Photoelectrocatalytic production of active chlorine on nanocrystalline titanium dioxide thin-film electrodes

The production of chlorine and hypochlorite is of great economical and technological interest due to their large-scale use in many kinds of commercial applications. Yet, the current processes are not without problems such as inevitable side reactions and the high cost of production. This work reports the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of chloride ions to free chlorine as it has been investigated by using titanium dioxide (TiO2) and several metal-doped titanium dioxide (M-TiO2) material electrodes. An average concentration of 800 mg L-1 of free chlorine was obtained in an open-air reactor using a TiO2 thin-film electrode biased at +1.0 V (SCE) and illuminated by UV light. The M-doped electrodes have performed poorly compared with the pure TiO2 counterpart. Test solutions containing 0.05 mol L-1 NaCl pH 2.0-4.0 were found to be the best conditions for fast production of free chlorine. A complete investigation of all parameters that influence the global process of chlorine production by the photoelectrocatalytic method such as applied potential, concentration of NaCl, pH solution, and time is presented in detail. In addition, photocurrent vs potential curves and the reaction order are also discussed.

Dissipation of DDT in a heavily contaminated soil in Mato Grosso, Brazil

After the prohibition of organochlorine-pesticide use in Brazil for controlling insect vector diseases, Mato Grosso State gathered the exceeding DDT and stored it irregularly in an open air area that belongs to the National Health Foundation, causing soil contamination. This study aimed to evaluate the contamination level and dissipation of p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE in this area. For that, surface soil samples were collected on 19 September 2000, 15 December 2000, 4 April 2001 and soil samples 30-40 cm; 60-70 cm and 90-100 cm deep were taken from five points in the studied area on 17 July 2001. The contaminants were determined by a small scale method which consists on extraction and clean-up steps combined into one step by transferring soil samples mixed with neutral alumina to a chromatographic column prepacked with neutral alumina and elution with hexane:dichloromethane (7:3 v:v). The eluate was concentrated and the analytes were quantified by gas chromatography with an electron-capture detector. p,p′-DDT at surface soil ranged from 3800 to 7300 mg kg -1. 30-40 cm deep soil sample concentrations varied from 0.036 to 440 mg kg -1 while 90-100 cm deep samples varied from 0.069 to 180 mg kg -1. Volatilization is probably the main dissipation process. The p,p′-DDT is moving slowly downward in the soil profile, however, the levels of this contaminant are high enough to present risk to underground waters. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Características morfogênicas e estruturais de híbridos de sorgo submetidos a adubação nitrogenada

The effect of two topdressing nitrogen doses was evaluated on the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of sorghum hybrids (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) BRS 801 and 0734006, cultivated in vases in open-air conditions. A completely randomized design was used with four treatments arranged in factorial outline 2x2 (two sorghum hybrids and two nitrogen doses, 50 and 100 kg ha-1), with eight replications per treatment. There was a significant effect of interaction hybrid x fertilization on the leaf appearance rate, the hybrid BRS 801 being more responsive to the increased nitrogen dose. The phyllochron, the total number of leaves and leaf elongation rate, were influenced both by nitrogen doses and by hybrids. The leaf senescence rate was not influenced by factors fertilization and hybrids. These variations in morphogenetic and structural characteristics between the hybrids and/or nitrogen doses, probably indicate that hybrids respond in a different way to topdressing.

Utilização de lodo de esgoto compostado e irrigação com água residuária em laranjeira valência

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Irrigação e Drenagem) - FCA

Estresse oxidativo em clones de seringueira sob ataque de oídio

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise dos riscos físicos e ergonômicos em roçadora transversal motorizada

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Ver-o-peso, patrimônio(s) e práticas sociais: uma abordagem etnográfica da feira mais famosa de Belém do Pará

Identificar e interpretar, a partir de abordagem etnográfica, o patrimônio cultural dos trabalhadores do Ver-o-Peso, a feira mais famosa de Belém do Pará, é o objetivo deste trabalho. Não o patrimônio cultural brasileiro, reconhecido por meio do tombamento em 1977, como conjunto arquitetônico e paisagístico, mas o patrimônio que constitui elemento agregador para esse grupo social, fator de pertencimento e identidade coletiva, que é detentor de valores e significados, ainda que, raramente, seja percebido e identificado por esses trabalhadores dessa forma. A pesquisa, realizada por meio de observação participante, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e informais aconteceu no período de 2005 a 2007, em quatro etapas. O patrimônio cultural identificado é, sobretudo de natureza imaterial, mas também está presente em tomo de coisas materiais como o espaço, no sentido de um território com temporal idade própria que é também um lugar, demarcado por práticas sociais e operações cotidianas, as quais envolvem múltiplas dimensões da vida social. Nesse espaço objetos, expressões corporais, sentimentos e sociabilidade associadas e desenvolvidas no fazer diário, prenhes de significados e possibilidades estimulam o imaginário e ativam memórias. De geração a geração esse legado é o responsável, juntamente com aqueles que o preservam, reinterpretam e transmitem, pela manutenção da "essência" do Ver-o-Peso, assim como pelo sentido de pertencimento e identificação de seus trabalhadores com esse lugar ao longo dos anos. A despeito da negligência por parte de muitas instituições, esses trabalhadores e trabalhadoras preservam sua cultura.

As matrizes do samba carioca e carnaval: algumas reflexões sobre patrimônio imaterial

Nosso trabalho busca discutir o samba carioca e o documento produzido pelo Centro Cultural Cartola para registrar as matrizes do samba do Rio de Janeiro como um bem imaterial no Livro das Formas de Expressão criado pelo IPHAN em 2000. Para isso, buscamos compreender as diferentes expressões deste gênero musical e suas transformações narrativas, melódicas e timbrísticas que o transformaram de música marginal a símbolo de brasilidade e que o tornaram o ritmo da maior festa brasileira: o carnaval. Compreendemos que tal processo se deu em consonância com as transformações políticas, sociais e urbanísticas que a cidade do Rio de Janeiro sofreu nas primeiras décadas do século XX e que, o inventário e registro das matrizes do samba carioca é fruto não apenas dos anseios da comunidade de sambistas, mas também do diálogo destes com intelectuais e gestores públicos. Além disso, tal política voltada para a preservação e salvaguarda dos bens imateriais se coaduna com políticas e projetos urbanísticos de transformação de certos espaços citadinos em verdadeiros museus a céu aberto, como é o caso do Museu a Céu Aberto do Morro da Providência e da construção da Cidade do Samba, que expressam uma preocupação com a revitalização da área, a valorização imobiliária e o incremento da indústria do turismo.

Um Modelo de Inovação Bottom Up: Museu de Favela

This article aims to present, describe and discuss the innovation model of the first territorial open-air museum, designed in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, the Favela Museum (MUF). The concepts of slums, traditional museum and ecomuseums differentials are introduced in order to contextualize the universe MUF is inserted. Moreover, the paper discusses the concept of territorial open-air museum collection and how curatorship takes place this context, as well as the possible forms of interaction with the diversity of individuals served by a museum such as MUF. Furthermore, the role of this new museum typology in society is discussed, entities created by bottom up innovation initiative undertaken by MUF into the new museology of action. It concludes with considerations about the shift of focus on the role played by MUF as agent of social and cultural development.

Estudo dos efeitos da criação de morfologias antropogênicas em área de mineração

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

Dynamics of foraging trails in the Neotropical termite Velocitermes heteropterus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Foraging behavior in termites varies with the feeding habits of each species but often occurs through the formation of well-defined trails that connect the nest to food sources in species that build structured nests. We studied the formation of foraging trails and the change in caste ratio during foraging in the termite Velocitermes heteropterus. This species is widespread in Cerrado vegetation where it builds epigeal nests and forages in open-air at night. Our aim was to understand the processes involved in the formation of foraging trails, from the exploration of new unmarked areas to the recruitment of individuals to food and the stabilization of traffic on the trails, as well as the participation of the different castes during these processes. Foraging trails were videotaped in the laboratory and the videos were then analyzed both manually and automatically to assess the flow of individuals and the caste ratio on the trails as well as to examine the spatial organization of traffic over time. Foraging trails were composed of minor workers, major workers, and soldiers. The flow of individuals on the trails gradually increased from the beginning of the exploration of new areas up to the discovery of the food. The caste ratio remained constant throughout the foraging excursion: major workers, minor workers and soldiers forage in a ratio of 8:1:1, respectively. The speed of individuals was significantly different among castes, with major workers and soldiers being significantly faster than minor workers. Overall, our results show that foraging excursions in V. heteropterus may be divided in three different phases, characterized by individual speeds, differential flows and lane segregation.

