Recovery of mineral dust in composite materials

This work evaluates the potential of use of mineral dust waste from stone extraction and processing industries to develop composite materials to construction sector. Actually, a high volume of mineral waste was generated, in a stone extraction and processing industries, without any type of recycling and recovery. In this work, this waste was combined with a biopolymeric material, with different mass ratios, namely 70:30 and 50:50 of mineral waste and polymeric material. To accelerate the curing process, a compression moulding process was used. After that, a several characterization tests were performed, in order to compare the main properties of the composite materials obtained with different mass ratios of mineral dust and polymeric material. The physical and mechanical tests were performed to evaluate the density, moisture absorption, flexural strength and flexural modulus. Besides that, the thermal properties were obtained using an Alambeta testing device. The experimental results show a decrease of density of the composite materials from 2.7 g cm-3 to 2.03 g cm-3, compared with virgin slate rock. In terms of mechanical performance, an increase of flexural strength from 17.1 MPa to approximately 80 MPa was verified between Viroc and the composite materials obtained. In addition to this, an HB rating on flammability test guarantees to the composite materials an excellent capacity to fire resistance. These results allow to conclude that the recycling and recovery the slate waste has a big potential of application in several areas, such as construction one.project “Fibrenamics Green -Platform for the development of innovative waste -based products”, code NORTE-01-0246-FEDER-000008, which is co-financed by the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the NORTE 2020 -North Portugal Regional Operational Program 2014 –2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Halochromic inks applied on cardboard for food spoilage monitorization

Control of food spoilage is a critical concern in the current world scenario, not only to ensure the quality and safety of food but also to avoid the generation of food waste. This paper evaluates a dual-sensor strategy using six different pH indicators stamped on cardboard for the detection of spoilage in three different foods: beef, salmon, and strawberries. After function validation and formulation optimizations in the laboratory, the halochromic sensors methyl orange and bromocresol purple 2% (w/v) were stamped on cardboard and, in contact with the previously mentioned foods, were able to produce an easily perceptible signal for spoilage by changing color. Additionally, when it comes to mechanical characterization the inks showed high abrasion (>100 cycles) and adhesion resistance (>91%).This research was funded by P2020, under individual project SI I&DT nº POCI-01-0247-FEDER-045258, entitled as “TechPack–Embalagens de cartão inteligentes com sistemas integrados de identificação e deteção de temperatura, microrganismos e degradação de alimentos”

BALANÇO HÍDRICO CLIMATOLÓGICO MENSAL E CLASSIFICAÇÃO CLIMÁTICA DE KÖPPEN E THORNTHWAITE PARA O MUNICÍPIO DE RIO VERDE, GOIÁS

Objetivou-se com este trabalho calcular o balanço hídrico climatológico (BHC) mensal bem como aplicar os sistemas de classificação climática (SCC) de Köppen e de Thornthwaite para o município de Rio Verde, Goiás. Para elaboração do BHC utilizou-se dados de precipitação e temperatura média mensal referente ao período de 2004 a 2018. Adotou-se a capacidade de água disponível no solo de 100 mm. Realizou-se a classificação climática utilizando a metodologia de Köppen e a partir de valores obtidos dos índices: hídrico (Ih), de aridez (Ia) e de umidade (Iu) proposto pelo método de Thornthwaite. O município de Rio Verde, GO apresenta período de estiagem entre os meses de maio e setembro, onde foi observada deficiência hídrica (DEF) total anual de 217,2. O excedente hídrico (EXC) foi de 607,2 mm/ano e os meses de outubro e novembro foram marcados como período de reposição de água no solo. O EXC ocorreu, historicamente, a partir do dia 20/11. O município de Rio Verde, GO se caracterizou como clima Aw Tropical com estação seca no inverno pela classificação de Köppen e B1 w A’, subtipo climático a’ de clima megatérmico úmido com DEF moderada no inverno pela classificação de Thornthwaite.

