Reference Structure Model for Degree Alert Classification During Seasonal Hydrological Events for Humanitarian Assistence in the Brazilian Amazon

AbstractRecent events in the rivers of the Amazon region show the distinct need for concern in this region and the vulnerability of the Amazonian people in regards to these events. Organizations for humanitarian aid developed procedures in the Amazon region. But to what extent are these actions effective if little is done prior to disasters? This work seeks to develop a frame of reference for classifying alertness in cities likely to suffer from flooding and ebbing of the hydrographic network in the Amazon Basin. The objective is to serve warning to the riverside communities in the state of Amazonas, establish future provisions of supplies and to form a solid database of information concerning the needs and impacts of these events, hence creating a historical record

Cell recycling during repeated very high gravity bio-ethanol fermentations using the industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain PE-2

A very high gravity (VHG) repeatedbatch fermentation system using an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PE-2 (isolated from sugarcane-to-ethanol distillery in Brazil) and mimicking industrially relevant conditions (high inoculation rates and low O2 availability) was successfully operated during fifteen consecutive fermentation cycles, attaining ethanol at 17.1 ± 0.2% (v/v) with a batch productivity of 3.5 ± 0.04 g l-1 h-1. Moreover, this innovative operational strategy (biomass refreshing step) prevented critical decreases on yeast viability levels and promoted high accumulation of intracellular glycerol and trehalose, which can provide an adaptive advantage to yeast cells under harsh industrial environments. This study contributes to the improvement of VHG fermentation processes by exploring an innovative operational strategy that allows attaining very high ethanol titres without a critical decrease of the viability level thus minimizing the production costs due to energy savings during the distillation process.The authors thank COPAM-Companhia Portuguesa de Amidos SA (Portugal) for kindly providing the CSL, and Rosane Schwan (Federal University of Lavras, Brazil) for kindly providing the PE-2 yeast strain. The financial support of Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, is acknowledged: project ProBioethanol PTDC/BIO/66151/2006, grant SFRH/BD/64776/2009 to F. B. Pereira and grant SFRH/BPD/44328/2008 to P. M. R. Guimaraes

Plasmid-mediate transfer of FLO-1 into industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae PE-2 strain creates a strain useful for repeat-batch fermentations involving flocculation-sedimentation

The flocculation gene FLO1 was transferred into the robust industrial strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae PE-2 by the lithium acetate method. The recombinant strain showed a fermentation performance similar to that of the parental strain. In 10 repeat-batch cultivations in VHG medium with 345 g glucose/L and cell recycling by flocculation–sedimentation, an average final ethanol concentration of 142 g/L and an ethanol productivity of 2.86 g/L/h were achieved. Due to the flocculent nature of the recombinant strain it is possible to reduce the ethanol production cost because of lower centrifugation and distillation costs.The authors thank COPAM - Companhia Portuguesa de Amidos S.A. (Portugal) for kindly providing the CSL, Rosane Schwan (Federal University of Lavras, Brazil) for kindly providing the PE-2 yeast strain and Merja Penttila (VTT, Finland) for plasmids pET13.1 and pBR-ADH1-FL01. The financial support of Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, is acknowledged. Project ProBioethano

A new production method of long-cane blackberry plants

Blackberry production is increasing worldwide and the search for new production systems has been ceaseless. Considering the extension of vegetative growth, from March until November, in mild winter climates regions huge cane lengths are obtained. Considering this feature, a trial with nine blackberry cultivars of different types, (‘Olallie’, ‘Silvan’, ‘Karaka Black’, ‘Kotata’, ‘Boysenberry’, ‘Ouachita’, ‘Loch Tay’, ‘Chester Thornless’ and ‘Logan Thornless’) was conducted in order to evaluate cultivar suitability for double cropping production, in season from floricanes (spring) and off season (late autumn) from long-canes. For each cultivar two cutting treatments were preformed, floricane suppression and no cutting. Plants grown without floricanes produced primocanes that had significantly greater cane lengths and node number but lower diameters. Relatively to rooting treatments, ‘Logan Thornless’ didn´t rooted in any treatment. In all other cultivars, simple layering was the treatment which produced longer long-canes, except for ‘Ouachita’ where best results were obtained from layering 20 cm tipped primocanes. Considering the response of each cultivar to this new production system and their behavior in south-west Alentejo, the most adapted cultivars in each blackberry type were: ‘Karaka Black’ and ‘Olallie’ for trailing type, ‘Boysenberry’ for hybrids, ‘Ouachita’ to erect types and lastly ‘Chester Thornless’ to semi-erect type

Water requirement and yield of fig trees under different drip irrigation management.

