Madurese, a Western Malayo-Polynesian language spoken on the Indonesian island of Madura, exhibits a three-way laryngeal contrast distinguishing between voiced, voiceless unaspirated and voiceless aspirated stops and an unusual consonant-vowel (CV) co-occurrence restriction. The CV co-occurrence restriction is of phonological interest given the patterning of voiceless aspirated stops with voiced stops rather than with voiceless unaspirated stops, raising the question of what phonological feature they may share. Two features have been linked with the CV co-occurrence restriction: Advanced Tongue Root [ATR] and Lowered Larynx [LL]. However, as no evidence of voicing during closure for aspirated stops is observed and no other acoustic measures except voice onset time (VOT), fundamental frequency (F0), frequencies of the first (F1) and the second (F2) formants and closure duration relating to the proposed features have been conducted, it remains an open question which acoustic properties are shared by voiced and aspirated stops. Three main questions are addressed in the thesis. The first question is what acoustic properties voiced and voiceless aspirated stops share to the exclusion of voiceless unaspirated stops. The second question is whether [ATR] or [LL] accounts for the patterning together of voiceless aspirated stops with voiced stops. The third question is what the implications of the results are for a transparent phonetics-phonology mapping that expects phonological features to have phonetic correlates associated with them. In order to answer the questions, we looked into VOT, closure duration, F0, F1, F2 and a number of spectral measures, i.e. H1*-A1*, H1*-A2*, H1*-A3*, H1*-H2*, H2*-H4* and CPP. We recorded fifteen speakers of Madurese (8 females, 7 males) reading 188 disyllabic Madurese words embedded in a sentence frame. The results show that the three-way voicing categories in Madurese have different VOT values. The difference in VOT is robust between voiced stops on the one hand and voiceless unaspirated and voiceless aspirated stops on the other. Albeit statistically significant, the difference in VOT values between voiceless unaspirated and voiceless aspirated stops is relatively small. With regard to closure duration, we found that there is a difference between voiced stops on the one hand and voiceless unaspirated and aspirated stops on the other. We also found that female speakers distinguish F0 for the three categories while male speakers distinguish between F0 for voiced stops on the one hand and voiceless unaspirated and voiceless aspirated stops on the other. The results for spectral measures show that there are no significant differences in H1*-A1*, H1*-A3*, H1*-H2*, H2*-H4* and CPP between vowels adjacent to voiced and voiceless aspirated stops. In contrast, there are significant differences in these measures between vowels adjacent to voiced and voiceless unaspirated stops and between vowels adjacent to voiceless aspirated and voiceless unaspirated stops. Regarding the question whether voiced and voiceless aspirated stops share certain acoustic properties, our findings show that they do. The acoustic properties they share are H1*-A1* for both genders, H1*-H2* for females, H1*-A3* and H2*-H4* for males, and CPP for females at vowel onset and for males at vowel midpoint. However, they do not share such acoustic properties as VOT, closure duration and F0. Voiceless unaspirated and voiceless aspirated stops can be distinguished by VOT, F0 and spectral measures, i.e. H1*-A1*, H1*-A3*, H1*-H2*, H2*-H4* and CPP. However, these two voiceless stop categories have similar closure durations. As regards the question if [+ATR] or [+LL] might be responsible for the patterning together of voiceless aspirated stops with voiced stops, our findings suggest that either feature appears to be plausible. Acoustic evidence that lends support to the feature [+ATR] includes lower F1 and greater spectral tilt measures, i.e. H1*-A1*, H1*-A3*, H1*-H2* and H2*-H4*, and lower CPP values. Acoustic evidence that supports the feature [+LL] includes lower F1 and greater spectral tilt measures, i.e. H1*-A1*, H1*-A3*, H1*-H2* and H2*-H4*, and lower CPP values. However, the fact that voiceless aspirated stops are voiceless during closure raises a problem for the feature [+ATR] and the fact that F0 for voiceless aspirated stops is higher than for voiced stops also presents a problem for the feature [+LL]. The fact that not all acoustic measures fit in well with either feature is problematic to the idea that the relationship between phonetics and phonology is transparent in the sense that phonological features can be directly transformed into their phonetic correlates. Following the view that not all phonological features may not be expected to be phonetically grounded, for example, when they are related to historical sound change, we hold the idea of a phonetics-phonology mapping which allows for other non-phonetic factors to account for a phonological phenomenon. We also provide historical and loanword evidence which could support that voiceless aspirated stops in Madurese may have derived from earlier voiced stops, which probably retain their historical laryngeal contrast through phonologisation.

