DIAGNÓSTICO AMBIENTAL DO RIO CORUMBATAÍ EM TRECHO URBANO DO MUNICÍPIO DE RIO CLARO, SP

O diagnóstico ambiental é uma importante ferramenta utilizada na previsão e na mitigação de problemas ambientais. Tendo como foco a ocupação de áreas marginais do Rio Corumbataí em um trecho urbano do município de Rio Claro (SP), o presente trabalho buscou reunir informações referentes às situações de riscos, tanto ao ambiente quanto à população, verificadas na área. Por meio da observação em campo e de estudos específicos, foram realizadas análises referentes aos aspectos geológico-geotécnicos e às características das águas superficiais e da urbanização na região. Os resultados demonstram que os problemas ambientais diagnosticados estão relacionados à falta de planejamento na ocupação da área. Além disso, as características naturais do meio físico expõem a população a riscos, como inundações e escorregamentos de solo. Palavras-chave: diagnóstico ambiental, problemas ambientais, aspectos geológico-geotécnicos, estudo hidrológico, ocupação urbana

Realizing General Education: Reconsidering Conceptions and Renewing Practice

General Education is widely touted as an enduring distinctive of higher education in the United States (Association of American Colleges and Universities, [11]; Boyer, [37]; Gaston, [86]; Zakaria, [202]). The notion that undergraduate education demands wide‐ranging knowledge is a hallmark of U.S. college graduates that international educators emulate (Blumenstyk, [25]; Rhodes, [158]; Tsui, [181]). The veracity of this distinct educational vision is supported by the fact that approximately one third of the typically 120 credits required for the bachelor\u27s degree in the United States consist of general education courses (Lattuca & Stark, [120]). Realizing a general education has been understood to be central to achieving higher education\u27s larger purposes, making it a particularly salient concern

Odderon Exchange from Elastic Scattering Differences between pp and pp−^{-} Data at 1.96 TeV and from pp Forward Scattering Measurements

We describe an analysis comparing the p¯p elastic cross section as measured by the D0 Collaboration at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV to that in pp collisions as measured by the TOTEM Collaboration at 2.76, 7, 8, and 13 TeV using a model-independent approach. The TOTEM crosssections, extrapolated to a center-of-mass energy of √s=1.96  TeV, are compared with the D0 measurement in the region of the diffractive minimum and the second maximum of the pp cross section. The two data sets disagree at the 3.4σ level and thus provide evidence for the t-channel exchange of a colorless, C-odd gluonic compound, also known as the odderon. We combine these results with a TOTEM analysis of the same C-odd exchange based on the total cross section and the ratio of the real to imaginary parts of the forward elastic strong interaction scatteringamplitude in pp scattering for which the significance is between 3.4σ and 4.6σ. The combined significance is larger than 5σ and is interpreted as the first observation of the exchange of a colorless, C-odd gluonic compound

Impact of cross-section uncertainties on supernova neutrino spectral parameter fitting in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

A primary goal of the upcoming Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is to measure the $\mathcal{O}(10)$ MeV neutrinos produced by a Galactic core-collapse supernova if one should occur during the lifetime of the experiment. The liquid-argon-based detectors planned for DUNE are expected to be uniquely sensitive to the $\nu_e$ component of the supernova flux, enabling a wide variety of physics and astrophysics measurements. A key requirement for a correct interpretation of these measurements is a good understanding of the energy-dependent total cross section $\sigma(E_\nu)$ for charged-current $\nu_e$ absorption on argon. In the context of a simulated extraction of supernova $\nu_e$ spectral parameters from a toy analysis, we investigate the impact of $\sigma(E_\nu)$ modeling uncertainties on DUNE's supernova neutrino physics sensitivity for the first time. We find that the currently large theoretical uncertainties on $\sigma(E_\nu)$ must be substantially reduced before the $\nu_e$ flux parameters can be extracted reliably: in the absence of external constraints, a measurement of the integrated neutrino luminosity with less than 10\% bias with DUNE requires $\sigma(E_\nu)$ to be known to about 5%. The neutrino spectral shape parameters can be known to better than 10% for a 20% uncertainty on the cross-section scale, although they will be sensitive to uncertainties on the shape of $\sigma(E_\nu)$. A direct measurement of low-energy $\nu_e$-argon scattering would be invaluable for improving the theoretical precision to the needed level.Comment: 25 pages, 21 figure

