Hydraulic conductivity and soil-sewage sludge interactions

One of the main problems faced by humanity is pollution caused by residues resulting from the production and use of goods, e.g, sewage sludge. Among the various alternatives for its disposal, the agricultural use seems promising. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity and interaction of soil with sandy-silty texture, classified as Spodosols, from the Experimental Station Itapirema - IPA, in Goiana, state of Pernambuco, in mixtures with sewage sludge from the Mangueira Sewage Treatment Station, in the city of Recife, Pernambuco at rates of 25, 50 and 75 Mg ha-1. Tests were conducted to let water percolate the natural saturated soil and soil-sludge mixtures to characterize their physical, chemical, and microstructural properties as well as hydraulic conductivity. Statistical data analysis showed that the presence of sewage sludge in soils leads to an increase of the < 0.005 mm fraction, reduction in real specific weight and variation in optimum moisture content from 11.60 to 12.90 % and apparent specific dry weight from 17.10 and 17.50 kN m-3. In the sludge-soil mixture, the quartz grains were covered by sludge and filling of the empty soil macropores between grains. There were changes in the chemical characteristics of soil and effluent due to sewage sludge addition and a small decrease in hydraulic conductivity. The results indicate the possibility that soil acidity influenced the concentrations of the elements found in the leachate, showing higher levels at higher sludge doses. It can be concluded that the leaching degree of potentially toxic elements from the sewage sludge treatments does not harm the environment

Testing the tail index in autoregressive models

Empirical process, Heavy tailed distribution, Feigin-Resnick estimator, Pareto tail index,

Steps foward determination of the size and structure of the broad-line region in active galactic nuclei. V. Variability of the ultraviolet continuum and emission lines of NGC 3783

We report on the results of intensive ultraviolet spectral monitoring of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3783. The nucleus of NGC 3783 was observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite on a regular basis for a total of 7 months, once every 4 days for the first 172 days and once every other day for the final 50 days. Significant variability was observed in both continuum and emission-line ftuxes. The light curves for the con­ tinuum ftuxes exhibited two well-defined local mínima or "dips," the first lasting <~20 days and the second <~4 days, with additional episodes of relatively rapid ftickering of approximately the same amplitude. As in the case of NGC 5548 (the only other Seyfert galaxy that has been the subject of such an intensive, sustained monitoring effort), the largest continuum variations were seen at the shortest wavelengths, so that the continuum became "harder" when brighter. The variations in the continuum occurred simultaneously at ali wavelengths (Δt < 2 days). Generally, the amplitude of variability of the emission lines was lower than (or comparable to) that of the continuum. Apart from Mg II (which varied little) and N v (which is relatively weak and badly blended with Lyα), the light curves of the emission lines are very similar to the continuum light curves, in each case with a small systematic delay or "lag." As for NGC 5548, the highest ionization lines seem to respond with shorter lags than the lower ionization lines. The lags found for NGC 3783 are consider­ ably shorter than those obtained for NGC 5548, with values of (formally) ~O days for He II +O III], and ~4 days for Lyα and C IV. The data further suggest lags of~4 days for Si IV+ O IV] and 8-30 days for Si III] +C III]. Mg II lagged the 1460 Å continuum by ~9 days, although this result depends on the method of measuring the line flux and may in fact be due to variability of the underlying Fe n lines. Correlation analysis further shows that the power density spectrum contains substantial unresolved power over timescales of <~2 days, and that the character of the continuum variability may change with time

Steps foward determination of the size and structure of the broad-line region in active galactic nuclei. V. Variability of the ultraviolet continuum and emission lines of NGC 3783

We report on the results of intensive ultraviolet spectral monitoring of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3783. The nucleus of NGC 3783 was observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite on a regular basis for a total of 7 months, once every 4 days for the first 172 days and once every other day for the final 50 days. Significant variability was observed in both continuum and emission-line ftuxes. The light curves for the con­ tinuum ftuxes exhibited two well-defined local mínima or "dips," the first lasting <~20 days and the second <~4 days, with additional episodes of relatively rapid ftickering of approximately the same amplitude. As in the case of NGC 5548 (the only other Seyfert galaxy that has been the subject of such an intensive, sustained monitoring effort), the largest continuum variations were seen at the shortest wavelengths, so that the continuum became "harder" when brighter. The variations in the continuum occurred simultaneously at ali wavelengths (Δt < 2 days). Generally, the amplitude of variability of the emission lines was lower than (or comparable to) that of the continuum. Apart from Mg II (which varied little) and N v (which is relatively weak and badly blended with Lyα), the light curves of the emission lines are very similar to the continuum light curves, in each case with a small systematic delay or "lag." As for NGC 5548, the highest ionization lines seem to respond with shorter lags than the lower ionization lines. The lags found for NGC 3783 are consider­ ably shorter than those obtained for NGC 5548, with values of (formally) ~O days for He II +O III], and ~4 days for Lyα and C IV. The data further suggest lags of~4 days for Si IV+ O IV] and 8-30 days for Si III] +C III]. Mg II lagged the 1460 Å continuum by ~9 days, although this result depends on the method of measuring the line flux and may in fact be due to variability of the underlying Fe n lines. Correlation analysis further shows that the power density spectrum contains substantial unresolved power over timescales of <~2 days, and that the character of the continuum variability may change with time

Implementation of a Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program for improvement on quality of diet and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: A randomized, multicenter trial

Background: Appropriate dietary recommendations represent a key part of secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the effectiveness of the implementation of a nutritional program on quality of diet, cardiovascular events, and death in patients with established CVD. Methods: In this open-label, multicenter trial conducted in 35 sites in Brazil, we randomly assigned (1:1) patients aged 45 years or older to receive either the BALANCE Program (experimental group) or conventional nutrition advice (control group). The BALANCE Program included a unique nutritional education strategy to implement recommendations from guidelines, adapted to the use of affordable and regional foods. Adherence to diet was evaluated by the modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, myocardial revascularization, amputation, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Secondary end points included biochemical and anthropometric data, and blood pressure levels. Results: From March 5, 2013, to Abril 7, 2015, a total of 2534 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the BALANCE Program group (n = 1,266) or the control group (n = 1,268) and were followed up for a median of 3.5 years. In total, 235 (9.3%) participants had been lost to follow-up. After 3 years of follow-up, mean modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (scale 0-70) was only slightly higher in the BALANCE group versus the control group (26.2 ± 8.4 vs 24.7 ± 8.6, P <.01), mainly due to a 0.5-serving/d greater intake of fruits and of vegetables in the BALANCE group. Primary end point events occurred in 236 participants (18.8%) in the BALANCE group and in 207 participants (16.4%) in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI 0.95-1.38; P =.15). Secondary end points did not differ between groups after follow-up. Conclusions: The BALANCE Program only slightly improved adherence to a healthy diet in patients with established CVD and had no significant effect on the incidence of cardiovascular events or death. © 2019 The Author