8,486 research outputs found
Guidelines for the management of winery wastewaters
RAMIRAN International ConferenceThe purpose of this paper is to present recommendations for the management of winery WW, and its final
disposal. These recommendations are intended to assist in developing a strategic plan for waste management that
will facilitate compliance with environmental regulations
Aerobic treatment of winery wastewater with the aim of water reuse
An air micro-bubble bioreactor (AMBB) using a free self-adapted microbial population, 15dm3
working volume, was used for aerobic treatment of winery wastewater. This reactor utilizes
a Venturi injector in conjunction with mass transfer multiplier nozzles, which allow an efficient
oxygen transfer. The reactor can operate in batch or continuous conditions. The dynamics of
chemical oxygen demand (COD), biomass and total contents of polyphenolic compounds was
followed throughout each trial. The wastewater COD ranged between 4.0–8.0 kgCODm23
and the efficiency of the batch treatment was about 90.0 ^ 4.3%, after 6 days of operation.
The maximum efficiency obtained was achieved after 15 days of treatment (99%).
In continuous conditions, the loading rate and the treatment efficiency ranged between
0.45–1.00 kgCODm23 d21 and 93.3 ^ 2.0%, respectively. The AMBB hydraulic retention
time was 15 days. To assess the suitability of treated water in relation to vineyard irrigation,
the effluent was physico-chemical analysed and direct toxicity bioassays with effluent matrix
were carried out using Lepidium sativum L. seeds. The results showed the water quality required
to be reutilised minimizing water consumption. This study will contribute for the implementation
of an efficient water use plan, aiming the preservation of the water resource and the reduction
of the wastewater productio
Gestão da biodiversidade e produção agrÃcola: o Cerrado goiano.
Este trabalho procura realizar uma reflexão sobre os processos e polÃticas ambientais e de gestão da biodiversidade relacionados com o ecossistema do Cerrado. Para tanto, realiza uma sÃntese do significado desse ecossistema, procura resgatar alguns conteúdos históricos relacionados à ocupação desse território e busca identificar os principais atores e tensões sociais envolvidos no processo que define o atual padrão ambiental do mesmo. Para que, em uma visão sistêmica, o processo de ocupação do Cerrado de Goiás possa ser melhor compreendido, foi feito um esforço para demonstrar o arcabouço institucional e legal, no âmbito federal e estadual, e as possÃveis formas de gestão relacionadas com o manejo da biodiversidade local
Evolution of hybrid robotic controllers for complex tasks
We propose an approach to the synthesis of hierarchical control systems comprising both evolved and manually programmed control for autonomous robots. We recursively divide the goal task into sub-tasks until a solution can be evolved or until a solution can easily be programmed by hand. Hierarchical composition of behavior allows us to overcome the fundamental challenges that typically prevent evolutionary robotics from being applied to complex tasks: bootstrapping the evolutionary process, avoiding deception, and successfully transferring control evolved in simulation to real robotic hardware. We demonstrate the proposed approach by synthesizing control systems for two tasks whose complexity is beyond state of the art in evolutionary robotics. The first task is a rescue task in which all behaviors are evolved. The second task is a cleaning task in which evolved behaviors are combined with a manually programmed behavior that enables the robot to open doors in the environment. We demonstrate incremental transfer of evolved control from simulation to real robotic hardware, and we show how our approach allows for the reuse of behaviors in different tasks.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Beyond onboard sensors in robotic swarms: Local collective sensing through situated communication
The constituent robots in swarm robotics systems are typically equipped with relatively simple, onboard sensors of limited quality and range. When robots have the capacity to communicate with one another, communication has so far been exclusively used for coordination. In this paper, we present a novel approach in which
local, situated communication is leveraged to overcome the sensory limitations of the individual robots. In
our approach, robots share sensory inputs with neighboring robots, thereby effectively extending each other’s
sensory capabilities. We evaluate our approach in a series of experiments in which we evolve controllers for
robots to capture mobile preys. We compare the performance of (i) swarms that use our approach, (ii) swarms
in which robots use only their limited onboard sensors, and (iii) swarms in which robots are equipped with
ideal sensors that provide extended sensory capabilities without the need for communication. Our results show
that swarms in which local communication is used to extend the sensory capabilities of the individual robots
outperform swarms in which only onboard sensors are used. Our results also show that in certain experimental
configurations, the performance of swarms using our approach is close to the performance of swarms with
ideal sensors.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Evolving controllers for robots with multimodal locomotion
Animals have inspired numerous studies on robot locomotion, but the problem of how autonomous robots can learn to take advantage of multimodal locomotion remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we study how a robot with two different means of locomotion can effective learn when to use each one based only on the limited information it can obtain through its onboard sensors. We conduct a series of simulation-based experiments using a task where a wheeled robot capable of jumping has to navigate to a target destination as quickly as possible in environments containing obstacles. We apply evolutionary techniques to synthesize neural controllers for the robot, and we analyze the evolved behaviors. The results show that the robot succeeds in learning when to drive and when to jump. The results also show that, compared with unimodal locomotion, multimodal locomotion allows for simpler and higher performing behaviors to evolve.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Challenges for modern wine production in dry areas: dedicated indicators to preview wastewater flows
Wine production is an important socio-economic activity in Mediterranean countries. This study is
focused on wine production under warm and dry climate conditions in south Portugal, in two
major wine-producing regions (Tejo and Alentejo), characterized by small to medium sized
wineries. Vineyards have been expanding in this region of Portugal, where about 50–70% of the
vineyards are irrigated, increasing regional water demand. The aim of this study is to propose an
integrative approach for wine production, where a simple calculation model has been developed
and validated to preview water consumption and wastewater production, as functions of
winemaking periods and type of processed grapes. Results revealed a global ratio of 2.2 ±0.45
and 2.1 ±0.17 Lwater/Lwine. Concerning dedicated indicators, 60–75% of the wastewater was
produced during Period I and the red wine production represented a 50–64% increase in water
consumption. This tool will enable winemakers to calculate Global and Dedicated Indicators,
based on their own parameters, which provide information on flow volumes and peak flows.
