Electrokinetic demonstration at the unlined chromic acid pit

Heavy-metal contaminated soils are a common problem at Department of Energy (DOE)-operated sites and privately owned facilities throughout the nation. One emerging technology which can remove heavy metals from soil in situ is electrokinetics. To conduct electrokinetic (EK) remediation, electrodes are implanted into the ground, and a direct current is imposed between the electrodes. Metal ions dissolved in the soil pore water migrate towards an electrode where they can be removed. The electrokinetic program at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has been focusing on electrokinetic remediation for unsaturated soils. A patent was awarded for an electrokinetic electrode system designed at SNL for applications to unsaturated soils. Current research described in this report details an electrokinetic remediation field demonstration of a chromium plume that resides in unsaturated soil beneath the SNL Chemical Waste Landfill (CWL). This report describes the processes, site investigation, operation and monitoring equipment, testing procedures, and extraction results of the electrokinetic demonstration. This demonstration successfully removed chromium contamination in the form of chromium(VI) from unsaturated soil at the field scale. After 2700 hours of operation, 600 grams of Cr(VI) was extracted from the soil beneath the SNL CWL in a series of thirteen tests. The contaminant was removed from soil which has moisture contents ranging from 2 to 12 weight percent. This demonstration was the first EK field trial to successfully remove contaminant ions from and soil at the field scale. Although the new patented electrode system was successful in removing an anionic contaminant (i.e., chromate) from unsaturated sandy soil, the electrode system was a prototype and has not been specifically engineered for commercialization. A redesign of the electrode system as indicated by the results of this research is suggested for future EK field trials

Avaliação das carcaças de novilhos F1 Angus-Nelore em pastagens de Brachiaria decumbens submetidos a diferentes regimes alimentares Carcass evaluation of F1 Angus-Nellore steers on Brachiaria decumbens pasture under different feeding regimes

O experimento foi conduzido no Centro Nacional de Gado de Corte da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa Gado de Corte). Foram utilizados 45 novilhos F1 Aberdeen Angus-Nelore para avaliar o efeito de diferentes regimes alimentares, nos períodos secos da recria/terminação, sobre as características de carcaça. Os tratamentos aplicados foram: testemunha, sem suplementação (S/S); suplementação na 2ª seca (S2S); suplementação na 1ª seca (S1S); suplementação nas duas secas (S12S) e suplementação na 1ª seca e confinamento na 2ª (S1C2). Os animais foram abatidos com pesos entre 460 e 480 kg. O efeito dos tratamentos foi avaliado pelo método dos quadrados mínimos. Animais com melhor nível nutricional na 2ª seca (S1C2, S2S e S12S) apresentaram melhor rendimento de carcaça e maiores pesos de carcaça quente e fria do que aqueles suplementados somente na 1ª seca ou não suplementados. A suplementação somente na 1ª seca produziu carcaças semelhantes, em todos os aspectos avaliados, às do tratamento testemunha. Conclui-se que melhorar o nível alimentar na 2ª seca da vida do animal é fundamental para aumentar o rendimento de carcaça. Suplementação na 1ª seca, como prática isolada, não contribui para o rendimento e qualidade da carcaça.<br>This trial was conducted at National Beef Cattle Research Center of Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Beef Cattle). Forty five F1 Aberdeen Angus-Nellore steers were used to evaluate the effects of different dry seasons feeding schemes on carcass characteristics. The treatments were: control, without supplementation (S/S); supplementation in 2nd dry period (S2S); supplementation in 1st dry period (S1S); supplementation in 1st and 2nd dry periods (S12S) and supplementation in 1st dry period and confinament in 2nd one (S1C2). Animals were slaughtered at 460-480 kg of live weight and the treatments effects were evaluated by least square means. Steers with higher nutritional levels in 2nd dry season (S1C2; S2S; S12S) showed more dressing percentage and higher hot and cold carcass weights than those supplemented only in 1st dry period or non supplemented. Animals supplemented only in 1st dry season showed similar carcasses than non supplemented. It was concluded that increasing the 2nd dry season nutritional level is primary to expand the dressing percentage. Supplementation in 1st dry period solitarily does not affect dressing percentage neither carcass quality

Composição corporal e exigências nutricionais de macrominerais para novilhas em crescimento das raças Guzerá e Holandesa Body composition and macrominerals nutritional requirements for growing Guzera and Holstein heifers

