RESUMO A liberdade de expressão é essencial para as democracias liberais. Contudo, os oligopólios e os monopólios nos meios de comunicação tendem a reduzir o pluralismo, provocando problemas distributivos e deliberativos. O objetivo deste artigo é demonstrar que a regulação é um instrumento adequado para aprimorar a democracia e garantir a igualdade humana fundamental. Além da falta de estudos sobre o tema sob essas duas óticas – principalmente no Brasil –, há uma tendência, no debate público nacional, de associar regulação à censura. Explicitarei, na primeira parte, a relação entre regulação e democracia deliberativa. Na segunda, demonstrarei, à luz do liberalismo igualitário, a função da regulação na distribuição equitativa de liberdades de expressão. Por fim, analisarei, a partir da harmonização entre as referidas premissas filosóficas e a Constituição de 1988, a diferença entre censura e regulação e demonstrarei a essencialidade desta para amplificar o exercício da igual liberdade de expressão pelos cidadãos.

ABSTRACT Freedom of speech is essential for liberal democracies. However, oligopolies and monopolies in mass media tend to reduce pluralism – which, in turn, causes distributive and deliberative problems. This essay aims to demonstrate that regulation is an appropriate mechanism to refine democracy and guarantee fundamental human equality. Aside from the lack of research on the theme from these two theoretical perspectives, especially in Brazil, there is a tendency to associate regulation with censorship within the national public debate. I begin by analyzing the relationship between regulation and deliberative democracy. In light of egalitarian liberalism, I demonstrate in the second part the role of regulation in the equitable distribution of freedoms of speech. Finally, I analyze the difference between censorship and regulation based on the harmonization between those philosophical premises and the 1988 Constitution. I seek to demonstrate the need for regulation to amplify citizens’ equal freedom of expression.

RESUMEN La libertad de expresión es esencial para las democracias liberales. Sin embargo, los oligopolios y los monopolios en los medios de comunicación tienden a reducir el pluralismo, causando problemas distributivos y deliberativos. El objetivo de este artículo es demostrar que la regulación es un instrumento adecuado para mejorar la democracia y garantizar la igualdad humana fundamental. Además de la falta de estudios sobre el tema desde estas dos perspectivas -especialmente en Brasil- existe una tendencia en el debate público nacional a asociar la regulación con la censura. En la primera parte, explicaré la relación entre la regulación y la democracia deliberativa. En la segunda parte, demostraré, a la luz del liberalismo igualitario, la función de la regulación en la distribución equitativa de la libertad de expresión. Por último, analizaré, a partir de la armonización entre estas premisas filosóficas y la Constitución de 1988, la diferencia entre censura y reglamentación y demostraré la esencialidad de esta última para ampliar el ejercicio de la libertad de expresión igualitaria de los ciudadanos.

RÉSUMÉ La liberté d’expression est essentielle pour les démocraties libérales. Cependant, les oligopoles et les monopoles dans les médias tendent à réduire le pluralisme, causant des problèmes de distribution et de délibération. L’objet de cet article est de démontrer que la régulation est un instrument adéquat pour améliorer la démocratie et garantir l’égalité humaine fondamentale. Outre le manque d’études de ce sujet sous ces deux angles – principalement au Brésil –, on observe une tendance, dans le débat public national, à associer régulation et censure. Dans une première partie, j’expliquerai les relations entre régulation et démocratie délibérative. Dans le second, je démontrerai, à la lumière du libéralisme égalitaire, le rôle de la régulation dans la répartition équitable de la liberté d’expression. Enfin, sur la base de l’harmonisation entre les prémisses philosophiques susmentionnées et la Constitution de 1988, j’analyserai la différence entre censure et réglementation et démontrerai son caractère essentiel pour amplifier l’exercice d’une égale liberté d’expression par les citoyens.

