The objective of this research was to produce artificial stone plates based on granite and mirror wastes and epoxy matrix, by vibration, compression, and vacuum and to characterize them. Plates were manufactured with 15%wt epoxy resin and 85% of aggregates in the proportion of 1/3 of granite waste from Ocre Itabira gray granite and 2/3 of mirror waste. The apparent density, water absorption, and apparent porosity values were 2.22 g/cm3, 0.11%, and 0.25%, respectively, the flexural strength was 34.36 MPa, abrasive wear after a 1000m track was 2.28mm and the breaking height in the impact resistance test was 0.45m. In addition, the stone was resistant to several staining agents. Therefore, the technical viability of the material developed was verified, with results compatible with studies already carried out in the area, making it possible to apply it as coatings and countertops in civil construction.

RESUMO O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores de abacaxi do mundo, o que além de trazer enormes benefícios contribui para o aumento da geração de resíduos nas etapas de beneficiamento, visando seu consumo. A legislação ambiental brasileira vem se tornando a cada ano mais restritiva quanto ao descarte dos resíduos sólidos, sejam domésticos, industriais ou agroindustriais, o que vem suscitando estudos relativos ao uso destes materiais em diversas matrizes. Esse trabalho visa avaliar a potencialidade da utilização da fibra natural do abacaxi, extraída da folha do abacaxizeiro (Ananás comosus) como material de reforço em compósitos cimentícios. Para este propósito, a fibra natural extraída da coroa do abacaxi foi incorporada em diferentes proporções em relação à massa de cimento: 0, 2,5, 5, 7,5 e 10%, e as fibras obtidas foram submersas em solução aquosa de NaOH com concentração de 5% em volume, durante 1 h à temperatura ambiente. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: consistência, retenção de água, ar incorporado, densidade de massa no estado endurecido, resistência mecânica, absorção de água por imersão e por capilaridade, além de verificar a influência do modo de incorporação das fibras. Foi observado que o tratamento com solução de NaOH e a porcentagem de fibra natural de abacaxi incorporada em até 5% em relação à massa de cimento formam argamassas com viabilidade tecnológica.

ABSTRACT Brazil is one of the largest producers of pineapple in the world, which, in addition to bringing substantial benefits, contributes to increasing waste generation in the stages of processing, aiming at its consumption. The Brazilian environmental legislation has been increasingly more restrictive with respect to the disposal of solid waste, whether domestic, industrial or agro-industrial, which has stimulated studies related to the use of these materials in several matrices. This study aimed to evaluate the potentiality of using the natural fiber of pineapple (Ananas comosus), extracted from its leaves, as reinforcing material in cementitious composites. For this purpose, natural fiber extracted from the pineapple crown was incorporated in different percentages in relation to the cement mass: 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%, and the fibers obtained were submerged in aqueous NaOH solution with 5% concentration in volume, for 1 h at room temperature. The following variables were evaluated: consistency, water retention, incorporated air, mass density in hardened state, mechanical strength, water absorption by immersion and capillarity, besides verifying the influence of the mode of fiber incorporation. It was observed that the treatment with NaOH solution and the percentage of natural pineapple fiber incorporated in up to 5% in relation to the cement mass form mortars with technological feasibility.

Abstract: Introduction: basketball is a popular sport among preadolescent girls, although little is known about the incidence of injuries associated with the practice of the sport in this population. The aim of our study was to contribute information on the pattern of injury found in preadolescent girls who play federated basketball in Spain. Materials and methods: during the Spanish Girls' Basketball Championship of 2014, we collected data on certain individual sports-related characteristics of the players and the clubs, as well as on training characteristics and injury patterns, through personal interviews with coaches and administration of a questionnaire to the players. Results: we collected data for 348 female players. Injuries in the past season were reported by 73.8%, most incurred during practice. Sprains were the most frequent type of injury, and the lower extremities the most frequent site; injury recurrence occurred in 30%. The rate of injury was 5.85 injuries per 1000 hours of play, and the court's surface was the sole factor significantly associated with the risk of injury. The time losses due to injuries amounted to 2.54 ± 0.97 days, and 25% of players reported missing school activities. Conclusions: the practice of basketball in girls aged 12 and 13 years carries a risk of injury that cannot be ignored, due to both the number of recorded injuries and to their potential impact on academic performance.

