Remoción de quistes de giardia duodenalis por filtración rápida

Con el objetivo de evaluar la remoción de quistes de Giardia duodenalis en agua, se construyó un filtro rápido por gravedad, a escala laboratorio, con arena (Tamaño efectivo: 0,95±0,03 mm) como material filtrante. El agua para la prueba de remoción (160 L) se preparó diluyendo una suspensión de quistes con H2Od hasta una turbiedad de 4 UNT. Para recuperar los quistes no removidos, el agua filtrada se pasó a través de membranas de nitrato de celulosa de 0,45 μm. El conteo de quistes se realizó en cámara de Neubauer. Mediante pruebas hidráulicas se estableció el espesor del lecho (0,75 m) y el tiempo de retención (5 min). La concentración de parásitos en el agua de entrada fue de 2,2 104 quistes/L, obteniéndose una remoción de 1,5 log (96,9 %). La turbiedad durante el periodo de filtración fue ≤ 1,22 UNT. Este trabajo confirma que aún en condiciones de filtración apropiadas, los quistes de Giardia pueden aparecer en el agua tratada cuando ocurre una elevada contaminación de la fuente.In order to evaluate the removal of cysts of Giardia duodenalis in water, a rapid gravity filter was constructed on laboratory scale with sand (effective size: 0.95 ± 0.03 mm) as a filter material. Water for the test (160 L) was prepared by diluting a suspension of cysts with H2Od until a turbidity of 4 UNT. To recover the unremoved cysts, the filtered water was passed through 0.45 μm cellulose nitrate membranes. The cysts count was performed in Neubauer chamber. The filter bed thickness (0.75 m) and the retention time (5 min) were established by hydraulic tests. The concentration of parasites in the incoming water was 2.2 104 cysts / L obtaining a removal of 1.5 log (96.9 %). The turbidity during the filtration period was ≤ 1.22 UNT. This investigation confirms that even under appropriate filtration conditions, cysts of Giardia can appear in the treated water when high source contamination occurs.Fil: Pizarro, A.. Universidad Nacional del LitoralFil: Zerbatto, M.. Universidad Nacional del LitoralFil: Pizarro, M.. Universidad Nacional del LitoralFil: Modini, L.. Universidad Nacional del Litora

Computational model of one-dimensional flow of water in an unsaturated soil

O estudo do fluxo de água em zonas não saturadas do solo é de grande importância para pesquisas relacionadas à disponibilidade hídrica para o desenvolvimento das plantas. Devido ao alto custo, ao tempo demandado e ao esforço humano nas investigações de campo, os modelos matemáticos, aliados às técnicas numéricas e avanços computacionais, constituem-se em uma ferramenta importante na previsão desses estudos. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se solucionar a equação diferencial parcial não linear de Richards mediante a aplicação do Método de Elementos Finitos. Na aproximação espacial, foi empregada a adaptatividade com refinamento "h" na malha de elementos finitos e, na derivada temporal, foi aplicado o esquema de Euler Explícito. A função interpolação polinomial utilizada foi de grau 2, e a que garantiu a conservação de massa da estratégia de adaptação. Para a validação do modelo, foram utilizados dados disponíveis em literatura. A utilização da função interpolação polinomial de grau 2 e o refinamento "h", com considerável redução do tempo de execução da rotina computacional, permitiram uma boa concordância do modelo em comparação a soluções disponíveis na literatura.Study of water flow in the unsaturated soil zone is of great importance for research related to the water availability for crop development. Due to the high cost, the time required and the human effort in the field investigations, mathematical models combined with numerical techniques and computational advances are important tools in the prediction of these studies. This work aimed to solve the Richards's non-linear partial differential equation by applying the Finite Element Method. Adaptability with "h" refinement of the finite element mesh was used in the spatial approximation, while Explicit Euler scheme was applied for the time derivative. The polynomial interpolation function used was of degree two, and ensured the mass conservation of the adaptation strategy. To validate the model, data available in the literature were used. Use of the polynomial interpolation function with degree two and the "h" refinement, with considerable reduction of the computational runtime allowed good agreement in comparison to solutions available in the literature

Is the native deer Mazama gouazoubira threatened by competition for food with the exotic hare Lepus europaeus in the degraded Chaco in Córdoba, Argentina?

Using microhistological analysis of faeces, we studied the diets of the wild Chacoan Brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) and the exotic European hare (Lepus europaeus) by comparing plant species frequency in faeces with plant species availability. Research was conducted in the dry southern portion of South American Chaco, in forests subjected to livestock ranching in the north of Córdoba province, Argentina. The diet of the Brown brocket deer was more closely related to forage availability (C=0.82195) than the diet of the European hare (C=0.38565). Dicots comprised 90% of the Brown brocket deer diet and were preferred throughout the year, while gramineous species were consumed in low amount. In the diet of the European hare, gramineous species were frequent (65 to 87%) and preferred in every season but in winter, when dicots were consumed in higher proportions (92%). Differences in feeding habits and in habitat use would allow both herbivores to coexist; however, probable competition for food with the European hare during the dry period, in addition to habitat loss, threatens survival of the Brown brocket deer.Fil: Kufner, Maura Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Sepúlveda, L.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Gavier Pizarro, Gregorio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Madoery, L.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Físicas y Naturales. Cátedra de Div.animal Ii; ArgentinaFil: Giraudo, L.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Físicas y Naturales. Cátedra de Div.animal Ii; Argentin

