Análise termoeconômica de uma mini-estação de tratamento de esgoto com auto-suficiência energética

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da auto-suficiência energética de reatores anaeróbicos aplicados ao tratamento de resíduos de uma cervejaria em escala piloto

This project aimed to analyze the feasibility of the methane yield associated to the anaerobic digestion of brewery residues, checking whether the energetic balance of the system is favorable. The methane yield efficiency was calculated for the parameters of two papers that treated solids with a particle-size <1mm. Theses solids are not degraded in conventional treatment systems. Calculations were based in the reactions of anaerobic degradation of the macromolecules that compose brewery residues, considering the theoretical production and the effective production of methane. The results were 50.44% and 52.86%. Regarding to the energy balance of the anaerobic treatment, we noted the high influence of the selection and operating regime of electrical equipment over the potential energy. The best situation, in which the energetic self-sufficiency was reached, was observed when using the mixer under an intermittent regime (1min/h), without employing the heating recirculator, for the maximum organic loading of 4.0 gVS/L.day (days 248-258). In this case, the system would generate an amount of energy equal to 0.0356 kWh/day, able to overcome the energy required by the equipment in about 6.5 times. Moreover, we also noted the interference of the application of different solid loadings in the reactors, once the application of the higher organic load generated 5 times more energy than the application of the smaller one

Revisão dos principais radiofármacos utilizados no Brasil e suas aplicações na detecção e terapia de patologias

Radiopharmaceuticals are substances marked with radionuclides that can be used for detection and treatment of cancer, infections and inflammatory diseases. They emit several types of radiation through different decay routes, each radioisotope with its specific properties and uses. They can usually be produced from several different materials, by bombardment with particle beams in a nuclear research reactor or cyclotron, depending on their characteristics. Brazil has four public institutions which produce - or import - and distribute radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals and clinics throughout its territory. The largest such institution, Ipen, distributes 97% of radiopharmaceuticals used in the country. Some radiopharmaceuticals decay very quickly, meaning they must be produced and quickly administered to the patient in the same location, presenting a logistical challenge. Nuclear medicine in Brazil is a promising field and has been steadily growing, although rigid laws and a lack of qualified work force hinder Research and Development efforts for new radiopharmaceuticals. The construction of a new nuclear research reactor, in 2016, should generate self-sufficiency and economy in radiopharmaceutical production and avoid a future crisis in the supply of technetium-99m, the most important radioisotope, used in over 80% of procedures with radiopharmaceuticals.

EMERSON AS A ROMANTICIST

It was the romanticists who tended to write poetry of “autobiography,” who inquired of themselves concerning themselves, and assumed that the world was interested in what they found. Nor was the habit of self-consciousness regarding the poetic office let drop by their successors. That the words poet and poetry were so often on Emerson’s lips would be evidence enough to students of literature, in its changing temper and shifting modes, of his probable localization in time. It is also evidence of his relation to certain European movements of thought to which he gave—comparatively late in their currency and much tempered —American expression. In his doctrine of the superiority and the aloofness of the poet, of the latter’s severance from others to whom he yet bears messages of light, in his self-sufficiency and his sovereignty, his belief in the intrinsic goodness of nature and of man, and his concern with poetic thought rather than poetic form, Emerson may be termed the American representative of ideas which already had had wide circulation in Europe. In great part they emanated from Rousseau, and some of them, especially the gospel of the rights and the supremacy of the individual, had metamorphosed the politics and the map of Europe as well as its literature.

