine expirée offre un outil simple et non invasif pour le diagnostic précoce des maladies. Les capteurs de gaz à base de SnO2 modifies semblent être des dispositifs prometteurs pour détecter les gaz polaires tels que l'ammoniac. Dans cette étude, la fonctionnalisation de la surface de SnO2 a été réalisée afin d'obtenir un capteur de gaz sensible et sélectif à l'ammoniac, qui fonctionne à température ambiante. La première étape de la fonctionnalisation est la fixation covalente d’un film de 3-aminopropyltrethoxysalane (APTES) sur SnO2 en phase vapeur ou liquide. Les caractérisations effectuées par Spectroscopie Infrarouge et Spectrométrie photoélectronique X montrent qu’une quantité plus importante d'APTES a été greffée en phase liquide hydratée. La deuxième étape consiste à fonctionnaliser le SnO2-APTES avec des molécules contenant du chlorure d'acyle avec différents groupes tel que des groupes alkyle, acide et ester. Les capteurs modifiés par des acides et des esters sont sensibles à l’ammoniac entre 0,2 et 10 ppm à température ambiante. Cependant, le SnO2 APTES modifié par l’ester s'est révélé être plus sélectif que le capteur modifié par l'acide pour l’ethanol et le mondxyde de carbone. Ces résultats impliquent que la réponse est générée par les groupes fonctionnels acide et ester, NH3 modifie le moment dipolaire de la couche moléculaire greffée, ce qui entraine une modification de la conductance de SnO2. Le fonctionnement à température ambiante est l'un des avantages de ces capteurs, tout comme leur sélectivité à l'ammoniac en regard d'autres gaz tels que l'éthanol, le monoxyde de carbone et l'acétone. / One of the major challenges in the modern era is how we can detect the disease when we are still feeling healthy via noninvasive methods. Exhaled breath analysis is offering a simple and noninvasive tool for early diagnosis of diseases. Molecularly modified SnO2 sensors seem to be promising devices for sensing polar gases such as ammonia. SnO2 surface functionalization was performed in order to obtain sensitive and selective ammonia gas sensor that operates at room temperature. The first step of functionalization is the covalently attachment of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) film on SnO2 in vapor or liquid phases. The characterization performed by the Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, show that more APTES were grafted by hydrous liquid phase silanization. The second step was the functionalization of APTES modified SnO2 with molecules having acyl chloride of end functional groups molecules such as alkyl, acid and ester groups. Pure SnO2 and APTES modified SnO2 sensors did not show any significant sensitivity to ammonia (0.2-100 ppm) at 25 °C. On the contrary, acid and ester modified sensors are sensitive to ammonia between 0.2 and 10 ppm at room temperature. However, ester modified SnO2 was more selective than acid modified sensor regarding the ethanol and carbon monoxide gases. Ammonia variates the attached molecular layer’s dipole moment which leads to change in SnO2 conductance. Working at ambient temperature is also one of the advantages of these sensors in addition to the selectivity to ammonia regarding other gases such as ethanol, carbon monoxide and acetone.

