The chemical oxygen demand / total volatile acids ratio as an anaerobic treatability indicator for landfill leachates

In some operational circumstances a fast evaluation of landfill leachate anaerobic treatability is necessary, and neither Biochemical Methane Potential nor BOD/COD ratio are fast enough. Looking for a fast indicator, this work evaluated the anaerobic treatability of landfill leachate from São Carlos-SP (Brazil) in a pilot scale Anaerobic Sequence Batch Biofilm Reactor (AnSBBR). The experiment was conducted at ambient temperature in the landfill area. After the acclimation, at a second stage of operation, the AnSBBR presented efficiency above 70%, in terms of COD removal, utilizing landfill leachate without water dilution, with an inlet COD of about 11,000 mg.L-1, a TVA/COD ratio of approximately 0.6 and reaction time equal to 7 days. To evaluate the landfill leachate biodegradability variation over time, temporal profiles of concentration were performed in the AnSBBR. The landfill leachate anaerobic biodegradability was verified to have a direct and strong relationship to the TVA/COD ratio. For a TVA/CODTotal ratio lower than 0.20, the biodegradability was considered low, for ratios between 0.20 and 0.40 it was considered medium, and above 0.40 it was considered high.

Go/N ratio in tropical soils from Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fontes proteicas para vacas leiteiras

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desempenho e características dos dejetos produzidos por cabritos em diferentes idades e alimentados com diferentes proporções entre volumoso e concentrado

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance and characteristics of manure produced by Saanen goats with 90, 120 and 150 days of age and fed three diets, diets 1 = 80 % roughage (R) and 20 % concentrate (C), diets 2 = 60 % R and 40 % C, diets 3 = 40 % R and 60 % C. Were evaluated 24 goats (divided into three groups according to diet ) during the fattening stage, making up the collection of waste at 90, 120 and 150 days of age to quantify the mass of manure produced each day, beyond the content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn. The animals were weighed weekly and during the collection of waste is evaluated the digestibility of DM, CP and NDF, in addition to the estimate of feed conversion and rate of waste. The best results of feed conversion coefficient of waste and the apparent digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF occurred at the age of 150 days and in animals fed diets containing higher proportions of concentrate. Insofar as the increased age of the animal and level of concentrate in the diets were verified higher production of faeces. All nutrients were also affected, with higher concentrations occurred in the feces of animals at 150 days old and fed with diet 40% R and 60% C.

Caracterização química e legalidade em bebidas não alcoólicas de maçã

Apple is a fruit that offers promising prospect for industrialization as it has favorable characteristics for this purpose and can obtain products with good acceptance. In Brazil, approximately 15% of the production is processed into juice, and a portion is exported. Among the fresh fruit and juice, apple adds US$ 30 million annually to the Brazilian foreign exchange earnings. The aim of this study was to characterize, using chemical analysis, concentrated juices, commercial apple juice, nectar, and soft drink. In addition, to compare them with their respective Quality and Identity Standards (PIQ) published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) and Codex Alimentarius. Concentrated juices and commercial beverages were analyzed in triplicate for soluble solids content (Brix), pH, total acidity (AT), and ratio. In concentrated juices, the Total Sugar Reducer (ART) was also assessed. The results obtained in the laboratory were compared with the PIQ and Codex Alimentarius to verify compliance with applicable regulations. Seven concentrate juices, five juices, six nectars, and three apple-flavoured soft drinks were analyzed. The Brix of pulpy and clarified concentrated juices were, respectively, 71.16±1.29 and 40.40±0.57°Brix. In all concentrated juices, the Brix was in accordance with Codex Alimentarius. The Brix and AT in sweetened clarified juices were 11.50±0.14°Brix and 0.18±0.04g of malic acid/100g sample. In pulpy whole juices the values ​​were 11.20±0.70°Brix and 0.30±0.06g of malic acid/100g sample. The values of Brix and AT in apple-flavoured soft drinks were 11.03±0.93°Brix and 0.18±0.04g of malic acid/100ml sample. Commercial juices and soft drinks also presented °Brix and AT in accord with the PIQ established by MAPA. The apple nectars could not be compared with the standards because they are not published by MAPA or Codex Alimentarius. The definition of the PIQ is an important tool for quality control of beverages manufacture in Brazil. Therefore, it is recommended for the control agencies to define the parameters that are not established.