ABSTRACT Optimizing resources is essential for the excellence and competitiveness of a forestry company. In this context, this study evaluated the productivity and quality of eucalyptus wood processing for energy purposes. The study was conducted in a forestry company in Paraná State in stands of Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus saligna clones named stands 1 and 2, respectively, with an age of 7 years old. The trees were processed with a harvester and included the following four stem diameter limits for pulp production and co-products for energy purposes: 8, 10, 12, and 14 cm; and pulp logs with a length of 7.20 m. The technical analysis of the operation determined the average operating cycle times, utilization rate and machine productivity. In addition, a quality analysis determined the stem diameter limits for production of the co-products and the lengths of the pulp logs; the limit diameters were compared by the Tukey’s test, and the stands by the Student’s t-test (α ≤ 0.05). The results showed that the processing time decreased with increasing limit diameter, with the highest values being in stand 1 due to the higher number of branches and forked trees. The processing logs at 10 cm limit diameter provided higher harvester productivity, with 59.5 m³ PMH-¹ and 62.2 m³ PMH-¹ in stands 1 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, the best quality in the limit diameter measurement was obtained at 10 cm. Thus, the effects of forest stand and limit diameters on processing and operation quality were evident.

RESUMO A otimização dos recursos é essencial para a excelência e competitividade de uma empresa florestal. Neste contexto, o estudo avaliou a produtividade e a qualidade do processamento da madeira de eucalipto para fins energéticos. Para isso, o estudo foi conduzido em uma empresa florestal no estado do Paraná, em povoamentos de clones de Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis e Eucalyptus saligna denominados povoamentos 1 e 2, respectivamente, com idade de 7 anos. O processamento das árvores com o harvester incluiu quatro limites de diâmetros do fuste para a produção de celulose e coprodutos para fins energéticos, sendo: 8, 10, 12, e 14 cm; e, toras para celulose com um comprimento de 7,20 m. A análise técnica da operação determinou os tempos médios do ciclo operacional, a taxa de utilização e a produtividade da máquina. Ao passo que, a análise de qualidade determinou os diâmetros limite do fuste para a produção dos coprodutos e os comprimentos das toras para celulose, sendo que, os diâmetros limite foram comparados pelo teste de Tukey e os povoamentos pelo teste t de Student (α ≤ 0,05). Os resultados mostraram que o tempo de processamento diminuiu com o aumento do diâmetro limite, com os valores mais elevados no povoamento 1, devido ao maior número de galhos e de árvores bifurcadas. As toras processadas no diâmetro limite de 10 cm proporcionaram uma maior produtividade do harvester, com 59,5 m³ PMH-¹ e 62,2 m³ PMH-¹ nos povoamentos 1 e 2, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, a melhor qualidade na medição do diâmetro da ponta foi obtida a 10 cm. Portanto, os efeitos dos povoamentos florestais e dos diâmetros limite na qualidade de processamento e operação eram evidentes.

Resumo A dispersão urbana é um processo de crescimento que vem ganhando força na construção de cidades em diferentes partes do mundo, como resposta aos processos de diferenciação social e desenvolvimento da mobilidade. Nas últimas décadas tem se materializado em destinos turísticos litorâneos na forma de condomínios fechados de segundas residências, shopping centers e parques temáticos, que enfraquecem os espaços públicos, contribuindo negativamente para a sua hospitalidade urbana. Ao mesmo tempo, a sazonalidade turística, fenômeno inerente a qualquer destino, é particularmente forte nos litorâneos. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é analisar a apropriação sazonal dos espaços públicos em destinos turísticos litorâneos, por meio do estudo das relações entre fenômenos de dispersão urbana e hospitalidade urbana. De natureza qualitativa, este trabalho caracteriza-se por ser explicativo, e utiliza a pesquisa bibliográfica para a coleta de dados. A pesquisa demonstra que a forma urbana dispersa, que afeta negativamente a hospitalidade do destino, leva a uma apropriação excessivamente sazonal de seus espaços públicos, enquanto a forma urbana compacta cria ambientes urbanos hospitaleiros, resultando em menor sazonalidade nestes espaços. mundo mobilidade residências temáticos tempo turística destino qualitativa caracterizase caracteriza explicativo dados dispersa hospitaleiros