There were three main driving forces behind this thesis: global concern over climate change mainly due to uncontrolled carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the excitement over the discovery of graphene and its versatile potential, and the potential to design three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional (2D) structures, in our case using unique triptycene molecule. We examined two polymeric materials for CO2 adsorption and suggested simple design of disordered carbons suitable for gas adsorption studies. The approach in each task was to examine structural and adsorption properties of materials using detailed atomistic modelling employing Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics techniques and where possible provide experimental measurements to validate the simulations. The thesis is presented as a collection of papers and the work can be divided into three independent projects. The aim of the first project is to utilize graphene as an additive in polymer composites in order to increase separation between the polymer chains increasing available surface area. The matrix used is a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1), which possess large surface area and narrow nano-sized ( > 2nm) pore distribution attractive for gas separation membrane applications. Adding a filler can reduce aging of the polymer, and enhance permeability across the membrane, often to the expense of loosing selectivity. Therefore, we investigated the packing of PIM-1 chains in presence of discrete 2D graphene platelets and 3D graphene-derived structures and its effect on composite structure and adsorption properties. We found that additives do not alter structural polymer properties at the molecular level preserving the same adsorption capacity and affinity. Potential permeability increase would benefit from the retention of selectivity in the material. Building on design philosophy of materials with intrinsic microporosity we continued further investigation of 3D graphene-derived structures. The idea is that highly concave molecules or polymer chains pack inefficiently creating microporous materials with sufficient surface area for gas adsorption. 3D propeller-like structures were derived from graphene arms connected through the rigid triptycene and other types of cores. The resulting structures created a large amount of micropores and showed similar CO2/CH4 selectivity to activated carbons reported in the literature. It was shown that rigid triptycene core leads to more open structures. The model was also applied to model commercially available activated carbon to predict n- perfluorohexane adsorption. The fitting to experimental structural information proved to be challenging due to trial and error nature of the approach. Nevertheless, the simple packing procedure and diverse structure design have a great potential to serve as a virtual model for porous carbons that possess pore complexity and does not require any previous experimental data to be build on. The last project concerns CO2 adsorption and selectivity over CH4 and N2 in recently reported triptycene-based polymer. The triptycene shape polymer can form a porous 2D network that can be exfoliated into free-standing sheets and potentially used as a membrane. Sheets stack in the bulk material forming anisotropic channel pores. Additionally it contains fluoro- functional groups, which are known to have a high CO2 affinity. We explored pore structure and chemistry of stacked material for gas adsorption and predicted comparable capacity and CO2 selectivity to other microporous covalent materials such as activated carbons and PIMs. The CH4/N2 selectivity was similar to currently most selective material belonging to MOF family. We showed that fluoro-group have a positive effect on CO2 affinity, however predictions are sensitive to the charges of fluorine atoms assigned by different methods.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A sardinha-bandeira, Opisthonema oglinum, pertence à famÃlia Clupeidae da ordem Clupeiformes sendo uma das cinco espÃcies do gÃnero Opisthonema. No Estado do Cearà sua captura se estende ao longo de toda a costa, durante todo o ano, com as melhores pescarias ocorrendo entre maio e dezembro. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a estrutura da populaÃÃo, a relaÃÃo peso/comprimento da sardinha-bandeira e a seletividade das redes-de-espera utilizadas na sua captura na Praia da Caponga, municÃpio de Cascavel, CearÃ, Brasil. Os dados de comprimento total (cm) e peso individual (g) foram obtidos de dois grupos, cada um com 780 indivÃduos, capturados por redes-de-espera com malhas de 5 cm e 6 cm entre nÃs opostos, no perÃodo de agosto a outubro de 2014. Esses dados foram descritos em histogramas de frequÃncia de comprimento e peso, sendo mais representativas as classes de 21,6 cm (24,23%) e de 87,0 g (32,31%) para a malha de 5 cm e de 25,7 cm (23,08%) e de 117,9 g (26,03%), para a de 6 cm. Quando todos os indivÃduos foram reunidos em um Ãnico grupo (1.560), sem distinÃÃo do tamanho da malha, as classes mais representativas foram a de 23,0 cm de comprimento (18,59%) e a de 105,5 g de peso (20,38%). As equaÃÃes que representaram as relaÃÃes peso/comprimento foram as seguintes: y=0,016 x^2,7636 (780 indivÃduos capturados com a malha de 5 cm); y=0,031 x^2,5635 (780 indivÃduos capturados com a malha de 6 cm); e y=0,021 x^2,6828 (1.560 indivÃduos). Para o estudo da seletividade foram analisados todos os exemplares de sardinha-bandeira (1.560) capturados com as redes-de-espera de malha de 5 cm e 6 cm. O comprimento mÃdio de seleÃÃo foi de 23,7 cm para a malha de 5 cm e de 28,5 cm para a de 6 cm. A amplitude de seleÃÃo foi de 23,7  7,9 cm e de 28,5  7,9 cm para as malhas de 5 cm e 6 cm, respectivamente. As equaÃÃes das curvas de seleÃÃo das redes-de-espera para os dois tamanhos de malha foram obtidas, e a probabilidade de capturar indivÃduos com comprimento inferior ao mÃnimo, estabelecido em 15 cm, foi muito baixa e correspondeu a 1,32% e 0,03% para as malhas de 5 cm e de 6 cm, respectivamente. Esta informaÃÃo à de grande valia para a manutenÃÃo do estoque da sardinha-bandeira capturada na Praia da Caponga, CearÃ. / Atlantic thread-herring, Opisthonema oglinum, belongs to the family Clupeidae and to the order Clupeiformes. It is one of the five species of the genus Opisthonema. In the state of CearÃ, it is caught along the entire coast, throughout the year, with the best fisheries occurring between May and December. This work aimed to study the population structure, the length/weight relationships of the Atlantic thread-herring and to determine gear selectivity of drift nets used for catching them in Caponga Beach, Cascavel, CearÃ, Brazil. Data of total length (cm) and individual weight (g) were obtained from two groups, each with 780 individuals captured by drift nets with meshes of 5 cm and 6 cm, from August to October 2014. These data are showed as histograms. The most representative classes of length and weight were 21.6 cm (24.23%) and 87.0 g (32.31%) for 5 cm mesh, while for the 6 cm mesh, the main classes were 25.7 cm (23.08%) and 117.9 g (26.03%). When all data was combined into a single group (1,560), without the mesh size distinction, the most representative classes were 23.0 cm long (18.59%) and 105.5 g in weight (20.38%). The equations representing the weight/length ratios were as follows: y=0.016 x^2.7636 (780 individuals captured with a mesh of 5 cm); y=0.031 x^2.5635 (780 individuals caught with a mesh of 6 cm); and y=0.021 x^2.6828 (1,560 individuals). To study the selectivity, 1,560 Atlantic thread-herring specimens captured with drift nets of 5 cm and 6 cm were analyzed. The selection mean length was 23.7 cm for 5 cm mesh and 28.5 cm for 6 cm mesh. The range of selection was 23.7  7.9 cm and 28.5  7.9 cm for 5 cm mesh and 6 cm mesh, respectively. The equations of the selection curves for the two mesh sizes were obtained, and the probability of capturing individuals with length less than the established minimum of 15 cm was very low, amounting to 1.32% and 0.03% for the meshes of 5 cm and 6 cm, respectively. This information is of great value to maintain the stock of Atlantic thread-herring in Caponga Beach, CearÃ.

A introdução de separações cromatográficas expandiu a aplicabilidade de sistemas de análises em fluxo. No entanto, a seletividade e sensibilidade de procedimentos são restritos devido à escassa disponibilidade de fases estacionárias que operam a baixas pressões. Sendo assim, foram desenvolvidos quatro procedimentos analíticos visando a melhoria destes aspectos. A primeira proposta explorou pioneiramente colunas de núcleo fundido em sistemas de análises por injeção em fluxo. A separação de metil, etil e propil parabenos foi selecionada com aplicação. As eficiências cromatográficas de quatro colunas (C18, RPamida, F5 e fenil-hexil) foram avaliadas criticamente. Acetonitrila e uma solução de ácido fosfórico pH 2,5 foram utilizadas como fase móvel. A fase RP-amida apresentou melhor desempenho com a separação dos três analitos em 8,0 min, com resoluções > 1,72, simetrias de pico < 1,66, LOD entre 0,12 e 0,39 mg L-1, resposta linear até 5,0 mg L-1 (r > 0,996) e CV para altura dos picos < 3,5 % (n=10). O procedimento foi aplicado à determinação de parabenos em produtos de cuidados pessoais e os resultados concordaram com o procedimento de referência a 95% de confiança. Um