In this context, it will be possible to identify improvements for wastewater treatment and
management towards water reuse as a promising solution for the wine sector in the framework
of the circular economyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Application of a Latent Transition Model to Estimate the Usual Prevalence of Dietary Patterns
Background: This study aims to derive habitual dietary patterns of the Portuguese adult population by applying two methodological approaches: a latent class model and a latent transition model. The novel application of the latent transition model allows us to determine the day-to-day variability of diet and to calculate the usual prevalence of dietary patterns. Methods: Participants are from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese population, 2015-2016 (2029 women; 1820 men, aged >= 18 years). Diet was collected by two 24 h dietary recalls (8-15 days apart). Dietary patterns were derived by: (1) a latent class model using the arithmetic mean of food weigh intake, with concomitant variables (age and sex); (2) a latent transition model allowing the transition from one pattern to another, with the same concomitant variables. Results: Six dietary patterns were identified by a latent class model. By using a latent transition model, three dietary patterns were identified: "In-transition to Western" (higher red meat and alcohol intake; followed by middle-aged men), "Western" (higher meats/eggs and energy-dense foods intake; followed by younger men), and "Traditional-Healthier" (higher intake of fruit, vegetables and fish, characteristic of older women). Most individuals followed the same pattern on both days, but around 26% transited between "In-transition to Western" and "Western". The prevalence of the dietary patterns using a single recall day (40%, 27%, 33%, respectively) is different from the usual prevalence obtained by the latent transition probabilities (48%, 36%, 16%). Conclusion: Three dietary patterns, largely dependent on age and sex, were identified for the Portuguese adult population: "In-transition to Western" (48%), "Western" (36%), and "Traditional-Healthier" (16%), but 26% were transient between patterns. Dietary patterns are, in general, deviating from traditional habits
Phylogenetic Grouping by PCR Analyses of \u3ci\u3eSinorhizobium meliloti\u3c/i\u3e Strains Isolated from Eutrophic Soil
This study evaluated the ability of Sinorhizobium meliloti strains (SEMIA-116, SEMIA- 134 and SEMIA-135) to persist in eutrophic soils after three complete growing cycles of alfalfa. PCR fingerprinting using primers for the nifH, Eric, Rep, RP genes and P25 RAPD-PCR performed the phylogenetic grouping of the three commercial strains and 39 field isolates. These analyzes were sufficiently sensitive to discriminate and group the strains and isolate. Our preliminary studies were based upon Eric primers and RP01 RAPD-PCR
Intra-urban variation in tuberculosis and community socioeconomic deprivation in Lisbon metropolitan area: a Bayesian approach
Background: Multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a recognized threat to global efforts to TB control and remains a priority of the National Tuberculosis Programs. Additionally, social determinants and socioeconomic deprivation have since long been associated with worse health and perceived as important risk factors for TB. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of non-MDR-TB and MDR-TB across parishes of the Lisbon metropolitan area of Portugal and to estimate the association between non-MDR-TB and MDR-TB and socioeconomic deprivation. Methods: In this study, we used hierarchical Bayesian spatial models to analyze the spatial distribution of notification of non-MDR-TB and MDR-TB cases for the period from 2000 to 2016 across 127 parishes of the seven municipalities of the Lisbon metropolitan area (Almada, Amadora, Lisboa, Loures, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra), using the Portuguese TB Surveillance System (SVIG-TB). In order to characterise the populations, we used the European Deprivation Index for Portugal (EDI-PT) as an indicator of poverty and estimated the association between non-MDR-TB and MDR-TB and socioeconomic deprivation. Results: The notification rates per 10,000 population of non-MDR TB ranged from 18.95 to 217.49 notifications and that of MDR TB ranged from 0.83 to 3.70. We identified 54 high-risk areas for non-MDR-TB and 13 high-risk areas for MDR-TB. Parishes in the third [relative risk (RR) = 1.281, 95% credible interval (CrI): 1.021–1.606], fourth (RR = 1.786, 95% CrI: 1.420–2.241) and fifth (RR = 1.935, 95% CrI: 1.536–2.438) quintile of socioeconomic deprivation presented higher non-MDR-TB notifications rates. Parishes in the fourth (RR = 2.246, 95% CrI: 1.374–3.684) and fifth (RR = 1.828, 95% CrI: 1.049–3.155) quintile of socioeconomic deprivation also presented higher MDR-TB notifications rates. Conclusions: We demonstrated significant heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of both non-MDR-TB and MDR-TB at the parish level and we found that socioeconomically disadvantaged parishes are disproportionally affected by both non-MDR-TB and MDR-TB. Our findings suggest that the emergence of MDR-TB and transmission are specific from each location and often different from the non-MDR-TB settings. We identified priority areas for intervention for a more efficient plan of control and prevention of non-MDR-TB and MDR-TB. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2022, The Author(s).This work has been funded by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020, UIDP/50026/2020 and PTDC/SAU-PUB/29521/2017. This study was also supported by FEDER through the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization and national funding through the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education) under the Unidade de Investigação em Epidemiologia—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (UIDB/04750/2020). Ana Isabel Ribeiro was supported by National Funds through FCT, under the programme of ‘Stimulus of Scientific Employment—Individual Support’ within the contract CEECIND/02386/2018
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