LOGÍSTICA REVERSA DO ÓLEO RESIDUAL DE FRITURA PARA PRODUÇÃO DE BIODIESEL DO DISTRITO MUNICIPAL DE KAMPFUMO - CIDADE DE MAPUTO

O óleo residual de fritura (ORF) é um resíduo doméstico, que quando descartado de maneira inadequada, origina impactos negativos nas esferas econômica, social e ambiental. Uma alternativa ao seu descarte indiscriminado tem sido a reciclagem que possibilita a obtenção de uma variedade de produtos lucrativos, dentre os quais destaca-se o biodiesel. O uso do ORF como insumo complementar no sistema de produção do biodiesel do Moçambique, tem o potencial de reforçar, complementar e expandir o desenvolvimento deste setor. A introdução do ORF irá agregar valor ao próprio setor, e se pode beneficiar os projetos de eletrificação rural, redução da vulnerabilidade a doenças gástricas, prevenção da poluição, e redução de importações do diesel. Neste sentido, este trabalho apresenta a projeção de uma rede logística reversa para viabilizar a coleta e transporte ORF de forma a garantir o seu adequado fornecimento para reaproveitamento, com destaque para a produção do biodiesel no distrito municipal KaMpfumo. Os elos da rede proposta são os geradores de ORF, e as facilidades logísticas capazes de viabilizar o processo reverso são, os centros de retorno e pré-tratamento. Foi construído um modelo matemático, baseado em uma variante do problema p-Mediana para a localização das facilidades. O método de resolução foi a Programação Linear Inteira Mista, implementado em linguagem C/C++, e testado com o CPLEX. O modelo foi testado utilizando parâmetros do distrito KaMpfumo. Os cenários permitiram avaliar as hipóteses propostas, estimando a situação atual de coleta de ORF, a elevação desta coleta por meio de crescimento populacional dos próximos anos e por meio de implantação do quadro legal proposto para impulsionar para produção de biodiesel. Este trabalho contribui para os processos de tomada de decisões em relação ao gerenciamento do ORF, e a diversificação da matéria-prima na produção de biodiesel no país

Praxis Mapping: A methodology for evaluating the political impacts of international projects

This report describes the participatory development of a process we have used to consider the political implications of a climate justice project we worked on together from 2010 to 2013, called Strengthening the role of civil society in water sector governance towards climate change adaptation in African cities – Durban, Maputo, Nairobi (see http://ccaa.irisyorku.ca). This project was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) through their Climate Change Adaptation in Africa programme.This research was supported by the International Development Research Centr

Just Energy Transition: Learning from the Past for a More Just and Sustainable Hydrogen Transition in West Africa

The rising demand for energy and the aim of moving away from fossil fuels and to low-carbon power have led many countries to move to alternative sources including solar energy, wind, geothermal energy, biomass, and hydrogen. Hydrogen is often considered a “missing link” in guaranteeing the energy transition, providing storage, and covering the volatility and intermittency of renewable energy generation. However, due to potential injustice with regard to the distribution of risks, benefits, and costs (i.e., in regard to competing for land use), the large-scale deployment of hydrogen is a contested policy issue. This paper draws from a historical analysis of past energy projects to contribute to a more informed policy-making process toward a more just transition to the hydrogen economy. We perform a systematic literature review to identify relevant conflict factors that can influence the outcome of hydrogen energy transition projects in selected Economic Community of West African States countries, namely Nigeria and Mali. To better address potential challenges, policymakers must not only facilitate technology development, access, and market structures for hydrogen energy policies but also focus on energy access to affected communities. Further research should monitor hydrogen implementation with a special focus on societal impacts in producing countries

Kv7 Channels Can Function without Constitutive Calmodulin Tethering

M-channels are voltage-gated potassium channels composed of Kv7.2-7.5 subunits that serve as important regulators of neuronal excitability. Calmodulin binding is required for Kv7 channel function and mutations in Kv7.2 that disrupt calmodulin binding cause Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions (BFNC), a dominantly inherited human epilepsy. On the basis that Kv7.2 mutants deficient in calmodulin binding are not functional, calmodulin has been defined as an auxiliary subunit of Kv7 channels. However, we have identified a presumably phosphomimetic mutation S511D that permits calmodulin-independent function. Thus, our data reveal that constitutive tethering of calmodulin is not required for Kv7 channel function

The Effects of Puerarin on Rat Ventricular Myocytes and the Potential Mechanism

Puerarin, a known isoflavone, is commonly found as a Chinese herb medicine. It is widely used in China to treat cardiac diseases such as angina, cardiac infarction and arrhythmia. However, its cardioprotective mechanism remains unclear. In this study, puerarin significantly prolonged ventricular action potential duration (APD) with a dosage dependent manner in the micromolar range on isolated rat ventricular myocytes. However, submicromolar puerarin had no effect on resting membrane potential (RMP), action potential amplitude (APA) and maximal velocity of depolarization (Vmax) of action potential. Only above the concentration of 10 mM, puerarin exhibited more aggressive effect on action potential, and shifted RMP to the positive direction. Millimolar concentrations of puerarin significantly inhibited inward rectified K+ channels in a dosage dependent manner, and exhibited bigger effects upon Kir2.1 vs Kir2.3 in transfected HEK293 cells. As low as micromolar range concentrations of puerarin significantly inhibited Kv7.1 and IKs. These inhibitory effects may due to the direct inhibition of puerarin upon channels not via the PKA-dependent pathway. These results provided direct preclinical evidence that puerarin prolonged APD via its inhibitory effect upon Kv7.1 and IKs, contributing to a better understanding the mechanism of puerarin cardioprotection in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases