Partial characterization of the polluting load of swine wastewater treated with an integrated biodigestion system

The stabilization of swine wastewaters from swine confined housing by the combination of a upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and waste stabilization ponds is a viable alternative to minimize the environmental impact caused by inadequate disposal of swine wastewaters. In the present study, the polluting load of pre-decanted swine wastewater treated with a series of two 0.705 m(3) UASB reactors and then in parallel in aerated and non-aerated stabilization tanks was investigated from January to July, 2000. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses were made adopting standard methods (Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th ed., American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, 1995). COD values decreased as the wastewater ran through the integrated biodigestion system dropping from about 3492 +/- 511-4094 mg l(-1) +/- 481 to 124 +/- 52-490 mg l(-1) +/- 230, while nitrate and nitrite levels increased in stabilization tanks, ranging respectively from 4 +/- 0 to 20 mg l(-1) +/- 3 and 3 +/- 1 to 11 mg l(-1) +/- 24. Although the removal of Escherichia coli was more than 97% +/- 6, the effluents of the treatment system still contained unacceptable levels of E. coli (1.6 x 10(3)-1.2 x 10(6) 100 ml(-1)) according to WHO guidelines for use of wastewater in agriculture and aquaculture. These results indicate the necessity of changes on operational characteristics of the treatment system such as an increase of the hydraulic retention time in UASB reactors or in stabilization tanks. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Intense red upconversion emission in infrared excited holmium-doped PbGeO3-PbF2-CdF2 transparent glass ceramic

Intense red upconversion emission around 650 nm in PbGeO3-PbF2-CdF2 transparent glass ceramic containing beta-PbF2:Ho3+ nanocrystals, is presented. The holmium-doped vitroceramic samples were excited by a 980 nm diode laser source. The 650 nm upconversion signal was assigned to the F-5(5) --> I-5(8) transition of holmium ions. Very low intensity signals around 490 and 540 nm corresponding to the F-5(2,3) --> I-5(8) and S-4(2), F-5(4) --> I-5(8) transitions, respectively, were also detected. The upconversion excitation mechanism was achieved through a combination of stepwise phonon-assisted multiphoton absorption, cross-relaxation processes involving pairs of holmium ions, and excited-state absorption. Using a diode laser pump source around 850 nm green upconversion emission around 540 nm was the observed predominant signal. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR ISOLATION OF DNA SUITABLE FOR PCR AMPLIFICATION FROM CYTOGENETIC PREPARATIONS

In order to rescue molecular information from chromosome preparations, we describe a rapid procedure to obtain DNA from cytogenetic preparations in microscope slides, stored for one to live years at room temperature. This technique was modified from previously described procedures and the DNA obtained was shown to be suitable for PCR amplification.

X-ray powder diffraction analysis of methionine sulfoxide

Powder X-ray diffraction data for methionine sulfoxide, C5H11NO3S, obtained from the commercial amino acid, are presented in this work. Monoclinic cell parameters are: a = 15.500 Angstrom; b = 3.820 Angstrom; c = 13.490 Angstrom; 8=97.300 degrees. (C) 2001 International Centre for Diffraction Data.

Tabu search algorithm for network synthesis

Large scale combinatorial problems such as the network expansion problem present an amazingly high number of alternative configurations with practically the same investment, but with substantially different structures (configurations obtained with different sets of circuit/transformer additions). The proposed parallel tabu search algorithm has shown to be effective in exploring this type of optimization landscape. The algorithm is a third generation tabu search procedure with several advanced features. This is the most comprehensive combinatorial optimization technique available for treating difficult problems such as the transmission expansion planning. The method includes features of a variety of other approaches such as heuristic search, simulated annealing and genetic algorithms. In all test cases studied there are new generation, load sites which can be connected to an existing main network: such connections may require more than one line, transformer addition, which makes the problem harder in the sense that more combinations have to be considered.

The Ringed Kingfisher, Ceryle or Megaceryle torquata (Cerylinae, Alcedinidae, Coraciiformes)? An osteological view

In spite of the unquestionable monophyly of die Cerylinae subfamily, there are divergences in considering Megaceryle torquata in die genera Megaceryle or Ceryle. In order to address the question, here is a comparative osteological study between M. torquata and C. rudis, as well as with the other Megaceryle species and Chloroceryle. The findings showed more osteological similarities between M. torquata and the other Megaceryle species, differing considerably of C. rudis. Also, the data have permited the identification of the genus Megaceryle, with most of the characters from the skull. In spite of not having any phylogenetic inference, there are relevant osteological evidences that permit the consideration of M. torquata in the genus Megaceryle and the maintenance of Ceryle only for reception of C. rudis. Accepted 19 June 2006.

