Aggregate breakdown and dispersion of soil samples amended with sugarcane vinasse

Soil aggregation is a very complex issue related to important soil attributes and processes. The aggregate breakdown and dispersion of soil samples amended with sugarcane vinasse were evaluated using ultrasonic energy. Vinasse is an important byproduct of sugarcane industries, intensively applied to soils in Brazil as liquid fertilizer. Samples of two Oxisols and one Ultisol were used in this study. The physical and chemical characterization of soils was performed, and the 1 to 2 mm size aggregates (200 g) were packed in PVC columns (6.0 cm high and 4.0 cm internal diameter) and incubated with sugarcane vinasse under lab conditions for 1, 30 and 60 days. After incubation, aggregates were submitted to levels of ultrasonic energy, and the particle size distribution (53 to 2,000 µm, 2 to 53 µm, and < 2 µm fractions) was quantified. Mathematical equations were used to relate the mass of aggregates in each of these fractions to the applied ultrasonic energy, and parameters related to aggregate stability were then obtained. Soils showed an aggregate-hierarchy resulting in a stepwise breakdown under ultrasonic agitation. Considering this soil-aggregation hierarchy, vinasse contributed even in a short time to the bonding between and within 2 to 53 µm aggregates, mainly in the Oxisols. This may be related to organic compounds present in the vinasse, cementing soil particles. Potassium enrichment of soil samples did not contribute to soil dispersion

Pregnancy, puerperium and cerebrovascular disease

Six patients who presented cerebrovascular disease during puerperium or pregnancy were studied. One of them presented hemorrhagic stroke caused by intracerebral bleeding due to pre-eclampsia. Three patients presented ischemic stroke, they all had positive serologic reactions for Chagas' disease, but only two of them had clinical cardiopathy; one of these patients had anticardiolipin antibody. The other two patients presented cerebral venous thrombosis of sagittal sinus. Both were smokers and one of them used oral contraceptive. We emphasize the importance of clinical investigation to seek for the common causes of cerebrovascular disease in young people, with special attention to Chagas disease in Brazil.Foram estudadas seis pacientes com doenças cerebrovasculares no período gravídico-puerperal. Uma apresentou hemorragia cerebral, três apresentaram infarto cerebral e duas trombose de seio venoso cerebral. A associação de fatores clínicos ao estado peculiar produzido pela gravidez parece ter resultado nas doenças apresentadas, com especial ênfase à doença de Chagas presente em todos os infartos cerebrais.UNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Lean and the circular economy: A systematic literature review

Lean is a well-renowned strategy for increasing the value of products by minimizing waste. The circular economy is a new paradigm designed to mitigate environmental problems in production activities. Considering both perspectives, this article aims to understand how the application of lean can support the achievement of the circular economy. In order to attain this goal, the research presents a systematic literature review using the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Notably, the literature on the theme is still at an exploratory stage, the vast majority of research consisting of case studies. The main lean tools identified in the research are 5S and value stream mapping. The main circular practices, with lean support, are the Rs and ecodesign. The research proposes Circular Lean as a novel concept, one which merges some of the existing lean and circular economy principles. The main idea of this concept is the reutilization of material and energy, adding value and reducing waste within production processes and product life cycles

Cargas superficiais da fração argila de solos influenciadas pela vinhaça e fósforo

Effects of vinasse, P sorption and the interaction vinasse-phosphorus on zeta potential and point of zero charge (PZC) as well as the effects of vinasse on P sorption on clay-fraction samples from two soils were evaluated. The vinasse and P sorption influenced the surface charge of clay fraction of both soils. Sorption of P increased negative charges from soil particles reducing PZC. These effects were more pronounced when clay fraction was previously treated with vinasse. Vinasse treatment reduced P sorption, probably due to coating of P-adsorption sites and by enhancing the negative charges

Avaliação da influência do tipo de solo utilizado como blend na cinética de geração de drenagem ácida de um rejeito de mineração / Evaluation of the influence of the type of soil used as blend on the kinetics of acid drainage generation of a mining tailings

A drenagem ácida de mina é conhecida como um dos impactos ambientais mais severos e duradouros existentes na mineração. Este fenômeno pode ocorrer de forma natural e lenta, entretanto, quando atividades de mineração expõem o material sulfetado, a cinética da reação é acelerada. Tecnologias para prevenção e mitigação da drenagem ácida de mina são utilizadas visando a desaceleração do processo. Para minimizar este impacto ambiental, é necessário prever o potencial de geração da drenagem ácida e a velocidade na qual a mesma pode acontecer, permitindo assim um planejamento de disposição adequado para cada tipo de material. Para isto, testes estáticos e cinéticos são utilizados para auxiliarem na decisão de quais medidas corretivas ou preventivas devem ser tomadas. Diante disso, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a cinética de formação da drenagem ácida de mina diante da disposição de um minério sulfetado junto a solos com diferentes teores de argila, areia e silte. A amostra de rejeito utilizada apresentava potencial para geração ácida e, ao final de 20 semanas de teste, foi possível concluir que nos blends de solo argiloso com até 50% de rejeito, a cinética de geração de drenagem ácida foi diminuída