Aportación al conocimiento del ciclo biológico de Chromulina nevadensis

En este trabajo se amplía y se comenta la descripción de Chromulina nevadensis P.M. Sánchez. El estudio se realiza en una laguna oligotrófica de alta montaña (La Caldera), próxima a la laguna de Aguas Verdes, donde se obtuvo el material para su descripción original.Igualmente realizamos algunas consideraciones sobre el comportamiento mixotrófico de este taxon, ya conocido para otros miembros de las crisofíceas. Para finalizar describimos, por primera vez, la morfología a MEB de su estatosporaIn this paper we present data about enlargement of the original description of Chromulina nevadensis. This study has been carried out on an oligotrophic high mountain lake (La Caldera) close to the lake where it was described (Aguas Verdes). Also we make some consideration about the mixotrophy, a nutritional behavior previously knew for other chrysophyceae taza. Finally we study, by the first time, the morfology of its statospores with SEM

Phytoplankton patchiness in two shallow waterbodies

The hydrodynamic behaviour in lentic ecosystems is closely related with the spatial and temporal evolution of their physical, chemical and biological characteristics. Because of this, and in order to improve our present knowledge on the limnological dynamics of such ecosystems, a coupled analysis on the relationship between the biological patterns and the governing hydrodynamics mechanisms it is necessary. This paper uses both field analysis and numerical simulation to describe the links between the water movements and the phytoplankton spatial distribution on two shallow waterbodies in the South of Spain: Alhama de Granada Reservoir (Granada) and Laguna Nueva de la Albufera de Adra (Almería). In both systems the observed phytoplankton spatial distribution exhibited dynamic patterns forced by hydrodynamical transport processes. The knowledge of this physical-biological coupling could be useful to outline the basic guidelines for water quality management.Los ecosistemas acuáticos leníticos se caracterizan por un intenso acoplamiento entre los mecanismos de transporte hidrodinámico que en ellos ocurren y la evolución espacial y temporal de sus principales variables físico-químicas y biológicas. En consecuencia y con el objetivo de mejorar nuestro entendimiento sobre la dinámica limnológica de este tipo de sistemas, resulta necesario el desarrollo de análisis interdisciplinares que profundicen en esta estrecha relación hidrodinámica-biología. En este trabajo se analiza, a partir de estudios de campo y simulaciones numéricas, el acoplamiento entre el movimiento de la masa fluida a nivel de macroescala y la distribución espacial del fitoplancton en dos ecosistemas acuáticos someros del Sur de España : el embalse de Alhama de Granada (Granada) y la Laguna Nueva de la Albufera de Adra (Almería). En ambos sistemas se han encontrado patrones dinámicos de distribución espacial de las microalgas, íntimamente relacionados con la dinámica de la masa de agua. El conocimiento de este acoplamiento resulta útil en la definición de líneas básicas para la adecuada gestión de la calidad del agua

Agronomic Evaluation of Novel Germplasm Under Grazing: Arachis Pintoi Bra-031143 and Paspalum Atratum Bra-009610

The effect of the animal on the pasture and their reverse consequence was studied on two replicated areas of 0.27 and 0.18 ha in a grasslegume sward established in a poorly humid drained soil in the Brazilian Cerrado. The A. pintoi BRA-031143 and P. atratum BRA- 009610 sward was evaluated during four consecutive years under two grazing pressures (GP). The imposed GP affected the botanical composition and pasture availability. Mean live weight gain/animal/ day under the two imposed GP varied from 387+17g, 578+68g, 697+35g and 687+123g between the 1992/93 and 1995/96 rainy seasons. During the dry season the LWG/animal/day varied from 203+16g and 99+36g for 1993 and 1994, respectively. The results showed the potential of the A.pintoi/P.atratum sward for the seasonally flooded land of the Cerrado ecosystem

Hoteling cruise ship's power requirements for high voltage shore connection installations

The main objective of this paper is the presentation of a theoretical and quantitative study of the power requirements that any port considering to install and develop shore to ship connection systems must consider. Particularly, the current study focuses these requirements for cruise ship ports and their terminals. This paper provides theoretical and quantitative tools and ideas that can be used to estimate main design parameters such as frequency, voltage and power for high voltage shore connections. Some models and equations are developed aiming to be able to estimate, with acceptable quality, cruise ship’s power demand for hoteling services at port. On the other hand, this article is intended to assess ship's air pollution impact populated harbour areas to decide whether alternative power supply measures are feasible. Finally, the assessment model is applied at Barcelona's cruise piers and case study is discussed. As a result of that, a daily power demand curve and the consequent air pollution study at the most crowded situation in this port are obtained.Postprint (published version