procedimento envolvendo o acoplamento de extração em fase sólida (SPE) a um sistema de cromatografia por injeção sequencial (SIC) foi proposto para pré-concentração e separação de oito sulfonamidas. A fase estacionária pentafluorofenilpropil foi selecionada após comparação crítica da eficiência apresentada por três colunas de núcleo fundido e duas colunas de fases monolíticas. Acetonitrila e tampão fosfato (pH 5,0) foram utilizados como fase. Fatores de enriquecimento de até 39,2 foram alcançados com volume de amostra de 500 ?L. O procedimento apresentou tempo de análise < 10,5 min, resoluções > 1,83 com simetrias de pico <= 1,52, LOD entre 4,9 e 27 ?g L-1, faixa de resposta linear entre 30,0 e 1000,0 ?g L-1 (r > 0,997) e CV da altura dos picos, 2,9% (n=6). Um procedimento empregando fase estacionária micelar foi desenvolvido para determinação de melamina em leite. A fase móvel foi composta por uma solução aquosa de dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS) e 1-propanol (92,5:7,5 v/v). O procedimento de preparo de amostra foi implementado em linha pela diluição da amostra com SDS. Resposta linear foi observada entre 2,0 e 6,0 mg L-1 de melamina com LOD estimado em 0,6 mg L-1 e CV da altura dos picos de 2,9% (n=6). Os resultados para diferentes amostras de leite foram concordantes com aqueles obtidos pelo procedimento cromatográfico de referência em um nível de 95% de confiança. Uma estratégia envolvendo pré-concentração on-column de parabenos em um sistema SIC foi proposta. Resposta linear foi observada entre 0,25 e 1,00 ?g mL-1 (r >= 0,999) e LODs estimados entre 40 e 60 ng mL-1. Tempos de retenção e altura dos picos apresentaram CV < 2,1%. Fatores de enriquecimento entre 30,0 e 34,8 foram alcançados. As estratégias propostas são viáveis para melhoria de seletividade e sensibilidade de separações cromatográficas em sistemas de análises em fluxo, além de apresentarem vantagens frente a procedimentos análogos na literatura / The introduction of chromatographic separations expanded the applicability of flow systems. However, selectivity and sensitivity of the procedures are limited due the poor options of stationary phases available for low-pressure. Therefore, four procedures were developed aiming the improvement of these aspects. The first proposal exploited pioneered fused-core columns in a flow injection analysis system. The separation of methyl, ethyl and propel parabens was selected as an application. The chromatographic efficiency of four columns (C18, RP-amide, F5 and fenyl-hexyl) were crítically evaluated. Acetonitrile and a phosphoric acid solution at pH 2.5 were used as mobile phase at different proportions for each column. The RP-amide phase presented the best performance by separating the analytes in 8.0 min with resolution > 1.72, peak symmetry < 1.66, LOD between 0.12-0.39 mg L-1, linear response range up to 5.0 mg L-1 (r > 0.996) and coefficients of variation of peak heights < 3.5% (n=10). The procedure was applied to parabens determination in personal care products and the results agreed with the HPLC reference procedure at the 95% confidence level. A procedure coupling solid phase extraction (SPE) to a sequential injection chromatography (SIC) was proposed for preconcentration and separation of eight sulfonamides. The pentafluorophenylpropyl (F5) phase was selected after a critical comparison of the performance achieved by three fused-core columns and two monolithic columns. Acetonitrile and acetate buffer pH 5.0 were used as mobile phase. Enrichment factors up to 39.2 were achieved with a 500 ?L sample volume. The developed procedure showed analysis time < 10.5 min, resolutions > 1.83 with peak symmetry <= 1.52, LODs between 4.9 and 27 ?g L-1, linear response ranges from 30.0 to 1000.0 ?g L-1 (r > 0.997) and CV of peak heights < 2.9% (n=6). Micelar chromatography was for the first time exploited in SIC and the performance was demonstrated by determination of melamine in milk. Mobile phase was composed by a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution and propanol (92.5:7.5). The sample pretreatment procedure was on-line implemented by dilution of the sample with SDS. A linear response was observed within 2.0 and 6.0 mg L-1 of melamine with a LOD estimated at 0.6 mg L-1 and coefficients of variation at 2.9% (n=6). Results for different milk samples agreed with those obtained by high performance liquid chromatography at the 95% confidence level. A procedure involved on-column preconcentration of parabens in a SIC system was based on the injection of relatively high volume of an aqueous sample in a reversed-phase column. After preconcentration, a suitable mobile phase was inserted to perform chromatographic separation (acetonitrile/phosphoric acid pH 2.5 (75:25, v/v)). A linear response was achieved from 0.25 to 1.00 ?g mL-1 (r > 0.999) and LOD estimated within 40 and 80 ng mL-1. Coefficients of variation for retention time and peak heights were below 2.1%. Enrichment factors within 30.0 and 34.8 were achieved. The proposed strategies are feasible for improving selectivity and sensitivity of chromatographic separations in flow analysis systems, besides having advantages compared to similar procedures in the literature