Dimensões de bulbo molhado em sistema de irrigação por gotejamento

The study on wet bulb is recommended as part of the water management and dimensioning in localized irrigation system. The research had the objective to evaluate the formation of wet bulb in a medium-textured soil under superficial drip irrigation, in the initial condition of dry soil. To this end, we used a drip irrigation system, TalDrip model, with nominal diameter of 17 mm, maximum working pressure of 9 mwc, with indicated flow rate of 1.7 L h -1, drippers spaced by 30 cm, supplied by a water tank. To control the pressure, 2 glycerin manometers and a ½ hp pump were used. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design, in which the plot consisted of four operating pressures (2, 4, 6 and 8 mwc) and the subplots, of four irrigation times (0.5; 1; 1.5 and 2 hours). A randomized block design (RBD) was used, with four replicates. The analyzed variables were superficial diameter, maximum diameter, maximum depth and flow rate, in the trench method. The time of application and the operating pressure have effect on the mean flow rate, mean diameter and superficial diameter.O estudo de bulbo molhado é recomendado como parte do manejo de água e dimensionamento em sistema de irrigação localizada. A pesquisa teve o objetivo avaliar a formação do bulbo molhado, em solo de textura média, sob irrigação por gotejamento superficial, na condição inicial de solo seco. Para tal, utilizou-se um sistema de irrigação por gotejamento, modelo taldrip, com diâmetro nominal 17 mm, pressão máxima de trabalho de 9 mca, com vazão indicada de 1,7 L h -1 , espaçados em 30 cm, abastecidos por depósito de água. Para regular a pressão foram utilizados 2 manômetros de glicerina e bomba de 1/2 cv. O experimento foi instalado no esquema de parcela subdividida, em que, a parcela constituiu as quatro pressões de serviço (2, 4, 6 e 8 mca), e as subparcelas, quatro tempo de irrigação (0,5; 1; 1,5 e 2 horas). O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados (DBC), com quatro repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram diâmetro superficial, diâmetro máximo, profundidade máxima e vazão, no método da trincheira. O tempo de aplicação e a pressão de serviço tem efeito sobre a vazão média, diâmetro médio e diâmetro superficial

Produção e partição de biomassa na cultura do girassol submetido ao déficit hídrico

The great importance of sunflower cultivation is due to the excellent quality of the edible oil that is extracted from its seed, is still tapped in animal feed, for what if obtain elevated productivity is necessary managements based in the local characteristics. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of water replacement levels on the production and biomass participation of sunflower cultivars. We conducted the experiment in a greenhouse, located in the Federal Institute of Goiás, Rio Verde Campus. The variables analyzed were partition of biomass of chapter, leaves+stem and root, total production of achenes, weight of achenes full and weight of achenes voids. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme with 3 replicates, were five levels of water replenishment (RH) (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of RWC) and three cultivars C) of Atlântica Sementes LTDA (Charrua, Aguará - 6 and Olissun - 3). There was a significant effect in relation to water replenishment (RH) and cultivars (C), no significant result was observed for the interaction HR x C. The cultivar Charrua presented higher values for biomass of the root, participation of achenes, participation of full achenes and participation of achenes achy, being more tolerant to the water deficit. The cultivar Aguará - 6 showed a larger partition of leaf + stem biomass. We found higher production of achenes filled in 100% water replenishment. The filling of achenes depends significantly on the partition of biomass from leaf + stem and strand.A grande importância da cultura do girassol deve-se principalmente à excelente qualidade do óleo que se extrai de sua semente e na sua utilização como alimentação animal, no entanto, para que se obtenha produtividades elevadas, faz-se necessário a adoção de manejos hídricos adequados em função das características edafoclimaticas locais e da planta. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de níveis de reposição hídrica sobre a produção e participação de biomassa de cultivares de girassol. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação climatizada, localizado no Instituto Federal Goiano, Campus de Rio Verde. As variáveis respostas foram partição de biomassa do capítulo, das folhas+caule e da raiz, produção total de aquênios, peso de aquênios cheios e peso de aquênios chochos. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 5 x 3 com 3 repetições, sendo, cinco níveis de reposição do hídrica (RH) (20, 40, 60, 80 e 100% da CRA) e três cultivares (C) da Atlântica Sementes LTDA (Charrua, Aguará – 6 e Olissun – 3). Ocorreu efeito significativo em relação a reposição hídrica (RH) e cultivares (C), não foi observado resultado significativo para a interação RH x C. A cultivar Charrua apresentou maiores valores para biomassa da raiz, participação de aquênios, participação de aquênios cheios e participação de aquênios chochos, mostrando ser mais tolerante ao déficit hídrico. A cultivar Aguará – 6 apresentou maior partição de biomassa das folha+caule. A maior produção de aquênios cheios foi verificada na reposição hídrica de 100%. O enchimento de aquênios depende significativamente da partição de biomassa de folha+caule e capítulo

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks