Desenvolvimento de uma unidade pirolítica com reator de cilindro rotativo: obtenção de bio-óleo

The demand for alternative sources of energy drives the technological development so that many fuels and energy conversion processes before judged as inadequate or even non-viable, are now competing fuels and so-called traditional processes. Thus, biomass plays an important role and is considered one of the sources of renewable energy most important of our planet. Biomass accounts for 29.2% of all renewable energy sources. The share of biomass energy from Brazil in the OIE is 13.6%, well above the world average of participation. Various types of pyrolysis processes have been studied in recent years, highlighting the process of fast pyrolysis of biomass to obtain bio-oil. The continuous fast pyrolysis, the most investigated and improved are the fluidized bed and ablative, but is being studied and developed other types in order to obtain Bio-oil a better quality, higher productivity, lower energy consumption, increased stability and process reliability and lower production cost. The stability of the product bio-oil is fundamental to designing consumer devices such as burners, engines and turbines. This study was motivated to produce Bio-oil, through the conversion of plant biomass or the use of its industrial and agricultural waste, presenting an alternative proposal for thermochemical pyrolysis process, taking advantage of particle dynamics in the rotating bed that favors the right gas-solid contact and heat transfer and mass. The pyrolyser designed to operate in a continuous process, a feeder containing two stages, a divisive system of biomass integrated with a tab of coal fines and a system of condensing steam pyrolytic. The prototype has been tested with sawdust, using a complete experimental design on two levels to investigate the sensitivity of factors: the process temperature, gas flow drag and spin speed compared to the mass yield of bio-oil. The best result was obtained in the condition of 570 oC, 25 Hz and 200 cm3/min, temperature being the parameter of greatest significance. The mass balance of the elementary stages presented in the order of 20% and 37% liquid pyrolytic carbon. We determined the properties of liquid and solid products of pyrolysis as density, viscosity, pH, PCI, and the composition characterized by chemical analysis, revealing the composition and properties of a Bio-oil.

Daily foraging activity of Acromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) leaf-cutting ants.

Leaf-cutting ants are well-known insects due to their remarkable activity as herbivores and the considerable economic damage they cause to many crops. The identification of season and time of day when leaf-cutting ants are most active is an important tool, not just to understand the foraging ecology of these ants, but also to optimize their control in plantation areas where they are pests. Thus, the aims of this study are to evaluate the daily foraging activity of leafcutting ant species of the genus Acromyrmex, which occur in forest plantations in Southern Brazil. Foraging activity of Acromyrmex crassispinus (Forel) and Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus (Forel) were correlated with weather conditions, and it was more intense during spring and summer. Workers that forage at night are significantly heavier than workers that forage during the day. This study showed that A. crassispinus and A. subterraneus subterraneus did not forage at temperatures below 10-11°C. Then, the use of granulated baits to control these leaf-cutting ants species where they are pests should be done just under favorable conditions of temperature for Acromyrmex foraging activity (over 12°C), to ensure maximum collection of baits by ants and the least left-over baits.

Avaliação do potencial de formigas (Hymenoptera: formicidae) como vetores mecânicos de bactérias do gêneroSstaphylococcus no ambiente hospitalar.

In a hospital environment, these bacteria can be spread by insects such as ants, which are characterized by high adaptability to the urban environment. Staphylococcus is a leading cause of hospital infection. In Europe, Latin America, USA and Canada, the group of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) is the second leading cause of these infections, according to SENTRY (antimicrobial surveillance program- EUA). In this study, we investigated the potential of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as vehicle mechanics of Staphylococcus bacteria in a public hospital, in Natal-RN. The ants were collected, day and night, from June 2007 to may 2008, in the following sectors: hospitals, laundry, kitchen, blood bank. The ants were identified according to the identification key of Bolton, 1997. For the analysis of staphylococci, the ants were incubated in broth Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) for 24 hours at 35 º C and then incubated on Mannitol Salt Agar. The typical colonies of staphylococci incubated for 24 hours at 35 ° C in Tryptic Soy Agar for the characterization tests (Gram stain, catalase, susceptibility to bacitracin and free coagulase). The identification of CoNS was performed through biochemical tests: susceptibility to novobiocin, growth under anaerobic conditions, presence of urease, the ornithine decarboxylation and acid production from the sugars mannose, maltose, trehalose, mannitol and xylose. The antimicrobial susceptibility examined by disk-diffusion technique. The technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to confirm the presence of mecA gene and the ability to produce biofilm was verified by testing in vitro using polystyrene inert surface, in samples of resistant staphylococci. Among 440 ants, 85 (19.1%) were carrying coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) of the species Staphylococcus saprophyticus (17), Staphylococcus epidermidis (15), Staphylococcus xylosus (13), Staphylococcus hominis hominis (10), Staphylococcus lugdunensis (10), Staphylococcus warneri (6), Staphylococcus cohnii urealyticum (5), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (3), Staphylococcus simulans (3), Staphylococcus cohnii cohnii (2), and Staphylococcus capitis (1). No Staphylococcus aureus was found. Among the isolates, 30.58% showed resistance to erythromycin. Two samples of CoNS (2.35%), obtained from the ant Tapinoma melanocephalum collected in the post-surgical female ward, S. Hominis hominis and S. lugdunensis harbored the mecA gene and were resistant to multiple antibiotics, and the specie S. hominis hominis even showed to be a biofilm producer. This study proves that ants act as carriers of multidrug-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci and biofilm producers and points to the risk of the spreading of pathogenic microorganisms by this insect in the hospital environment