Submitted by PAULA LETICIA CAMPELLO null (paulacampello@hotmail.com) on 2017-03-09T14:56:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_ Paula_Leticia_Campello.pdf: 1806399 bytes, checksum: 0fa98c824e9bf65929115ecb89e76258 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-16T19:26:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 campello_pl_dr_jabo.pdf: 1806399 bytes, checksum: 0fa98c824e9bf65929115ecb89e76258 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-16T19:26:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 campello_pl_dr_jabo.pdf: 1806399 bytes, checksum: 0fa98c824e9bf65929115ecb89e76258 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A periodontite e o desgaste dentário excessivo são duas das síndromes mais importantes que afetam o periodonto e os dentes de pequenos ruminantes. Frequentemente relatadas em rebanhos em diversas regiões do mundo, são enfermidades multifatoriais e estão envolvidas com diminuição da produtividade de rebanhos, decorrente das dificuldades de preensão, mastigação e ruminação. O presente estudo, em forma de capítulos, teve como objetivos relatar a ocorrência de periodontite, biofilme dentário supragengival e desgaste excessivo da coroa dental em 150 cabras em lactação de rebanho estabulado. Adicionalmente, foi avaliada pela reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) a microbiota subgengival de sítios periodontais sadios e com bolsa periodontal frente a 23 iniciadores de espécies de bactérias com potencial patogênico no homem e em outras espécies animais. A ocorrência de lesão periodontal, avaliada pela recessão gengival, foi observada em 70,66% (106) das 150 cabras, das quais 28% (42/150) apresentaram lesões em dentes incisivos e 62% (93/150) em dentes mastigatórios. Todos os animais avaliados apresentaram algum escore de biofilme supragengival, representando um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de periodontites. O desgaste excessivo da coroa dental foi observado em 40% (60/150) dos animais em graus variados, nos dentes incisivos e mastigatórios conjuntamente; 37,3% (56/150) somente em dentes mastigatórios e 18,6% (28/150) apenas em dentes incisivos. Na avaliação da microbiota da bolsa periodontal (n=22) e do sulco gengival (n=22) de cabras pôde-se associar a ocorrência da periodontite com Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Prevotella buccae Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas melaninogenica, Treponema maltophilum, Prevotella loeschii, Dialister pneumosintes e Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Os dois problemas sanitários coocorreram no rebanho, sugerindo que, embora de etiologias distintas, provavelmente elas tenham algum fator de risco comum. Parte da microbiota avaliada e associada à periodontite diferiu, pela frequência de detecção, daquela dos sítios periodontais sem a doença, sugerindo a participação desses patógenos potenciais na etiologia da periodontite caprina. / Periodontitis and excessive dental wear are considered two of the most important syndromes that affect the periodontium and the teeth of small ruminants. Often reported in herds in different regions of the world, they are multifactorial diseases and are involved with decreased herd productivity due to difficulties in gripping, chewing and rumination. The present study, in the form of chapters, had as objective to report the occurrence of periodontitis, supragingival dental biofilm and excessive wear of the dental crown in 150 lactating goats. In addition, the subgingival microbiota of healthy sites and periodontal pockets were evaluated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 23 primers of bacterial species with pathogenic potential in man and other animal species. The occurrence of periodontal lesion, evaluated by gingival recession, was observed in 70.66% (106) of the 150 goats, which 28% (42/150) presented lesions in incisor teeth and 62% (93/150) in masticatory teeth. All animals evaluated had a supragingival biofilm score, representing a risk factor for the development of periodontitis. The excessive wear of the dental crown was observed in 40% (60/150) of the animals in varying degrees, in the incisors and masticatory teeth together; 37.3% (56/150) only in masticatory teeth and 18.6% (28/150) only in incisors. In the evaluation of the microbiota of periodontal pockets (n = 22) and gingival sulcus (n = 22) of goats, the occurrence of periodontitis can be connected to Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Prevotella buccae, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas melaninogenica, Treponema maltophilum, Prevotella loescheii, Dialister pneumosintes and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The two sanitary problems cooccurred in the herd, suggesting that although they have different etiologies, they probably have some common risk factors. Part of the microbiota evaluated and associated with periodontitis differed, by frequency of detection, of periodontal sites without the disease, suggesting the participation of these putative pathogens in the etiology of caprine periodontitis.

Este estudo teve como objetivo pesquisar a ocorrência e diversidade molecular de coronavírus aviários em codornas e galinhas criadas nas mesmas propriedades e determinar o papel epidemiológico das codornas na bronquite infecciosa das galinhas (BIG). Para isso, foram coletados em granjas localizadas no estado de São Paulo e Espírito Santo pools de aparelho reprodutivo, pulmões, rins, traquéia e conteúdo entérico de codornas e galinhas com histórico de manifestações clínicas compatíveis com BIG. Estas amostras foram testadas para coronavírus aviário mediante uma semi-nested RT-PCR dirigida a região não-traduzida 3 (3´UTR) e as amostras positivas foram submetidas a RT-PCR do gene codificador da proteína RNA-polimerase RNA-dependente (RdRp) e duas RT-PCR, incluindo uma tipo multiplex dirigidas a proteína de espícula S do vírus da BIG, para genotipagem. Amplicons ou fragmentos amplificados da 3\'UTR (a partir de amostras de codorna) foram clonados e sequenciados. Outras duas RT-PCR foram utilizadas para detecção de metapneumovírus aviário (aMPV) e o vírus da doença de Newcastle (NDV). Coronavírus aviários foram encontrados em todos os tipos de amostras estudadas em galinhas e codornas criadas nas mesmas propriedades, sendo que aMPV subtipo B foi encontrado em galinhas e o NDV não foi encontrado em nenhuma amostras. Todos os coronavírus aviários encontrados, foram classificados como variantes pela multiplex RT-PCR, não sendo entretanto, obtidas sequências de DNA para o gene S. Com base em sequências de DNA para os genes codificadores da proteína RdRp e da região 3´UTR pode-se demonstrar que as codornas estudadas apresentaram o coronavírus aviário identificados como próximo àqueles relacionados à bronquite infecciosa das galinhas, havendo diversidade molecular filogeográfica para os vírus de codornas. Desta forma, sugere-se que as codornas podem servir como reservatórios para coronavírus aviários onde haja criações em proximidade com outras espécies aviárias. / This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and molecular diversity of avian coronavirus in quails and laying hens, raised on the same farms and determine the role of quails in the epidemiology of avian infectious bronchitis (IB). To this end, pools of lungs, trachea, female reproductive tracts, kidneys and enteric contents were collected from quails and laying hens flocks with IB-like symptoms, co-housed in farms located in Sao Paulo and Espírito Santo states, Brazil, during 2009-2010. Chickens and quails samples were screened for IBV with an RT-PCR to the 3UTR and positive samples were submitted to RT-PCRs to the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase gene (RdRp) and two different RT-PCRs to the spike gene, including a typing-multiplex one. Amplicons of 3UTR (from quails samples) were cloned and sequenced. Two other RT-PCRs were used to detect the avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Avian coronavirus was found in all types of samples analyzed in chickens and quails raised on the same farms, aMPV subtype B was found in chickens and the NDV was not observed in any samples. All avian coronavirus found were classified as variants by multiplex RT-PCR, however, DNA sequences for gene S were not obtained. Based on the DNA sequences for genes encoding the protein RdRp and the 3\'UTR region can be show that avian coronavirus in quails are closely related to avian infectious bronchitis virus, with a molecular phylogeographic diversity for quails viruses; thus, quails might act as reservoirs for avian coronaviroses when in close contact with other avian species.