Influencia de las decisiones políticas en la rentabilidad del riego de especies forrajeras con aguas regeneradas

[ES] La escasa disponibilidad de agua a bajo precio y el actual régimen de ayudas del REA, ambos decididos a nivel político, explican que el autoabastecimiento forrajero sea actualmente un objetivo inalcanzable en Canarias. El Plan de Forrajeras de Canarias pretende contrarrestar esta realidad e incrementar su nivel de autoabastecimiento. La ayuda financiera que supone el REA reduce el importe a pagar por el forraje importado frente al producto local, condicionando la adopción de decisiones por parte de los ganaderos. De acuerdo a los cálculos realizados, reutilizando el agua en lugar de verterla, el cultivo de Maralfalfa podría ser competitivo frente a la importación, siendo financieramente viable con precios del agua en un rango de 0,20-0,30 €/m3

Uremic Neuropathy: Epiemiological Study in Hemodialysis Patients

Background/Aims. Uremic Neuropathy (UN) highly limits the individual self-sufficiency causing near-continuous pain. An estimation of the actual UN prevalence among hemodialysis patients was the aim of the present work. Methods. We studied 225 prevalent dialysis patients from two Italian Centres. The Michigan Neuropathy Score Instrument (MNSI), already validated in diabetic neuropathy, was used for the diagnosis of UN. It consisted of a questionnaire (MNSI_Q) and a physical-clinical evaluation (MNSI_P). Patients without any disease possibly inducing secondary neuropathy and with MNSI score  3 have been diagnosed as affected by UN. Electroneurographic (ENG) lower limbs examination was performed in these patients to compare sensory conduction velocities (SCV) and sensory nerve action potentials (SNAP) with the MNSI results. Results. Thirtyseven patients (16.4%) were identified as being affected by UN, while 9 (4%) presented a score <3 in spite of neuropathic symptoms. In the 37 UN patients a significant correlation was found between MNSI_P and SCV (r2 = 0.1959; p<0.034) as well as SNAP (r2 = 0.3454; p=0.027) both measured by ENG. Conclusions. UN is an underestimated disease among the dialysis population even though it represents a huge problem in terms of pain and quality of life. MNSI could represent a valid and simple clinical-instrumental screening test for the early diagnosis of UN in view of an early therapeutic approach.

Is a sustaining rod necessary for diverting loop ileostomy?

Objective: Whether or not a protective stoma reduces the rate of anastomotic leakage after distal colorectal anastomosis is still discussed controversially. It does however facilitate clinical management once leakage has occurred. Loop ileostomies seem to be associated with a lower morbidity and a better quality of life compared to loop colostomies. Generally, diverting loop ileostomies are secured at skin level by means of a supporting device in order to prevent retraction of the ileostomy into the abdomen. However, due to the supporting rod, difficulties may occur in applying a stoma bag correctly and leakage of faeces onto the skin may occur even with correct eversion of the afferent limb. Our aim was to compare morbidity and time to self-sufficient stoma-care in patients having a loop ileostomy with rod to those without rod. Methods: A total of 60 patients necessitating loop ileostomy were analyzed. Patients received surgery in of the two involved institutions according to inhouse standard procedures. 30 patients had an ileostomy with rod (VCHK Inselspital) and a further 30 without rod (KSW Winterthur). Morbidity and time to self-sufficiency regarding stoma care was analyzed during the first 90 postoperative days. Morbidity was determined according to a scoring system ranging from 0 to 4 points for any given set of possible complications (bleeding, necrosis, skin irritation, abscess, stenosis, retraction, fistula, prolapse, parastomal hernia, incomplete diversion), where 0 = no complication and 4 = severe complication. Continuous variables were expressed as median (95% Confidence Interval). For comparisons between the groups the Mann-Whitney U test was used, between categorical variables the X2 test was applied. Results: There were no significant differences in length of hospital stay or time to self-sufficient stoma-care between the groups. Although not significant, patients with a rod ileostomy had a tendency towards more stoma-related complications as well as stoma-related reoperations. The number of patients reaching total self-sufficiency regarding stoma care was higher after rodless ileostomy. Conclusion: According to our data, rodless ileostomies seemto fare just as well as those with a supporting rod, with equal morbidity rates and more patients reaching self-sufficient stoma care. Therefore routine application of a rod for diverting loop ileostomy seems unnecessary

Human Trafficking Victims and Their Children: Assessing Needs, Vulnerabilities, Strengths, and Survivorship