Resumen La dispersión urbana es un proceso de crecimiento que ha ganado fuerza en la construcción de ciudades en diferentes partes del mundo, como respuesta a los procesos de diferenciación social y desarrollo de la movilidad. En las últimas décadas se ha materializado en destinos turísticos costeros en forma de condominios cerrados para segunda residencia, centros comerciales y parques temáticos, que debilitan los espacios públicos, contribuyendo negativamente a su hospitalidad urbana. Al mismo tiempo, la estacionalidad turística, fenómeno inherente a cualquier destino, es especialmente fuerte en las zonas costeras. El objetivo principal de esta investigación es analizar la apropiación estacional de los espacios públicos en los destinos turísticos costeros, a través del estudio de las relaciones entre los fenómenos de dispersión urbana y la hospitalidad urbana. De carácter cualitativo, este trabajo se caracteriza por ser explicativo, y utiliza la investigación bibliográfica para la recolección de datos. La investigación demuestra que la forma urbana dispersa, que afecta negativamente a la hospitalidad del destino, conduce a una apropiación excesivamente estacional de sus espacios públicos, mientras que la forma urbana compacta crea entornos urbanos hospitalarios, lo que resulta en una menor estacionalidad de sus espacios públicos. mundo movilidad residencia temáticos tiempo turística destino costeras cualitativo explicativo datos dispersa hospitalarios

Abstract Urban sprawl is a growth process that has been gaining strength in the construction of cities in different parts of the world, as a response to the processes of social differentiation and the development of mobility. In recent decades it has been happening in coastal tourist destinations in the form of second-home gated communities, malls and theme parks, which weaken public spaces, negatively contributing to their urban hospitality. At the same time tourist seasonality, a phenomenon inherent to any destination, is particularly strong on the coast. The main objective of the research is to analyze the seasonal appropriation of public spaces in coastal tourist destinations through the study of the relationships between the phenomena of urban sprawl and hospitality. Qualitative in nature, this work is characterized by being explanatory, and uses bibliographic research to collect data. The research showed that the urban sprawl form, which negatively affects the hospitality of the destination, leads to an excessively seasonal appropriation of its public spaces, while the compact urban form creates hospitable urban environments that present less seasonality in their public spaces. world mobility secondhome second home communities parks destination coast nature explanatory data

RESUMO Muitos estudos sobre ergonomia em operações florestais são pontuais e abordam isoladamente as variáveis ergonômicas, com cada resultado obtido em uma escala específica. Objetivou-se aprimorar um indicador ergonômico por meio de uma classificação de acordo com a urgência da intervenção ergonômica, com vistas a melhorar sua praticidade de aplicação em máquinas de colheita florestal. Esta pesquisa foi realizada em florestas plantadas de uma empresa do Sul do Brasil, a partir de avaliações ergonômicas nas máquinas feller buncher, skidder, processador florestal, harvesters e forwarder, nos turnos diurno e noturno de trabalho. Mediu-se vibração, ruído, calor, iluminância, repetitividade, posturas e ângulos de visibilidade. Os resultados das avaliações ergonômicas foram padronizados pela adaptação do método do Grau de Conformidade (V) ergonômica calculado com as normas da legislação, possuindo valor entre 0 e 1, sendo que quanto maior o valor, maior a conformidade com as efetivas normas e diretrizes. Propôs-se uma classificação do grau de urgência ergonômica em cores distintas. O skidder apresentou os piores graus de conformidade, necessitando medidas corretivas emergenciais, com destaque para vibrações (V 0,0 e 0,1), ruído (V 0,2) e visibilidade no plano lateral (V 0,0) em ambos os turnos trabalhados, em decorrência dos choques e solavancos no deslocamento da máquina e na dificuldade de visibilidade da operação, além de iluminância (V 0,6) no período noturno e o calor (V 0,8) no diurno. O processador florestal apresentou o melhor desempenho ergonômico, sem emergências, porém ressaltando cuidados com ruído (V 0,7 e 0,8) e dose diária de vibração (V 0,8 e 0,7) em ambos os turnos. A classificação por meio de uma escala de cores possibilitou melhor interpretação dos indicadores e facilidade na aplicação prática das intervenções ergonômicas corretivas.