An Analysis and Recommendations of the Use of Social Media within the Cooperative Extension System: Opportunities, Risks, and Barriers

In recent years, social media has become a huge and integral component of how people spend their time online; from wikis to blogs and from Facebook to Twitter, people are spending enormous amounts of time on websites used to share information and connect with people. New forms of relationship building and social capital occur through social networking sites. Within Cooperative Extension, it is imperative to keep up with evolving forms of communication to connect with an ever changing audience. Interviews were conducted throughout New York and Wisconsin with educators in both rural and urban counties, with varying amounts of social media experience, and varying ages and backgrounds. A cross state study was conducted to determine if results were consistent in unique areas. Questions asked determined how Cooperative Extension is utilizing social media to connect with people in different ways, if social media was an effective communication platform, and if it is worth it for Cooperative Extension to utilize this resource. Data was collected about the uses of social media and its perceived opportunities, risks, and barriers for use. Conclusions drawn indicate people are excited about a new, free, and easy opportunity to connect with others. Concerns include time spent using social media, a perceived lack of privacy and control of the websites, and a lack of training opportunities for extension educators. As technology continues to evolve, Cooperative Extension needs to evolve as well in order to most effectively communicate with constituents

Thermophilic anaerobic biodigestion of vinasse in combined acidogenic-methanogenic systems to enhance bioenergy recovery in first generation sugarcane biorefineries

