Using biogas produced in landfill for electricity generation in a Brazilian state to a horizon of 2050.

Generally, urbanization processes occur in a disorderly way, especially in developing countries, and are characterized as one of the most aggressive human interaction with the environment. In the State of Minas Gerais, which consists of 853 municipalities organized in 17 Development Territories, approximately 85.3% of the population live in urban areas, evidencing the need for a good management of energy resources and an adequate disposal of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). In this context, one feasible possibility is the use of biogas from landfills, which aggregates solutions for both MSW management and electricity generation, as it is being analysed in this work. The methodology proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was used, which is generally based on population expansion in urban areas, as well as the rate of MSW per capita, considering the different arrangements of gravimetric composition. Next, the potential of electricity generation was presented considering the energy conversion efficiencies of four technological routes. The results showed that the use of motors as energy conversion technology presents the greatest technical feasibility for the implementation of such projects, reaching theoretical values of generation of up to 2,237.06 MWh / day in 2050

Apendicite aguda: a percepção dos médicos assistencialistas

O apêndice vermiforme órgão de morfologia tubular e fundo cego, pode ser acometido pelo processo patológico conhecido como apendicite aguda, a qual tem elevada prevalência na população e corresponde à grande incidência de intervenções cirúrgicas. Essa patologia decorre de uma obstrução da luz desse órgão por diversas possíveis causas, sendo por fecálitos a principal. Essa obstrução pode resultar em ulceração da mucosa, gangrena e a ruptura de sua parede, comprometendo, de forma infecciosa e inflamatória, o peritônio. A gravidade do prognóstico piora com a evolução da doença, tendo importância o diagnóstico e a terapêutica precoce. Com base no exposto, o objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a percepção dos médicos acerca dos seus métodos diagnósticos e terapêuticos preferenciais a respeito dessa patologia e suas demais percepções sobre esse tema. Essa pesquisa foi aprovada pelo comitê de ética e pesquisa para sua realização. Foram empregados questionários preparados no Google Forms com divulgação desse por meio de instrumentos da internet destinados a médicos que atuam na terapêutica da apendicite aguda. Os dados obtidos foram tabulados por meio do programa Excel para constatação dos resultados obtidos.  A faixa etária de maior frequência entre os participantes corresponde a 31 a 35 anos e 36 a 40 anos. O tempo médio de formados foi de 11 anos. A especialidade mais prevalente observada no questionário foi cirurgia geral. A quantidade de apendicectomias realizadas pelos participantes foi de mais de 101 procedimentos. O sintoma característico da apendicite, auxiliar no diagnóstico, foi de dor em fossa ilíaca direita seguido por náusea e vômitos. O exame mais citado foi o Hemograma, sendo que como de imagem, o mais prevalente foi a tomografia computadorizada. A complicação de maior prevalência observada foi a infecção de ferida operatória. A maioria dos voluntários informou que prescreve antibióticos apenas casos específicos. Com relação ao tempo de espera entre o diagnóstico e a realização do procedimento, a maioria dos participantes informou que não é uma prática comum deixar o procedimento para o dia seguinte, porém, a segunda resposta mais citada foi a de aguardar o dia seguinte “devido a mais de uma razão”. A frequência em que, ao realizar o procedimento cirúrgico, o diagnóstico de apendicite aguda não se confirmou, foi a mais citada entre os médicos participantes que informaram que, ainda assim, a cirurgia “ocorreu e o apêndice foi removido”. A videolaparoscopia foi o método terapêutico com maior número de escolhas. Quanto à solicitação de exames de imagem para a confirmação diagnóstica a maioria dos voluntários apontou que a realiza “frequentemente” e, a segunda resposta mais escolhida entre os respondentes foi “em todos os casos”. Assim, os dados apontam que a apendicectomia é uma prática cirúrgica frequente entre os profissionais, sendo que a videolaparoscopia foi o método cirúrgico de escolha da maioria, independente do tempo de atuação do cirurgião. A conduta perante o uso da antibioticoterapia no sistema particular de saúde é mais frequentemente utilizada do que quando comparadas ao seu uso no sistema público. Além disso, quase todos os médicos constataram que já presenciaram casos de apendicectomia negativa, o que evidencia a importância de um diagnóstico preciso. Entretanto, é surpreendente que mesmo com todos os dados já comprovados pela literatura de que diagnóstico e tratamento precoces estão relacionados a menor índice de complicações, ainda 65% dos cirurgiões relatam o adiamento dessa cirurgia do dia para a noite