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:35:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Damares Medina Coelho.pdf: 2740980 bytes, checksum: 1d46465ad2d42335e3d5b98a884d43d5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-04 / This paper analyses Brazilian Supreme Federal Court s ( Supremo Tribunal Federal , STF) decision behavior, under the specific perspective of the general repercussion of the constitutional question. The starting point was the academic debate and several empiric studies regarding the judicial decision making process in the supreme courts. The Brazilian experience was analyzed using a comprehensive empiric research that comprised the examination of the whole universe of general repercussion s topics judged by STF until December 31st 2013. We have investigated how STF has been applying the institute of general repercussion in order to understand general repercussion effects on the access to constitutional jurisdiction. The outcome evidenced the rapporteur power over the definition of general repercussion s result, as well as his selectivity of the case, of the process to be judged and of the judging house. We have identified that the institutional context influences the trial s output, once the virtual plenary is the main competent house for judging general repercussion on STF. The analysis showed that, despite virtual plenary success and its adjustment to general repercussion trial, there are limitations to be faced for its improvement and a possible amplification of its competences. Finally, we concluded that the incorporation of the general repercussion of the constitutional question to STF s decision process increased access to constitutional jurisdiction. / O presente trabalho analisa o comportamento decisório do Supremo Tribunal Federal, sob o específico crivo da repercussão geral da questão constitucional. O ponto de partida foi o debate acadêmico e inúmeros estudos empíricos acerca do processo de tomada de decisão judicial nas supremas cortes. A experiência brasileira foi analisada a partir de exaustiva pesquisa empírica que compreendeu o exame de todo o universo de temas de repercussão geral julgados pelo STF, até 31 de dezembro de 2013. Investigamos de que forma o tribunal vem aplicando o instituto da repercussão geral, para compreender os seus efeitos na jurisdição constitucional: restritivos ou ampliativos do acesso à jurisdição constitucional. Os resultados encontrados evidenciaram o poder do relator na definição do resultado da repercussão geral, bem como a sua seletividade da matéria, do processo a ser julgado e do órgão julgador. Identificamos que o contexto institucional influencia no resultado do julgamento, sendo que o plenário virtual é o principal órgão competente para o julgamento da repercussão geral no STF. A análise demonstrou que, apesar do êxito do plenário virtual e de sua adequação para o julgamento da preliminar de repercussão geral, há limitações a serem enfrentadas para o seu aperfeiçoamento e possível ampliação de suas competências. Por fim, concluímos que a incorporação da repercussão geral da questão constitucional ao processo decisório do STF ampliou o acesso à jurisdição constitucional.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:13:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ariane Furtado de Lima.pdf: 1547772 bytes, checksum: 2b187bf1d3cfbc9d8257e7d583283199 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The effects of feeding privation on growth of larvae of jundiá Rhamdia voulezi as well as the feeding preference during larval period were evaluated. For this purpose two experiments were conducted which began soon after complete absorption of the yolk sac, the fourth day after hatching (DAH). The feeding privation experiment was performed in 8 treatments consisting of different diets, including the control treatment (CT) in which there was no food supply. The food was provided for the first time in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th DAH corresponding to treatments: T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9 and T10, respectively. The food consisted of zooplankton and newly hatched artemia. We performed 3 trials of selectivity to analyze the feeding preference throughout the larval period, comprising different larval stages and classes of standard length. In this, the larvae were fed exclusively on zooplankton collected from fish ponds. The results demonstrated that the larvae fed on the fourth to sixth DAH had a significantly higher growth than those fed later, from the seventh DAH. The point of no return was recorded in the same period in the 7th DAH. With respect to feeding selectivity, there were variations in the patterns of prey selection in different days of life analyzed. Initially on the 5th DAH, preflexion stage, larvae strongly selected rotiferas (unidentified) and cladocerans (Diaphanosoma spinulosum, D. brevireme, Moina sp., M. micrura, M. minuta). In the remaining days of life examined, the cladocerans continued to be strongly selected. However on the 8th DAH, flexion stage, they selected less intensely the copepods Argyrodiaptomus azevedoi and Termocyclops decipiens and more strongly A. furcatus, Notodiaptomus spinuliferus and Metacyclops mendocinus at 10 DAH, postflexion stage. The delay of the first feeding drastically affected the growth of the larvae, and that if feeding is started before the point of no return there are chances of recovery. So, it is important to have suitable availability of food, with a variety of type and size so that they can compensate for the morphological limitations of larvae in the early of their development. Concomitant to its growth, the larvae tend to specialize in certain prey items. The size of prey consumed is related to the size of the larvae and the gape size. Initially larvae have a preference for smaller prey, rotifers and cladocerans, and later when they are more developed prefer to feed on larger prey, the copepods. / Neste estudo foram avaliados os efeitos da privação alimentar sobre o crescimento das larvas de jundiá Rhamdia voulezi bem como a preferência alimentar durante o período larval. Para isto foram realizados dois experimentos que tiveram início logo após a absorção completa do saco vitelínico, que ocorreu no 4o dia após a eclosão (DAE). O primeiro experimento de privação alimentar foi realizado com 8 tratamentos constituídos por diferentes regimes alimentares, incluindo o tratamento controle (TC) no qual não houve fornecimento de alimento. O alimento foi fornecido pela primeira vez no 4o, 5o, 6o, 7o, 8o, 9o e 10o DAE, correspondendo aos tratamentos: T4; T5, T6, T7, T8; T9 e T10, respectivamente. A alimentação consistiu de zooplâncton e artêmia recém-eclodida. Para avaliar a preferência alimentar, foram realizados 3 ensaios de seletividade alimentar ao longo de todo o período larval, compreendendo diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento e classes de comprimento padrão. Neste, as larvas foram alimentadas exclusivamente com zooplâncton coletado de tanques de cultivo. Os resultados demonstraram que as larvas de jundiá que receberam alimento do 4o ao 6o DAE tiveram desenvolvimento significativamente maior que aquelas alimentadas mais tardiamente, a partir do 7o DAE. O ponto de não retorno foi registrado neste mesmo período, no 7o DAE. Com relação à seletividade alimentar, houve variações nos padrões de seleção de presas nos diferentes dias de vida analisados. Inicialmente no 5o DAE, estágio de pré-flexâo, as larvas selecionaram fortemente os rotiferas (não identificados) e os cladoceras (Diaphanosoma spinulosum, D. brevireme, Moina sp., M. micrura, M. minuta). Nos demais dias de vida analisados, os cladoceras continuaram a ser fortemente selecionados. Entretanto no 8o DAE, estágio de flexão, selecionaram menos intensamente os copepodas Argyrodiaptomus azevedoi e Termocyclops decipiens e no 10o DAE, estágio de pós-flexão, consumiram especialmente Argyrodiaptomus furcatus, Notodiaptomus spinuliferus e Metacyclops mendocinus. Conclui-se que o retarde da primeira alimentação afeta drasticamente o crescimento das larvas, e que, se a alimentação for iniciada antes do ponto de não retorno há chances de recuperação e sobrevivência larval. Para isto, é importante que haja disponibilidade adequada de alimento, com variedade de tipo e de tamanho de modo que possam compensar as limitações morfológicas das larvas no início do seu desenvolvimento. Concomitante ao seu crescimento, as larvas tendem a se especializar em determinados itens presa, existindo uma seleção de presas tanto pelo tipo como também pelo tamanho, onde o tamanho da presa consumida está relacionado com o tamanho da larva e o tamanho de sua boca. Inicialmente as larvas de jundiá têm preferência por itens presas menores, os rotíferos e cladoceras, posteriormente, quando estão mais desenvolvidas, preferem alimentar-se de presas maiores, os copepodas.