Reflexiones sobre la importancia de la fragilidad en la valoración del riesgo cardiovascular en el anciano

SIN FINANCIACIÓN

Conservative management in very elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis: Time to change?

Despite current recommendations, a high percentage of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis are managed conservatively. The aim of this study was to study symptomatic patients undergoing conservative management from the IDEAS registry, describing their baseline clinical characteristics, mortality, and the causes according to the reason for conservative management. Consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis diagnosed at 48 centers during January 2014 were included. Baseline clinical characteristics, echocardiographic data, Charlson index, and EuroSCORE-II were registered, including vital status and performance of valve intervention during one-year follow-up. For the purpose of this substudy we assessed symptomatic patients undergoing conservative management, including them in 5 groups according to the reason for performing conservative management [I: comorbidity/frailty (128, 43.8%); II: dementia 18 (6.2%); III: advanced age 34 (11.6%); IV: patients’ refusal 62 (21.2%); and V: other reasons 50 (17.1%)]. We included 292 patients aged 81.5 ± 9 years. Patients from group I had higher Charlson index (4 ± 2.3), higher EuroSCORE-II (7.5 ± 6), and a higher overall (42.2%) and non-cardiac mortality (16.4%) than the other groups. In contrast, patients from group III had fewer comorbidities, lower EuroSCORE-II (4 ± 2.5), and low overall (20.6%) and non-cardiac mortality (5.9%). Patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis managed conservatively have different baseline characteristics and clinical course according to the reason for performing conservative management. A prospective assessment of comorbidity and other geriatric syndromes might contribute to improve therapeutic strategy in this clinical setting.

Efeito de iscas tóxicas no controle de Linepithema micans e estabelecimento de metodologia para estudos de dispersão da espécie na videira.

Linepithema micans é a principal espécie de formiga dispersora da pérola-daterra. Uma alternativa para reduzir a infestação da cochonilha é o controle da formiga. Aplicações de iscas tóxicas a base de hidrametilnona na dose de 450g/ha/semana por 19 semanas foram eficazes no controle dos insetos. No entanto, a necessidade de aplicação semanal é demandante de mão de obra inviabilizando o emprego prático da tecnologia. Uma estratégia para definir a densidade de porta iscas/área é o conhecimento do raio de forrageamento das operárias. Nesse trabalho foi avaliado o efeito da redução do número de aplicações de iscas tóxicas para o controle dos insetos e ajustado um protocolo para estudar a dispersão de L. micans

CIUDADES INTERMEDIAS: DINAMICA Y PERSPECTIVAS: EL CASO DE BAHÍA BLANCA - ARGENTINA

En las últimas décadas se han producido importantes cambios en los patrones de asentamiento de la población, en los que se destaca la población urbana que vive en los centros urbanos intermedios, que son prestadores de servicios y bienes especializados y que se considera presentan adecuadas condiciones para las iniciativas de desarrollo local. Diversos estudios dan cuenta de la función de las ciudades intermedias en contextos territoriales definidos y de la importancia de su radio de influencia, así como de las redes y flujos que generan hacia su hinterland. Sobre la base de una red territorial consolidada, se considera que pueden constituirse en centros regionales de equilibrio y de regulación desde perspectivas demográficas y económicas.El propósito de este trabajo es analizar la dinámica demográfica y económica de la ciudad de Bahía Blanca, centro urbano intermedio localizado en el sudoeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, tomando en consideración las transformaciones ocurridas en el entorno rural, que incluyen nuevas actividades turísticas y recreativas.Se utilizaron datos censales e información proveniente de instituciones locales y regionales.

Controle de Linepithema micans (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) com iscas tóxicas de hidrogel na cultura da videira.

Linepithema micans (Forel, 1908) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) é a principal formiga associada à dispersão da pérola-da-terra Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille, 1922) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) na cultura da videira. Uma alternativa para reduzir a infestação da cochonilha nos vinhedos seria o controle da formiga através do emprego de iscas tóxicas. Neste trabalho, foi avaliado o efeito de uma formulação de isca tóxica de hidrogel para o controle de L. micans em laboratório e em vinhedo comercial.

