Introduction

The introduction examines three major theories of humor: superiority theory, incongruity theory, and release theory. Considering these models with the work of feminist and anti-racist scholars in mind, we see that each is also a theory of what it means to be human, carrying ethical and political implications far beyond any immediate analysis of joking. While incongruity theory is probably the best model from which to approach the poets discussed in this book, no one theory satisfactorily describes their work, and certainly not the human experience of laughter as a whole. A better approach may be to draw on theories of empathy, which many philosophers see as opposed to laughter, to define a new category: “constructive humor.” This form of laughter promotes mutual understanding among joker, listener, and the target of the joke.

Wood processing for energy use

Forest biomass has been used as an energy source since ancient times. Since then, several ways of using them have emerged, along with technologies to improve their energy quality. One can cite genetic improvement, thermal transformation through pyrolysis for charcoal and torrefied biomass production, and mechanical transformation through compaction, to produce pellets and briquettes and chipping for the production of chips. However, it is somehow difficult to find articles on these topics that are clearly and objectively presented, making it difficult to read them. The objective of this work was to search data on the ways of processing forest biomass and solutions for the better use of this biomass and its energy use. Therefore, Google Scholar was used as a database from which articles already recognized and others with less impact were obtained. The following search words were used: Eucalyptus, Pinus, wood chips, pellets, briquettes, charcoal, and torrefied wood. To filter the results obtained, the articles that appeared as the most relevant were selected first, then filtered for articles with less than five years from publication, and those at less than two years of publication. Next, the selected articles went through a verification of the data contained in them, and the necessary information was removed from each, which were the species, immediate analysis, extractives, HCV, etc. These data were organized in tables according to the type of processing, prioritizing the values of greatest interest in each analysis, along with the appropriate references. It was observed from the data obtained that the results are compatible among different researchers in their analyses. For samples processed without thermal treatment, the initial characteristics of the wood are maintained, and when going through pyrolysis or torrefaction, these characteristics are changed.

Green energy technology from buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L. f.) for Brazilian agro-extractive communities

The present work analyzed the energy generation potential of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L. f.) by thermochemical reactions. The experimental part of the study performed immediate analyses, elemental analyses, lignocellulosic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, calorific values, and syn gas concentrations measurements of the gasification of Buriti in a fixed-bed reactor. Additionally, numerical simulations estimated the syn gas concentrations of the gasification reactions of Buriti. The immediate analysis showed that Buriti has the highest ash content (4.66%) and highest volatile matter content (85%) compared to other Brazilian biomass analyzed, but the higher heating value was only 18.28 MJ.kg−1. The elemental analysis revealed that the oxygen to carbon ratio was 0.51 while hydrogen to carbon ratio was 1.74, indicating a good thermal conversion efficiency. The Lignocellulosic analysis of Buriti resulted in a high content of holocellulose (69.64%), a lignin content of 28.21% and extractives content of 7.52%. The thermogravimetry of the Buriti indicated that the highest mass loss (51.92%) occurred in a temperature range between 150 °C and 370 °C. Lastly, the experimental gasification study in a fixed-bed updraft gasifier resulted in syn gas concentrations of 14.4% of CO, 11.5% of CO2 and 17.5% of H2 while the numerical simulation results confirmed an optimal equivalence ratio of 1.7 to maximize CO and H2 concentrations. Therefore, based on the results presented by the present work, the gasification process is adequate to transform Buriti wastes into energy resources. Graphic abstract

Profile of endoparasites in dairy cattle in the microregion of São João del-Rei, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

ABSTRACT The present study provides the first evaluation of the endoparasite profile in dairy cattle from the microregion of São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, including seasonal variations in parasitic infections. Fecal samples were collected directly from rectum of 123 dairy cows and 160 calves on 15 farms. These were kept in insulated boxes and sent for immediate analysis. Using eggs per gram of feces (EPG) we found the following prevalences: Strongyloidea 43.5%, Moniezia sp. 7.6% and both Strongyloides sp. and Trichuris spp. 2.2%, in dairy cows. In calves, the prevalence was Strongyloidea 50.9%, Moniezia sp. 5.6% and Strongyloides sp. 1.9%. The third-stage larvae recovered from coprocultures from cows and calves consisted mainly of Cooperia spp., Haemonchus spp. and Ostertagia spp. EPG counts were significantly higher in calves. Regarding seasonality, the EPG counts and prevalence of Moniezia sp. tended to be higher in the dry period, whereas those of Strongyloidea were higher in the rainy season. Evidence suggests that parasite control and prophylaxis were inadequately managed on the farms studied here. The present parasitological profile correlates with those found by other similar studies, indicating that the main problem is still the inadequate management of parasite control and prophylaxis by farmers.

ENERGETIC POTENTIAL OF Phyllostachys bambusoides AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF BIOMASS

In Brazil, Phyllostachys bambusoides has been used for the manufacture of laminated bamboo products and landscaping. However, studies of its energy quality are rare. Thus, this study aimed to determine the energetic quality of Phyllostachys bambusoides for the use of stems in the fresh form (chips) for direct burning, as charcoal and as briquettes. Its energy potential was also determined by mass and energy balance for each solid biofuel (chips, briquettes, and charcoal). The analyzes were carried out on five individuals (shoots) at 3 years of age, collected at experimental plantations in Frei Rogério, SC. In the stems the newly collected moisture was determined; specific gravity; chemical composition; immediate analysis and higher calorific value. In laboratory charcoal, gravimetric yield, apparent relative density, immediate analysis, and higher calorific value were determined. The briquettes, made in the laboratory, were evaluated through their apparent density and compressive strength. For the stems, charcoal, and briquettes the energy density was calculated and a flowchart composed of the mass balance was calculated and the thermal energy production potential for each 100 kg of biomass used in the production of each biofuel analyzed was calculated. The energy density of stems (1.87 Gcal.m-3), charcoal (2.60 Gcal.m-3), and briquettes (4.68 Gcal.m-3) varied significantly. The highest useful energy potential can be obtained from briquettes (0.304 Gcal), charcoal (0.184 Gcal) followed by stems (0.168 Gcal) for each 100 kg of bamboo harvested with a mean moisture content of 35%.

Near-Term Artificial Intelligence and the Ethical Matrix

This chapter takes up the issue of near-term artificial intelligence, or the algorithms that are already in place in a variety of public and private sectors, guiding decisions from advertising and to credit ratings to sentencing in the justice system. There is a pressing need to recognize and evaluate the ways that structural racism, sexism, classism, and ableism may be embedded in and amplified by these systems. The chapter proposes a framework for ethical analysis that can be used to facilitate more robust ethical reflection in AI development and implementation. It presents an ethical matrix that incorporates the language of data science as a tool that data scientists can build themselves in order to integrate ethical analysis into the design process, addressing the need for immediate analysis and accountability over the design and deployment of near-term AI.

Effect of Sample Storage Conditions on Measurements of Salivary Cotinine Levels

Information on smoking exposure obtained with self-reports may be inaccurate. Cotinine has a large half-life and its salivary levels correlate well with plasmatic levels. The influence of storage conditions on the validity and precision of salivary cotinine assessments has rarely been evaluated. Here, smokers donated saliva samples, which were sent for immediate analysis, mail posting, storage at 4 °C for 30 or 90 days, or storage at −20 °C for 30 or 90 days. Cotinine levels were determined using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. Agreement of cotinine level measurements was assessed using Bland-Altman analyses. Average age (years), duration of smoking (years) and number of cigarettes smoked (/day) were 55.4 (±SD 9.4), 35.1 (±SD 11.3), and 15.3 (±SD 7.6). The mean immediate cotinine level was 457 ng/mL (range 11.3 to 1318 ng/mL). Mean cotinine levels in samples analyzed after delay ranged between 433 ng/mL (−20 °C 30 days) and 468 ng/mL (4 °C 30 days). A dose-response gradient was observed in the relationship between salivary cotinine level and self-reported smoking status. A good agreement between cotinine levels for all storage conditions compared with immediate analysis was observed, with average differences ranging from −11 to 24 ng/mL. Cotinine levels remained stable regardless of the tested condition. The stability of salivary cotinine may enable samples to be obtained in difficult-to-reach areas, reduce study costs, and improve the validity of the information on exposure to smoking.

Characterization of selected pyrolysis products of diseased orange wood

Orange trees in Brazil are often burned as a means of eradication when they become infected with Huanglongbing disease. Rather than destroying them, which is a low-value proposition, one potential option is to utilize the biomass through pyrolysis. In this preliminary work, orange trees (Citrus sinensis) otherwise selected for purging, were sampled and pyrolyzed at 500 °C, and the charcoal and bio-oil were evaluated for potential value-added use. The results showed that the pyrolysis process resulted in 26.3% charcoal, 57.6% bio-oil, and 16.0% non-condensable gases. Qualitative analysis of the bio-oil by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry found 178 chemical compounds; however, only 25% of those compounds could be reliably identified. Potential applications of the compounds identified in the bio-oil were determined by examining the published literature, and it was found that at least 73% of them showed promise. Finally, initial studies on the immediate analysis of the pyrolysis charcoal showed that it potentially meets the standards set forth for Brazilian domestic use.

Stability of amino acids and related amines in human serum under different preprocessing and pre-storage conditions based on iTRAQ®-LC-MS/MS

Amino acids analysis or metabonomics requires abundant serum/plasma samples collection and samples storage has become inevitable given the limited capacity for immediate analysis. Currently, most of the existing studies on metabolites stability during sample storage focused on long-term and short-term stability, while many functional amino acids might be ignored due to the poor sensitivity and detection of analysis methods. Here, we attempted to elucidate the stability of amino acids and related amines as comprehensive as possible in human serum following different preprocessing and pre-storage procedures. Pooled, fasting serum samples were collected and stored at 4 °C and 22 °C respectively after a delay in sample processing (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours) and underwent freeze-thaw cycles for three times at −80 °C. The concentration of amino acids and related amines were quantified using isobaric tagging reagent iTRAQ®-LC-MS/MS. Approximately 54.84 %, 58.06 % and 48.39 % of detectable and target analytes altered at 4 °C and 22 °C during pre-treatment and freeze-thaw cycles. Some amino acids which are not stable and relatively stable were found. Our study provided detailed profiles and suggestions for amino acids in human serum corresponding to diverse collection and pre-treatment measures.

Who Is He to Speak of My Sorrow?

This article suggests that comparative literature scholars may benefit from the awareness that different communities around the world subscribe to different models of mind and that works of fiction can thus be fruitfully analyzed in relation to those local ideologies of mind. Taking as her starting point the “opacity of mind” doctrine, found in the South Pacific and Melanesia, the author compares cultural practices originating in communities in which people think but do not talk publicly about others’ internal states, to those originating in communities in which people both think and talk about them, indeed, in which public speculation about other people’s intentions is (mostly) rewarded. While the immediate analysis centers on a very specific and limited set of case studies from English, Chinese, and Russian novels and Bosavi performance genres, the author’s larger goal is to begin to articulate opportunities and challenges of using research in theory of mind for the comparative study of literature.