A Mata Atlântica é uma floresta tropical úmida considerada um \"hotspot\" de biodiversidade e endemismo. É uma das florestas mais antigas do mundo e uma das maiores florestas da América, abrangendo aproximadamente 150 milhões de hectares em condições ambientais altamente heterogêneas. Estudos em diferentes ambientes da Mata Atlântica, nos núcleos de Picinguaba e Santa Virginia no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), têm sido realizados para determinar a diversidade de espécies e alterações da estrutura das comunidades de bactérias, tanto na filosfera, quanto na dermosfera e solo rizosférico. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre as funções ecológicas dessas bactérias, e sobre as interações ecológicas entre as comunidades microbianas e os ambientes onde se desenvolvem. Assim o objetivo desse trabalho foi explorar as interações entre as comunidades microbianas da filosfera, dermosfera e solo coletado sobre a projeção da copa de duas espécies arbóreas da Mata Atlântica ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal, usando análises de co-ocorrência, a partir dos dados obtidos por pirosequenciamento da região V4 do gene rRNA 16S de bactérias, para determinar padrões de associações de bactérias em diferentes níveis taxonômicos em cada microambiente. Para esse estudo, foi proposta a hipótese de que mesmo que as condições ambientais sejam diferentes em cada tipo de floresta (gradiente altitudinal), pode existir grupos de bactérias específicos que co-ocorrem na filosfera, dermosfera ou solo das plantas, funcionando como taxons chaves na estruturação das comunidades bacterianas. Com base do sequenciamento dos genes rRNA 16S, as comunidades bacterianas associadas à filosfera e dermosfera de E. edulis e G. opposita nas diferentes florestas foram mais similares entre si do que as do solo. Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes e Proteobacteria foram mais abundantes em todos os microambientes estudados. Diferenças nas estruturas das comunidades bacterianas na filosfera, dermosfera e solo foram observadas ao longo do gradiente altitudinal, independente da espécie de planta. Na floresta de terras baixas, a comunidade bacteriana associada à filosfera foi mais similar entre E. edulis e G. opposita. No solo, a comunidade bacteriana foi mais similar dentro de cada tipo de floresta do que entre florestas, sugerindo um efeito da fisionomia da floresta nas comunidades de bactérias dos solos. Explorando as redes de co-ocorrência das comunidades bacterianas em cada microambiente observou-se que no nível de UTOs, cada microambiente têm diferentes táxons chaves que podem regular as interações ecológicas da comunidade. Embora táxons chaves não representam as UTOs mais abundantes em cada microambiente, eles pertencem, predominantemente às classes Alphaproteobacteria e Gammaproteobacteria, sugerindo que na filosfera, dermosfera e solo o core microbioma não pode ser definido ao nível de UTO, mas possivelmente a níveis taxonômicos mais elevados representando grandes grupos microbianos que apresentam funções redundantes. / The Atlantic Forest is a rainforest considered a hotspot of biodiversity and endemism. It is one of the oldest forests in the world and one of the largest forests of America, covering approximately 150 million hectares in highly heterogeneous environmental conditions. Studies in different environments of the Atlantic forest, in the Picinguaba and Santa Virginia areas in the Serra do Mar State Park (PESM) have been conducted to determine the species diversity and changes in the structure of the bacterial communities in the phyllosphere, dermosphere and rhizosphere. However, little is known on the ecological functions of these bacteria, and on the ecological interactions between microbial communities and the environment in which they develop. The aim of this study was to explore the interactions between the microbial communities of the phyllosphere, dermosphere and rhizosphere of two tree species of the Atlantic Forest along an altitudinal gradient. Co-occurrence analysis based on data obtained by pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V4 region of bacteria to determine patterns of bacterial associations in different taxonomic levels in each microenvironment. For this study, the hypothesis that even if the environmental conditions are different in each type of forest (altitudinal gradient), there may be specific groups of bacteria that co-occur in the phyllosphere, dermosphere or rhizosphere, functioning as keystone taxa in the bacterial communities. Based on the sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, bacterial communities associated with the E. edulis and G. opposita phyllosphere and dermosphere in different forests were more similar to each other than the rhizosphere. Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the more abundant taxa in all studied microenvironments. Differences in the bacterial community structures in the phyllosphere, dermosphere and rhizosphere were observed along the altitudinal gradient, regardless of the plant species. In the lowland forest, the bacterial community associated with the phyllosphere was more similar between E. edulis and G. opposita. The rhizosphere bacterial community was more similar within each forest type than between forests, suggesting an effect of the forest physiognomy on the bacterial communities of the rhizosphere. Exploring the co-occurrence networks in the bacterial communities of each microenvironment it was observed that at the OTU level each microenvironment has different keystoine taxa that may regulate the ecological interactions in the community. Although the keystone taxa do not represent the most abundant OTUs in each microenvironment, they belong predominantly to Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria classes, suggesting that in the phyllosphere, dermosphere and rhizosphere the core microbiome cannot be determined at the OTU level, but possibly at higher taxonomic levels representing microbial groups having redundant functions.