LA TERRITORIALIZACIÓN DE LAS ACCIONES EN LA GESTIÓN DEL ESPACIO URBANO. EL CASO DE LA CIUDAD DE BAHÍA BLANCA. ARGENTINA

Si se entiende el desarrollo local como un proceso de cambio desde la sociedad, en forma colectiva, donde articulan acuerdos a través de acciones en vistas a un futuro, no puede pensarse en rápidas transformaciones. Además, es importante considerar la territorialización de estas acciones, en un contexto urbano donde la política habitacional refuerza las condiciones de fragmentación y segregación. En el caso de Bahía Blanca, ciudad intermedia localizada en el sudoeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, se observa un interesante proceso de cambio desde mediados de los años noventa, que se relaciona con el desarrollo local, en el cual la gestión municipal hasta fines del 2003 se puede calificar de proactiva. Este proceso se interrumpe con el cambio de gobierno de carácter más centralista y la crisis institucional de 2006. Recién hacia el año 2009 se comienza a evidenciar la introducción de nuevas acciones en la agenda de gobierno local. En este contexto, el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las acciones generadas desde la gestión municipal, en el proceso de desarrollo local y sus efectos en la construcción de territorio, así como en las condiciones de segregación socio-residencial. Con respecto a la metodología empleada, el análisis se basa en documentos e informes institucionales, así como de información estadística, especialmente la proveniente de fuentes municipales. Se complementó con relevamiento en campo y entrevistas a informantes clave.

IFAM-AITEC

El desarrollo Rural en Costa Rica

Description of the Immatures of Workers of the Ant Linepithema micans Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Linepithema micans Forel is a poorly studied species that is now considered a pest in vineyards in South Brazil. Larval characters have been used in a few phylogenetic studies, and their importance greatly depends in the amount of available information on different species. This study presents a complete panorama on the external morphology of the immatures of L. micans based on observations by light and scanning electron microscopy. The number of larval instars was estimated as three based on the frequency distribution of head widths of 965 larvae. Larvae of L. micans were similar to other Linepithema Mayr in the general format of body and mandibles, presenting a dorsal abdominal protuberance, nine pairs of spiracle, and unbranched hairs. On the other hand, L. micans was unique for having shorter hairs, predominantly denticulate, intraspecific variation in the number of antennal sensilla and in the types of sensilla on the labial palps were reported.

Formigas associadas a cochonilhas-farinhentas em cultivos de videira no semiárido brasileiro.

A região do Submédio São Francisco é pioneira na produção de uvas em condições tropicais no Brasil. No entanto, com a expansão das áreas cultivadas, surge simultaneamente, a ampliação da distribuição de insetos-praga (OLIVEIRA et al., 2010), como as cochonilhas. Dentre as espécies que atacam os cultivos de videira na região, destacam-se as cochonilhas-farinhentas (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) das espécies Maconelicoccus hirsutus (Green, 1908), Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) e Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell, 1893). Estas espécies podem ocasionar danos em uvas destinadas ao consumo in natura, danificando as bagas devido à sucção de seiva e como consequência, favorecer o aparecimento da fumagina, depreciando a fruta para o mercado externo e o interno (MORANDI FILHO, 2008). As formigas são muito importantes por dispersarem as cochonilhas-farinhentas e a constatação de algumas espécies em videira pode ser um indicativo da presença de populações destes insetos (DAANE et. al., 2006). Formigas e cochonilhas da família Pseudococcidade podem associar-se com benefícios mútuos. Neste tipo de relação, as formigas se alimentam do honeydew excretado e em troca, defendem as cochonilhas dos seus inimigos naturais, diminuem a taxa de mortalidade, e consequentemente, aumentam a população de cochonilhas, auxiliam na diminuição da contaminação dos fungos e/ou transportam as suas ninfas para outros locais de nidificação (ZHOU et al., 2015). Um exemplo é a espécie de formiga argentina Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: formicidae) que tem se associado diretamente à cochonilha-farinhenta em busca das excreções açucaradas, tendo sido considerada uma das principais pragas, como na Califórnia e na África do Sul (DAANE et al. 2006). Além disso, a presença de formigas dificulta o controle biológico (MGOCHEKI; ADDISON, 2009) e como as formigas transportam as ninfas para o interior dos cachos, o controle é dificultado. Assim, o controle de formigas deve estar associado às estratégias de manejo das cochonilhas-praga (DAANE et. al., 2008). Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar o levantamento de espécies de formigas 31 doceiras associadas à cochonilhas-farinhentas (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) em cultivos de videira no Submédio São Francisco.