Efeito da aplicação de composto de lixo urbano na acumulação de nitrato pela cenoura (Daucus carota, L.).

Portanto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de determinar até que ponto o uso agrícola do composto de lixo pode ser limitado por problemas de exposição da população pela ingestão de alimentos com níveis de nitrato acima do tolerável.bitstream/CNPS/11595/1/comtec20_2003_lixo-urbano_cenoura.pd

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in a dermatology unit

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in a dermatology unit. METHODS: This was a prospective and descriptive study. Over the course of 26 weeks, surveillance cultures were collected weekly from the anterior nares and skin of all patients hospitalized in a 20-bed dermatology unit of a tertiary-care hospital. Samples from healthcare workers (HCWS) were cultured at the beginning and end of the study. Colonized patients were put under contact precautions, and basic infection control measures were enforced. Staphylococcus aureus colonization pressure was determined monthly. Colonized and non-colonized patients were compared, and isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility, SCCmec type, virulence factors, and type. RESULTS: Of the 142 patients evaluated, 64 (45%) were colonized by MRSA (39% hospital acquired; 25% community acquired; 36% indeterminate). Despite isolation precautions, hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus occurred in addition to the continuous entry of Staphylococcus aureus from the community. Colonization pressure increased from 13% to 59%, and pemphigus and other bullous diseases were associated with MRSA colonization. Eleven out of 71 HCWs (15%) were Staphylococcus aureus carriers, although only one worker carried a persistent clone. Of the hospital-acquired MRSA cases, 14/28 (50%) were SCCmec type IV (3 PFGE types), 13 were SCCmec type III (46%), and one had an indeterminate type. These types were also present among the community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus isolates. SSCmec type IV isolates were shown to be more susceptible than type III isolates. There were two cases of bloodstream infection, and the pvl and tst virulence genes were absent from all isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatology patients were colonized by community- and hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus. Half of the nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus isolates were SCCmec type IV. Despite the identification of colonized patients and the subsequent contact precautions and room placement, Staphylococcus aureus colonization continued to occur, and colonization pressure increased. Pemphigus and other bullous diseases were associated with Staphylococcus aureus

Leaf Spectra Changes of Plants Grown in Soils Pre- and Post-Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons.

ABSTRACT: Leaks from accidents or damage to pipelines that transport liquid petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) such as gasoline and diesel are harmful to the environment as well as to human health, and may be hard to detect by inspection mechanisms alone when they occur in small volumes or persistently. In the present study, we aim to identify spectral anomalies in two plant species (Brachiaria brizantha and Neonotonia wightii) linked to contamination effects at different developmental phases of these plants. To do so, we used spectroscopy and remote sensing approaches to detect small gasoline and diesel leaks by observing the damage caused to the vegetation that covers simulated pipelines. We performed a contamination test before and after planting using gasoline and diesel volumes that varied between 2 and 16 L/m3 soil, in two experimental designs: (i) single contamination before planting, and (ii) periodic contaminations after planting and during plant growth. We collected the reflectance spectra from 35 to approximately 100 days after planting. We then compared the absorption features positioned from the visible spectral range to the shortwave infrared and the spectral parameters in the red edge range of the contaminated plants to the healthy plants, thus confirming the visual and biochemical changes verified in the contaminated plants. Despite the complexity in the indirect identification of soil contamination by PHCs, since it involves different stages of plant development, the results were promising and can be used as a reference for methods of indirect detection from UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), airplanes, and satellites equipped with hyperspectral sensors

Toxicity of high salinity tannery wastewater and effects on constructed wetland plants

The toxicity of high salinity tannery wastewater produced after an activated sludge secondary treatment on the germination and seedling growth of Trifolium pratense, a species used as indicator in toxicity tests, was evaluated. Growth was inhibited by wastewater concentrations >25% and undiluted effluent caused a complete germination inhibition. Constructed wetlands (CWs) with Arundo donax or Sarcocornia fruticosa were envisaged to further polish this wastewater. Selection of plant species to use in CWs for industrial wastewater treatment is an important issue, since for a successful establishment they have to tolerate the often harsh wastewater composition. For that, the effects of this wastewater on the growth of Arundo and Sarcocornia were assessed in pot assays. Plants were subject to different wastewater contents (0/50/100%), and both were resilient to the imposed conditions. Arundo had higher growth rates and biomass than Sarcocornia and may therefore be the preferred species for use in CWs treating tannery wastewater. CWs planted with the above mentioned plants significantly decreased the toxicity of the wastewater, as effluent from the CWs outlet stimulated the growth of Trifolium at concentrations <50%, and seed germination and growth even occurred in undiluted effluent.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brazilian cheeses: a survey covering physicochemical characteristics, mineral content, fatty acid profile and volatile compounds

Chemical characteristics, mineral levels (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Mn), fatty acid profile and volatile compounds of typically Brazilian cheeses (Minas Frescal, Minas Padrão, Prato and Coalho, n = 200, equally distributed) were investigated. The cheeses have proven to be a source of Ca, Cu and Zn (>15% RDI/30 g), with low atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, with ethanol as the main alcohol and butanoic acid as the main acid, and moderate to high sodium content. Minas Frescal cheese presented lower nutritional value (proteins, lipids, and minerals), while Prato cheese had a higher fatty acids concentration, including conjugated linoleic acid (0.013 g 100 g−1). Coalho cheese had a higher acetic acid level, while citric acid and lactic acid predominated in Minas Padrão cheese. The results provide essential information for Brazilian consumers, demonstrated that the manufacturing conditions are heterogeneous and suggested that a standardized manufacturing protocol for dairy processors is needed1081826CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP#302763/2014-7; #306275/2014-7#13/20456-