O consumo de qualquer parte do organismo de um fungo denomina-se fungivoria e são raros os estudos que abordam a temática da interação trófica entre suas estruturas reprodutivas (basidiomas) e os insetos. Mesmo que seja um hábito alimentar freqüente entre os coleópteros, com muitas famílias obrigatoriamente fungívoras, pouco se conhece sobre a estruturação dessa assembléia. Entretanto, sabese que existem preferências por determinadas espécies de fungos, tanto para a postura dos ovos quanto para o próprio consumo. Algumas questões que este estudo aborda referem-se à riqueza e à especificidade dos besouros fungívoros. Adicionalmente investigarei a influência da taxonomia dos fungos, bem como da consistência e do sistema hifal dos basidiomas para o processo de seleção que as espécies de besouros realizam. Também foi verificado se a posição taxonômica dos besouros está relacionada com o grupo de fungos que estes utilizam ou com a consistência dos seus basidiomas. Foram realizadas oito coletas em um ambiente de Floresta Ombrófila Mista no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, obtendo-se 376 indivíduos das Ordens Polyporales e Hymenochaetales. Estes espécimes foram mantidos individualizados em laboratório por três meses para a constante retirada dos besouros adultos e então dissecados. Todos os fungos que apresentaram besouros fungívoros associados (N = 207) foram identificados e totalizaram 40 espécies. Os coleópteros totalizaram 447 ocorrências e foram classificados em 90 morfoespécies e 20 famílias, sendo Ciidae e Staphylinidae as mais representadas. Os basidiomas foram classificados quanto às suas classes de consistência seguindo um gradiente de durabilidade e rigidez. A riqueza de besouros variou conforme a espécie do hospedeiro e não foram encontrados fatores que influenciam a variação de riqueza de besouros em fungos. A especificidade dos besouros não apresentou relação com a longevidade dos basidiomas. Também se verificou que a posição taxonômica dos fungos, bem como a consistência dos basidiomas, interferem na escolha do hospedeiro pelos besouros. Além disso, se observou que besouros mais relacionados filogeneticamente não utilizam uma assembléia de fungos mais semelhante nem basidiomas com consistências semelhantes. Isso demonstra que a habilidade em consumir as mesmas espécies não está tão relacionada com a filogenia dos besouros como ocorre com os herbívoros. / Fungivory is the consumption of any part of the fungi organism and just a few studies were done about the trophic interactions of its reproductive structures, so called basidiomes, and insects. Even though this is a disseminated habit among Coleoptera, which has many obligated fungivores families, little is known about its community organization. However, there have been works about feeding preferences and oviposing sites of some fungi species. Some of the questions of this study refer to richness and specificity of fungivores beetles on their host. It was also investigated the influence of fungi taxonomy, basidiomes consistency and hyphal system for the selection process of the beetle species, as well as the importance of the taxonomic position of the beetles regarding the host group they use and the basidiome´s consistency. The basidiomes of Polyporales and Hymenochaetales Orders were collected in an Araucaria angustifolia forest of Rio Grande do Sul State. It was obtained 376 fungal individuals, which were kept in the laboratory, individually separated in containers for three months, while the newly emerged beetles were captured, and the fungi were dissected afterwards. All individuals of fungi that had associations (207) were identified (40 species). It was found 447 occurcences of Coleoptera, which were classified in 90 morphospecies belonging to 20 families, with Ciidae and Staphylinidae being the most abundant. The basidiomes where classified by its consistency, following a longevity and hardness gradient. Beetle richness varied among fungal species and no factors that might influence the richness variation in fungi was found. Its specificity did not seem to be related to the longevity of the basidiomes. It was also verified that the fungus taxonomy as well as the consistency of its basidiomes demonstrated some importance for the process of host selection. Regarding the Coleoptera taxonomy, it was not verified that the more phylogenetic related ones use a more similar group of hosts or basidiomes that have similar consistency. This demonstrates that the ability to feed on the same species is not so related to the phylogeny of fungivore beetles as it occurs with herbivores.