ABSTRACT Many studies on ergonomics in forestry operations are punctual and assess ergonomic variables in isolation, with each result being obtained on a specific scale. Thus, the objective of this study was to improve an ergonomic indicator through a classification according to the urgency of the ergonomic intervention, to improve its practicality of application in forest harvesting machines. This research was carried out in planted forests of a company in Southern Brazil, and based on ergonomic evaluations of a feller buncher, a skidder, a forest processor, harvesters, and forwarder machines during the day and night shifts. Vibration, noise, heat, illumination, repeatability, postures, and visibility angles were measured. The results of the ergonomic assessments were standardized by adapting the ergonomic Degree of Compliance (V) method calculated with the legislation norms, having a value between 0 and 1, and the higher the value, the greater the compliance with effective norms and guidelines. It was proposed to classify the degree of ergonomic urgency in different colors. The skidder showed the worst degrees of compliance, requiring emergency corrective measures, with an emphasis on vibrations (V 0.0 and 0.1), noise (V 0.2) and visibility in the lateral plane (V 0.0) in both shifts worked due to shocks and bumps in the machine’s movements and visibility difficulty in the operation, in addition to illumination (V 0.6) at night and heat (V 0.8) in the daytime. The forestry processor showed the best ergonomic performance without any urgencies but emphasizing care with noise (V 0.7 and 0.8) and the daily dose of vibration (V 0.8 and 0.7) in both shifts. The classification by a color scale made it possible to better interpret the indicators and facilitate the practical application of corrective ergonomic interventions.

RESUMO A mecanização na implantação florestal exige elevada demanda por energia, tempo e altos custos operacionais e de produção. Assim, estudos relacionados à influência de variáveis sobre a eficiência dessas atividades são fundamentais, para reduzir custos e otimizar as operações. Objetivou-se, com este estudo avaliar o desempenho operacional e de custos das operações mecanizadas de implantação florestal em áreas de plantio de Eucalyptus sp. Os dados foram coletados em plantios de eucalipto localizados na região norte do estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. A análise do desempenho operacional determinou a distribuição dos tempos operacionais, disponibilidade mecânica, grau de utilização, eficiência operacional e produtividade das máquinas. A análise de custos estimou os custos operacionais nas atividades de implantação florestal. As operações de plantio florestal foram: afastamento de resíduos, subsolagem, coveamento com adubação, plantio, capina química e adubação de cobertura. De acordo com os resultados, o plantio (39,20%) e o afastamento dos resíduos (15,99%) representaram os maiores tempos do ciclo operacional, os menores tempos produtivos (51,48% e 53,64%) e, por fim, os maiores tempos em manutenção (32,95% e 29%). A capina química e subsolagem, apresentaram os menores tempos em manutenção (4,64% e 3,47%). A adubação de cobertura foi a operação que apresentou maior produtividade (2,99 ha he-1) e o afastamento de resíduos a menor (0,97 ha he-1). Os maiores custos por hora efetiva (13,57 R$ he-1) e menores custos de produção (81,59 R$ ha-1) ocorreram no plantio. A subsolagem apresentou maior custo de produção (112,80 R$ ha-1). O menor custo operacional foi obtido na operação de adubação. Os custos operacionais tiveram como maiores pesos o custo de mão-de-obra, de combustível e de manutenção e reparos.