This work aimed to study the effect of drip irrigation management on growth and yield of the 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree (Ficus carica L.), at three years old, and to determine crop coefficients (Kc) and its water requirement (ETc) under Baixada Fluminense climate and soil conditions, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study was carried out in the experimental area of SIPA (Sistema Integrado de Produção Agroecológica) in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro State, from July 2011 to May 2012. The experimental area was divided in two blocks, named B1 (sandy clay loam texture) and B2 (loamy sand texture). In each block, irrigation frequencies (IF) of two (T1) and four days (T2) were evaluated, as well as the irrigation absence (T3). Irrigation management and water consumption determination were performed through the soil water balance, using the TDR technique. Plant growth was not affected by IF, differing only in the number of produced internodes. For both soil textures, the mean Kc was 0.60, with a significant difference (p<0.05) only for IF. The estimated mean yield showed no significant differences between both textural classes, ranging from 6,612 kg ha-1 (T3) to 8,554 kg ha-1 (T1). This study indicates the importance of irrigation frequency in the irrigation management of fig trees cultivated in soils with different physical characteristics

Espacialização da precipitação e erosividade na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Dourados - MS.

A distribuição da precipitação numa bacia hidrográfica durante o ano é um dos fatores determinantes para quantificar a necessidade de irrigação de culturas e de abastecimento de água doméstico e industrial, além de estudos para o controle de inundações e da erosão do solo. O potencial da chuva em causar erosão hídrica pode ser avaliado por meio de índices que se baseiam nas características físicas das chuvas de cada região, entre os quais se destacam índice de erosividade. Analisaram-se, neste trabalho, a espacialização da precipitação pluvial e o índice de erosividade médio anual e mensal na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Dourados. Analisando os resultados obtidos, foi possível concluir que: o regime de precipitação apresenta oscilação unimodal, com período chuvoso compreendido entre os meses de outubro e março; todos os meses da estação chuvosa apresentam drásticas reduções da precipitação média; a erosividade média anual variou de 3.192,0 a 4.977,0 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 ano-1; e os meses de dezembro a janeiro apresentam os maiores riscos de ocorrência de perdas de solo por erosão hídrica

Assessment of Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Contributions in an Extreme Intensity CrossFit® Benchmark Workout

Our purpose was to characterize the oxygen uptake kinetics (VO 2), energy systems contributions and total energy expenditure during a CrossFit ® benchmark workout performed in the extreme intensity domain. Fourteen highly trained male CrossFitters, aged 28.3 ± 5.4 years, with height 177.8 ± 9.4 cm, body mass 87.9 ± 10.5 kg and 5.6 ± 1.8 years of training experience, performed the Isabel workout at maximal exertion. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured at baseline, during exercise and the recovery period, with blood lactate and glucose concentrations, including the ratings of perceived exertion, measured pre- and post-workout. The Isabel workout was 117 ± 10 s in duration and the VO 2 peak was 47.2 ± 4.7 mL·kg -1·min -1, the primary component amplitude was 42.0 ± 6.0 mL·kg -1·min -1, the time delay was 4.3 ± 2.2 s and the time constant was 14.2 ± 6.0 s. The accumulated VO 2 (0.6 ± 0.1 vs. 4.8 ± 1.0 L·min -1) value post-workout increased substantially when compared to baseline. Oxidative phosphorylation (40%), glycolytic (45%) and phosphagen (15%) pathways contributed to the 245 ± 25 kJ total energy expenditure. Despite the short ~2 min duration of the Isabel workout, the oxygen-dependent and oxygen-independent metabolism energy contributions to the total metabolic energy release were similar. The CrossFit ® Isabel requires maximal effort and the pattern of physiological demands identifies this as a highly intensive and effective workout for developing fitness and conditioning for sports. </p