Fungal contamination in feed production in Portugal: what to expect regarding mycotoxins contamination?

Fungi on crops produce mycotoxins in the field, during handling, and in storage. Exposure of animals and humans are usually through consumption of contaminated feedstuffs or foods. Molds can grow and mycotoxins can be produced either pre-harvest or post-harvest, during storage, transport, processing, or feeding. Worldwide, approximately 25% of crops are affected by mycotoxins annually. Because of this is possible to concluded that mycotoxins occur frequently in a variety of feedstuffs that are given to animals causing several effects: subclinical losses in performance, increases the incidence of disease and reduced reproductive performance. Aim of study: A study was developed intending to know environmental fungal contamination in a Portuguese feed production unit. Corn, wheat and soybeans were the most common cereals used in the feed production.

Estudo da influência da carga específica na fragmentação de rocha granítica no desmonte em bancada

Mestrado em Engenharia Geotécnica e Geoambiente

Influência dos parâmetros geotécnicos na qualidade do desmonte de maciços rochosos fracturados

Uma das operações envolvidas no desmonte de maciços rochosos é a perfuração. A forma como esta é executada é determinante para o sucesso do desmonte. Quando realizada correctamente o desmonte produz uma boa fragmentação, reduzindo a sobrescavação. Assim, a correcta escolha das ferramentas de perfuração assume um papel preponderante para os custos do desmonte em maciço rochosos. Esta dissertação irá centrar-se nos parâmetros Geológicos, Geotécnicos e Geomecânicos e nos desvios de perfuração. O objectivo geral deste trabalho é perceber a interdependência dos parâmetros geológicogeotécnicos e geomecânicos do maciço rochoso com os desvios de perfuração, bem como estudar os ângulos de intersecção entre os furos e as descontinuidades que originam o desvio. O estudo dos parâmetros do maciço rochoso aliado a uma perfuração alinhada é salientado com o intuito de uma abordagem de geoengenharia integrada dos maciços rochosos.

Controlo e optimização da perfuração em desmonte de maciços rochosos fracturados: avaliação preliminar

O presente trabalho tem por objectivo contribuir para aprofundar o conhecimento da temática que envolve a qualidade de execução da perfuração em maciços rochosos fracturados. A necessidade de conhecimento prévio sobre os resultados que podem ocorrer no desmonte de maciços rochosos após a realização da perfuração, leva a uma procura de indicadores que possibilitem obter mais conhecimento nessa matéria. No encadeamento do processo de análise de projecto, está o conhecimento adquirido, a caracterização do maciço rochoso, a implementação de correcções na componente da perfuração ajustadas ao maciço estudado e uma potencial previsão de granulometria final por emergência de um índice de qualidade, “Índice de Dispersão Volumétrica” que correlacione os elementos constituintes da geometria do diagrama de fogo e da envolvente intrínseca da matriz rochosa e aponte uma expectável granulometria final. Para atingir um nível de qualidade na operação global do processo de desmonte, a perfuração que está no topo da pirâmide assume papel de guia para as seguintes etapas, pelo que a qualidade dos equipamentos e acessórios e a sua correcta operação são fundamentais para obter o rigor da perfuração projectada, com vista a atingir uma determinada granulometria.

St. Louis encephalitis vírus: first isolation from a human in São Paulo state, Brasil

This paper reports the isolation of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) from a febrile human case suspected to be dengue, in São Pedro, São Paulo State. A MAC-ELISA done on the patient's acute and convalescent sera was inconclusive and hemagglutination inhibition test detected IgG antibody for flaviviruses. An indirect immunofluorescent assay done on the C6/36 cell culture inoculated with the acute serum was positive for flaviviruses but negative when tested with dengue monoclonal antibodies. RNA extracted from the infected cell culture supernatant was amplified by RT-PCR in the presence of NS5 universal flavivirus primers and directly sequenced. Results of BLAST search indicated that this sequence shares 93% nucleotide similarity with the sequence of SLEV (strain-MSI.7), confirmed by RT-PCR performed with SLEV specific primers. Since SLEV was identified as the cause of human disease, it is necessary to improve surveillance in order to achieve early detection of this agent in the state of São Paulo and in Brazil. This finding is also an alert to health professionals about the need for more complete clinical and epidemiological investigations of febrile illnesses as in the reported case. SLEV infections can be unrecognized or confused with other ones caused by an arbovirus, such as dengue.

Análise do ciclo de vida da produção do butanol

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar os impactes ambientais da produção do butanol considerando três processos produtivos: um que usa fontes fósseis e dois que usam fontes renováveis, nomeadamente palha de trigo e milho. Para o primeiro caso considerouse o processo oxo e os restantes usaram o processo de produção ABE (acetona, butanol e etanol). Na primeira etapa estudaram-se e descreveram-se os diferentes processos referidos. A análise do ciclo de vida foi depois aplicada efetuando as quatro fases nomeadamente definição do âmbito e objetivo, inventário, avaliação de impactes e interpretação dos resultados obtidos. O inventário foi efetuado tendo em conta a bibliografia existente sobre estes processos e com o auxílio da base de dados Ecoinvent Versão3 Database™. Na avaliação de impactes utilizou-se o método Impact 2002 + (Endpoint). Concluiu-se que a produção do butanol pelo processo ABE utilizando o milho é a que apresenta maior impacte ambiental e a que produção do butanol pelo processo ABE usando a palha de trigo é a que apresenta um menor impacte ambiental, quando o processo de alocação foi efetuado tendo em conta as massas de todos os produtos produzidos em cada processo. Foi efetuada uma análise de sensibilidade para a produção de butanol usando palha de trigo e milho relativa aos dados de menor qualidade. No processo da palha de trigo fez-se variar a quantidade de material enviado para a digestão anaeróbia e a quantidade de efluente produzida. No processo relativo ao milho apenas se fez variar a quantidade de efluente produzida. As variações tiveram um efeito pouco significativo (<1,3%) no impacte global. Por fim, efetuou-se o cálculo dos impactes considerando uma alocação económica que foi executada tendo em conta os preços de venda para o ano 2013 na Europa, para os produtos produzidos pelos diferentes processos. Considerando o valor económico verificou-se um aumento do peso relativo ao butanol, o que fez aumentar significativamente o impacte ambiental. Isto deve-se em grande parte ao baixo valor económico dos gases formados nos processos de fermentação. Se na alocação por massa for retirada a massa destes gases os resultados obtidos são similares nos dois tipos de alocação.

Pre-treatment of different types of lignocellulosic biomass using ionic liquids

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau Mestre em Biotecnologia

The agroindustrial residue valorisation with high pressure CO2 within biorefinery concept

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Ionic liquids as catalysts of lignocellulosic biomass processing

The present work is devoted to study the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass, especially wheat straw, by the application of the acidic ionic liquid (IL) such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate. The ability of this IL to hydrolysis and conversion of biomass was scrutinised. The pre-treatment with hydrogen sulphate-based IL allowed to obtain a liquor rich in hemicellulosic sugars, furans and organic acids, and a solid fraction mainly constituted by cellulose and lignin. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the produced liquors were made by capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography. Pre-treatment conditions were set to produce xylose or furfural. Specific range of temperatures from 70 to 175 °C and residence times from 20.0 to 163.3 min were studied by fixing parameters such as biomass/IL ratio (10 % (w/w)) and water content (1.25 % (w/w)) in the pre-treatment process. Statistical modelling was applied to maximise the xylose and furfural concentrations. For the purpose of reaction condition comparison the severity factor for studied ionic liquid was proposed and applied in this work. Optimum conditions for xylose production were identified to be at 125 °C and 82.1 min, at which 16.7 % (w/w) xylose yield was attained. Furfural was preferably formed at higher pre-treatment temperatures and longer reaction time (161 °C and 104.5 min) reaching 30.7 % (w/w) maximum yield. The influence of water content on the optimum xylose formation was also studied. Pre-treatments with 5 and 10 % (w/w) water content were performed and an increase of 100 % and 140 % of xylose yield was observed, respectively, while the conversion into furfural maintained unchanged.

Characterization tests for insulation boards made from corn cob and natural glues

In recent years there has been a growing interest in developing news solutions for more ecologic and efficient construction, including natural, renewable and local materials, thus contributing in the search for more efficient, economic and environmentally friendly construction. Several authors have assessed the possibility of using various agricultural sub products or wastes, as part of the effort of the scientific community to find alternative and more ecologic construction materials. Corn cob is an agricultural waste from a very important worldwide crop. Natural glues are made from natural materials, non-mineral, that can be used as such or after some modifications to achieve the behaviour and performance required. Two examples of these natural glues are casein and wheat flour-based glues that were used in the present study. Boards with different compositions were manufactured, having as variables the type of glue, the dimension of the corn cob particles and the features of the pressing process. The tests boards were characterized with physical and mechanical tests, such as thermal conductivity (λ) with a ISOMET 2104 and 60 mm diameter contact probe, density (ρ) based on EN 1602:2013, surface hardness (SH) with a PCE Shore A durometer, surface resistance (SR) with a PROCEQ PT pendular sclerometer, bending behaviour (σ) based on EN 12089:2013, compression behaviour (σ10) based on EN 826:2013 and resilience (R) based on EN 1094-1:2008, with a Zwick Rowell bending equipment with 2 kN and 50 kN load cells (Fig. 1), dynamic modulus of elasticity (Ed) with a Zeus Resonance Meter equipment (Fig. 5) based on NP EN 14146:2006 and water vapour permeability (δ) based on EN 12086:2013. The various boards produced were characterized according to the tests and the ones with the best results were C8_c8 (casein glue, grain size 2,38-4,76 mm, cold pressing for 8 hours), C8_c4 (casein glue, grain size 2,38-4,76 mm, cold pressing for 4 hours), F8_h0.5 (wheat flour glue, grain size 2,38-4,76 mm, hot pressing for 0,5 hours), FEV8_h0.5 (wheat flour, egg white and vinegar glue, grain size 2,38-4,76 mm, hot pressing for 0,5 hours) and FEVH68_c4 (wheat flour, egg white, vinegar and 6 g of sodium hydroxide glue, grain size 2,38-4,76 mm, cold pressing for 4 hours). Taking into account the various boards produced and respective test results the type of glue and the pressure and pressing time are very important factors which strongly influence the final product. The results obtained confirmed the initial hypotheses that these boards have potential as a thermal and, eventually, acoustic insulation material, to use as coating or intermediate layer on walls, floors or false ceilings. This type of board has a high mechanical resistance when compared with traditional insulating materials.The integrity of these boards seems to be maintained even in higher humidity environments. However, due to biological susceptibility and sensitivity to water, they would be more adequate for application in dry interior conditions.

