Suchergebnisse

The influence of counter interaction of nonlinear wave in the shallow water has been studied. It is shown that such an interaction leads to a change in the phase of propagation of the main wave, which is forced to propagate along the flow induced by the counter-propagating wave. Estimates of the height of the non-breaking wave at the moment of interaction are in agreement with theoretical predictions. The phase shift in the interaction of non-breaking waves is small enough, but becomes noticeable in the case of the breaking waves motion.

Thermal characterization of coffee husk (Coffea arabica) from Colombian coffee has been studied. Different products, mostly volatile and semivolatile compounds, were analyzed, paying special attention to 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) as priority pollutants, frequently used for checking toxicity in environmental samples. A fixed amount of raw material was exposed to different excess air ratios (λ = 0–2.33) and nominal temperature of 1123 K in a horizontal quartz reactor. The results show that coffee husk is a promising biomass for energetic exploitation with reduced formation of PAHs in a low air excess ratio. This implies reduction of carcinogenic potential in the limited presence of oxygen, demonstrated by calculating the carcinogenic potential (KE) for each experimental condition. Most volatile and semivolatile compounds followed different trends, with the oxygen presence prevailing their decomposition with increasing the air excess ratio. ; Nazly E. Sánchez acknowledges the Colombian Government, Project InnovAcción Cauca, and Corporación Universitaria Autónoma del Cauca for her financial support of the research stay in Alicante, Spain. Financial support for this experimental work was provided by the CTQ2013-41006-R Project from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain) and the PROMETEOII/2014/007 Project from the Valencian Community Government (Spain).

BACKGROUND: As a consequence of the epidemiological transition in Chile, the nutritional status of the population has changed notoriously. AIM: To study the changes in the nutritional status of six years-old Chilean children from 1987 to 2003. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The computer data base of a government institution in charge of the School Lunch Program (JUNAEB) was used. It contains data on weight, height, sex and date of birth of six years old children, in the years 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. RESULTS: The data of approximately 80,000 children was analyzed. Both weight and height increased over the study years. There was a significant reduction in the number of children with weight deficit but also an increase in the proportion of children with obesity. Stunting was also reduced. The proportion of children with HAZ over 2 SD increased from 0.76 in 1987 to 2.2% in 2003. The prevalence of obesity has not increased since the year 2000. CONCLUSION: The stabilization in the prevalence of obesity is a positive finding, considering its adverse consequences for health.

Metadata only record ; Widespread deforestation in many developing countries has contributed to ecological deterioration, particularly in marginal areas. Agroforestry has been potential to halt this decline and improve the livelihoods of poor inhabitants of these areas. Yet agroforestry depends on people's rights to plant and use trees, rights established by prevailing systems of land and tree tenure. Without clear property rights, there are few incentives to preserve natural resources and to invest in trees because future benefits would not accrue to those who manage them. Understanding land tenure institutions and their effect upon agroforestry practices in therefore critical in improving natural resource management and reducing poverty. ; Available in SANREM office, ES