Characterization and treatment of sisal fiber residues for cement-based composite application

Sisal fiber is an important agricultural product used in the manufacture of ropes, rugs and also as a reinforcement of polymeric or cement-based composites. However, during the fiber production process a large amount of residues is generated which currently have a low potential for commercial use. The aim of this study is to characterize the agricultural residues by the production and improvement of sisal fiber, called field bush and refugo and verify the potentiality of their use in the reinforcement of cement-based composites. The residues were treated with wet-dry cycles and evaluated using tensile testing of fibers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Compatibility with the cement-based matrix was evaluated through the fiber pull-out test and flexural test in composites reinforced with 2 % of sisal residues. The results indicate that the use of treated residue allows the production of composites with good mechanical properties that are superior to the traditional composites reinforced with natural sisal fibers.

Start-up of anaerobic reactors for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment

This study aimed to evaluate the start-up of a horizontal anaerobic fixed bed reactor (HAFBR) followed by an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) for the slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. HAFBR was filled with bamboo rings and had 1.2 m in length, 0.10 m in diameter and volume of 7.5 L. The UASB had the volume of 15 L. The HAFBR and UASB operated at organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time average of 8.46 and 3.77 kg m-3 d-1 of COD and 0.53 and 0.98 days, respectively. During 150 days of monitoring system it was found pH 6.8, relatively high values of bicarbonate alkalinity (> 1000 mg L-1) and reduced values of volatile acids (70 to 150 mg L-1), which afforded average removal efficiencies of COD total and total suspended solids of the order of 31 and 23% in HAFBR and 79% and 63% in UASB. It can be concluded that the generation and consumption of bicarbonate alkalinity and total volatile acids, thereby maintaining the pH during the study indicated stable operation of the reactors. The COD removal in the reactors was satisfactory especially when it considers that the assessment was conducted in a period of adaptation of organisms to the effluent and also the high organic load applied during this period.

Deficit irrigation in grapevine cv. Syrah during two growing seasons in the brazilian semiarid

Irrigation plays an important role for grape’s yield as well as on its quality for winemaking. Thus, the effects of deficit irrigation strategies on yield and quality of wine grapes cv. Syrah were evaluated in Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Evaluations were carried out throughout the second and third growing seasons, which were from November 2010 to February 2011 (rainy season) and from May to September 2011 (dry season), respectively. Vines were drip irrigated and the experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments and four replications. The treatments were full irrigation (FI), performed according crop evapotranspiration; regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), in which irrigation was interrupted in phenological growth stage of bunch closure, but was occasionally performed according soil water monitoring of the root zone; and deficit irrigation (DI), when irrigation was interrupted from bunch closure to harvesting. Differences on leaf water content among treatments were observed in both growing seasons and RDI and DI treatment plants presented moderate water stress. The number of bunches did not differ among treatments in both growing seasons; however, bunch weight per plant, average bunch weight and soluble solid content were higher in FI treatment during the dry season. Deficit irrigation strategies promoted water saving.

Englantilaiset Triumph nelitahtiset moottoripyör��t v. 1929

kuv., 13 x 22 cm

Englantilaiset Triumph 4.94 HP. nelitahtiset moottoripyör��t

kuv., 14 x 22 cm

Radco kaksi- ja nelitahtiset moottoripyör��t 1927

kuv., 13 x 22 cm

Englantilaiset Triumph nelitahtiset moottoripyör��t

kuv., 14 x 22 cm

Büssing kuorma-autot ja auto-omnibussit

kuv., 14 x 22 cm

Anthrax in cattle in southern Brazil: 1978-2006

Ten outbreaks of anthrax occurred in cattle from 1978 to 2006 in southern Brazil, in 5 municipalities on the border with Uruguay, a country where the disease is frequent. The 10 outbreaks represented 0.2% of all bovine specimens received during the period by the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory of the Federal University of Pelotas, causing 267 deaths in a risk population of 6,605 head. The disease affected young and adult cattle mainly during summer. Only one farmer reported that sheep and horses were also affected. Clinically the peracute form was more frequent, but in some outbreaks the acute form with a clinical manifestation period of 6-48 hours was also observed. The source of infection was not established; but the reduced rainfall, associated with low, flat, flooded lands used for agriculture followed by animal grazing after harvest was probably related to the disease occurrence. Annual vaccination is an efficient way to prevent the disease.

Enfermidades de cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiro diagnosticadas pelo exame anatomopatol��gico

O exame necroscópico é especialmente útil no diagnóstico de enfermidades em animais silvestres. Em muitas ocasiões, as manifestações cl��nicas não são caracter��sticas como em animais domésticos, sendo frequente a ocorrência de óbitos em animais assintomáticos. Este trabalho objetivou realizar um estudo retrospectivo sobre as doenças de cutias diagnosticadas pelo Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, através do exame anatomopatol��gico no per��odo de 2006 a 2009. Em 32 cutias submetidas à necropsia, as percentagens das enfermidades diagnosticadas foram: morte perinatal pelo complexo inanição/hipotermia (21,6%), urolitíase obstrutiva (6,24%), distocia (6,24%), obstrução do ceco por areia - sablose (6,24%), intussuscepção (3,20%), fecaloma (3,20%) e obstrução do esôfago (3,20%). Dezesseis (16) animais permaneceram sem diagnóstico, dos quais nove (28,48%) apresentavam avançado estado autol��tico e em sete (21,60%) não foram observadas lesões macro e microscópicas compatíveis com nenhuma enfermidade. Este artigo apresenta relatos de doenças ainda não descritas em cutias e seus resultados poder��o produzir literatura sobre os aspectos patol��gicos destas enfermidades nessa espécie.