Aerobic treatment of winery wastewater with the aim of water reuse

An air micro-bubble bioreactor (AMBB) using a free self-adapted microbial population, 15dm3 working volume, was used for aerobic treatment of winery wastewater. This reactor utilizes a Venturi injector in conjunction with mass transfer multiplier nozzles, which allow an efficient oxygen transfer. The reactor can operate in batch or continuous conditions. The dynamics of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biomass and total contents of polyphenolic compounds was followed throughout each trial. The wastewater COD ranged between 4.0–8.0 kgCODm23 and the efficiency of the batch treatment was about 90.0 ^ 4.3%, after 6 days of operation. The maximum efficiency obtained was achieved after 15 days of treatment (99%). In continuous conditions, the loading rate and the treatment efficiency ranged between 0.45–1.00 kgCODm23 d21 and 93.3 ^ 2.0%, respectively. The AMBB hydraulic retention time was 15 days. To assess the suitability of treated water in relation to vineyard irrigation, the effluent was physico-chemical analysed and direct toxicity bioassays with effluent matrix were carried out using Lepidium sativum L. seeds. The results showed the water quality required to be reutilised minimizing water consumption. This study will contribute for the implementation of an efficient water use plan, aiming the preservation of the water resource and the reduction of the wastewater productio

Methicillin-Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Is Not Affected by the Overexpression in Trans of the mecA Gene Repressor: A Surprising Observation

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is intrinsically cross-resistant to virtually all β-lactam antibiotics. The central determinant for the MRSA phenotype is the mecA gene, whose transcriptional control may be mediated by a repressor (mecI) and a sensor/inducer (mecR1). The mecI-mecR1-mediated induction of mecA takes several hours rendering the strains phenotypically susceptible in spite of the presence of the resistance gene. Therefore, it has been proposed that the full resistance to β-lactams observed in many contemporary clinical MRSA strains requires a non-functional mecI-mecR1 regulatory system. The mecA gene is embedded in a large chromosomal cassette (the SCCmec element) for which several structural types have been described. Some epidemic MRSA clones, typically expressing full β-lactam resistance, carry SCCmec elements that contain an intact mecI-mecR1 locus (e.g. SCCmec types II and III). We have addressed this apparent contradiction by first sequencing the mecI coding region and mecA promoter sequences in a collection of prototype MRSA strains characterized by different SCCmec types. A conserved non-sense mutation within mecI was detected in all SCCmec type III strains tested, presumably responsible for a non-functional truncated MecI protein and, therefore, explaining the full resistance phenotype. In SCCmec type II strains no conserved mutations were found. We next transformed a collection of prototype MRSA epidemic strains with a recombinant plasmid overexpressing a wild-type copy of mecI. Surprisingly, for the great majority of the strains no significant alterations in the phenotypic expression of β-lactam resistance could be detected. These findings were confirmed and further explored, challenging the currently accepted mechanism of mecA transcriptional control. Our observations suggest the existence of yet unidentified additional determinants involved in the transcriptional control of mecA gene and point to a revision of the mecA regulatory mechanism in contemporary MRSA strains

Arquiteturas de Pipeline Assíncronas Register Less NULL Convention Logic (RL-NCL) Usando Portas Básicas

Asynchronous circuits is an alternative to design digital systems that is becoming the interest of many researchers in the digital design area mainly due to it’s low-power consumption and robustness. One of the most compelling design paradigms of asynchronous circuits is the NULL Convention Logic (NCL). The pipeline is a very common technique used in digital circuits to achieve high throughput. Although one can implement a pipeline using NCL gates, recent works have shown that register-less pipelines are possible using modified NCL gates. In this paper we propose two new Register-Less NCL (RL-NCL) pipeline architectures and two new methods to design NCL gates, which can be implemented even in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or using the standard cells method. The new design of the proposed architecture was able to achieve an average area reduction of 27,32%, an average latency reduction of 14,1% and an average throughput increase of 5,54% comparing with the conventional NCL pipeline architecture.Los circuitos asíncronos son una alternativa para el diseño de sistemas digitales que se está convirtiendo en el interés de muchos investigadores en el área del diseño digital debido principalmente a su bajo consumo y robustez. Uno de los paradigmas de diseño más convincentes de los circuitos asíncronos es la NULL Convention Logic (NCL). La pipeline es una técnica muy común utilizada en circuitos digitales para lograr un alto rendimiento. Aunque se puede implementar una pipeline utilizando puertas NCL, trabajos recientes han demostrado que las pipelines sin registro son posibles utilizando puertas NCL modificadas. En este artículo, propusimos dos nuevas arquitecturas de pipeline Register-Less NCL (RL-NCL) y un paradigma de diseño, que pueden implementarse incluso en Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) o utilizando el método de celdas estándar. El nuevo diseño de la arquitectura propuesta logró una reducción media del área del 27,32%, una reducción media de la latencia del 14,1% y un aumento medio del rendimiento del 5,54% en comparación con la arquitectura de pipeline NCL convencional.Circuitos assíncronos é uma alternativa para projetar sistemas digitais que vem despertando o interesse de muitos pesquisadores na área de projeto digital principalmente devido ao seu baixo consumo de energia e robustez. Um dos paradigmas de projeto mais atraentes de circuitos assíncronos é o NULL Convention Logic (NCL). O pipeline é uma técnica muito comum usada em circuitos digitais para obter alto rendimento. Embora seja possível implementar um pipeline usando portas NCL, trabalhos recentes mostraram que pipelines sem registro são possíveis usando portas NCL modificadas. Neste artigo propomos duas novas arquiteturas de pipeline NCL Register-Less (RL-NCL) e dois novos métodos para projetar portas NCL, que podem ser implementadas até mesmo em Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) ou usando o método de células padrão. O novo design da arquitetura proposta foi capaz de alcançar uma redução média de área de 27,32%, uma redução média de latência de 14,1% e um aumento médio de throughput de 5,54% em comparação com a arquitetura de pipeline NCL convencional

Using hierarchical information-theoretic criteria to optimize subsampling of extensive datasets

This paper addresses the challenge of subsampling large datasets, aiming to generate a smaller dataset that retains a significant portion of the original information. To achieve this objective, we present a subsampling algorithm that integrates hierarchical data partitioning with a specialized tool tailored to identify the most informative observations within a dataset for a specified underlying linear model, not necessarily first-order, relating responses and inputs. The hierarchical data partitioning procedure systematically and incrementally aggregates information from smaller-sized samples into new samples. Simultaneously, our selection tool employs Semidefinite Programming for numerical optimization to maximize the information content of the chosen observations. We validate the effectiveness of our algorithm through extensive testing, using both benchmark and real-world datasets. The real-world dataset is related to the physicochemical characterization of white variants of Portuguese Vinho Verde. Our results are highly promising, demonstrating the algorithm's capability to efficiently identify and select the most informative observations while keeping computational requirements at a manageable level

Utiliza??o de s?lvia (Salvia officinalis) como substituto de cloreto de s?dio em reestruturado de frango

?O presente trabalho foi realizado com apoio da Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - C?digo de Financiamento 001?.A co-orientadora do trabalho n?o mencionada na lista da Folha de Aprova??o.O cloreto de s?dio ? um ingrediente importante utilizado em produtos c?rneos. Quando consumido em excesso pode causar alguns danos ? sa?de, como elevar a press?o arterial. A redu??o de s?dio nesses alimentos ? um desafio, pois esse ingrediente interfere em diversas propriedades tecnol?gicas. Dessa forma, objetivou-se substituir parcialmente o cloreto de s?dio por s?lvia em reestruturados de fil? de frango em 25 (F1), 30 (F2), 35 (F3) e 40% (F4), quando comparado com a formula??o controle (C). Determinou-se a composi??o centesimal (umidade, cinzas, prote?nas, lip?deos, carboidratos), s?dio, pot?ssio e tamb?m o valor cal?rico dos produtos desenvolvidos, bem como a estabilidade durante 60 dias sob congelamento a -4 ?C. Para isso foram realizadas an?lise de pH, acidez titul?vel total, capacidade de reten??o de ?gua, atividade de ?gua, porcentagem de encolhimento, rendimento por coc??o, oxida??o lip?dica, cor (L*, a*, b*, h* e C*) e textura (dureza, elasticidade, coesividade, gomosidade e mastigabilidade). O teste de Bonferroni a 5% de signific?ncia foi utilizado para avaliar a diferen?a entre as formula??es e para o efeito do tempo de estocagem foi utilizada regress?o linear e geom?trica. A inocuidade foi avaliada por meio da analise microbiol?gica e em seguida realizou-se a an?lise sensorial. Na composi??o foi observada diferen?a (p<0,05) entre as amostras nas an?lises de cinza e s?dio, que reduziram com a redu??o de cloreto de s?dio. Nas an?lises f?sico-qu?micas n?o foi observada diferen?a (p>0,05) entre as formula??es para pH, acidez titul?vel total, oxida??o lip?dica, todos os par?metros de cor, e para os par?metros de textura elasticidade e coesividade. Microbiologicamente, todas as formula??es estavam de acordo com a legisla??o vigente. Na an?lise sensorial o ?nico par?metro em que foi percebida a redu??o de s?dio foi o sabor, sendo a F4 menos aceita. A estocagem sob congelamento a -4?C por 60 dias, afetou a capacidade de reten??o de ?gua de todas as formula??es e tamb?m a mastigabilidade e na formula??o contole e a gomosidade da F2. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que foi poss?vel reduzir o n?vel de cloreto de s?dio em reestruturados de frango e mant?-los est?veis durante a estocagem bem como obter boa aceita??o dos produtos desenvolvidos.Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES)Disserta??o (Mestrado) ? Programa de P?s-gradua??o em Ci?ncia e Tecnologia de Alimentos, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 2018.Sodium chloride is an important ingredient used in meat products. When consumption is excessive, anomalies can occur, such as raising blood pressure. Reducing food inventory is a challenge, as this element interferes with various technological properties. The aim of this study was to replace the sodium chloride by sisparing the chicken fillet at 25 (F1), 30 (F2), 35 (F3) and 40% (F4), when compared to control (C). A centesimal composition (moisture, ashes, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates), sodium, potassium and also the caloric value of the developed products was determined as well as a product for 60 days under freezing at -4 ? C. For pH analysis, water content, shrinkage percentage, cooking yield, lipid oxidation, color (L *, a *, b *, h * and C *) and texture (hardness, elasticity, cohesiveness, gum and chewiness). The Bonferron test at 5% significance was used to calculate a difference between the formulations and for the storage time effect, linear and geometric regression was applied. The innocuity was evaluated by means of microbiological analysis and then a sensorial analysis was carried out. In the measurement, the variation (p <0.05) was obtained between the ash and sodium samples, with reduction of sodium chloride. The physical preparations were not able to achieve the differentiation (p> 0.05) between the formulations for pH, total titratable acidity, lipid oxidation, all color parameters, and for texture, elasticity and cohesiveness parameters. Microbiologically, all formulations were in accordance with current legislation. In the sensory analysis the only parameter was the reduction of the satisfaction with the flavor, being F4 less accepted. A stock under freezing at -4 ? C for 60 days, with a water retention capacity of all formulations and also a mastication and a contained simulation and a gummy of F2. Thus, it can be concluded that it is possible to reduce the serum sodium and stable fatty acid levels during storage as well as good adhesion of the developed products