Perfil da renda e do volume dos resíduos sólidos urbanos da associação de catadores de São Manuel - SP

The implementation of residue selective collection has brought to the city of Sao Manuel an incalculable benefit. It brought a better life for a group of adults and children that lives in a humanitarian condition of extreme poverty. These people live in an open-air dump, disputing the remains found in fifteen tons of garbage that are deposited at the site almost every day.The objective of this paper is to present thecollectors annual income profile and the volume of solid waste collected.To present these factors, the total and fractionated amount according to their material items, collected since the creation of the Association in February 2003 until December 2008, were considered., In addition,the social gains were enumerated. These factors were developed from a theoretical base for municipal solid waste involving environmental, social, and financial concepts. Based on these results it was found that the ACAPEL income value was above the average of other income indicators of the population analyzed, besides the social value enhance that the creation of the Association brought to the people who work there.

LAGOA SANTA REVISITED: AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHRONOLOGY, SUBSISTENCE, AND MATERIAL CULTURE OF PALEOINDIAN SITES IN EASTERN CENTRAL BRAZIL

Lagoa Santa, a karstic area in eastern Central Brazil, has been subject to research on human paleontology and archaeology for 175 years. Almost 300 Paleoindian human skeletons have been found since Danish naturalist Peter Lund's pioneering work. Even so, some critical issues such as the role of rockshelters in settlement systems, and the possible paleoclimatic implications of the peopling of the region have yet to be addressed. We present some results obtained from recent excavations at four rockshelters and two open-air sites, new dates for human Paleoindian skeletons, and a model to explain the cultural patterns observed so far. It is also argued that the Paleoindian subsistence system at Lagoa Santa was similar to other locations in South America: generalized small-game hunting complemented by fruits, seed, and root gathering.

Experimental assessment of environmental decay effects in masonry via non destructive diagnostic techniques and mechanical tests

Environmental decay in porous masonry materials, such as brick and mortar, is a widespread problem concerning both new and historic masonry structures. The decay mechanisms are quite complex dependng upon several interconnected parameters and from the interaction with the specific micro-climate. Materials undergo aesthetical and substantial changes in character but while many studies have been carried out, the mechanical aspect has been largely understudied while it bears true importance from the structural viewpoint. A quantitative assessment of the masonry material degradation and how it affects the load-bearing capacity of masonry structures appears missing. The research work carried out, limiting the attention to brick masonry addresses this issue through an experimental laboratory approach via different integrated testing procedures, both non-destructive and mechanical, together with monitoring methods. Attention was focused on transport of moisture and salts and on the damaging effects caused by the crystallization of two different salts, sodium chloride and sodium sulphate. Many series of masonry specimens, very different in size and purposes were used to track the damage process since its beginning and to monitor its evolution over a number of years Athe same time suitable testing techniques, non-destructive, mini-invasive, analytical, of monitoring, were validated for these purposes. The specimens were exposed to different aggressive agents (in terms of type of salt, of brine concentration, of artificial vs. open-air natural ageing, …), tested by different means (qualitative vs. quantitative, non destructive vs. mechanical testing, punctual vs. wide areas, …), and had different size (1-, 2-, 3-header thick walls, full-scale walls vs. small size specimens, brick columns and triplets vs. small walls, masonry specimens vs. single units of brick and mortar prisms, …). Different advanced testing methods and novel monitoring techniques were applied in an integrated holistic approach, for quantitative assessment of masonry health state.

Early and Middle Holocene Hunter-Gatherer Occupations in Western Amazonia: The Hidden Shell Middens

We report on previously unknown early archaeological sites in the Bolivian lowlands, demonstrating for the first time early and middle Holocene human presence in western Amazonia. Multidisciplinary research in forest islands situated in seasonally-inundated savannahs has revealed stratified shell middens produced by human foragers as early as 10,000 years ago, making them the oldest archaeological sites in the region. The absence of stone resources and partial burial by recent alluvial sediments has meant that these kinds of deposits have, until now, remained unidentified. We conducted core sampling, archaeological excavations and an interdisciplinary study of the stratigraphy and recovered materials from three shell midden mounds. Based on multiple lines of evidence, including radiocarbon dating, sedimentary proxies (elements, steroids and black carbon), micromorphology and faunal analysis, we demonstrate the anthropogenic origin and antiquity of these sites. In a tropical and geomorphologically active landscape often considered challenging both for early human occupation and for the preservation of hunter-gatherer sites, the newly discovered shell middens provide evidence for early to middle Holocene occupation and illustrate the potential for identifying and interpreting early open-air archaeological sites in western Amazonia. The existence of early hunter-gatherer sites in the Bolivian lowlands sheds new light on the region’s past and offers a new context within which the late Holocene “Earthmovers” of the Llanos de Moxos could have emerged.