Solar thermal energy is emerging as an important source of renewable energy for meeting the ever-increasing energy requirements of the world. Solar selective coatings are known to enhance the efficiency of the photo thermal energy conversion. An ideal solar selective coating has zero reflectance in the solar spectrum region (i.e., 0.3-2.5 µm) and 100% reflectance in the infrared (IR) region (i.e. 2.5-50 µm). In this thesis, novel carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene based absorbers have been developed for photo thermal applications. Carbon nanotubes have good optical properties (i.e., α and ε close to 1), high aspect ratios (> 150), high surface area (470 m2/g) and high thermal conductivity (> 3000 W/mK), which enable rapid heat transfer from the CNTs to the substrates. Similarly, graphene also exhibits high transmittance (97%), low reflectance, high thermal conductivity (5000 W/mK) and high oxidation resistance behaviour. The major drawback of using CNTs for photothermal applications is that it exhibits poor spectral selectivity (i.e., α/ε = 1). In other words, it acts as a blackbody absorber. On the other hand, graphene exhibits poor intrinsic absorption behaviour (α - 2.3%) in a broad wavelength range (UV-Near IR). The main objective of the present study is to develop CNT and graphene based absorbers for photothermal conversion applications. The growth of CNT and graphene was carried out using chemical vapour deposition and sputtering techniques. An absorber-reflector tandem concept was used to develop the CNT based tandem absorber (Ti/Al2O3/Co/CNT). The transition from blackbody absorber to solar selective absorber was achieved by varying the CNT thicknesses and by using a suitable underlying absorber (Ti/Al2O3). A simple multilayer heat mirror concept was used to develop the graphene based multilayer absorber (SiO2/graphene/Cu/graphene). The transition from high transmitance to high absorptance was achieved by varying the Cu thickness. The refractive indices and the extinction coefficients of Ti/Al2O3, AlTiO and graphene samples were determined by the phase-modulated spectroscopic ellipsometric technique. Finally, the optical properties (i.e., absorptance and the emittance) of the CNT and graphene based absorbers were investigated. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction about solar thermal energy, spectrally selective coating and photothermal conversion. The different types of absorbers used to achieve the spectral selectivity have also been discussed shortly. A brief description about the carbon-based materials/allotropes and their properties are outlined. The properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene which are the 1-D and 2-D allotropes of carbon, respectively are tabulated. A detailed literature survey was carried out in order to identify the potential candidates for the photothermal conversion applications. The objectives and the scope of the thesis are also discussed in this chapter. Chapter 2 discusses the deposition and characterization techniques used for the growth and the study of 1-D and 2-D carbon nanostructures. Atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and hot filament CVD techniques were used to grow CNT and graphene, respectively. The magnetron sputtering technique was used for the growth of ‘Ti’, ‘Al2O3’ and Co layers which were needed to grow the CNT based tandem absorber on stainless steel (SS) substrates. The important characterization techniques used to examine various properties of the 1-D and 2-D carbon nanostructures include: X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), phase modulated ellipsometry, UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer, Fourier-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy and solar spectrum reflectometer and emissometer. Chapter 3 describes the design and development of Ti/Al2O3 coating for the growth of CNT-based tandem absorber on SS substrates. The power densities of the aluminum and titanium targets and the oxygen flow rates were optimized to deposit the Ti/Al2O3 coatings. The optimized Ti/Al2O3 coating with a Co catalyst on top was used as an underlying substrate to grow the CNT-based tandem absorber at 800°C in Ar+H2 atmosphere (i.e., CNT/Co/Al2O3/Ti/SS). The formation of aluminum titanium oxide (AlTiO) was observed during the CNT growth process and this layer enhances the optical properties of the CNT based tandem absorber. The optical constants of Ti, Al2O3 and AlTiO coatings were measured using phase modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wavelength range of 300-900 nm. The experimentally measured ellipsometric parameters have been fitted with the simulated spectra using the Tauc-Lorentz model for generating the dispersion of the optical constants of the Al2O3 and the AlTiO layers. The Ti and Al2O3 layer thicknesses play a major role in the design of the CNT based tandem absorber with good optical properties. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis and characterization of the CNT based tandem absorber (Ti/AlTiO/CoO/CNTs) deposited on SS substrates. CNTs at different thicknesses were grown on Ti/AlTiO/CoO coated SS substrates using atmospheric CVD at various growth durations. The transition from blackbody absorber to solar selective absorber was achieved by varying the thicknesses of the CNTs and by suitably designing the bottom tandem absorber. At thicknesses > 10 µm, the CNT forest acts as near-perfect blackbody absorber, whereas, at thicknesses ≤ 0.36 µm, the IR reflectance of the coating increases (i.e., ε = 0.20) with slight decrease in the absorptance (i.e., α = 0.95). A spectral selectivity (α/ε) of 4.75 has been achieved for the 0.36 µm-thick CNTs grown on SS/Ti/AlTiO/CoO tandem absorber. Chapter 5 discusses the growth of graphene on polycrystalline copper (Cu) foils (1 cm × 1 cm) using hot filament CVD. The roles of the process parameters such as gas flow rates (methane and hydrogen), growth temperatures (filament and substrate) and durations on the growth of graphene were studied. The process parameters were also optimized to grow monolayer, bilayer and multilayer graphene in a controlled manner and the growth mechanism was deduced from the experimental results. The presence of graphene on Cu foils was confirmed using XPS, micro-Raman spectroscopy, FESEM and TEM techniques. The FESEM data clearly confirmed that graphene starts nucleating as hexagonal islands which later evolves into dendritic lobe shaped islands with an increase in the supersaturation. The TEM data substantiated further the growth of monolayer, bilayer and multilayer graphene. The intensity of 2D and G peak ratio (i.e., I2D/IG = 2) confirmed the presence of the monolayer graphene and the absence of the ‘D’ peak in the Raman spectrum indicated the high purity of graphene grown on Cu foils. The results show that the polycrystalline morphology of the copper foil has negligible effect on the growth of monolayer graphene. In Chapter 6, the design and development of graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer absorber and the study of its optical properties are discussed. The multilayer graphene grown on Cu foils has been transferred on quartz and SiO2 substrates in order to fabricate the graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer absorber. The sputtering technique was used to deposit copper on top of graphene/quartz substrates. The uniformity of the transferred multilayer graphene films was confirmed using Raman mapping. A simple multilayer heat mirror concept was used to develop the graphene/Cu/graphene absorber on quartz substrates and the transition from high transmittance to high absorptance was achieved. In order to further enhance the absorption, the graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer coating was fabricated on SiO2 substrates. The thickness of the Cu layer plays a major role in creating destructive interference, which results in high absorptance and low emittance. A high specular absorptance of 0.91 and emittance of 0.22 was achieved for the SiO2 graphene/Cu/graphene multilayer absorber. The specular reflectance of the multilayer absorber coatings was measured using the universal reflectance accessory of the UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. Chapter 7 summarizes the major findings of the present investigation and also suggests future aspects for experimentation and analysis. The results obtained from the present work clearly indicate that both CNT and graphene based absorbers can be used as potential candidates for photothermal applications. In particular, the CNT based tandem absorber can be used for high temperature solar thermal applications and the graphene based multilayer absorber finds applications in the area of photodetectors and optical broadband modulators.