A model for DNA recombination uses 4-valent rigid vertex graphs, called assembly graphs. An assembly graph, similarly to the projection of knots, can be associated with an unsigned Gauss code, or double occurrence word. We define biologically motivated reductions that act on double occurrence words and, in turn, on their associated assembly graphs. For every double occurrence word w there is a sequence of reduction operations that may be applied to w so that what remains is the empty word, [epsilon]. Then the nesting index of a word w, denoted by NI(w), is defined to to be the least number of reduction operations necessary to reduce w to [epsilon]. The nesting index is the first property of assembly graphs that we study. We use chord diagrams as tools in our study of the nesting index. We observe two double occurrence words that correspond to the same circle graph, but that have arbitrarily large differences in nesting index values. In 2012, Buck et al. considered the cellular embeddings of assembly graphs into orientable surfaces. The genus range of an assembly graph [Gamma], denoted gr([Gamma]), was defined to be the set of integers g where g is the genus of an orientable surface F into which [Gamma] cellularly embeds. The genus range is the second property of assembly graphs that we study. We generalize the notion of the genus range to that of the genus spectrum, where for each g [isin] gr([Gamma]) we consider the number of orientable surfaces F obtained from [Gamma] by a special construction, called a ribbon graph construction, that have genus g. By considering this more general notion we gain a better understanding of the genus range property. Lastly, we show how one can obtain the genus spectrum of a double occurrence word from the genus spectrums of its irreducible parts, i.e., its double occurrence subwords. In the final chapter we consider constructions of double occurrence words that recognize certain values for nesting index and genus range. In general, we find that for arbitrary values of nesting index [ge] 2 and genus range, there is a double occurrence word that recognizes those values.

The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has increased over the last decade due to applications in high technology devices including those in the defense industry. The recovery of REEs from primary sources such as rare earth minerals are viable using physical separations followed by chemical processing. However, weak market values and environmental concerns have limited the viability of such operations. On the other hand, REE recovery from secondary sources such as apatite ore, bauxite waste, and waste recycling, provides an opportunity to take advantage of a resource that does not require mining costs as well as other associated costs given that these expenses are covered by the revenue generated from the production of the primary material. Coal-based materials represent a potential source for REEs which may be extracted and concentrated by the use of physical and/or chemical processes. The current study focused on developing a leaching process to extract REEs from the pre-combustion coal sources including coarse and fine refuse and low-valued material obtained from coal preparation plants. Materials collected for leaching characteristic studies were found to have average total REE concentrations in the range of 200-350 ppm on a whole sample basis. Mineralogy studies performed on Fire Clay seam coal refuse using SEM-EDS detected micro-dispersed rare earth phosphate mineral particles which are generally difficult to dissolve in strong acid solutions. On the other hand, XRD analysis results from a high REE content segment of the West Kentucky No. 13 coal seam indicated the presence of fluorapatite which is soluble in weak acid solutions. The mineral associations of REEs were studied by extracting REEs using different types of acids under various pH conditions. Differential extraction of the REEs was examined along with the associated impurity elements such as iron, aluminum, and calcium among others. The findings showed that the light REEs were primarily associated in a phosphate mineral form, whereas the heavy REEs were mostly present in an ion substitution form associated with clay minerals. Relatively high concentrations of REEs were discovered in mixed-phase particles consisting of both coal and mineral matter. By reducing the particle size, more leachable forms of REEs were liberated and recovered along with the associated mineral matter embedded in the coal structure. The type of lixiviant played an important role during the initial stage of leaching but was found to be insignificant as the system reached equilibrium. Solids concentration in the leaching medium has an important role in establishing the throughput capacity of the leaching system. Test results found that an increase in solids concentration had a significant negative effect on rare earth recovery. This finding may be explained by higher concentrations of soluble calcium-based minerals such as calcite which provided localized pH increases near and within the pores of the solids. The result was precipitation of CaSO4 within the pores which blocked access for the lixiviants. This hypothesis was supported by the findings from BET and XPS analyses which found lower pore volume in high solid concentration systems and the existence of CaSO4 on the surface of the solids. Leaching test results obtained using sulfuric acid over a range of temperatures showed that the leaching process was mainly driven by a diffusion control process. The activation energy determined for an Illinois No. 6 coal source was 14.6 kJ/mol at the beginning of the reaction and 35.9 kJ/mol for the rest of the leaching process up to 2 hours. For material collected from the Fire Clay coal seam, the apparent activation energy was 36 kJ/mol at the start of the leaching reaction and decreased to 27 kJ/mol over the remaining period of the test. The activation energy values were nearly equivalent to the upper-level values that generally define a diffusion control process and the lower values of a chemical reaction control process. The lack of clarity in defining a clear control mechanism is likely associated with the variability in associated mineralogy, various modes of occurrence of the REEs and the interfacial transfer of product through the porous structure of the coal-based particles which requires relatively high activation energy. As such, both diffusion control and chemical reaction control mechanisms are likely occurring simultaneously during the leaching process with diffusion control being more dominant.

