Hydrogeological and Hydrochemical Characterization of the Matozinhos-Pedro Leopoldo Karst, Brazil

The Matozinhos-Pedro Leopoldo limestone area is a tropical karst located near the metropolis of Belo Horizonte, East Central Brazil, in an area undergoing rapid urbanization and land degradation. Qualitative dye tracing experiments have determined the groundwater routes and catchment areas in the two major drainage basins in the area, Samambaia Basin and Palmeiras-Mocambo Basin. Other drainage basins were identified, but not traced due to the absence of related swallets. Fluorescein and optical brightener had a poor performance as tracers under tropical climate. Dilution due to the existance of lakes at some swallets prevented some dye traces. The water that flows through this karst area is almost entirely autogenic, having a small external contribution from some phyllite areas. About 88% of the total water discharge of identified springs drains directly toward Velhas River, the regional base level. The remaining 12% drains toward Mata Creek, a tributary of the Velhas River. Hydrochemical monitoring in four of the major springs showed that groundwater quality for the measured parameters in the discharge zone is generally good, despite the heavy industrialization and occupation in some of the recharge areas. Conduit flow predominates in Samambaia and Palmeiras- Mocambo Basins. The outlets for these basins show a marked seasonal variation in the physical and chemical parameters monitored. Some of the other springs such as Moinho Velho Spring and Jaguara Spring show little variation in temperature, suggesting a diffuse flow component. All springs are characterized by hardness dilution during the wet season, suggesting a small residence time during the wet season, not allowing the water to achieve saturation. Seasonal variation in runoff is the most important control on the hydrochemical pattern of the area. It determines the marked dilution of major ions in both conduit-flow and diffuse-flow springs. Variation in soil C02 due to the rainfall pattern may also play an important role in the water chemistry. Observation of paleoflow indicators made in several dry caves showed that the past flow pattern at Palmeiras-Mocambo Basin agrees with the present groundwater routes. At Samambaia Basin, however, the lower reaches of the basin show paleoflow directions pointing toward other active base levels such as Mocambeiro Depression or Velhas River, suggesting that Samambaia Basin may have developed its present morphology in a later stage

O amor, o sorriso e o povo brasileiro: Vinícius de Moraes e os movimentos culturais do Brasil contemporâneo

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia Política, Florianópolis, 2006.Este estudo propõe uma relação entre produção cultural e contexto social através da análise das composições de Vinicius de Moraes, tendo com referência duas de suas principais obras: Chega de Saudade e Gente Humilde. Para a realização desta pesquisa, inseriu-se o poeta no contexto histórico da época em que as letras foram feitas, além de se verificar também o quadro político vivido por Moraes em toda sua trajetória (1913 até 1980). Em um breve histórico, foram organizados momentos políticos, fazendo-se um levantamento dos presidentes do Brasil e as características de seus governos. Em seguida, apresenta-se um relato a respeito da vida de Vinicius de Moraes, suas profissões, suas viagens, suas parcerias e seus ideais políticos. Abordou-se ainda o contexto musical no qual as duas letras foram transformadas em músicas, descrevendo a Bossa Nova e as Músicas de Protesto. Ao final, analise-se as letras de Chega de Saudade e Gente Humilde, do ponto de vista da relação do poeta com suas parcerias, com o público e consigo.This study it considers a relation between cultural production and social context through the analysis of the production of Vinicius de Moraes having with reference two of its main compositions: #Chega de Saudade# and #Gente Humilde#. To build this research it was necessary to insert the poet into the historical context of the time the letters had been made and also verify the political context that Moraes lived during his entire trajectory (1913 up to 1980). In a brief description, the political setting had been rebuilt, including Brazilian Presidents and their governments# characteristics. After that, it was made a narrative regarding Vinicius de Moraes life, his professions, his trips, his partnerships and his political ideals. The musical context in which the two lyrics were transformed into music was also considered, describing the #Bossa Nova# and the Music of Protest. At last it was carried out an analysis of the songs #Chega de Saudade#and #Gente Humilde# considering the relation of the poet with his partnerships, with the public and with himself

Rising water flow as a factor of organic material importation into caves

The Carlúcio Cave is located on the left bank of the Peruaçu River canyon, in a National Park located in the semiarid zone of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Although the Carlúcio Cave is in an unfavorable relief position in terms of material importation into its interior, it harbors an important fossil deposit. This paper sought to investigate such fossil assemblage and describe material importation and deposition events. For that purpose, a survey of the existing fossils was conducted, including a description of the deposition sites and taphonomic signatures. A topographic survey was carried out of representative samples and the deposit chronology was established by means of carbon-14 and uranium-series dating. The fossil assemblage comprises mainly terrestrial epigeal mollusk shells, totaling 1,399 individuals, 70% of which are Drymaeus sp. (Bulimuloidea, Bulimulidae). In addition, 20 bones, 57 vegetal deposition sites, four charcoals, one palm fruit and one corncob were recorded. The cave location and morphology and the deposit’s taphonomic signature indicate that the material was carried upward by the rise in water level (WL) of the Peruaçu River due to episodic barriers to the natural river flow, followed by floating and retention of the material once the WL went gradually down. At least four flood events that reached the Carlúcio Cave were identified in the Peruaçu River canyon during the Holocene. This study provides evidence of a mechanism of material transport and accumulation in the cave caused by the rising water flow in connection with flood events in the river canyon.Key words: Cave deposits, Holocene chronology, fluvial geomorphology, Peruaçu River canyon.Naraščanje nivoja vode kot faktor vnosa organskega materiala v jameJama Carlúcio je na levem bregu kanjona reke Peruaçu v nacionalnem parku na polpuščavskem območju province Minas Gerais v jugovzhodni Braziliji. Čeprav je jama v neugodnem reliefnem položaju glede vnosa materiala, v njej ležijo pomembne fosilne najdbe. Ta članek je poskušal raziskati fosile in opisati dogodke vnosa in odlaganja materiala. Zato smo pregledali obstoječe fosile ter med drugim opisali odlagališča in tafonomske podpise. Izvedli smo topografsko raziskavo reprezentativnih vzorcev ter z določanjem starosti z ogljikom C14 in uranovo serijo vzpostavili depozitno kronologijo. Fosilni ostanki obsegajo predvsem kopenske epigealne mehkužce s 1399 posamezniki, od tega 70 % Drymaeus sp. (Bulimuloidea, Bulimulidae). Poleg tega smo opazili 20 kosti, 57 rastlinskih tališč, štiri oglja, eno palmovo sadje in eno koruzo. Lokacija jame, njena morfologija in tafonomske raziskave sedimentov nakazujejo, da je material odneslo navzgor s porastom nivoja vode reke Peruaçu zaradi epizodnih ovir pri naravnem toku reke. Temu sledi lebdenje in zadrževanje snovi, ko je nivo postopoma upadel. V holocenu smo v kanjonu reke Peruaçu identificirali vsaj štiri poplavne dogodke, ki so segli v jamo Carlúcio. Ta študija dokazuje mehanizem materialnega transporta in akumulacije v jami, ki jo povzroča naraščajoči nivo vode v povezavi s poplavnimi dogodki v rečnem kanjonu.Ključne besede: jamski sedimenti, holocenska kronologija, rečna geomorfologija, kanjon reke Peruçu

Cave morphology and controls on speleogenesis in quartzite: The example of the Itambé do Mato Dentro area in southeastern Brazil

An area of 417 km2 in southeastern Brazil was mapped in detail regarding karst features in quartzite. Landforms typically assigned to carbonate karst terrains are largely absent, except for discrete occurrences of towers and collapse dolines. Caves are the most conspicuous landform, although occurring at a lower density than in most Brazilian carbonate areas. A total of 11 caves were mapped and studied in detail. Caves tend to develop at shallow depths parallel to the slope surface, controlled by lithological facies and the hydraulic gradient. Petrographical analyses suggest that mica (sericite) lenses within the quartzite and both sericite and iron around quartz grains may favour grain disaggregation and later erosional removal in a shallow phreatic environment. Quartzite caves represent a common feature in southeastern Brazil but tend to be isolated features rather than an integrated and areally extensive hydrological system typical of many carbonate settings

Beans cultivation and water regime on soil physical attributes

Beans crop is an agricultural staple largely consumed in Brazil because it is part of the basic food of the population. Such a crop is usually grown by small growers and turns out to be of a great social and economical importance. The aim of the current manuscript was to scrutinize the effect of soil water status on its physical attributes, such as bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, hydraulic conductivity under protected environment conditions on beans crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The effect of the soil physical attributes on the biological response of the plants was also investigated. The experiment was installed in March of 2016 in a greenhouse. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme with four replications. The soil moisture within the stipulated levels (14, 21, 28 and 35% at a volume basis) was monitored by a TDR. Bulk density and microporosity did show an increasing linear trend as a function of the soil moisture levels adopted, whereas total porosity and macroporosity revealed a decreasing linear tendency. The cultivar factor affected bulk density, total porosity and macroporosity. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil did not demonstrate any correlation with crop yield components and was not governed by the beans genotypes grown under protected environment conditions

Effect of hypertonic saline treatment on the inflammatory response after hydrochloric acid-induced lung injury in pigs

OBJECTIVES: Hypertonic saline has been proposed to modulate the inflammatory cascade in certain experimental conditions, including pulmonary inflammation caused by inhaled gastric contents. The present study aimed to assess the potential anti-inflammatory effects of administering a single intravenous dose of 7.5% hypertonic saline in an experimental model of acute lung injury induced by hydrochloric acid. METHODS: Thirty-two pigs were anesthetized and randomly allocated into the following four groups: Sham, which received anesthesia and were observed; HS, which received intravenous 7.5% hypertonic saline solution (4 ml/kg); acute lung injury, which were subjected to acute lung injury with intratracheal hydrochloric acid; and acute lung injury + hypertonic saline, which were subjected to acute lung injury with hydrochloric acid and treated with hypertonic saline. Hemodynamic and ventilatory parameters were recorded over four hours. Subsequently, bronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected at the end of the observation period to measure cytokine levels using an oxidative burst analysis, and lung tissue was collected for a histological analysis. RESULTS: Hydrochloric acid instillation caused marked changes in respiratory mechanics as well as blood gas and lung parenchyma parameters. Despite the absence of a significant difference between the acute lung injury and acute lung injury + hypertonic saline groups, the acute lung injury animals presented higher neutrophil and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage analysis. The histopathological analysis revealed pulmonary edema, congestion and alveolar collapse in both groups; however, the differences between groups were not significant. Despite the lower cytokine and neutrophil levels observed in the acute lung injury + hypertonic saline group, significant differences were not observed among the treated and non-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertonic saline infusion after intratracheal hydrochloric acid instillation does not have an effect on inflammatory biomarkers or respiratory gas exchange

Global distribution of carbonate rocks and karst water resources

Karstregionen beinhalten eine Vielzahl natürlicher Ressourcen, wie Süßwasser und Biodiversität, sowie zahlreiche kulturelle und historische Ressourcen. Die Welt-Karstaquifer-Karte (WOKAM) ist die erste detaillierte und vollständige globale Datenbasis über die Verbreitung von verkarstungsfähigen Gesteinen (Carbonate und Evaporite), welche potentielle Karstaquifere darstellen. Diese Studie präsentiert eine statistische Auswertung von WOKAM, mit dem Fokus auf Karst in Carbonatgesteinen, und adressiert vier wesentliche Aspekte: (i) globales Vorkommen und geografische Verteilung von Karst; (ii) Karst in verschiedenen topografischen Settings und in Küstengebieten; (iii) Karst in verschiedenen Klimazonen; und (iv) Bevölkerung in Karstgebieten. Die Analyse ergibt, dass 15,2 % der globalen, eisfreien Kontinentalfläche durch Carbonatgesteine charakterisiert sind. Der höchste prozentuale Anteil tritt in Europa auf (21,8 %); die größte absolute Fläche in Asien (8,35 Mio. km²). Weltweit treten 31,1 % aller anstehenden Carbonatgesteine in Ebenen auf, 28,1 % im Hügelland und 40,8 % in Gebirgen; 151,400 km oder 15,7 % der globalen marinen Küstenlinie wird von Carbonatgesteinen geprägt. Etwa 34,2 % aller Carbonatgesteine kommen im ariden Klima vor, gefolgt von 28,2 % in kalten und 15,9 % in gemäßigten Klimaten, während nur 13,1 % bzw. 8,6 % im tropischen bzw. polaren Klima anzutreffen sind. Global leben etwa 1,18 Milliarden Menschen (16,5 % der Weltbevölkerung) in Karstgebieten. Die höchste absolute Anzahl wurde in Asien ermittelt (661,7 Mio.), während die höchsten prozentualen Anteile in Europa (25,3 %) und Nordamerika (23,5 %) auftreten. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen die globale Bedeutung von Karst und dienen als Basis für weitere Forschung und internationale Wassermanagement-Strategien

Global distribution of carbonate rocks and karst water resources

Karstregionen beinhalten eine Vielzahl natürlicher Ressourcen, wie Süßwasser und Biodiversität, sowie zahlreiche kulturelle und historische Ressourcen. Die Welt-Karstaquifer-Karte (WOKAM) ist die erste detaillierte und vollständige globale Datenbasis über die Verbreitung von verkarstungsfähigen Gesteinen (Carbonate und Evaporite), welche potentielle Karstaquifere darstellen. Diese Studie präsentiert eine statistische Auswertung von WOKAM, mit dem Fokus auf Karst in Carbonatgesteinen, und adressiert vier wesentliche Aspekte: (i) globales Vorkommen und geografische Verteilung von Karst; (ii) Karst in verschiedenen topografischen Settings und in Küstengebieten; (iii) Karst in verschiedenen Klimazonen; und (iv) Bevölkerung in Karstgebieten. Die Analyse ergibt, dass 15,2 % der globalen, eisfreien Kontinentalfläche durch Carbonatgesteine charakterisiert sind. Der höchste prozentuale Anteil tritt in Europa auf (21,8 %); die größte absolute Fläche in Asien (8,35 Mio. km²). Weltweit treten 31,1 % aller anstehenden Carbonatgesteine in Ebenen auf, 28,1 % im Hügelland und 40,8 % in Gebirgen; 151,400 km oder 15,7 % der globalen marinen Küstenlinie wird von Carbonatgesteinen geprägt. Etwa 34,2 % aller Carbonatgesteine kommen im ariden Klima vor, gefolgt von 28,2 % in kalten und 15,9 % in gemäßigten Klimaten, während nur 13,1 % bzw. 8,6 % im tropischen bzw. polaren Klima anzutreffen sind. Global leben etwa 1,18 Milliarden Menschen (16,5 % der Weltbevölkerung) in Karstgebieten. Die höchste absolute Anzahl wurde in Asien ermittelt (661,7 Mio.), während die höchsten prozentualen Anteile in Europa (25,3 %) und Nordamerika (23,5 %) auftreten. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen die globale Bedeutung von Karst und dienen als Basis für weitere Forschung und internationale Wassermanagement-Strategien