Structural health evaluation by optimization techinique and artificial neural network

This paper presents two different approaches to detect, locate, and characterize structural damage. Both techniques utilize electrical impedance in a first stage to locate the damaged area. In the second stage, to quantify the damage severity, one can use neural network, or optimization technique. The electrical impedance-based, which utilizes the electromechanical coupling property of piezoelectric materials, has shown engineering feasibility in a variety of practical field applications. Relying on high frequency structural excitations, this technique is very sensitive to minor structural changes in the near field of the piezoelectric sensors, and therefore, it is able to detect the damage in its early stage. Optimization approaches must be used for the case where a good condensed model is known, while neural network can be also used to estimate the nature of damage without prior knowledge of the model of the structure. The paper concludes with an experimental example in a welded cubic aluminum structure, in order to verify the performance of these two proposed methodologies.

Upconversion luminescence and thermal effects in terbium-ytterbium codoped fluorogermanate glass-ceramic

Cooperative energy transfer upconversion luminescence is investigated in Tb(3+)/Yb(3+)-codoped PbGeO(3)-PbF(2)-CdF(2) glass-ceramic and its precursor glass under resonant and off resonance infrared excitation. Bright UV-visible emission signals around 384, 415, 438 nm, and 473-490, 545, 587, and 623 nm are identified as due to the (5)D(3)((5)G(6))->(7)F(1) (J=6,5,4) and (5)D(4)->(7)F(1) (J=6,5,4,3) transitions, respectively, and readily observed. The results indicate that cooperative energy transfer between ytterbium and terbium. ions followed by excited state absorption are the dominant upconversion excitation mechanisms involved. Comparison of the upconversion process in a glass-ceramic sample and its glassy precursor revealed that the former present much higher upconversion efficiency. The dependence of the upconversion emission upon pump power, temperature, and doping content is also examined.

Renal Evaluation of Aotus azarai infulatus by Ultrasonography and Serum Chemistry Profile

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Upconversion luminescence in Ho3+/Yb3+- and Tb3+/Yb3+-codoped fluorogermanate glass and glass ceramic

Energy-transfer excited upconversion luminescence in Ho3+/Yb3+- and Tb3+/Yb3+ -codoped PbGeO3-PbF2-CdF2 glass and glass-ceramic under infrared excitation is investigated. In Ho3+/Yb3+-codoped samples, green (545 nm), red (652 nm), and near-infrared (754 nm) upconversion emission corresponding to the S-5(2) (F-5(4)) -> I-5(8), F-5(5) -> I-5(8), and S-5(2)(F-5(4)) -> I-5(7) transitions, respectively, was observed. Blue (490 nm) emission assigned to the F-5(2,3) -> I-5(8) transition was also detected. In the Tb3+/Yb3+-codoped system, bright UV-visible emission around 384, 415, 438, 473-490, 545, 587, and 623 nm, identified as due to the D-5(3)((5)G(6)) -> F-7(J)(J = 6, 5, 4) and D-5(4) -> F-7(J)(J = 6, 5, 4, 3) transitions, was measured. The comparison of the upconversion process in glass ceramic and its glassy precursor revealed that the former samples present much higher upconversion efficiencies. The dependence of the upconversion emission upon pump power, and doping contents was also examined. The results indicated that successive energy-transfer between ytterbium and holmium ions and cooperative energy-transfer between ytterbium and terbium ions followed by excited-state absorption are the dominant upconversion excitation mechanisms herein involved. The viability of using the samples for three-dimensional solid-state color displays is also discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Performance of Cultivars for Production of Green Corn in Different Planting Dates in Passos Region, MG

The aim of this work was evaluating the performance of several cultivars of green corn for consumption 'in natura' in different planting dates. The first planting date was on May 26th, and the others, every 40 days. The hybrids (treatments) were: AG-1051, Agroeste 1567, BM-3061, Prezoto-32D10, PL-6880, BX-1382 and GNZ-2004. The following characteristics were evaluated: production, commercial ears weight without husk, commercial ears number, commercial ears diameter and length, male flowering, plant height and height of ear corn insertion. The cultivars AG1051, Agroeste 1567 and BM 3061 presented the best results compared to the others and they should be used in green corn production for ` in natura' consumption in Passos County, MG.

IFNG +874 T > A single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with leprosy among Brazilians

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a low virulence mycobacterium, and the outcome of disease is dependent on the host genetics for either susceptibility per se or severity. The IFNG gene codes for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a cytokine that plays a key role in host defense against intracellular pathogens. Indeed, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IFNG have been evaluated in several genetic epidemiological studies, and the SNP +874T > A, the +874T allele, more specifically, has been associated with protection against infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis. Here, we evaluated the association of the IFNG locus with leprosy enrolling 2,125 Brazilian subjects. First, we conducted a case-control study with subjects recruited from the state of So Paulo, using the +874 T > A (rs2430561), +2109 A > G (rs1861494) and rs2069727 SNPs. Then, a second study including 1,370 individuals from Rio de Janeiro was conducted. Results of the case-control studies have shown a protective effect for +874T carriers (OR(adjusted) = 0.75; p = 0.005 for both studies combined), which was corroborated when these studies were compared with literature data. No association was found between the SNP +874T > A and the quantitative Mitsuda response. Nevertheless, the spontaneous IFN-gamma release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was higher among +874T carriers. The results shown here along with a previously reported meta-analysis of tuberculosis studies indicate that the SNP +874T > A plays a role in resistance to mycobacterial diseases.