Resumen: Introducción: el baloncesto es un deporte que presenta una gran aceptación entre las niñas preadolescentes, si bien poco se sabe sobre la incidencia de lesiones que su práctica tiene sobre esta población. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo aportar información sobre el patrón de lesión deportiva encontrado en niñas preadolescentes practicantes de baloncesto a nivel federado en España. Material y métodos: durante el Campeonato de España de baloncesto infantil femenino de 2014, se recogió información acerca de ciertas características deportivas individuales de las jugadoras y del club, así como de los entrenamientos y del patrón lesivo, mediante entrevistas personales a los entrenadores y cuestionarios a las jugadoras. Resultados: se recogió información de 348 jugadoras. Un 73,8% reconoció haberse lesionado en la última temporada, mayoritariamente entrenando. El tipo de lesión más frecuentemente fueron los esguinces y la zona corporal el tren inferior, hallándose un 30% de recidivas. El índice lesivo fue de 5,85 lesiones por cada 1000 horas de práctica, y la superficie de juego fue el único factor que mostró tener influencia sobre el riesgo de lesión. El periodo de baja se situó en 2,54 ± 0,97 días, con una ausencia por parte del 25% de las jugadoras de sus actividades académicas. Conclusiones: la práctica de baloncesto por parte de niñas de entre 12 y 13 años presenta un riesgo de lesión que no debe pasar desapercibido, tanto por el promedio de lesiones registrado, como por la posibilidad de que existan recidivas y que la lesión acarree consecuencias a nivel académico.

This work presents results on the production and characterization (by both mass spectrometry and conventional chemical analyses) of Soluble Microbial Products (SMP) that accumulated in aerobic and anaerobic bench scale completely stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) fed with glucose or acetate under different hydraulic retention times (HRT) and temperatures. SMP accumulation varied from 2 to 68% of the influent COD in the aerobic reactor and from 9 to 27% in the anaerobic reactor and increased with the decrease in temperature and with the HRT reduction in the aerobic reactor. On the other hand, in the anaerobic reactor, the organic loading rate and the temperature had little impact on SMP production, implying that the SMP originated from different mechanisms in each system. For both reactors, a higher accumulation of SMPs was observed as the substrate was acetate when compared to glucose, and the chemical analysis showed that the majority of the SMP did not seem to be proteins or carbohydrates. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the mass spectra from positive and negative mode electron-spray ionization (LC-IT-TOF-MS) and results from matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) confirmed the chemical analyses and showed the absence of proteins in the effluents and the predominance of low molecular weight SMP. The PCA analysis also showed that the majority of the SMP from aerobic and anaerobic reactors did not seem to originate from soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) or cell lysis products.

Carbon isotope fluctuations in Precambrian sedimentary carbonates between 2.8 Ga and 0.60 Ga in Brazil are examined in this study. The carbonate facies of the BIF of the 2.8 Ga-old Carajás Formation, state of Pará in northern Brazil, has rather homogeneous delta13C (-5 o/ooPDB), compatible with carbonatization of a silicate protolith by a CO2-rich fluid from mantle degassing. The Paleoproterozoic Gandarela Formation, state of Minas Gerais, displays a narrow delta13C variation (-1.5 to +0.5 o/oo) compatible with carbon isotope signatures of carbonates deposited around 2.4 Ga worldwide. The Fecho do Funil Formation has probably recorded the Lomagundi delta13C positive anomaly (+6.4 to +7.1 o/ooPDB). The magnesite-bearing carbonates of the Orós mobile belt, state of Ceará, exhibit carbon isotope fluctuation within the range for carbonates deposited at 1.8 Ga. The C-isotope record of the Frecheirinha Formation, northwestern state of Ceará, shows negative delta13C values in its lower portion (-2 o/oo) and positive values up section (+1 to +3 o/oo), which suggests this sequence is a cap carbonate deposited after a glacial event around 0.95 Ga. The Jacoca and Acauã sedimentary carbonate Formations, state of Sergipe, NE Brazil, show carbon isotope fluctuations very similar to each other (average around -5 o/oo), compatible with a deposition around 0.76 Ga. The younger Olho D'Água carbonate Formation, however, also in the state of Sergipe, displays negative delta13C values at the lower portion of the Formation, changing dramatically up section to positive values as high as +10 o/oo, a characteristic compatible with a Sturtian cap carbonate deposited around 0.69 Ga. On the light of the C isotope data discussed in this study, it seems that delta13C fluctuations in Paleoproterozoic carbonates in Brazil are within the range found globally for metasedimentary carbonates of this age. Carbon isotope data proved to be very useful in establishing relative chronology of Neoproterozoic carbonate formations for which precise radiometric ages are not available.