Cardiac magnetic resonance predictors of left ventricular remodelling following acute ST elevation myocardial infarction: The VavirimS study

Left ventricular (LV) remodelling (REM) ensuing after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), has typically been studied by echocardiography, which has limitations, or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in early phase that may overestimate infarct size (IS) due to tissue edema and stunning. This prospective, multicenter study investigated LV-REM performing CMR in the subacute phase, and 6 months after STEMI

Identification of Eimeria spp. in domestic chickens raised in alternative poultry production systems in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract The objective of this study was to identify Eimeria spp. in alternative poultry production systems (APPS) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Fecal samples (168) and DNA extracted from fecal samples obtained in APPS located in different Municipalities in the State of São Paulo (93) were examined by microscopy or genera-specific PCR (ITS-1 locus). Samples positive for Eimeria spp. were examined using Eimeria lata, Eimeria nagambie, and Eimeria zaria species-specific PCR protocols (ITS-2 locus) and another E. lata-specific PCR (candidate IMP1 genomic locus) followed by molecular cloning (E. lata and E. zaria ITS-2 amplicons) and genetic sequencing. All positive DNA samples were also submitted to genera-specific nested PCR (18S rRNA gene) followed by next-generation sequencing to identify Eimeria spp. Eimeria nagambie, E. zaria, and Eimeria sp. were identified by ITS2-targeted species-specific PCRs and genetic sequencing. Next-generation sequencing identified, in order of prevalence: E. nagambie; Eimeria acervulina; Eimeria mivati; Eimeria praecox; Eimeria brunetti; Eimeria mitis; Eimeria sp.; Eimeria maxima; E. zaria, and Eimeria necatrix/tenella. Our results confirmed, for the first time in Brazil, the identification of E. nagambie, E. zaria, and Eimeria spp. ITS-2 and 18S rRNA gene sequences not yet described in Brazil

The large area detector onboard the eXTP mission

The Large Area Detector (LAD) is the high-throughput, spectral-timing instrument onboard the eXTP mission, a flagship mission of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China National Space Administration, with a large European participation coordinated by Italy and Spain. The eXTP mission is currently performing its phase B study, with a target launch at the end-2027. The eXTP scientific payload includes four instruments (SFA, PFA, LAD and WFM) offering unprecedented simultaneous wide-band X-ray timing and polarimetry sensitivity. The LAD instrument is based on the design originally proposed for the LOFT mission. It envisages a deployed 3.2 m2 effective area in the 2-30 keV energy range, achieved through the technology of the large-area Silicon Drift Detectors - offering a spectral resolution of up to 200 eV FWHM at 6 keV - and of capillary plate collimators - limiting the field of view to about 1 degree. In this paper we will provide an overview of the LAD instrument design, its current status of development and anticipated performance

Potential for a Circular Autopoietic Economy on Canavese Territory

The aim of this gigamap is to describe and summarize a student work carried out during the semester course Open Systems Design at Politecnico Torino. The map is one of the outputs from an analysis of the Canavese, Piedmont region and subsequently an in-depth study of the relationships and “flows” with certain “currencies” between some selected economic and public actors. Canavese is a historical-geographical area located in the province of Turin, Italy; it’s full of great natural and geological spots, with a strong enogastronomic identity, historical re-enactments, a well-known manufacture sector like the ceramic of Castellamonte, as well as the leading high-tech branch like Arduino. Through the approach deriving from systemic design, it was possible to identify some strategies for the creation of new networks aimed at transforming the economy and production processes from linear to circular approach. Five types of “circular flows” were assessed and “designed into” the current linear system, thus proposing an improved economy based on circularity: flows of matter (energy/CO2, water, materials), economic flows, and social flows. The Gigamap will be presented to stakeholders in a public hearing and supposedly be used to illustrate and incubate a circular economy that is more resilient and more regenerative. Reading the map The reading should start at the top left, where the abstract is located, next, there is an outline that shows the connections between the five topics investigated. Subsequently, there is a timeline with some fundamental events in the history of the Canavese. In the center there is the circularity map with the main cities, focusing on new opportunities of circular flows between the 15 analysed economic actors. At the bottom, some general data and on the right a brief description of the role and territorial qualities of the companies. Lastly, there is a summary of the emerging properties

ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