Agronomic Characterisation of Sewage Sludge: Residual Effects

The progressive implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC is increasing the quantities of sewage sludge requiring disposal. Agronomic use of sewage sludge should be based on crop fertiliser requirements and heavy metals content. Sewage sludge fertiliser potential depends on the stabilisation treatments of sewage sludge: composting, anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion or pelleting (EPA, 1994). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the fertiliser effectiveness and residual effects of three types of sewage sludge treated in three different ways

DD¯ ∗ scattering and χc1(3872) in nuclear matter

We study the behavior of the χc1(3872), also known as X(3872), in dense nuclear matter. We begin from a picture in vacuum of the X(3872) as a purely molecular (DD¯¯¯∗-c.c) state, generated as a bound state from a heavy-quark symmetry leading-order interaction between the charmed mesons, and analyze the DD¯¯¯∗ scattering T matrix (TD¯¯¯∗) inside of the medium. Next, we consider also mixed-molecular scenarios and, in all cases, we determine the corresponding X(3872) spectral function and the DD¯¯¯ ∗ amplitude, with the mesons embedded in the dense environment. We find important nuclear corrections for T DD¯¯¯ ∗ and the pole position of the resonance, and discuss the dependence of these results on the DD ¯¯¯∗ molecular component in the X (3872) wave function. These predictions could be tested in the finite-density regime that can be accessed in the future CBM and PANDA experiments at the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR).publishedVersio

Pasture Production After Sewage Sludge and Liming Application on Highlands in North West Spain

In recent years, a sewage sludge surplus has been created in the EU countries, due to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/CEE. Therefore, it is necessary to find adequate disposal for these residues in accordance with EU policy. Organic matter and nutrient sewage sludge contain principally N, indicating that it could be used as fertiliser. The main risk of this residue is its heavy metal content, whose solubility is usually increased as soil pH declines. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of liming and sewage sludge application on pasture production in a silvopastoral system located on acid soi

Vibration measurements on small to medium single-span railway bridges

Due to the need for increasing train speeds several existing small to medium span bridges in the track Linz-Wels (Austria) were re-evaluated. In a preliminary numerical calculation, considering conservative values for the dynamic parameters, very high vertical accelerations were computed for some of those structures. An experimental program was thus carried out in order to get a better estimation for the dynamic behaviour of the bridges, concerning mainly the first vertical eigenfrequency and the corresponding viscous damping. The paper reports on the results of this experimental investigation and identifies some areas where further research is necessary

Effect of Tree Species and Density on Pasture Production in Galicia, Spain

Galicia produces 50% of the forest products of Spain. Livestock production earns 62% of the income of the agrarian sector in Galicia. Afforestation has been very important in the last decade to such an extent that the area of forest and woodlands now covers 62% of Galicia. It is necessary to increase the rate of return on investments in planted forests in order to avoid rural depopulation through improvement of rural development and welfare. This paper reports on the effect of combining pastures with trees

Seasonal Variation of Crude Protein Content of Different Herbaceous, Shrub and Tree Species

Silvopastoralism is a sustainable way of land management that reduces fire risk due to the reduction of fuel under trees when plants are used as animal food. This is particularly important in areas like Galicia that have 16% of the fired area of Europe. Silvopastoral systems can contribute to environment conservation and provide feed for autochthonous breeds more adapted to mountain conditions, enhancing biodiversity conservation. In formation on seasonal changes in crude protein content of spontaneous species will indicate better management of pasture resources in mountain areas

Shading Effect on Production and Protein Concentration of \u3cem\u3eDactylis Glomerata\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eAgrostis Tenuis\u3c/em\u3e

Silvopastoral systems make compatible livestock and timber production and provide important advantages from economic and ecological points of view (Sibbald, 1996). Around one million ha of new afforested areas promoted by the EU Common Agricultural Policy have been established in the last decade, that can be used as potential silvopastoral system areas. Pasture production is usually reduced in dense stands as trees grow up due to the light interception by the tree crown, but the radiation reaching the soil will depend on the tree type and this will affect herbaceous species composition and development. The aim of this work was to evaluate the shading effect (0 and 50 % of light interception) on pasture production and composition of monocultures of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L. var. Artabro) and bent grass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth. cv Highland) in simulated conditions

Assessment of cognitive functions in patients with multiple sclerosis applying the normative values of the Rao’s brief repeatable battery in the Portuguese population

Background: The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRBN-T) is one of the most sensitive and used measures for detecting cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objective: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate this battery to the Portuguese population of MS patients. Methods: The Portuguese version of the BRBN-T was applied to a stratified control national sample of 326 individuals considering sex, age, educational level and geographic location and also a clinical sample of 115 MS patients from several national hospitals. Through the exploration of its psychometrics properties, the Portuguese BRBN-T norms were produced. Results: The normative data is presented as a regression-based formula to adjust test scores for gender, education and age, and the results reveal the BRBN-T has the ability to differentiate between MS patients and healthy participant’s cognitive performance. Conclusion: This study demonstrated in our clinical population a good ability to detect cognitive impairment. Its clearly contributed to reinforcing the neuropsychological assessment in Portugal in patients with MS, by providing a new set of instruments, which can be used in the clinical practice, and in future studies. Moreover, it will allow a rigorous and precise support in relation to neuropsychological assessment for future longitudinal studies and clinical trials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Zinc and copper availability in herbage and soil of a Pinus radiata silvopastoral system in Northwest Spain after sewage-sludge and lime application

Silvopastoral systems are ancient farming systems in the world, consisting of the combination of a woody component (trees or shrubs) and crops and/or animals within the same land-management unit. In various European Union (EU) countries, the possibility of using sewage sludge as a fertilizer is under consideration as a viable method of disposal, considering the increase in sewage-sludge production in recent years and the restrictions imposed by European policy on the usual methods of disposal. The concern is the concentration of heavy metals, which can reach humans through the food chain. In Spain, R.D. 1310/1990, as well as European Directive 86/278, limit the total in-soil heavy-metal concentration, but not the solubility changes, which directly affect plant absorption and leaching of heavy metals throughout the soil profile. The objective of this experiment was to compare, in a silvopastoral system over a period of 3 years, the effect of applying three doses of sewage sludge combined with and without liming, on total and available soil Zn and Cu and their concentration in plants. Liming did not affectct Zn and Cu availability; however, sewage sludge increased Zn and Cu availability, though total in-soil Zn was increased only in November 2000. In-plant Zn concentration was increased by sewage sludge in the last 2 years of the study. In all cases, the quality of forage obtained and measured with regard to the concentrations of Zn and Cu was adequate for animal consumption. With respect to sewage-sludge application as a fertilizer, the management of heavy-metal availability must be included in the policy, because environmental risk could then be adequately evaluated