Kidney involvement in yellow fever: a review

Yellow fever is one of the most important mosquito-borne diseases, which still affects a significant number of people every year, mainly in tropical countries. Mortality can be high, even with intensive treatment due to multiple organ failure, including acute kidney injury (AKI). This disease can also be a burden on the health care system in developing countries, without mentioning the number of lives that could be spared with an early diagnosis and adequate monitoring and treatment. The pathophysiology of yellow fever-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is still to be completely understood, and the best clinical approach has not yet been determined. This manuscript presents the most recent scientific evidence of kidney involvement in yellow fever, since AKI plays an important role in the mortality rate. Recent outbreaks have occurred in Brazil and further studies are required to provide a better clinical control for patients with yellow fever

Isolation of total RNA from ripe and unripe soursop (Annona muricata L.) fruit

Soursop fruit tissue is known by its acidic pH and high levels of polysaccharides, polyphenolics and secondary metabolites. These conditions are recognized to interfere unfavorably with conventional methodologies for RNA isolation. We describe here a rapid and simple method for the isolation of total RNA from soursop fruit. RNA was extracted in less than 4 h through a combination of SDS/potassium acetate precipitation and selective binding on a silica-gel-based membrane (Qiagen) through microspin speed technology. In comparison to other methods applied for RNA extraction from soursop fruit, our protocol improved substantially RNA quality as well as RNA yield. The isolated RNA served as a robust template for RT-PCR analysis. Comparable RNA quality and yield per dry weight were obtained from unripe and ripe fruits. This makes the method appropriate to being used in studies on differential gene expression in post-harvest behavior

A carcinicultura brasileira

Bibliografia: p. 117-118O texto apresenta as principais fases de produção de camarões em cativeiro, desde a larvicultura até o beneficiamento e a comercialização, e aborda também a questão ambiental e a atuação do BNDES no setor, procurando identificar os principais entraves para o desenvolvimento do setor, como custos de produção e de insumos, crédito, beneficiamento e comercialização, além do relacionamento entre os principais agentes da cadeia produtiva

Ritmo de base e atividade paroxística no EEG de pacientes com AIDS: relação com as concentrações séricas de uréia e creatinina

The HIV is responsible for important metabolic and structural alterations of the brain. This affected brain must react to continuous systemic metabolic fluctuations. We search for possibly resulting cerebral electric disturbance that could be found by EEG exploration. Sixty-three AIDS patients ranked as CDC group IV had their EEG background rhythm measured, and were appointed to mutually exclusiding groups delimited by medians' values of urea (24 mg/dl) and creatinine (0.9 mg/dl) seric concentrations. These groups were independently formed for each of the parameters utilized, and each data pair generated therefrom were compared between themselves to verify whether there were differences in background rhythm and the occurrence of paroxysmal activity. Background rhythm and paroxysmal activities have not statistically differed between the group whose creatinine values were lower than 0.9 mg/dl and the group whose creatinine values were equal or higher than 0.9 mg/dl. Background rhythm has not statistically differed between the group whose ures values were <24 mg/dl and the group whose urea values were =24 mg/dl; contrariwise, the occurrence of paroxysmal activities in these groups has significatively differed, being higher in the patient group whose otherwise normal urea values exceeded 24 mg/dl (p=0.02).Sendo o HIV responsável por alterações estruturais e metabólicas do encéfalo, procuramos verificar se pequenas alterações metabólicas sistêmicas poderiam determinar alterações encefálicas detectáveis através do EEG. Medimos o ritmo de base no EEG de 63 pacientes aidéticos no grupo IV da classificação do CDC e, utilizando os valores das medianas das taxas de uréia e creatinina séricas, constituímos dois grupos para cada um dos referidos parâmetros. Verificamos se os EEGs dos pacientes com uréia abaixo do valor mediano (24 mg/dl), diferiam em relação ao ritmo de base e presença de atividade paroxística, daqueles com uréia = 24 mg/dl. Procedemos da mesma forma para estudar o ritmo de base e atividade paroxística em relação à mediana das concentrações de creatinina (0,9 mg/dl). O ritmo de base e a ocorrência de atividade paroxística não foram diferentes em relação à concentração de creatinina. O mesmo ocorreu em relação ao ritmo de base e concentração de uréia. Observamos, entretanto, maior número de EEGs de pacientes com uréia normal acima de 24 mg/dl com atividade paroxística (p=0,02).Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Disciplina de Clínica MédicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Disciplina de NeurologiaInstituto de Infectologia Emílio RibasUNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina de Clínica MédicaUNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina de NeurologiaSciEL