Given the increased awareness and attention to human trafficking, including the establishment of federal laws and policies, federally funded task forces that provide law enforcement responses, and specialized victim services, it is important to assess the impact of these procedures and services on survivors/victims of international human trafficking and their immigrant children. By federal definition, certified victims of international human trafficking are eligible for all services provided to refugees in this country, including reunification with their minor children. This research is based on a qualitative study conducted in Austin and Houston, Texas with human trafficking victims/survivors. The project’s goal was to gain an understanding of the needs of human trafficking survivors after their rescue, their overall integration into American life, and the subsequent needs of their immigrant children after reunification. The project objectives examined the factors that either promote or hinder self-sufficiency, the determination of social service needs, and policy and practice recommendations to strengthen survivors, their children and their families living both locally and abroad. For this project, nine (n = 9) in-depth interviews were conducted with adult foreign-born victims of human trafficking. Researchers gathered data using a semi-structured questionnaire that queried about factors that promote or hinder victims’ services and needs. Interviews were conducted in participants’ homes using bilingual research staff and/or trained interpreters, were digitally-recorded, and subsequently transcribed. Participation in this study was completely voluntary. Specific steps were taken to ensure that the participants’ identities were protected. Open coding of data was utilized and the data were subsequently organized or grouped into properties and later developed into contextual themes around the research questions. The findings are grounded with the use of direct quotes from participants. As a result of progressive U.S. policy, many victims of human trafficking are being reunited with their minor children. Immigrant children are one of the largest and fastest growing populations in the U.S. and for a variety of reasons are vulnerable to exploitation. Research also indicates that victims of trafficking are identified by traffickers because of their perceived “vulnerabilities” or lack of opportunities (Clark, 2003). Therefore, it is important that practices and policies are developed to address the unique needs of these families with an eye toward positive outcomes for parent and child safety and well-being. Social service providers are provided a toolkit that may be utilized before and during the reunification period.

The story of Community preference for food security

"Préférence communautaire" is an in-built notion of the CAP since its inception with the Treaty of Rome (1957). Its’ simple objective laid down at the Stresa Conference in 1958 is to prefer community produce over imports wherever possible, while at the same time promoting agricultural exports and FDI (“vocation exportatrice de l’Europe”). Does this contrast or correlate with the notion of “food sovereignty” which originated in 1996 as a notion of small farmer self-sufficiency (Via Campesina), and which now has found its way into the official EC discourse? Recent CAP reforms indeed seem to continue banking on border protection and on the occasional export subsidy. Nonetheless, coming together with claims to mitigate climate change, “food sovereignty” à la CAP fails to acknowledge efficiency losses at home and negative spillover effects on the right to food of food exporting developing countries. This chapter asks whether new non-tariff and domestic support measures are just new wine in the old cask of fortress Europe, together with the FDI promotion instruments of the FED and others. Might the increasing dynamics and new challenges of agricultural trade and investment lead to lower market and production shares for European farms? It concludes that in the medium term the WTO Green Box has the only legal and effective tools to promote EU agriculture and food.

Impacts of Technology Adoption: Comparing Returns to the Farming Sector in Maine under Alternative Technology Regimes