A produção de biocombustíveis apresenta-se como uma eficiente alternativa para superar as limitações econômico-ambientais inerentes à comercialização e utilização de combustíveis fósseis. O etanol caracteriza-se como um dos principais biocombustíveis alternativos, sendo as destilarias de cana-de-açúcar importantes exemplos de biorrefinarias, as quais, analogamente à indústria do petróleo, objetivam a obtenção de um espectro de (bio)produtos e/ou bioenergia a partir da biomassa vegetal. Embora nas atuais biorrefinarias de cana-de-açúcar a matéria-prima seja convertida em etanol, açúcar e eletricidade, uma fração considerável da energia da cana (como matéria orgânica) ainda é perdida na vinhaça. Potenciais impactos negativos da fertirrigação, i.e., aplicação direta da vinhaça no solo agrícola, também constituem outra relevante limitação do atual gerenciamento desta água residuária no Brasil. A biodigestão anaeróbia apresenta grande potencial de aplicação no tratamento da vinhaça, objetivando-se a redução de sua carga orgânica poluente concomitantemente à recuperação de bioenergia a partir do biogás. Embora tal processo potencialize a extração de energia da cana-de-açúcar na biorrefinaria, a literatura de referência ainda é escassa em termos da definição de parâmetros que viabilizem a implantação da biodigestão nas destilarias brasileiras. Neste contexto, neste estudo apresenta-se um panorama holístico da aplicação da biodigestão anaeróbia no tratamento da vinhaça de cana-de-açúcar, definindo-se condições operacionais para uma eficiente e estável conversão da matéria orgânica em hidrogênio e metano em sistemas em duas fases (acidogênico + metanogênico) termofílicos (55ºC). Diferentes cenários para produção de energia a partir do biogás também foram estudados a partir da aplicação de ferramentas de simulação, buscando-se fornecer aspectos técnicos, econômicos e ambientais da implantação das plantas de biodigestão da vinhaça na indústria sucroalcooleira brasileira. Em termos experimentais, os resultados mostraram a habilidade do reator acidogênico para manter produções contínuas de biohidrogênio em longo prazo (240 dias), sendo a aplicação de estratégias operacionais específicas, p.ex. controle do pH e da concentração de biomassa no reator, imperativa para recuperação dos sistemas submetidos a perdas de desempenho. Na fase metanogênica, a aplicação de cargas orgânicas crescentes (até 30 kgDQO m-3 d-1) em um reator convencional de manta de lodo e um reator de leito fixo estruturado indicou um desempenho muito superior do sistema com células aderidas, especialmente em termos da estabilidade operacional em longo prazo (240 dias). Finalmente, com relação à avaliação tecnológica da biodigestão, demostrou-se a viabilidade do escalonamento dos sistemas anaeróbios com separação de fases para o tratamento da vinhaça nas biorrefinarias de cana-de-açúcar, independentemente do tipo de uso proposto para o hidrogênio: não recuperação, venda como produto de valor agregado, produção de biohythane ou injeção no reator metanogênico. Os resultados também apontaram o papel determinante da alcalinização dos sistemas para melhorar o desempenho econômico ambiental da biodigestão, podendo superar efeitos da redução dos custos de investimento em alguns casos. Em suma, espera-se que os resultados apresentados neste trabalho sirvam como referência aos tomadores de decisão da indústria sucroalcooleira, suprindo lacunas de informações e destacando a viabilidade da implantação da biodigestão como tecnologia central para o processamento da vinhaça nas biorrefinarias de cana-de-açúcar no Brasil.The production of biofuels comprises an efficient alternative to overcome the economicenvironmental drawbacks inherent to the trade and use of fossil fuels. Ethanol is one of the main alternative biofuels, with sugarcane distilleries characterized as important examples of biorefineries, which, similarly to the oil industry, aim to obtain a spectrum of (bio)products and/or bioenergy from the vegetal biomass. Although the raw material is converted into ethanol, sugar and electricity in the current sugarcane biorefineries, a considerable fraction of the energy from sugarcane (as organic matter) is still wasted in vinasse. Potential negative impacts from fertirrigation, i.e., the direct application of vinasse into the agricultural soil, also comprise another relevant drawback of the current management of this wastewater in Brazil. Anaerobic biodigestion has great potential of application in the treatment of vinasse, aiming to reduce its polluting organic load concomitantly to the bioenergy recovery from biogas. Although this process enhances the energy extraction from sugarcane in the biorefinery, the reference literature still lacks on the definition of parameters that encourage the implementation of biodigestion in Brazilian distilleries. In this context, this study presents a holistic overview of the application of biodigestion in the treatment of sugarcane vinasse, defining operating conditions for an efficient and stable conversion of the organic matter into hydrogen and methane in two-phase (acidogenic + methanogenic) thermophilic systems (55ºC). Different scenarios for the production of bioenergy from biogas were also studied by using simulation tools, aiming to provide technical, economic and environmental aspects of the implementation of vinasse biodigestion plants in the Brazilian sucro-alcohol industry. In experimental terms, the results showed the ability of the acidogenic reactor to maintain a continuous long-term (240 days) biohydrogen production, characterizing the application of specific operating strategies, e.g. control of the pH and biomass concentration inside the reactor, as imperative for the recovery of systems subjected to performance losses. In the methanogenic phase, the application of increasing organic loadings (up to 30 kgCOD m-3 d-1) to a conventional sludge blanket reactor and a structured-bed reactor indicated a much superior performance of the adhered cell system, especially in terms of the long-term operating stability (240 days). Finally, regarding the technological assessment of the biodigestion, the feasibility of scaling-up anaerobic systems with phase separation to the treatment of vinasse in sugarcane biorefineries was demonstrated, regardless of the type of use proposed for hydrogen: non-recovery, sale as a value-added product, biohythane production or injection into the methanogenic reactor. The results also pointed out the determining role of the alkalinization of the systems to improve the economic-environmental performance of biodigestion, in order to overcome the effects of the reduction of investment costs in some cases. In short, it is expected that the results presented in this study will serve as reference to decision-makers in the sucro-alcohol industry, filling information gaps and highlighting the feasibility of implementing biodigestion

Exploring Potentials for Bioresource and Bioenergy Recovery from Vinasse, the “New” Protagonist in Brazilian Sugarcane Biorefineries