ABSTRACT Mechanization in forestry implantation demands high energy, time, and high operational and production costs. Thus, studies related to the influence of variables on the efficiency of these activities are essential to reduce costs and optimize operations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the operational and cost performance of mechanized forest implantation operations in Eucalyptus sp. Data were collected from eucalyptus plantations located in the northern region of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The analysis of operational performance determined the distribution of operating times, mechanical availability, degree of utilization, operational efficiency, and productivity of the machines. The cost analysis estimated the operating costs in forestry implantation activities. The forest planting operations were: waste removal, subsoiling, digging with fertilization, planting, chemical weeding, and covering fertilization. According to the results, planting (39.20%) and waste removal (15.99%) represented the longest operating cycle times, the shortest production times (51.48% and 53.64%), and finally the longest maintenance times (32.95% and 29%). Chemical weeding and subsoiling showed the lowest maintenance times (4.64% and 3.47%). The cover fertilization was the operation that presented the highest productivity (2.99 ha he-1), and the removal of residues had the lowest (0.97 ha he-1). The highest costs per effective hour (R$13.57 he-1) and lowest production costs (R$81.59 ha-1) occurred at planting. Subsoiling had the highest production cost (R$112.80 ha-1). The lowest operating cost was obtained in the fertilizing operation. Operating costs had the greatest weight in labor, fuel, and maintenance and repairs.

Abstract This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis between models of mechanical maintenance in forestry machines, subsidizing operational planning in order to reduce production costs. The work was conducted in a forestry company with feller bunchers, skidders and harvester machines. The comparative analysis included the Traditional Maintenance and the World Class Maintenance (WCM) models in the judgment of mechanical availability, hydraulic oil consumption and maintenance costs. Using the WCM maintenance model, the results showed a 5% increase in mechanical availability and a 60% reduction in hydraulic oil consumption. The maintenance cost increased by 3% in the WCM model due to an investment in infrastructure and the training of mechanics, but with the potential for better maintenance of forest machines, along with improvements in operational safety, production capacity and longer machine life.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate operators’ posture and repetitive motions in the mechanized wood harvesting operations, aiming comfort, safety, and health of forest operators. The study was carried out in the clearcutting of pine stands located in Paraná State, Brazil. Data were obtained in tree cutting operations with feller buncher and wood processing with harvesters, in which three operators in each machine were filmed during their workday. The typical postures were evaluated by Rapid Whole-Body Assessment (REBA) and Rapid Upper-Limb Assessment (RULA) methods, while repetitive motions were evaluated by Latko, Silverstein and Strain Index (SI) methods. The results showed the feller buncher operators remained long period seated in static position, with fists turning outside the neutral line and without pauses for recovery, although REBA and RULA methods had identified low postural risk. In wood processing operation, the spinal column and neck were the most affected body parts, presenting medium postural risk and the need for investigations and quickly changes by REBA and RULA methods, respectively. Besides that, wood harvesting operations with feller buncher and harvester were classified as high repeatability, showing more than 30 thousand repetitive motions in a workday, indicating high risk of Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in the operators. Therefore, it is concluded the ergonomic measures are necessary to improve operators’ comfort and health.