Evaluation of drought tolerance in several genotypes of spelt (Triticum aestivum Var. Spelta)

Domestication of plants and plant breeding have dramatically eroded the allelic variations of crop species which led to an increasing susceptibility of crop plants to environmental stresses, diseases and pests. Drought is a major environmental stress factor that affects the growth and development of plants so the selection of tolerant genotypes becomes increasingly important with respect to the predicted effects of global warming. In this study, several genotypes of Spelt (Triticum aestivum var. spelta) were tested under low water supply in soil with the aim of to find Spelt genotypes more resistant than wheat to these conditions, and select them so that in future may be used to improve wheat crops. Morphological analyses were performed and mineral and enzymatic analyses and also dry matter production were calculated. Our results suggests that the genotypes Sp53, Sp96, Sp912, Sp757 and Sp804 are a potential ones to use in breeding programs to improve wheat production. Under drought, these genotypes had growth efficiency of 38%, 45%, 64%, 37%, and 31% respectively and also showed higher biomass than modern wheat and were also mineralogical richer. The genotypes Sp96 and Sp912 showed highest activity of all antioxidants enzymes tested. This work proves that Spelt is a good wheat to continue to study in order to improve wheat crops in dry areas and consequently increase the quality of life and health of the populations living in those areas.

Study of salt stress tolerance in spelt

World population is increasing at an alarming rate while food productivity is decreasing due to the effect of various abiotic stresses. Soil salinity is one of the most important abiotic stress and a limiting factor for worldwide plant production. In addition to its important effects on yield, salt stress affects numerous cellular activities, including cell wall composition, photosynthesis, protein synthesis, ions and organic solutes. Up to 20% of the irrigated arable land in arid and semiarid regions is already salt affected and is still expanding. Improving salt tolerant varieties is of major importance, and efforts should be focused on finding adaptive mechanisms which are involved in salinity tolerance. In this study, several spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Spelta) genotypes and one cultivar of modern bread wheat were used to screen them for salt tolerance. Spelt is an old-European cereal crop currently attracting renewed interest as a food grain because it is said to be harder than wheat and requires less fertilizer. Spelt wheat is also becoming very attractive genetic source by plant breeders due to its wide adaptation ability to various stressful conditions such as soil salinity. In this study morphological parameters (e.g., leaf appearance; shoot elongation), dry matter production, mineral nutrients (especially Na and K), and activity of antioxidative enzymes were measured to select superior genotypes of spelt for salt tolerance. The results showed that Spelt genotype Sp41 is a salt sensitive genotype and genotypes Sp69, Sp96 and Sp912 are good candidates for salt tolerant genotypes.

Notification of the first isolation of Cacipacore virus in a human in the State of Rondônia, Brazil

Flavivirus is a genus of arthropod-transmitted viruses of the family Flaviviridae, and in Brazil, up to eleven different Flavivirus have been isolated. We collected blood from farmers in the municipality of Theobroma, which is located 320km from the City of Porto Velho, the former capital of the Brazilian State of Rondônia. For viral isolation, we used newborn mouse brain, followed by RT-PCR with specific universal Flavivirus primers. We obtained fragments 958bp and 800bp in length. Based on BLAST, these sequences were 91% similar to a sequence of Cacipacore virus.

Caracterização do microbioma e dos perfis de resistência nos afluentes e efluentes de ETAR

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biomédica (área de especialização em Engenharia Clínica)

Implementation and validation of a strain rate dependent anisotropic continuum model for masonry

A newly developed strain rate dependent anisotropic continuum model is proposed for impact and blast applications in masonry. The present model adopted the usual approach of considering different yield criteria in tension and compression. The analysis of unreinforced block work masonry walls subjected to impact is carried out to validate the capability of the model. Comparison of the numerical predictions and test data revealed good agreement. Next, a parametric study is conducted to evaluate the influence of the tensile strengths along the three orthogonal directions and of the wall thickness on the global behavior of masonry walls.