Abstract Let A and B be two prime complex ∗-algebras. We proved that every bijective mapping Φ : A → B satisfying Φ(a ◊+ b∗ a) = Φ(a)◊Φ(b) + Φ(b)∗Φ(a) (resp., Φ(a∗ ◊b + ab∗) = Φ(a)∗ ◊Φ(b) + Φ(a)Φ(b)∗), where a ◊b = ab + ba∗, for all elements a, b ∈ A, is a ∗-ring isomorphism.

Abstract Paper aims This paper proposes a method for the assessment of equipment obsolescence, which includes the economic, environmental and social dimensions that compose the triple bottom line. Originality This paper describes a novel method that allows a complete evaluation of the state of use of a machine, besides the traditional economic-functional analysis, as well as its application in a large electric machines manufacturing company. Research method Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) multicriteria analysis is used, allowing a comparative and flexible assessment of the equipment. Main findings Even if there is no economic justification for replacing the equipment considering the financial return on investment, the machine can be considered obsolete from a sustainable point of view, due to its inadequate environmental and social performance. Implications for theory and practice Applying sustainability concepts in the manufacturing environment, more precisely in the machines on the shop floor, is very important to ensure cleaner production.

Abstract Paper aims The paper seeks to compare the performance of three layouts in a make to order (MTO) production system with high product variability. Originality No previous work sought to compare job shop, cellular and virtual cell layouts in an MTO system with high product variability, with just 21 resources, a low amount. The analysis considered models with the same capacities and demand for the three layouts. Research method The complete factorial design and ANOVA were used with simulation. The main effects plots of the control factors for response variables were obtained (e.g. throughput, lead time, and resource utilization). Main findings The virtual cell layout had results similar to the job shop, but achieved better outcomes compared with the traditional cell. Implications for theory and practice The knowledge gap regarding virtual cells signals the importance of this topic, as well as the possibilities not yet investigated about it in manufacturing companies.

El reconocimiento materno de la gestación es un proceso mediante el cual el concepto señaliza su presencia a la madre, prolongando la vida del cuerpo lúteo (CL), determinando el mantenimiento de la gestación. Este proceso que ocurre entre los días 15 y 19 después de la fertilización, representa el desafio biológico más importante para la obtención de índices reproductivos satisfactorios en bovinos. En esta especie, una glicoproteína denominada Interferon-tau (IFN-τ), es secretada por el concepto en el ambiente uterino, actúa de forma parácrina inhibiendo la expresión de los receptores de estrógenos (ESR1) y de oxitocina (OXTR) en el endometrio evitando la liberación de pulsos luteoliticos de prostaglandina F2 alfa (PGF2α), hormona responsable por el inicio de la luteólisis. El IFN-τ también aumenta la expresión de varios genes estimulados por interferon (ISGs) en el útero, CL y en las células sanguíneas. La acción endocrina directa del IFN-τ en tejidos extrauterinos estimula la expresión de ISGs, que en el cuerpo lúteo parece estar involucrados con la resistencia luteal a la acción luteolitica de la PGF2α. Por lo tanto esta revisión tiene como objetivo discutir los hallazgos recientes sobre el mecanismo de luteólisis en la especie bovina, así como el mecanismo paracrino y principalmente endocrino del IFN-τ durante el período de reconocimiento materno de la gestación.

Maternal recognition of pregnancy is a process by which the conceptus signals its presence to the mother in order to prolong the life of the corpus luteum (CL) thus maintaining the pregnancy. This process occurs between days 15 and 19 after fertilization and is the most important biological challenge for obtaining satisfactory reproductive indices in bovine. Interferon-tau (IFN-τ) glycoprotein -secreted in the uterus by the conceptus- has a paracrine action inhibiting the expression of estrogen receptors (ESR1) and oxytocin (OXTR) in the endometrium, thus preventing the release of luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α), hormone responsible for the onset of luteolysis. IFN-τ also increases the expression of several interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in the uterus, CL, and blood cells. Direct endocrine action of IFN-τ on extrauterine tissues stimulates ISGs expression, which in the corpus luteum seems to be involved with luteal resistance to luteolytic action of PGF2α. This review discusses recent findings on the luteolysis mechanism in the bovine and endocrine and paracrine mechanisms such as IFN-τ during the maternal recognition of pregnancy.

O reconhecimento materno da gestação é o processo pelo qual o concepto sinaliza sua presença à unidade materna, prolongando a vida do corpo lúteo (CL), determinando a manutenção da gestação. Esse processo que ocorre entre os dias 15 e 19 pós-fertilização, representa o desafio biológico mais importante para a obtenção de índices reprodutivos satisfatórios em bovinos. Nesta espécie, uma glicoproteína denominada Interferon-tau (IFN-τ), secretada pelo concepto no ambiente uterino, age de forma parácrina inibindo a expressão dos receptores de estrógenos (ESR1) e de ocitocina (OXTR) no endométrio, evitando a liberação de pulsos luteolíticos de prostaglandina F2 alfa (PGF2α), hormônio responsável pelo início da luteólise. O IFN-τ também aumenta a expressão de vários genes estimulados por interferons (ISGs) no útero, CL e em células sanguíneas. A ação endócrina direta do IFN-τ em tecidos extrauterinos estimula a expressão de ISGs, que no CL, parecem estar envolvidos com a resistência luteal à ação luteolítica da PGF2α. Portanto, esta revisão tem como objetivo discutir os achados recentes sobre o mecanismo de luteólise na espécie bovina, e a atuação parácrina e principalmente endócrina do IFN-τ, durante o período de reconhecimento materno da gestação.

Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram avaliar as concentrações fecais de metabólitos de glicocorticoides, mensurados por enzimaimunoensaio, empregando-se anticorpos contra cortisol, e por radioimunoensaio, empregando-se anticorpo contra corticosterona, e dos metabólitos da progesterona, mensurados por raioimunoensaio empregando-se anticorpo contra progesterona, em papagaios-verdadeiros (Amazona aestiva) após desafio com ACTH. A estimulação da adrenal com 25 UI/animal de ACTH resultou na elevação das concentrações de metabólitos de glicocorticoides, mas não modificou a dos metabólitos da progesterona fecal em papagaio-verdadeiro. Embora não tenha sido observada a sincronização dos picos de excreção fecal dos metabólitos de glicocorticoides mensurados por enzimaimunoensaio e radioimunoensaio, houve dois picos de excreção, um entre 2 e 4 horas e outro entre 8 e 10 horas. Apesar dos picos, não foram detectados efeitos de Grupos (Tratamento x Controle), momento (horas de coleta) ou sexo (macho x fêmea) nos resultados observados nas concentrações fecais de metabólitos de glicocorticoides e de progesterona, com os métodos empregados.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate fecal concentrations of metabolites of glucocorticoids, measured by enzyme immunoassay with a cortisol antibody and by radioimmunoassay with a corticosterone antibody, and progesterone by radioimmunoassay with a progesterone antibody in blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva) after ACTH challenge.The adrenal stimulation with ACTH (25 UI/animal) resulted in an increase of fecal glucocorticoids metabolites concentration, but it did not affect the concentrations of fecal progesterone metabolites. Although there were no synchronized peaks of glucocorticoid metabolites excretion measured by enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay, there were two peaks of excretion, one at 2-4 hours and other at 8-10 hours. Despite the occurrence of peaks, the analysis of fecal glucocorticoids metabolites and progesterone metabolites showed no effect of group (control and treatment), moment (hours of sampling) and sex.

Biomass Refinery (BR) is a null pollution thermochemical sequential cracking of any biomass and some petrochemical products, which generates chemicals, liquid or solid fuels and inorganic submicrometric/nanometric powders (SM/NM) such as ashes, silica, and carbon black. The processing route, powder characterisation and addition of some ashes to red clay resulting a grès-type ceramics will be presented. Rupture strengths of the vitrified ceramics were respectively 36 MPa for pure clay, 44 MPa for clay + 13.5% MOL ash (organic matter of municipal solid waste), 50 MPa for clay + 20% F+20% CL* ash (50% MOL + 50% wood) and 42 MPa for clay + 40% feldspar (used for comparison). The reason why the BR-ashes are better than feldspar is due to their submicrometric and partially nanometric nature. The impact of BR-ash technology can be evaluated by its national potential production of 2 × 10(6) ton/year only from municipal solid waste (MSW) compared to 350,000 ton/year of national consumption. The first BR is under installation in Lorena - SP, Brazil.

Process planning is a very important industrial activity, since it determines how a part or a product is manufactured. Process planning decisions include machine selection, tool selection, and cutting conditions determination, and thus it is a complex activity. In the presence of unstable demand, flexibility has become a very important characteristic of today's successful industries, for which Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs) have been proposed as a solution. However, we believe that FMS control software is not flexible enough to adapt to different manufacturing system conditions aiming at increasing the system's efficiency. One means to overcome this limitation is to include pre-planned alternatives in the process plan; then planning decisions are made by the control system in real time to select the most appropriate alternative according to the conditions of the shop floor. Some of the advantages of this approach reported in the literature are the reduction of the number of tool setups, and the selection of a replacement machine for executing an operation. To verify whether the presence of alternatives in process plans actually increases the efficiency of the manufacturing system, an investigation was carried out using simulation and design of experiments techniques for alternative plans on a single machine. The proposed methodology and the results are discussed within this paper.

In this paper a computer program to model and support product design is presented. The product is represented through a hierarchical structure that allows the user to navigate across the product’s components, and it aims at facilitating each step of the detail design process. A graphical interface was also developed, which shows visually to the user the contents of the product structure. Features are used as building blocks for the parts that compose the product, and object-oriented methodology was used as a means to implement the product structure. Finally, an expert system was also implemented, whose knowledge base rules help the user design a product that meets design and manufacturing requirements.