Vinasse management in biorefineries bears a burden for sugarcane industries. Despite its high potassium-related fertilizer potential, a series of negative environmental impacts is expected to occur in long-term soil applications of vinasse through fertirrigation. Conversely, a high biodegradable organic content characterizes vinasse as a potential substrate for bioresource and bioenergy recovery from numerous (bio)technological perspectives. This review presents the alternative approaches proposed for sugarcane vinasse management in Brazil, with special attention dedicated to the role of anaerobic digestion as the core conversion step. The suitability of applying phase separation, i.e., the separation of fermentation from methanogenesis in sequential reactors, is discussed in detail. Laboratory and full-scale experiences were considered to discuss the energetic potential of sugarcane vinasse through biogas generation. With a national installed capacity of up to 1603 MW, energy from vinasse could replace half of the coal-derived electricity in Brazil. Meanwhile, investing in vinasse fermentation to obtain soluble organic metabolites could provide more than 10 g L−1 of (iso)butyrate. This is the first review addressing the potential use of sugarcane vinasse in anaerobic biorefineries that discusses applications far beyond conventional biogas production, and encourages the rational use of vinasse as a raw material for bioprocesses, either in short- or long-term scenarios

Potencial contaminante e energético da vinhaça: riscos de contaminação ao solo e recursos hídricos e recuperação de energia a partir da digestão anaeróbica

A vinhaça caracteriza-se como a principal água residuária do processo produtivo do etanol, gerada especificamente na etapa de destilação da mistura alcoólica obtida na fermentação. Independentemente do tipo de matéria-prima, a vinhaça apresenta elevadas concentrações de matéria orgânica, bem como características ácidas e corrosivas. Somam-se a essas características elevadas concentrações de potássio e sulfato, além de teores apreciáveis de fósforo, nitrogênio e outros macro e micronutrientes. Atualmente praticamente todo o volume de vinhaça gerado nas destilarias brasileiras (≈13 L/LEtOH) é direcionado à ferti-irrigação das lavouras, devido ao seu caráter fertilizante. Contudo, o potencial poluente/contaminante da vinhaça caracteriza sua disposição no solo como problemática, tendo em vista prováveis impactos negativos no solo e nos recursos hídricos no caso da aplicação de dosagens inadequadas. Possíveis casos de contaminação por metais tóxicos também podem estar associados ao descarte da vinhaça. Desta forma, este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar o real potencial poluente/contaminante da vinhaça resultante do processamento da cana-deaçúcar, e as implicações de sua disposição inadequada no solo e/ou despejo em corpos d’água. Considerando a elevada concentração de matéria orgânica verificada na vinhaça, neste trabalho também avaliou-se o potencial energético, isto é, a capacidade de recuperação de energia da digestão anaeróbia aplicada ao seu tratamento. As análises foram baseadas em procedimentos experimentais e em dados obtidos na literatura. Com relação à ferti-irrigação, os principais empecilhos ao reaproveitamento da vinhaça in natura englobaram os riscos [i] de salinização do solo, devido aos elevados valores de condutividade elétrica (>6,0 dS/m) e sólidos...Stillage is characterized as the main wastewater from ethanol production, generated specifically in the step of distillation of the alcoholic media resulting from fermentation. Regardless of the feedstock, stillage contains high concentrations of organic matter, as well as acidic and corrosive characteristics. Added to these characteristics high concentrations of potassium and sulfate are present on stillage, as well as substantial levels of phosphorus, nitrogen and other macro and micronutrients. Currently almost the entire volume of stillage generated in Brazilian distilleries (13 L/LEtOH) is directed to the fertigation of the fields, due to its fertilizer character. However, the polluting/contaminant potential of stillage characterizes its land disposal as problematic, considering probable negative impacts over the soil and water resources in case of excessive dosages. Possible cases of contamination by toxic metals may also be associated to the disposal of stillage. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the real polluting/contaminant potential of sugarcane stillage, and the implications of its improper land disposal and/or discharge into water bodies. Considering the high concentration of organic matter found in stillage, in this study the energetic potential, i.e., the energy recovery capacity of anaerobic digestion applied to its treatment was also assessed. Analyses were based on experimental procedures and on data from the literature. With respect to fertigation, the main obstacles to reuse stillage in natura included risks of [i] soil salinization, due to the high electrical conductivity values (>6,0 dS/m) and high total dissolved solids content (>4000 mg/L) observed in the analyzed samples; [ii] clogging of pores and reduction in the microbial activity, in addition to the consumption of the dissolved oxygen in water... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP