Swine wastewater treatment using an anaerobic baffled (ARB) and a UASB reactor system

The purpose of this study was to assess the swine wastewater treatment system, consisting of the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), followed by the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor at full scale. The system was monitored by analyzing samples collected in the influent and effluent of ABR and UASB. The following parameters were analyzed: temperature, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Averages of total removal of COD and BOD were 96.7 and 98.4%, respectively. The mean concentrations of COD, BOD, TSS, and VSS at the final effluent were 611, 124, 138, and 134 mg L-1, respectively. The mean volumetric organic loadings (VOL) at the ABR and UASB were 10.29 and 0.99 kg COD m-1d-1. Therefore, the ABR-UASB system was found to be a promising alternative for the swine wastewater treatment

A influência do exercício físico sobre o cortisol e glicose sanguínea de praticantes de atividade física

Introduction: The secretion of cortisol is directly related to the use of glucose by the body, due to its antagonistic function to glucose, so the importance of the simultaneous evaluation of both, in order to be considered factors associated with muscle protein catabolism and hyperglycemia associated with physical exercise. Objective: To analyze the influence of physical exercise on cortisol and blood glucose. Methodology: The study is a bibliographical review of the integrative type, using the databases Pubmed, Scielo and the search engine Google academic, prioritizing works published between the years 2011 and 2018, totaling 11 studies. Results: It was verified the relationship between the results of the obtained biochemical parameters, allowing to evaluate the physical stress related to the intensity of the physical exercise and, in some cases, to correlate with the carbohydrate supplementation. Final considerations: Through the findings, it is concluded that according to the period of time and hours spent practicing physical exercise there is an adaptation of the body to the secretion of cortisol, where the improvement of performance may be directly related to the use of carbohydrate and that caloric restriction is not a predictor of stress.Introdução: A secreção do cortisol está diretamente relacionada à utilização da glicose pelo organismo, devido a sua função antagônica à glicose, por isso a importância da avaliação simultânea de ambos, afim de que sejam considerados fatores associados com o catabolismo proteico muscular e hiperglicemia associada ao exercício físico. Objetivo: Analisar a influência do exercício físico sobre o cortisol e a glicose sanguínea. Metodologia: O estudo trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica do tipo integrativa, utilizou-se para a pesquisa as bases de dados: Pubmed, Scielo e o buscador Google acadêmico, priorizando trabalhos publicados entre os anos de 2011 a 2018, totalizando 11 estudos. Resultados: Foi verificado a relação entre os resultados dos parâmetros bioquímicos obtidos, possibilitando avaliar o estresse físico relacionado à intensidade do exercício físico e, em alguns casos, relacionar com a suplementação de carboidratos. Considerações finais: Por meio dos achados, conclui-se que de acordo com o período de tempo e horas dispendidas a prática de exercício físico tem-se uma adaptação do organismo a secreção do cortisol, onde a melhora do desempenho pode estar diretamente relacionada ao uso de carboidrato e que a restrição calórica não é preditora de estresse

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42\ub74% vs 44\ub72%; absolute difference \u20131\ub769 [\u20139\ub758 to 6\ub711] p=0\ub767; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5\u20138] vs 6 [5\u20138] cm H2O; p=0\ub70011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30\ub75% vs 19\ub79%; p=0\ub70004; adjusted effect 16\ub741% [95% CI 9\ub752\u201323\ub752]; p<0\ub70001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0\ub780 [95% CI 0\ub775\u20130\ub786]; p<0\ub70001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status. Funding: No funding

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Composites of high density polyethylene reinforced with curaua fibers prepared by extrusion and injection molding

Orientador: Marco-Aurelio De PaoliDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de QuimicaResumo: As fibras naturais curtas usadas como reforço em matrizes poliméricas melhoram as propriedades mecânicas dos polímeros e podem substituir reforços inorgânicos obtidos de fontes não-renováveis como a fibra de vidro, com as vantagens adicionais de serem mais leves, menos abrasivas aos equipamentos de processamento e biodegradáveis. Na primeira etapa deste trabalho foram feitos testes para encontrar a melhor formulação e as condições ideais para se produzir compósitos de polietileno de alta densidade, PEAD, reforçados com fibras de Curauá. Para se determinar a melhor formulação foram variados: o teor de fibras no compósito, o teor e o tipo de agente de acoplamento e as condições de processamento (velocidade de rotação de rosca e perfis de temperatura durante a extrusão). A razão de aspecto e os parâmetros geométricos das fibras antes e após o processamento foram medidos através de microscopia óptica e tratados estatisticamente. A adesão entre as fases, na presença ou ausência de agente de acoplamento, foi avaliada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os compósitos e os materiais puros foram caracterizados por espectroscopia de infravermelho, por métodos térmicos (termogravimetria e calorimetria exploratória diferencial) e pela medidas das propriedades mecânicas de tração, flexão e impacto. A degradação e estabilização dos compósitos foram monitoradas através do envelhecimento ambiental e acelerado das amostras com e sem aditivos estabilizantes a fim de avaliar a durabilidade dos compósitos e o efeito dos aditivos em retardar a degradação dos compósitos e homopolímeros. Conclui-se que os compósitos de PEAD reforçados com fibra de curauá tem propriedades comparáveis aos compósitos de PEAD reforçados com fibra de vidro disponíveis no mercado.Abstract: Natural short fibers used as reinforcing agent in polymers improve their mechanical properties and may substitute inorganic reinforcing agents, produced from non renewable resources, like fiberglass, with the additional advantages of being lighter, less abrasive to the processing equipment and biodegradable. In the first part of this work the formulation and the processing conditions were studied in order to optimize the mechanical properties of the composite of high density polyethylene, HDPE, and curauá fibers. To determine the best formulation we tested: fiber content, type and content of coupling agent and processing conditions (screw rotation speed and temperature profile during extrusion). The aspect ratio and geometric parameters of the fibers before and after processing of the composites were determined by statistic treatment of the micrographies obtained by optical microscopy. The fiber/matrix phase adhesion, with and without coupling agent, was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The composites and the pure materials used for their preparation were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal methods (thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry) and by measurement of the tensile, flexural and impact mechanical properties. The degradation and stabilization of the composites was monitored by environmental and accelerated aging tests of composite samples with and without stabilizing additives, to evaluate the durability of the composites and the effect of the additives. We conclude that HDPE composites reinforced with curauá fibers have properties comparable to commercially produced composites of HDPE reinforced with fiberglass.MestradoQuimica InorganicaMestre em Químic