Les produits pharmaceutiques (PPs), largement consommés par la population et continuellement rejetés dans l'environnement via les stations d'épuration des eaux usées (STEP) constituent une source de contamination du milieu aquatique. L'évaluation du risque environnemental de ces composés implique la quantification précise de leurs concentrations et l'estimation de leur toxicité vis-à-vis des espèces exposées. Notre étude portant sur une douzaine de composés pharmaceutiques représentatifs a été réalisée dans le Sud Est de la France. Après la mise au point d'une méthode de détection par LC-MS/MS, une campagne d'échantillonnage ciblée sur 7 stations d'épuration urbaines et les eaux naturelles dans lesquelles leurs effluents se déversent (rivières gardoises et lagune) a été effectuée afin d'évaluer le niveau de contamination par les PPs. La toxicité des PPs a été évaluée à l'aide de tests de bioluminescence et d'inhibition de croissance (Microtox, ToxScreen et Protoxkit). En parallèle, des expériences ont été effectuées afin d'évaluer le potentiel de la photolyse UV et de l'adsorption sur charbon actif pour éliminer ces composés. La campagne de mesure met en évidence la présence de PPs dans les effluents de STEP de la région Sud-Est à des concentrations comprises entre 10 et 1000 ng L-1 et atteignant quelques centaines de ng L-1 dans le milieu récepteur situé en aval. La comparaison des niveaux d'exposition aux valeurs de toxicité obtenues expérimentalement et complétées des données de la littérature suggère que seuls 3 composés pharmaceutiques (propranolol, ibuprofène et diclofénac) sont susceptibles d'induire un risque faible à l'échelle locale (rivières gardoises). Le traitement complémentaire des effluents de STEP par photolyse UV et adsorption sur charbon actif s'avère être efficace pour éliminer la majorité des 12 composés étudiés et peuvent être envisagé pour limiter la présence et l'impact des produits pharmaceutiques dans l'environnement.

<p>Three species of burnet moths (<em>Zygaena</em> <em>filipendulae</em>,<em> Z</em>. <em>lonicerae</em> and <em>Z</em>. <em>viciae</em>) were studied on the Baltic island Öland, Sweden, in order to reveal the habitat requirements of different life stages. Larvae were found among a higher cover of their most important host plant, <em>Lotus corniculatus</em>, <em>Trifolium medium</em>/<em>pratense </em>or<em> Vicia </em>spp., than were pupae or imagines, and were also observed on plants larger than randomly examined plants. Imagines actively selected nectar plants of <em>Centaurea </em>and <em>Cirsium</em>, growing in sunny conditions, but other red and violet Asteraceae flowers were also favoured. Pupae of <em>Z</em>.<em> filipendulae</em> appeared in taller vegetation than larvae and imagines, probably because the cocoons are spun high on stems of grasses and other plants. The chance of finding such suitable substrates rises with increasing vegetation height. A large scale analysis of occupancy patterns was also made, evaluating the relationship between burnet presence or absence and the area of meadows and pastures within 10 x 10 km grid cells in southern Sweden. All three species showed a positive relationship with increasing area of semi-natural grassland. Thresholds for the amount of habitat, below which the likelihood of occurrence declined more rapidly, could be distinguished around a 40-50 % probability of occurrence. Conservational work should aim at preserving and restoring open and sunny areas, rich in the respective host plants and nectar sources, but vegetation management must be executed with great care or late in the season to not harm unhatched pupae and to maintain substrates suitable for <em>Z</em>. <em>filipendulae</em> pupation.</p>

New evidence is provided for a grammatical principle that singles out contrastive focus (Rooth 1996; Truckenbrodt 1995) and distinguishes it from discourse-new “informational” focus. Since the prosody of discourse-given constituents may also be distinguished from discourse-new, a three-way distinction in representation is motivated. It is assumed that an F-feature marks just contrastive focus (Jackendoff 1972, Rooth 1992), and that a G-feature marks discoursegiven constituents (Féry and Samek-Lodovici 2006), while discoursenew is unmarked. A crucial argument for G-marking comes from second occurrence focus (SOF) prosody, which arguably derives from a syntactic representation where SOF is both F-marked and G-marked. This analysis relies on a new G-Marking Condition specifying that a contrastive focus may be G-marked only if the focus semantic value of its scope is discourse-given, i.e. only if the contrast itself is given.