Glazing-related problems due to high temperatures in double skin façades

The thermal behaviour of a double skin façade building is modelled using the DOE-2 building energy simulation program. Maximum temperatures of glazed components of the double skin façade are determined to assess the occurrence of glazing-related problems, such as reduced thermal and aesthetic performance, increased maintenance costs and even injury hazards. The importance of detailed thermal modelling of double skin façades and of its glazed componentes is concluded

Application of a Latent Transition Model to Estimate the Usual Prevalence of Dietary Patterns

Background: This study aims to derive habitual dietary patterns of the Portuguese adult population by applying two methodological approaches: a latent class model and a latent transition model. The novel application of the latent transition model allows us to determine the day-to-day variability of diet and to calculate the usual prevalence of dietary patterns. Methods: Participants are from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese population, 2015-2016 (2029 women; 1820 men, aged >= 18 years). Diet was collected by two 24 h dietary recalls (8-15 days apart). Dietary patterns were derived by: (1) a latent class model using the arithmetic mean of food weigh intake, with concomitant variables (age and sex); (2) a latent transition model allowing the transition from one pattern to another, with the same concomitant variables. Results: Six dietary patterns were identified by a latent class model. By using a latent transition model, three dietary patterns were identified: "In-transition to Western" (higher red meat and alcohol intake; followed by middle-aged men), "Western" (higher meats/eggs and energy-dense foods intake; followed by younger men), and "Traditional-Healthier" (higher intake of fruit, vegetables and fish, characteristic of older women). Most individuals followed the same pattern on both days, but around 26% transited between "In-transition to Western" and "Western". The prevalence of the dietary patterns using a single recall day (40%, 27%, 33%, respectively) is different from the usual prevalence obtained by the latent transition probabilities (48%, 36%, 16%). Conclusion: Three dietary patterns, largely dependent on age and sex, were identified for the Portuguese adult population: "In-transition to Western" (48%), "Western" (36%), and "Traditional-Healthier" (16%), but 26% were transient between patterns. Dietary patterns are, in general, deviating from traditional habits

Chemostratigraphy (TOC, 13C, 18O) around the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary in the reference section of Peniche (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal)

This work presents the chemostratigraphy analysis based on total organic carbon (TOC) and the evolution of the carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in the whole rock samples around the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary in the Peniche section (uppermost part of Lemede Formation and lowermost part of Cabo Carvoeiro Formation). These are partial results which form part of a group of studies, being processed, that include isotope analyses of 87Sr/86Sr, 18O, 13C and major, minor and trace elements in whole rock and belemnites