Urban wastewater reuse for citrus irrigation in Algarve, Portugal—Environmental benefits and carbon fluxes

Water scarcity is increasing in the Mediterranean and alternative sources of water are needed to meet food production needs, protect the environment and reduce the effects of climate change. Currently, many urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) produce high volumes of treated effluents which can be an alternative source of water for agriculture irrigation, since they fulfill the quality requirements for crops and the environment. This work analyzed the quantity and quality of a treated effluent produced by an urban WWTP in Algarve, and the environmental benefits of its use on the irrigation of a citrus orchard, as an alternative to groundwater. Carbon dioxide emissions related to orange production were quantified and the orchard’s potential to sequester CO2 was estimated. The reuse of this urban wastewater is revealed to be technologically feasible and environmentally advantageous, avoiding the overexploitation of the local aquifer and preventing the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems, contributing to the improvement of soil characteristics and decreasing the carbon emissions in orange production. Furthermore, it was found that during the five-month experimental period, the citrus orchard sequestered 87.5% of the CO2e emitted by WWTP in the effluent treatment, converting 72,623 kg of sequestered CO2 into orange biomassinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A novel oxidovanadium(V) compound with an isonicotinohydrazide ligand: A combined experimental and theoretical study and cytotoxity against K562 cells

The interaction of oxidovanadium(V) with INHOVA (the condensation product of isoniazid and o-vanillin) lead to the formation of the ester-like complex [VO(INHOVA)EtO(OH2)]Cl·H2O (1). Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction methods were obtained. The complex crystallizes as a dimer in the space group P21/c of the monoclinic system. A detailed analysis, including solid-state vibrational spectroscopy and electronic spectroscopy in DMSO solution, was performed for both INHOVA and complex (1). A complete theoretical study based on DFT was also carried out. The calculations were of valuable assistance in the spectra assignments and interpretation. The electrochemical characterization allows determining the redox behavior of INHOVA and complex (1). Cytotoxicity was assayed against the chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line. The IC50 values obtained denote that both the ligand and complex (1) are good candidates for further studies.Fil: Gonzalez Baro, Ana Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica ; ArgentinaFil: Ferraresi Curotto, Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica ; ArgentinaFil: Pis Diez, Reinaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica ; ArgentinaFil: Parajón Costa, Beatriz Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica ; ArgentinaFil: Resende, Jackson A. L. C.. Cua/ufmt; . Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul; BrasilFil: de Paula, Flávia C. S.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Pereira Maia, Elene C.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Rey, Nicolás A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

A novel oxidovanadium(V) compound with an isonicotinohydrazide ligand: A combined experimental and theoretical study and cytotoxity against K562 cells

The interaction of oxidovanadium(V) with INHOVA (the condensation product of isoniazid and o-vanillin) lead to the formation of the ester-like complex [VO(INHOVA)EtO(OH2)]Cl·H2O (1). Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction methods were obtained. The complex crystallizes as a dimer in the space group P21/c of the monoclinic system. A detailed analysis, including solid-state vibrational spectroscopy and electronic spectroscopy in DMSO solution, was performed for both INHOVA and complex (1). A complete theoretical study based on DFT was also carried out. The calculations were of valuable assistance in the spectra assignments and interpretation. The electrochemical characterization allows determining the redox behavior of INHOVA and complex (1). Cytotoxicity was assayed against the chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line. The IC50 values obtained denote that both the ligand and complex (1) are good candidates for further studies.Centro de Química Inorgánic

Personality Traits of an Entrepreneur, Determinants of Successful Microenterprise in Ireland

Why do certain individuals become entrepreneur and are successful, whereas others do not? The researchers in the entrepreneurship field attempt to answer that question by studying the personality traits of entrepreneurs for decades. Many confirm that the personality traits have a positive correlation with entrepreneurial intention and performance. Various studies suggest that the main entrepreneurial characteristics are risk attitudes, need for achievement, internal locus of control, innovativeness, and self-efficacy. However, debate exist if the personality traits are born or inherited and if the entrepreneurs’ actions are influenced by factors such as family, culture, education and market conditions. Although these aspects will be reviewed the focus of this study is on entrepreneurs’ personality traits only. Consequently, the aim of this study is to identify which of the personality traits, and whether there are traits, that are associated with operating successful microenterprise, from a perspective of an owner-manager of an established business in Ireland. The findings of this research revealed that the participants perceive themselves as individuals who possess indirectly four out of five most cited traits in the literature, which are need for achievement, locus of control, innovativeness and self-efficacy. In addition, they mentioned ability to relate to others, being organized and perform a quality work as the most important characteristics of a successful business owner. Also, other factors of environment influenced the participants’ decision to become an entrepreneur and Ireland was perceived as an attractive country to set up a business. Still, most of the participants do not perceive themselves as a successful entrepreneur. In summary, the inconclusiveness of this study generate more questions than it provide answers, coupled with this study limitations it is suggested that additional and more extensive research is desired

Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains

Ruiz JC, D'Afonseca V, Silva A, et al. Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(4): e18551.Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings: We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions: These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829

Impaired gas exchange: accuracy of defining characteristics in children with acute respiratory infection

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of the Impaired gas exchange nursing diagnosis in children with acute respiratory infection.METHOD: open prospective cohort study conducted with 136 children monitored for a consecutive period of at least six days and not more than ten days. An instrument based on the defining characteristics of the Impaired gas exchange diagnosis and on literature addressing pulmonary assessment was used to collect data. The accuracy means of all the defining characteristics under study were computed.RESULTS: the Impaired gas exchange diagnosis was present in 42.6% of the children in the first assessment. Hypoxemia was the characteristic that presented the best measures of accuracy. Abnormal breathing presented high sensitivity, while restlessness, cyanosis, and abnormal skin color showed high specificity. All the characteristics presented negative predictive values of 70% and cyanosis stood out by its high positive predictive value.CONCLUSION: hypoxemia was the defining characteristic that presented the best predictive ability to determine Impaired gas exchange. Studies of this nature enable nurses to minimize variability in clinical situations presented by the patient and to identify more precisely the nursing diagnosis that represents the patient's true clinical condition

A list of land plants of Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil, highlights the presence of sampling gaps within this protected area

Brazilian protected areas are essential for plant conservation in the Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. A major challenge for improving conservation actions is to know the plant richness, protected by these areas. Online databases offer an accessible way to build plant species lists and to provide relevant information about biodiversity. A list of land plants of “Parque Nacional do Caparaó” (PNC) was previously built using online databases and published on the website "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil." Here, we provide and discuss additional information about plant species richness, endemism and conservation in the PNC that could not be included in the List. We documented 1,791 species of land plants as occurring in PNC, of which 63 are cited as threatened (CR, EN or VU) by the Brazilian National Red List, seven as data deficient (DD) and five as priorities for conservation. Fifity-one species were possible new ocurrences for ES and MG states