This thesis tests if certain technology choices are associated with a reduction in the proportion of farming activities in the agro-food system in Maine. Goodman, Sorj, and Wilkinson define appropriationism as the replacement of farming sector activities by industrial inputs. Based on the concept of appropriationism, industrial fanning systems using large amounts of synthetic inputs contribute less to fanning than more agrarian systems, like organic fanning. Thus, returns to the farming sector should be greater for organic compared with conventional potato fanning in Maine since organic farming uses fewer industrial inputs. Goodman et. al. define substitutionism as the displacement of farming sector commodities and activities by industrial processes in the marketing sector. Based on the concept of substitutionism, returns to the farming sector should be greater for Lay's Classic®™ potato chips made from natural potatoes compared with Baked Lay's®™ potato crisps manufactured from processed dehydrated potatoes. Returns to the farming sector are defined as returns to the farmer or farm family from farming activities, returns to farm labor, and returns to farmers and farm labor producing inputs used on the farm. Results show absolute returns to the farming sector are less for organic compared to conventional tablestock potato farms in Maine. However as a proportion of farm revenues, large organic farms that market at least 25% of their produce to retail stores or directly to consumers do as well as conventional farms. When comparing returns as a proportion of consumer expenditures, these organic farms do better than conventional farms. Returns to the farming sector are less for organic because of yield penalties, cost of marketing services, and diseconomies of size for organic tablestock potato farms. Expanding acreage and reintegrating livestock with cropping systems may increase returns to the fanning sector. Organic farming demonstrates difficulties in providing marketing services at the farm level. Providing marketing services limits the ability to expand production to capture economies of size. Maine organic potato farmers emphasize non-monetary values such as supporting sustainable agriculture, self-sufficiency, the intrinsic value of work, and close community and family connections. Returns to the farming sector as a proportion of consumer expenditures are about three times greater for Lay's Classic®™ potato chips than for Baked Lay's®™ potato crisps, since the value that farmers receive for potatoes used to produce dehydrated potato flakes in one pound of crisps is about half of the value that farmers receive for potatoes used to make one pound of chips. However, this assumes farmers assign a cost to producing low-grade potatoes for dehydration proportionate to their value. Premium potatoes are used to produce potato chips. Low-grade potatoes are used to produce the dehydrated potato flakes used to make potato crisps. Returns to the farming sector are slightly greater for potato crisps if no costs are allocated to producing low-grade potatoes for dehydration. A shift in consumer preferences from potato chips to crisps may result in a geographical shift of potato production from Maine to the Pacific Northwest assuming no food-grade dehydration facilities are built in Maine.

Responding to Price Signals in Communal Agriculture: Shaker Hog Production, 1788-1850

Isolated Shaker communal farms stressed self-sufficiency as an ideal but carefully chose which goods to buy and sell in external markets and which to produce and consume themselves. We use records of hog slaughter weights to investigate the extent to which the Shakers incorporated market-based price information in determining production levels of a consumption good which they did not sell in external markets: pork. Granger causality tests indicate that Shaker pork production decisions were influenced as hypothesized, strongly by corn prices and weakly by pork prices. We infer that attention to opportunity costs of goods that they produced and consumed themselves was a likely factor aiding the longevity of Shaker communal societies.

Policy analysis of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and federal funding concerning barrier-free playgrounds

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was created to prohibit discrimination against disabled persons in our society. The goal of the ADA as a comprehensive civil rights law is to "ensure equal opportunity and complete participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency" for disabled persons (U.S. Department of Justice, 2008). As part of Title II and III of the ADA, states and local governments are required to provide people with disabilities the same chance to engage in and benefit from all programs and services including recreational facilities and activities as every other citizen. Recreational facilities and related structures must comply with accessibility standards when creating new structures or renovating existing ones. Through a systematic literature review of articles accessed through online databases, articles relating to children with disabilities, their quality of life and their experience gained through play were reviewed, analyzed and synthesized. Additionally, the ADA's Final Rule regarding accessible playgrounds was evaluated through a descriptive analysis which yielded the following five components relating the importance of barrier-free playgrounds to children with disabilities: appropriate dimensions for children, integration of the play area, variety of activity and stimulation, availability of accessible play structures to communities, and financial feasibility. These components were used as evaluation criteria to investigate the degree to which the ADA's Final Rule document met these criteria. An evaluation of two federal funding sources, the Urban Parks and Recreation Renewal Program (UPARR) and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), was also conducted which revealed three components relating the two programs' ability to support the realization of the ADA's Final Rule which included: current budget for the program, ability of local communities to attain funds, and level of ADA compliance required to receive funding. Majority of the evaluation of the Final Rule concluded it be adequate in development of barrier-free playgrounds although there are some portions of the guidelines that would benefit from further elucidation. Both funding programs were concluded to not adequately support the development of barrier-free playgrounds and therefore it was recommended that their funding be re-instated or increased as necessary. ^

Creación y libertad : la cuestión tras la discusión entre Pegis y Lovejoy

A fines de los años 40’, el filósofo norteamericano Arthur Lovejoy y el en ese momento Presidente del Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Anton Pegis, sostuvieron una interesante discusión sobre la existencia de libertad o necesidad eficiente en el acto divino de crear conforme a la filosofía de Tomás de Aquino. Lovejoy denunciaba una supuesta incoherencia fundamental en las enseñanzas de Tomás al respecto. Según él, en el concepto tomásico de creación se encuentran implicados al mismo tiempo los conceptos de necesidad agente y libre albedrío aplicados al Creador. Esta supuesta contradicción era para Pegis no sólo falsa sino imposible. Aquí repensaremos dos puntos centrales de dicha discusión: en primer lugar, si, como piensa Lovejoy, para Santo Tomás efectivamente existe una contraposición entre la autosuficiencia de Dios y su capacidad para amar otras cosas distintas de Él. Luego, el significado de la frase: “condice a la bondad divina que también otras cosas participen de la misma". (S.th., I, q.19, a.2).

Formulación de un plan de desarrollo agropecuario y forestal para una comunidad ejidal del municipio de San Fernando, Chiapas, México

El perfil socioeconómico de Chiapas es primordialmente rural, debiendo reconocerse la diversidad de sus actividades agropecuarias y forestales para generar condiciones específicas de desarrollo. Considerando lo anterior, se realizó esta investigación entre mayo de 1998 y diciembre de 1999, como un estudio de caso sobre los aspectos agropecuarios y forestales más relevantes en el ejido Villa Allende, que expresa problemas ejidales característicos de la región. El ejido cuenta con 3.300 hectáreas, 554 ejidatarios y se ubica en el municipio de San Fernando en la Región Central de Chiapas. Se estudiaron las circunstancias de los ejidatarios, conocimiento local y procesos de trabajo agrícola desde una perspectiva de planeación. A partir de ello se generó el plan de desarrollo, el cual es el primero expuesto en el municipio de San Fernando que se dirige al sector ejidal. Su propósito es plasmar una propuesta general en materia agropecuaria y forestal que pueda ser base para la concertación y que permita vislumbrar opciones dirigidas a mejorar la calidad de vida de los habitantes del ejido Villa Allende. Se postulan las siguientes políticas de desarrollo: 1. Fortalecimiento de la producción y la autosuficiencia alimentaria. 2. Impulso al crecimiento económico. 3. Dotación de infraestructura básica. 4. Reordenamiento agropecuario y forestal con criterios sociales, ecológicos y económicos. 5. Promoción de la salud. Con base en las políticas, se enuncian objetivos programas y subprogramas o proyectos.

Formulación de un plan de desarrollo agropecuario y forestal para una comunidad ejidal del municipio de San Fernando, Chiapas, México

El perfil socioeconómico de Chiapas es primordialmente rural, debiendo reconocerse la diversidad de sus actividades agropecuarias y forestales para generar condiciones específicas de desarrollo. Considerando lo anterior, se realizó esta investigación entre mayo de 1998 y diciembre de 1999, como un estudio de caso sobre los aspectos agropecuarios y forestales más relevantes en el ejido Villa Allende, que expresa problemas ejidales característicos de la región. El ejido cuenta con 3.300 hectáreas, 554 ejidatarios y se ubica en el municipio de San Fernando en la Región Central de Chiapas. Se estudiaron las circunstancias de los ejidatarios, conocimiento local y procesos de trabajo agrícola desde una perspectiva de planeación. A partir de ello se generó el plan de desarrollo, el cual es el primero expuesto en el municipio de San Fernando que se dirige al sector ejidal. Su propósito es plasmar una propuesta general en materia agropecuaria y forestal que pueda ser base para la concertación y que permita vislumbrar opciones dirigidas a mejorar la calidad de vida de los habitantes del ejido Villa Allende. Se postulan las siguientes políticas de desarrollo: 1. Fortalecimiento de la producción y la autosuficiencia alimentaria. 2. Impulso al crecimiento económico. 3. Dotación de infraestructura básica. 4. Reordenamiento agropecuario y forestal con criterios sociales, ecológicos y económicos. 5. Promoción de la salud. Con base en las políticas, se enuncian objetivos programas y subprogramas o proyectos.