RESUMO Esta pesquisa avaliou a compactação de um Nitossolo Bruno causada por diferentes intensidades de tráfego do feller direcional e skidder na colheita de madeira em um povoamento de Pinus taeda. Os dados foram coletados em uma empresa florestal localizada no estado do Paraná, Brasil. O procedimento de amostragem foi realizado pela instalação de quatro blocos (30 m × 15 m) com parcelas subdivididas e os tratamentos representados pela combinação de cinco simulações de tráfego das máquinas feller direcional e skidder, aplicadas nas parcelas em quatro profundidades do solo e em subparcelas. A compactação foi avaliada pela densidade do solo, porosidade total, microporosidade e macroporosidade. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey ao nível de 5% de significância. Foram ainda ajustadas equações de regressão linear para representar a relação entre a intensidade do tráfego, profundidade e a variável considerada. Os resultados mostraram que tráfego das máquinas provocou maior compactação nas camadas superficiais do solo, resultando em incrementos na densidade do solo na ordem de 14,6% em relação à condição sem tráfego de máquinas. O aumento da intensidade de tráfego do skidder contribuiu com a redução de 62,5% e 53,8% nos valores de macroporosidade para as profundidades de 0-10 e 10-20 cm, respectivamente. A atividade de arraste das árvores com o trator skidder contribuiu para o aumento da compactação do solo, acarretada pelas diversas passadas da máquina em uma única linha.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the compaction of a Bruno Nitisol caused by traffic intensities by a directional feller and skidder used to wood harvesting in a Pinus taeda stand. Data were collected at a forest company located in Parana State, Brazil. Samples were performed using an installation of four blocks (30 × 15 m) with subdivided plots and the treatments included a combination of five traffic simulations of directional feller and skidder machines, with the simulations performed in the plots at four soil depths, referred to as subplots. Compaction was evaluated by soil density, total porosity, microporosity, and macroporosity. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared with the Tukey test at a 5% level of significance. Linear regression equations were also adjusted to represent the relation between traffic intensity, depth, and the variable of interest. The results showed that machine traffic caused higher compaction of the superficial soil layers, resulting in a 14.6% increase in soil density compared to the soil subjected to no machine traffic. The increase in traffic intensity of the skidder tractor reduced macroporosity by 62.5% and 53.8% at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm, respectively. Dragging of the logs by the skidder tractor increased soil compaction due to the several trips by the machine in a single line.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the penetration resistance (PR) of a red-yellow latosol submitted to two subsoiling depths for implanting a forest plantation. The subsoiling was evaluated at 40 cm (S-40) and 50 cm (S-50) of depth by determining the soil moisture and soil density, while soil PR was evaluated before and after subsoiling at five points transversely to the subsoiling line (furrow) up to a depth of 60 cm using an electronic penetrometer. The soil density in both treatments was not altered by soil management. Before soil preparation, the soil presented PR values above the critical limit in the 0 cm to 30 cm layers, and after subsoiling a reduction in those values was verified at depth. It can be concluded that the 50 cm (S-50) subsoiling depth is the most suitable for soil preparation in a forest stand implantation.

Abstract: Biomass is an important component of the Brazilian energy matrix, with a potential contribution of co-products from thinned forests. The aim of this work was to evaluate the energy balance and CO2 potential emission in mechanized biomass harvesting operations in Pinus taeda stands at 9 and 10 years-old and under thinning, searching to support the use of co-product biomass from thinning as a renewable energy source. Thinning was carried out through cut-to-length harvesting method, in which large logs for sawmill and small logs for energy were produced. In addition, tops, needles, barks, and branches were considered as co-products. The balance between consumed energy and emitted CO2 by machines for thinning in relationship to the energy and CO2 in thinned biomass was estimated. Thus, dry matter, energy potential, and CO2 potential emission were evaluated and compared considering thinning stand ages as treatments. Mechanized thinning consumes a large energy and produces CO2, however, the energy consumed by machines is lower than 1% of the estimated energy potential in thinned biomass, while the CO2 emission is lower than 0.5% of the biomass. Therefore, the use of co-product biomass of thinning is an important way to mitigate greenhouse gas emission.

Abstract: The lack of accurate models for estimating residual biomass in wood harvesting operations results in underutilization of this co-product by forestry companies. Due to the lack of this information, forestry operations planning, such as chipping and transport logistics, are influenced, with a consequent increase in costs. Thereby, the aim of this study was to propose and evaluate statistical models to estimate residual biomass of Eucalyptus sp. in wood harvesting operations by means of tree variables measured from harvester processing head. Generalized linear models were composed through stepwise procedure for estimating residual biomass by tree covariates: diameter at breast height, commercial height, commercial limit diameter, and stem commercial volume, considering also their transformations and combinations. Residual biomass distributions with positive skew support the application of generalized linear model and Gamma distribution in random component, since normality assumption in traditional linear regression was a requirement not satisfied in this study. By stepwise procedure, tree variables associated to forest biomass were selected, whose linear combinations resulted in models with high statistical efficiency and accuracy. Thus, models developed in this study are innovative tools to estimate residual biomass in mechanized wood harvesting, in which can be inserted into harvester’s hardware to provide real-time information.

RESUMO: A técnica de coacervação complexa foi utilizada para a produção de microcápsulas contendo Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 em gelatina e goma arábica seguida de secagem por liofilização. As microcápsulas foram caracterizadas por microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura, assim como a resistência dos probióticos frente à liberação “in vitro” ao trato gastrointestinal simulado e ao armazenamento em diferentes condições de temperatura também foram avaliados. O processo de coacervação complexa formou microcápsulas com alta eficiência de encapsulação (77,60% e 87,53%), tamanho compreendido entre 127,14 e 227,05 µm e distribuição uniforme. As microcápsulas foram eficientes em promover a proteção substancial dos probióticos frente às condições gastrointestinais simuladas, em comparação às células livres. A encapsulação também foi eficiente em manter a viabilidade dos probióticos durante o armazenamento em temperaturas de −18 ºC por 120 dias, 7 ºC por 105 dias e 25 ºC por 45 dias. Dessa forma, a coacervação complexa se mostra adequada e promissora para a encapsulação dos probióticos.

ABSTRACT: Technique of complex coacervation was used to produce microcapsules of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 encapsulated in gelatin and gum arabic which were then freeze-drying. Microcapsules were characterized using scanning electron and optical microscopy, and resistance of probiotics was evaluated during release into a simulated gastrointestinal tract and storage at different temperatures. The complex coacervation process produced microcapsules with a high encapsulation efficiency (77.60% and 87.53%), ranging from 127.14-227.05 μm with uniform distribution. Microencapsulation was an efficient approach to achieve significant protection of probiotics against simulated gastrointestinal conditions compared with free cells. Encapsulation also improved the viability of probiotics during storage at either −18 ºC for 120 days, 7 ºC for 105 days or 25 ºC for 45 days. Therefore, complex coacervation was demonstrated to be adequate and promising for encapsulation of probiotics.

Abstract The passive vibration control of mechanical systems under unwanted vibrations can be accomplished in a very effective way by using devices incorporating viscoelastic materials. The design of such devices requires a broad knowledge of the dynamic properties of the employed viscoelastic material, usually supplied by adequate mathematical models. Among the available mathematical models, the fractional derivative (FD) model and the Golla-Hughes-McTavish (GHM) model, along with either the Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation or the Arrhenius equation, are now very prominent. The current work investigates the use of these models in a wide and integrated dynamic characterization of a typical and thermorheologically simple viscoelastic material. It focuses on experimental data collected from 0.1 to 100 Hz and -40 °C to 50 °C, which are simultaneously manipulated to raise both the frequency and the temperature dependencies of the material. In fitting the models, a hybrid approach - combining techniques of genetic algorithms and nonlinear optimization - is adopted. The ensuing results are evaluated by means of objective function values, comparative experimental-predicted data plots, and the Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). It is shown that the four-parameter fractional derivative model presents excellent curve fitting results. As for the GHM model, its modified version is the most adequate, although a higher number of terms is required for a satisfactory goodness-of-fit. None the less the fractional derivative model stands out.

ABSTRACT Defining the optimum points for installing of a cable logging system is a problem faced by forestry planners. This study evaluated the application of a mathematical programming model for optimal location of cable logging in wood extraction. The study was conducted in a forestry company located in Parana State, Brazil. We collected data during timber harvesting and developed mathematical models to define the optimal location of the cable logging considering the variables “cycle time” and “extraction distance”. The variable “cycle time” affected the definition of the optimal location of equipment resulted in a reduced number of installation points with the largest coverage area. The variable “distance extraction” negatively influenced the location, with an increased number of installation points with smaller coverage. The developed model was efficient, but needs to be improved in order to ensure greater accuracy in wood extraction over long distances.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the postural discomfort and health risks of workers in manual forest plantation operations of a company located in the region of Campos Gerais, Paraná State. Data was collected through interviews, using the postural diagram proposed by Corlett, in a sample of 226 workers from manual planting, fertilization and herbicide application operations. The results indicated that manual planting operations caused greater postural discomfort in the legs of 56% of workers, while the fertilization and herbicide application caused discomfort in the shoulders of 41% and 56% of workers, respectively. The perception of postural discomfort during work is important to assist managers in adopting ergonomic measures for improving the safety and health of workers.