Estabelecimento do processo de nitritação/desnitritação para o pós-tratamento de digestatos da suinocultura

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Química.A produção de suínos passou por profundas mudanças tecnológicas nos últimos anos, disseminando um padrão intensivo de criação visando o aumento de produtividade e diminuição dos custos. Assim grandes volumes de efluentes com alto potencial poluidor (principalmente matéria orgânica e nutrientes), são produzidos em regiões com baixa capacidade de absorção dos biofertilizantes. Uma das tecnologias aplicadas no tratamento de dejetos de suínos é a digestão anaeróbia, na qual tem-se o aproveitamento energético através do biogás, contudo esses sistemas são baseados na remoção de matéria orgânica, não removendo nutrientes como nitrogênio e fósforo, restando um efluente com baixa relação carbono/nitrogênio. Nesse contexto, os processos de remoção de nitrogênio via nitrito ganham destaque, frente a menor necessidade de carbono na desnitritação e economia no suprimento de oxigênio nos processos aeróbios, tendo como fator limitante a seleção das bactérias oxidadoras de amônia (BOA) em detrimento das bactérias oxidadoras de nitrito (BON). O objetivo desse trabalho foi estabelecer o processo de nitritação e desnitritação utilizando-se um digestato de um reator anaeróbio tratando dejetos de suínos com baixa relação carbono/nitrogênio, através da adaptação de um sistema baseado no processo Ludzak-Ettinger Modificado (MLE), operando com geração de nitrito no reator aeróbio e desnitritação no reator anóxico. Afim de estabelecer os respectivos processos, os reatores foram operados separadamente. O reator nitritante foi alimentado com o efluente de um biodigestor localizado na Embrapa Suínos e Aves (BIO-ETDS). O reator desnitritante também alimentado com o efluente do biodigestor (BIO-ETDS) foi suplementado com solução de nitrito de sódio na concentração de nitrito desejada. No intuito de favorecer as BOA no reator nitritante foram usadas algumas estratégias como, alteração do pH, diminuição do tempo de retenção hidráulico (TRH) e diminuição da idade do lodo (IL). Deste modo, a estratégia mais robusta na qual o reator atingiu a nitritação foi o controle da IL (10 d), removendo uma carga de amônia de 2,10±0,21 g L-1d-1. Já no reator desnitritante, a concentração de nitrito que obteve melhor eficiência foi de 0,117g L-1, atingindo o valor de 97,3%, com uma relação ótima de COT/N-NO2- =5,87. Após acoplados, o sistema manteve a produção de nitrito e teve uma eficiência de remoção de nitrogênio na ordem de 60%.Swine production has undergone diverse technological changes in recent years, spreading a rearing intensive standard in order to increase productivity and lower costs. Thus, large volumes of effluents with high polluting potential (mainly organic matter and nutrients) are produced in regions with low absorptive capacity of biofertilizers. One of the technologies applied in swine manure treatment and anaerobic digestion has energy recovery through biogas; however these systems are based on organic matter elimination which don't remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, remaining an effluent with low carbon/nitrogen ratio. In this context, nitrogen removal processes through nitrite are interesting, compared to less need for carbon denitritation and economy in oxygen supply in aerobic processes, with the limiting factor that the selection of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are detrimental to nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). The aim of this study was to establish nitritation and denitritation processes using a digestate of an anaerobic reactor managing swine waste with low carbon/nitrogen ratio, by adapting a system based on the Modified Ludzak-Ettinger (MLE) process operating with nitrite generation in the aerobic reactor and denitritation in the anoxic reactor. In order to establish their own processes, the reactors were operated separately. The nitritation reactor was fed with the effluent from a digester located at Embrapa Swine and Poultry (BIO-ETDS). The denitrifying reactor also fed with the digester effluent (BIO-ETDS) was supplemented with sodium nitrite solution at the nitrite desired concentration. With the intention of favoring AOB in the nitritation reactor, some strategies have been used as pH, hydraulic retention time (HRT) decrease and sludge age decrease. The control of the last strategy (sludge age=10 d) was the most robust in which the reactor has reached nitritation removing ammonia load of 2.10 ± 0.21 g L-1d-1. Regarding denitritation reactor, the nitrite concentration that showed the best efficiency was 0.117 g L-1, reaching a value of 97.3%, with an optimal ratio of TOC/N-NO2- = 5.87. Once the reactors were coupled, the system maintained nitrite production and showed an efficiency of nitrogen removal in the order of 60%

Phosphorylated Pullulan Coating Enhances Titanium Implant Osseointegration In A Pig Model

To investigate the effect of coating a titanium implant surface with a phosphorylated exopolysaccharide, pullulan, on the peri-implant bone formation and implant osseointegration. Materials and Methods: Implants were placed in the skull bone of 12 domestic pigs and healed for 1 or 3 months. Osseointegration of (un)coated implants was evaluated by quantitative histology (peri-implant bone fraction [BF] and bone-to-implant-contact [BIC]). The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test with alpha = .05 was used to statistically compare BF and BIC of the coated and uncoated implants. Results: Significantly more BF was observed surrounding pullulan-coated implants compared with uncoated implants (P < .05) and for both healing periods (P < .05). BIC was positively affected by the exopolysaccharide coating, with significantly more BIC after the 3-month healing period compared with the uncoated implant (P < .05). Furthermore, BIC remained stable over time for the coated implants, while it significantly decreased for the uncoated ones (P < .05). Conclusion: These findings reveal the capacity of functionalizing the titanium implant surface with phosphorylated pullulan to improve the mineralization of the implant-bone interface.322282290GC Inc. (Tokyo, Japan

Nature versus Humans in Coastal Environmental Change: Assessing the Impacts of Hurricanes Zeta and Ida in the Context of Beach Nourishment Projects in the Mississippi River Delta

Hurricanes are one of the most devastating earth surface processes. In 2020 and 2021, Hurricanes Zeta and Ida pounded the Mississippi River Delta in two consecutive years, devastated South Louisiana, and raised tremendous concerns for scientists and stakeholders around the world. This study presents a high-resolution spatial-temporal analysis incorporating planialtimetric data acquired via LIDAR, drone, and satellite to investigate the shoreline dynamics near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, the eye of Ida at landfall, before and after the beach nourishment project and recent hurricane landfalls. The remote sensing analysis shows that the volume of the ~2 km studied beachfront was reduced by 240,858 m3 after consecutive landfalls of Hurricanes Zeta and Ida in 2020 and 2021, while 82,915 m3 of overwash fans were transported to the backbarrier areas. Overall, the studied beach front lost almost 40% of its volume in 2019, while the average dune crest height was reduced by over 1 m and the shoreline retreated ~60 m after the two hurricane strikes. Our spatial-temporal dataset suggests that the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority&rsquo;s (CPRA&rsquo;s) beach nourishment effort successfully stabilized the beach barrier at Port Fourchon during the hurricane-quiescent years but was not adequate to protect the shoreline at the Mississippi River Delta from intense hurricane landfalls. Our study supports the conclusion that, in the absence of further human intervention, Bay Champagne will likely disappear completely into the Gulf of Mexico within the next 40 years

Nature versus Humans in Coastal Environmental Change: Assessing the Impacts of Hurricanes Zeta and Ida in the Context of Beach Nourishment Projects in the Mississippi River Delta

Hurricanes are one of the most devastating earth surface processes. In 2020 and 2021, Hurricanes Zeta and Ida pounded the Mississippi River Delta in two consecutive years, devastated South Louisiana, and raised tremendous concerns for scientists and stakeholders around the world. This study presents a high-resolution spatial-temporal analysis incorporating planialtimetric data acquired via LIDAR, drone, and satellite to investigate the shoreline dynamics near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, the eye of Ida at landfall, before and after the beach nourishment project and recent hurricane landfalls. The remote sensing analysis shows that the volume of the ~2 km studied beachfront was reduced by 240,858 m3 after consecutive landfalls of Hurricanes Zeta and Ida in 2020 and 2021, while 82,915 m3 of overwash fans were transported to the backbarrier areas. Overall, the studied beach front lost almost 40% of its volume in 2019, while the average dune crest height was reduced by over 1 m and the shoreline retreated ~60 m after the two hurricane strikes. Our spatial-temporal dataset suggests that the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s (CPRA’s) beach nourishment effort successfully stabilized the beach barrier at Port Fourchon during the hurricane-quiescent years but was not adequate to protect the shoreline at the Mississippi River Delta from intense hurricane landfalls. Our study supports the conclusion that, in the absence of further human intervention, Bay Champagne will likely disappear completely into the Gulf of Mexico within the next 40 years

Effects of Beach Nourishment Project on Coastal Geomorphology and Mangrove Dynamics in Southern Louisiana, USA

Relative sea-level (RSL) rise associated with decreased fluvial sediment discharge and increased hurricane activity have contributed to the high rate of shoreline retreat and threatened coastal ecosystems in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA. This study, based on QuickBird/drone images (2004–2019) and LIDAR data (1998–2013), analyzed the impacts of shoreline dynamics on mangroves (Avicennia germinans) and marshes before and after the initiation of a beach nourishment project in 2013. The coastal barrier and dune crest migrated landward between 1998 and 2013. Meanwhile, the dune crest height increased between 1998 and 2001, then decreased in 2013, probably due to hurricane impacts. The total sediment volume along this sandy coastal barrier presented an overall trend of decline in the 1998–2013 period, resulting in a wetlands loss of ~15.6 ha along 4 km of coastline. This has led to a landward sand migration onto muddy tidal flats occupied by Avicennia germinans (1.08 ha) and Spartina (14.52 ha). However, the beach nourishment project resulted in the advancement of the beach barrier from Nov/2012 to Jan/2015, followed by a relatively stable period between Jan/2015 and Mar/2019. Additionally, both the dune crest height and sediment volume increased between 2013 and 2019. This set of factors favored the establishment and expansion of mangroves (3.2 ha) and saltmarshes (25.4 ha) along the backbarrier environments after 2013, allowing the tidal flats to keep pace with the RSL rise. However, waves and currents caused shoreline erosion following the beach nourishment project between Oct/2017 and Nov/2019, threatening wetlands by resuming the long-term process of shoreline retreat

Occupational exposure assessment in professionals who manipulate and administer antineoplastic drugs in a university hospital in Southern Brazil

Introduction: Our goal was to demonstrate the effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs on oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage in health professionals who manipulate and administer antineoplastic drugs in a University Hospital in Southern Brazil. Methods: The case-control study with a longitudinal design, involved 64 individuals, 29 of them pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurses who were occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs and 35 professionals who were not exposed. Gene mutations were determined by micronucleus from salivary fluid; DNA damage by comet assay and oxidative stress parameters in whole blood were also evaluated. Results: All workers exposed to antineoplastic drugs used personal protective equipment (PPE). It was demonstrated that the total nonprotein thiol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels showed interaction between group and time, with higher levels one week after handling/administration of antineoplastic drugs in the exposed group (GEE, p 0.0001 and p¼0,013, respectively). Additionally, there was a group effect on the activities of the catalase and glutathione peroxidase antioxidant enzymes (GEE, p¼0.027 and p 0.0001, respectively), and workers occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs had higher enzyme activities compared to those not exposed. No genotoxic damage was demonstrated through the evaluated parameters. Conclusions: Despite the correct use of PPE, professionals occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs were more susceptible to oxidative stress than those not exposed. The evaluation of the studied parameters is especially important for the definition of conducts and practices in the area, always in search of guaranteeing the establishment of a rational policy to protect workers’ health

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and peripheral biomarkers : an update

Peripheral biomarkers are important tools for detecting occupational exposures to prevent the onset and/or progression of diseases. Studies that reveal early peripheral biomarkers are highly important to preserve the health of workers and can potentially contribute to diagnosing and/or prognosing occupational pathologies. Exposure to crystalline silica is a problem in several workplaces because it increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis, clinically defined as silicosis. Silicosis is diagnosed by chest radiography and/or lung tomography in advanced stages when there is a severe loss of lung function. Peripheral biomarkers can help in diagnosing early changes prior to silicosis and represent a highly important technical-scientific advance that is minimally invasive. This review aimed to investigate the biomarkers studied for evaluating occupational exposure to crystalline silica and to understand the recent advances in this area. Potential oxidative, inflammatory, and immunological biomarkers were reviewed, as well as routine biomarkers such as biochemical parameters. It was found that biomarkers of effect such as serum CC16 and L-selectin levels could represent promising alternatives. Additionally, studies have shown that neopterin levels in urine and serum can be used to monitor worker exposure. However, further studies are needed that include a greater number of participants, different times of exposure to crystalline silica, and a combination of silicosis patients and healthy volunteers. Evaluating the concentration of crystalline silica in occupational environments, its impact on biomarkers of effect, and alterations in lung function could contribute to revealing early health alterations in workers in a more robust manner

Ropivacaína isolada ou associada à morfina, butorfanol ou tramadol pela via peridural em cadelas para realização de Ovariosalpingohisterectomia

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of ropivacaine combined or not with different opioids, for epidural anesthesia in bitches submitted to elective ovariosalpingohisterectomy (OSH). Thirty two mixed-breed female dogs, adults were used with medium weigh of 10.5kg. The animals were premedicated with acepromazine (0.05mg.kg-1, IM) and midazolam (0.2mg.kg-1, IM) and allocated in four experimental groups: group 1(n=8): ropivacaine: 0.3 mL.kg-1; group 2(n=8): ropivacaine + morphine (0.1 mg.kg-1); group 3(n=8): ropivacaine + butorphanol (0.1 mg.kg-1); and group 4(n=8): ropivacaine + tramadol (0.5 mg.kg-1) administered epidurally. Heart and respiratory rate; systolic arterial pressure; rectal temperature; arterial blood gas partial pressures; blood pH; sedation and muscular relaxation degree were evaluated at different experimental moments. The data were submitted to ANOVA and compared by Kruskal Wallis, Friedman, Dunn, Tukey and Chi-square test (p≤0.05). Minimum cardiorespiratory alterations were observed and the group of the ropivacaíne combined with the butorphanol (G3) presented a more cranial blockage, what allowed the accomplishment of OSH without induction in six animals (75%) whereas most of the others needed anesthetic rescue. The results allow us to conclude that the use of ropivacaine sole or combinated with morphine, butorphanol or tramadol, for epidural anesthesia, didn't promote significant cardiorrespiratory depression and the ropivacaine associated to the butorphanol allowed the accomplishment of OSH in bitches.El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo investigar la utilización de la ropivacaina aislada o asociada a diferentes opióides para la anestesia peridural en perras sometidas a ovariosalpingohisterectomía (OSH) electiva. Participaron del estudio doble ciego, 32 perras sanas, adultas, de diferentes razas, de entre seis y 15 kg que fueron premedicadas con acepromacina (0,05mg/kg, IM) asociada a midazolam (0,2mg/kg, IM). Los animales fueron distribuidos en cuatro grupos: Grupo 1: ropivacaina: 0,3 mL/kg; Grupo 2: ropivacaina + morfina (0,1 mg/kg); Grupo 3: ropivacaina + butorfanol (0,1 mg/kg); y Grupo 4: ropivacaina + tramadol (0,5 mg/kg) administrados por vía peridural. Fueron medidas: frecuencia cardiaca; frecuencia respiratoria; tensión arterial sistólica; temperatura rectal; tensión parcial de gases sanguíneos (arterial); pH sanguíneo; además de la evaluación no-paramétrica del grado de sedación, grado de sangrado y de relajamiento muscular siguiendo tablas de puntuaciones. Los datos fueron sometidos a ANOVA y comparados por medio de las pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, Dunn, Tukey y Chi-cuadrado (p≤0,05). Se concluyó que la utilización de la ropivacaina aislada o asociada a la morfina, al butorfanol o al tramadol por vía peridural no promovió depresión cardiorrespiratoria significativa y la ropivacaina asociada al butorfanol permitió la realización de OSH en perras.O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a utilização da ropivacaína isolada ou em associação a diferentes opióides, na anestesia peridural de cadelas submetidas à ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH) eletiva. Participaram do estudo, 32 cadelas sadias, adultas, de diferentes raças, com peso médio de 10,5kg, as quais foram pré-medicadas com acepromazina (0,05mg/kg, IM) associada ao midazolam (0,2mg/kg, IM), distribuídas em quatro grupos distintos: Grupo 1(n=8): ropivacaína: 0,3 mL/kg; Grupo 2(n=8): ropivacaína + morfina (0,1 mg/kg); Grupo 3(n=8): ropivacaína + butorfanol (0,1 mg/kg); e Grupo 4(n=8): ropivacaína + tramadol (0,5 mg/kg) administrados pela via peridural. Foram mensurados: freqüência cardíaca; freqüência respiratória; pressão arterial sistólica; temperatura retal; pressão parcial dos gases sangüíneos (arterial); pH sangüíneo; além da avaliação não-paramétrica do grau de sedação, grau de sangramento e de relaxamento muscular seguindo tabelas de escores. Os dados foram submetidos à ANOVA e comparados pelos testes de Kruskal Wallis, Friedman, Dunn, Tukey e Qui-quadrado (p≤0,05). Foram observadas alterações cardiorrespiratórias que não comprometeram os parâmetros fisiológicos dos animais, sendo que o grupo da ropivacaína associada ao butorfanol apresentou um bloqueio mais cranial, o que permitiu a realização de OSH sem necessidade de indução em 75% dos animais, sendo que 25% necessitaram de resgate anestésico. Concluiu-se que a utilização da ropivacaína isolada ou associada à morfina, ao butorfanol ou ao tramadol pela via peridural não ocasionou depressão cardiorrespiratória significante, sendo que a ropivacaína associada ao butorfanol permitiu a realização de OSH em cadelas

Levamisole, a cocaine cutting agent, induces acute and subchronic systemic alterations in Wistar rats

The use of the anthelmintic levamisole as a cocaine adulterant has been increasing worldwide. Complications caused by this association include systemic vasculitis, agranulocytosis, neutropenia, tissue necrosis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and renal injury. Data about toxicity of levamisole are scarce, therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and subchronic toxic effects of levamisole in rats. Male Wistar rats received saline or levamisole by intraperitoneal route at the doses of 12, 24 and 36 mg/kg in the acute toxicity test; and at 3, 6 and 12 mg/kg in the subchronic toxicity test. Toxicity was evaluated using behavioral, cognitive, renal, hematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters. Acute administration of levamisole caused behavioral and histopathological alterations. Subchronic administration caused behavioral, cognitive and hematological alterations (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05, respectively), impairment of liver and kidney functions (p < 0.05), and changes of antioxidant defenses (p ≤ 0.0001). Both administrations produced toxic effects of clinical relevance, which make levamisole a dangerous cutting agent. Furthermore, the knowledge of these effects can contribute to the correct diagnosis and treatment of cocaine dependents with unusual systemic alterations