Quantitation of nine organic acids in wild mushrooms

The organic acids composition of six wild edible mushroom species ( Amanita caesarea, Boletus edulis, Gyroporus castaneus, Lactarius deliciosus, Suillus collinitus, and Xerocomus chrysenteron) was determined by an HPLC-UV detector method. The results showed that all of the samples presented a profile composed of at least five organic acids: citric, ketoglutaric, malic, succinic, and fumaric acids. Several samples also contained oxalic, ascorbic, quinic, and shikimic acids. In a general way, the quantitation of the identified compounds indicated that malic acid, followed by the pair citric plus ketoglutaric acids, were the main compounds in the analyzed species, with the exception of A. caesarea, in which malic and ascorbic acids were the most abundant compounds. The relative amounts and the presence/absence of each identified compound may be useful for the differentiation of the species

Sucesso adaptativo e percepções das perturbações hidrológicas por populações ribeirinhas em rios do semiárido brasileiro

Brazilian semi-arid streams are characterized by extreme hydrological events, with short periods of flooding and long periods of no surface water flow. Human populations living in the surroundings of these systems must be adapted to such hydrological disturbances. This paper evaluates the perceptions of riverine human populations in the Brazilian semi-arid, in relation to the hydrological disturbances, adaptations of such populations to withstand drought while maintaining social structure, and their utilization of the watershed during times of flooding. Data presented was collected from three riverine human populations that live near intermittent streams in the semi-arid region of Brazil. These populations rely mostly on the intermittent water supply from these systems and on the production from small-scaled agriculture and livestock. The surveyed populations maintain the stability of their social structures and organizations by producing an identification process through representations of hydrological disturbances (floods and drought). The resistance and resilience to these events basically involve strategies to avoid social ruptures, through the practice of subsistence agriculture, and the search for opportunities (e.g. adequate sites) to build weirs, wells and “cacimbas” (water holes). A simple yet well-structured scheme to utilize the watershed was found to be important during wet periods. The history of human adaptation to the Brazilian semi-arid depends on the configurations that both ecosystem and the social system take at each hydrological cycle. These aspects should be taken into account by decision-makers, and should be included in development-oriented policies adopted for the region. Any attempt to manage the semi-arid ecosystems should include the utilization of hydrological disturbances as part of the human element and its dimensions. Key words: riverine populations, survival strategies, flood, drought, stability, intermittent stream, semi-arid.Os rios do semiárido brasileiro são caracterizados por extremos hidrológicos, com curtos períodos de inundação e longos períodos de ausência de água. Populações humanas vivendo próximas a esses sistemas devem estar adaptadas a tais perturbações hidrológicas. Este trabalho avalia a percepção de populações ribeirinhas no semiárido brasileiro, considerando as perturbações hidrológicas, suas adaptações para resistir à seca enquanto mantêm a estrutura social e o uso da água durante os períodos de inundação. Este estudo foi realizado em três populações que vivem próximas a rios intermitentes na região semiárida do Brasil. Essas populações dependem principalmente da água de rios intermitentes para a agricultura em pequena escala e para a pecuária. As populações estudadas mantêm a estabilidade de suas estruturas e organizações sociais por meio das representações das perturbações hidrológicas (inundação e seca). A resistência e a resiliência a esses eventos envolvem basicamente estratégias para evitar rupturas sociais através da prática de agricultura de subsistência e pela procura de oportunidades (locais adequados) para construir açudes, poços e cacimbas. Um esquema simples e bem estruturado de utilização de água é também importante durante períodos de inundação. O histórico da adaptação humana no semiárido brasileiro resulta da conformação do ecossistema e do sistema social a cada ciclo hidrológico. Estes aspectos devem ser levados em conta por tomadores de decisões e devem ser considerados nas políticas que orientam o desenvolvimento dessa região. As ações de manejo nos ecossistemas do semiárido devem incluir a utilização das perturbações hidrológicas como parte do elemento humano e suas dimensões. Palavras-chave: populações ribeirinhas, estratégias de sobrevivência, inundação, seca, estabilidade, rio intermitente, semiárido

Lift Energy Storage Technology: A solution for decentralized urban energy storage

The world is undergoing a rapid energy transformation dominated by growing capacities of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. The intrinsic variable nature of such renewable energy sources calls for affordable energy storage solutions. This paper proposes using lifts and empty apartments in tall buildings to store energy. Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST) is a gravitational-based storage solution. Energy is stored by lifting wet sand containers or other high-density materials, transported remotely in and out of the lift with autonomous trailer devices. The system requires empty spaces on the top and bottom of the building. An existing lift can be used to transport the containers from the lower apartments to the upper apartments to store energy and from the upper apartments to the lower apartments to generate electricity. The installed storage capacity cost is estimated at 21 to 128 USD/kWh, depending on the height of the building. LEST is particularly interesting for providing decentralized ancillary and energy storage services with daily to weekly energy storage cycles. The global potential for the technology is focused on large cities with high-rise buildings and is estimated to be around 30 to 300 GWh