Análise fisico-química e legalidade em bebidas de laranja

The aim of this paper was to measure the total soluble solids content (°Brix), titrable total acidity (AT) and ratio in orange beverages, such as frozen concentrated juice, not from concentrate juice, nectar and soft drink and to compare them with their Quality and Identity Standards (PIQ) published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) and Codex Alimentarius. Four orange frozen concentrated juices, twenty two juices, seven nectars and thirteen orange soft drinks were analyzed. All frozen concentrated orange juices were in agreement with Codex Alimentarius. The majority of not from concentrated orange juices and soft drinks was in accord to Brazilian legislation. The orange nectars could not be compared with the standards because they are not published by MAPA or Codex Alimentarius.

Levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) na alimentação de vacas da raça Jersey

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desempenho e parâmetros ósseos de bovinos nelore submetidos ou não à suplementação fosfórica durante o período de confinamento

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Breeding system can affect the offspring sex ratio in Syrian hamsters

Nulliparous female Syrian hamsters were used to investigate the effect of two different breeding systems on the fertility of the female Syrian hamster. We hypothesized that females submitted to a harem system (HS) would deliver smaller and more female-biased litters than in a monogamic system. Ten female and 10 adult male hamsters housed individually (G1) were kept in a monogamic temporary breeding system, while 10 females and five males (G2) were submitted to HS with two females and a male permanently housed together since female weaning. Females from G1 and G2 delivered, respectively, 47 and 50 litters, and produced 364 (G1) and 383 (G2) weaned pups without any difference in litter size, mean weight of weaned pups and body condition of dams. Interparturition intervals were shorter and the percentage of male pups per litter was higher in the HS possibly as a result of different endocrine conditions provided by different breeding systems. Besides providing evidence that housing conditions can influence the sex of hamster offspring, our findings suggest a mechanism for the non-random distribution of male and female pups in hamster litters.

Reproductive migration and population dynamics of the blue crab Callinectes danae in an estuary in southeastern Brazil

Portunid crabs are an important resource in estuaries, and require appropriate management to guarantee their long-term availability. We investigated the population dynamics and reproduction of Callinectes danae in the Estuarine-Bay Complex of Sao Vicente, Sao Paulo, Brazil, to provide basic biological information for public policies for the management of this fishery. Monthly samples were obtained from March 2007 to February 2008 on eight transects, four in the estuary and four in the bay. A total of 2261 specimens (403 males, 1288 females, of which 570 were ovigerous) were collected. Males were significantly larger than females, and the size-frequency distribution was unimodal for males, females and ovigerous females. The sex ratio was nearly always skewed toward females (M:F - 1:4.6). C. danae showed seasonal-continuous reproduction, with high reproductive activity in the warmer season. C. danae breeds in the estuarine-bay complex, with males and juvenile females concentrated in the estuary. After copulation, fertilized females migrate to the estuary entrance and the bay, where ovigerous females are commonly found spawning in high-salinity areas. Therefore, to manage this important economic resource, both the estuary and the bay should be considered for protection, but special attention should be given to the estuary entrance during the summer months, when ovigerous females concentrate.

DETERMINATION OF THE E/G RATIO OF WOOD LOGS USING TRANSVERSE VIBRATION

The Bernoulli's model for vibration of beams is often used to make predictions of bending modulus of elasticity when using dynamic tests. However this model ignores the rotary inertia and shear. Such effects can be added to the solution of Bernoulli's equation by means of the correction proposed by Goens (1931) or by Timoshenko (1953). But to apply these corrections it is necessary to know the E/G ratio of the material. The objective of this paper is the determination of the E/G ratio of wood logs by adjusting the analytical solution of the Timoshenko beam model to the dynamic testing data of 20 Eucalyptus citriodora logs. The dynamic testing was performed with the logs in free-free suspension. To find the stiffness properties of the logs, the residue minimization was carried out using the Genetic Algorithm (GA). From the result analysis one can reasonably assume E/G = 20 for wood logs.

Maximum Phonation Time and s/z Ratio in a Large Child Cohort

Aim. The purpose of this study was to provide normal values for maximum phonation time (MPT) and the s/z ratio by examining 1660 children aged 4-12 years and without vocal signs or symptoms. Methods. The technique was based on the sustained emission of the /a/ vowel and fricatives /s/ and /z/. Results. The average of the MPT in children of the different age groups was as follows: 6.09 seconds for the age group 4-6 years (males, 5.97; female, 6.21 seconds), 7.94 seconds for the age group 7-9 years (males, 8.07; females, 7.79 seconds), and 8.98 for the age group 10-12 years (males, 9.05; females, 8.92 seconds). The overall average for males was 7.78 and females 7.64 seconds. The s/z ratio was near 1.0 in most children but above 1.2 in 133 children and below 0.8 in 133 children. Conclusion. These values of MPT and s/z ratio can be used as normative in further pediatric studies.

Intake, nutrient apparent digestibility and ruminal constituents of sheep fed diets with canola, sunflower or castor oils

The objective in this experiment was to determine the effects of feeding diets with canola, sunflower or castor oils on intake, nutrient apparent digestibility and ruminal constituents of crossbred Dorper x Santa Ines sheep. Four rumen-cannulated animals of 90.2 +/- 11.4 kg average body weight were assigned to a 4 x 4 latin square. Animals remained individually in cages for the metabolism assay and were fed diets containing roughage at 500 g/kg and concentrate based on ground corn and soybean meal also at 500 g/kg. No oil was added to the control diet, whereas the others had canola, sunflower or castor oils at 30 g/kg (DM basis). There was no difference for the intake of DM and nutrients, except for ether extract, which was greater when animals received oil. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, non-fiber carbohydrates and neutral detergent fiber were not changed; however, the addition of oil increased the ether extract digestibility. The values of total digestible nutrients (TDN, g/kg of DM), digestible energy (DE, Mcal/kg of DM), TDN intake and DE intake also did not change with the addition of lipids. Concerning the ruminal constituents, the addition of vegetable oils reduced the concentrations of acetate, butyrate and total short-chain fatty acids. Adding canola, sunflower or castor oils at 30 g/kg in diets with 500 g roughage/kg and 500 g concentrate/kg does not impair the intake or digestibility of nutrients in sheep, although it reduces the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the rumen.

Low liquid-solid ratio (LSR) hot water pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse

Low liquid-solid ratio (LSR) can be used to obtain high-content xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) spend liquor by hot water pretreatment. Developing a technology based on low LSR results in more efficient water usage in the system and thus in lower capital and operating costs. Xylans from xylan rich agro-industrial waste are abundant hemicellulosic polymers with enormous potential for industrial applications. Currently, freeze-dried xylo-oligosaccharides are used as bio-based polymers and hydrolysates containing high xylose contents are converted to several chemical products. In this study, sugarcane bagasse was treated with water at low LSRs and mild temperatures in order to assess the effects of varying the pretreatment conditions on the xylo-oligosaccharide and xylose concentrations, and use a central composite experimental design to optimize the process parameters. The pretreatments were performed in the ranges temperature: 143.3-176.7 degrees C, time: 20-70 min and LSR: 1 : 1 to 11 : 1 (g g(-1)). The maximum concentrations of xylose and xylan were 13.76 and 36.18 g L-1 (equivalent to 48.29 g L-1 of xylan), respectively, which were achieved by treating bagasse at 170 degrees C for 60 min, with LSR of 3 g g(-1). The amount of xylan removed under these conditions was almost 57%. The soluble xylan consisted mainly of xylo-oligosaccharides (74 wt% of the identified compound in the spent liquor).