Foram utilizadas 22 novilhas, 11 da raça Holandesas e 11 da Guzerá, com peso vivo (PV) inicial de 189kg. Após o abate inicial de seis animais de cada raça, outros dois grupos, cinco animais de cada raça, passaram a receber dieta à base de feno de Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.), milho, farelo de soja e mistura mineral, para ganho diário de 1kg de peso vivo (PV). O abate final ocorreu após ganho de peso de 100kg. Durante os dois abates, todos os tecidos foram pesados e amostrados, retirando-se como amostra representativa da carcaça entre a nona e a décima primeira costela para determinação dos conteúdos corporais de Ca, P, Mg, Na e K. Determinaram-se a composição corporal e as exigências nutricionais desses minerais para ganho de 1kg de PV. Houve decréscimo na concentração dos cinco macrominerais no peso de corpo vazio e no peso ganho com a elevação do PV. Não houve diferença entre as raças quanto às exigências nutricionais dos macrominerais. As exigências dietéticas totais de Ca, P, Mg, Na e K para animais de 200kg de PV foram de 11,57; 5,97; 0,36; 1,30 e 0,86g/dia, respectivamente.<br>Twenty-two heifers, 11 Holstein and 11 Guzera, with initial live weight (LW) of 189kg were used in this study. Six animals of each breed were slaughtered (treatment R), and two groups of five animals of each breed were fed ad libitum diet of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) hay, ground corn, soybean meal and mixture minerals, for a daily gain of 1kg. The animals were slaughtered after reaching weight gain of 100kg. All tissues were weighted and representative samples were taken from the ninth to eleventh rib, and analyzed for body contents of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K. The body composition and the mineral requirements for a 1kg LW daily weight gain were determined. Decreases in the concentration of macrominerals in the empty body weight and in carcass weight gain were related to LW increased. No differences among breeds for macrominerals were observed. The Ca, P, Mg, Na and K dietary requirements for animals of 200kg of LW were 11.57; 5.97; 0.36; 1.30 and 0.86g/day, respectively

A lunar radio experiment with the Parkes radio telescope for the LUNASKA project

© 2014 Elsevier B.V. We describe an experiment using the Parkes radio telescope in the 1.2-1.5 GHz frequency range as part of the LUNASKA project, to search for nanosecond-scale pulses from particle cascades in the Moon, which may be triggered by ultra-high-energy astroparticles. Through the combination of a highly sensitive multi-beam radio receiver, a purpose-built backend and sophisticated signal-processing techniques, we achieve sensitivity to radio pulses with a threshold electric field strength of 0.0053 µV/m/MHz, lower than previous experiments by a factor of three. We observe no pulses in excess of this threshold in observations with an effective duration of 127 h. The techniques we employ, including compensating for the phase, dispersion and spectrum of the expected pulse, are relevant for future lunar radio experiments

Review: A critical evaluation of arguments opposing male circumcision for HIV prevention in developed countries

A potential impediment to evidence-based policy development on medical male circumcision (MC) for HIV prevention in all countries worldwide is the uncritical acceptance by some of arguments used by opponents of this procedure. Here we evaluate recent opinion-pieces of 13 individuals opposed to MC. We find that these statements misrepresent good studies, selectively cite references, some containing fallacious information, and draw erroneous conclusions. In marked contrast, the scientific evidence shows MC to be a simple, low-risk procedure with very little or no adverse long-term effect on sexual function, sensitivity, sensation during arousal or overall satisfaction. Unscientific arguments have been recently used to drive ballot measures aimed at banning MC of minors in the USA, eliminate insurance coverage for medical MC for low-income families, and threaten large fines and incarceration for health care providers. Medical MC is a preventative health measure akin to immunisation, given its protective effect against HIV infection, genital cancers and various other conditions. Protection afforded by neonatal MC against a diversity of common medical conditions starts in infancy with urinary tract infections and extends throughout life. Besides protection in adulthood against acquiring HIV, MC also reduces morbidity and mortality from multiple other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and genital cancers in men and their female sexual partners. It is estimated that over their lifetime one-third of uncircumcised males will suffer at least one foreskin-related medical condition. The scientific evidence indicates that medical MC is safe and effective. Its favourable risk/benefit ratio and cost/benefit support the advantages of medical MC