Removal of naproxen from aqueous matrices by adsorption using activated carbons obtained from olive stones

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are some of the most prescribed drugs worldwide and several studies report their presence in various hydric media including drinking water, surface water, and sewage water. Unfortunately, conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are inefficient in the removal of NSAIDs. Of considerable interest is the possibility of using biomass wastes to prepare an effective adsorbent and its use in the removal of NSAIDs. Adsorption is a treatment process based on accumulation of the adsorbate (pollutant) on the adsorbent surface that has been successful used for the optimization of WWTP. Carbon-based materials (CBMs), such activated carbons have shown incredible efficiency as adsorbents. Traditionally, they are produced from anthracite, coal or peat. However, nowadays biomass residues (e.g. walnut shell, olive stones) has become an essential element for their production, due to the lower cost of biomass and its renewable nature.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/0690/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of equine chorionic gonadotrophin on follicular, luteal and conceptus development of non-lactating Bos indicus beef cows subjected to a progesterone plus estradiol-based timed artificial insemination protocol

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on ovarian follicular responses, corpus luteum (CL) development and conceptus length on day 16 after timed artificial insemination (TAI). A total of 124 cows at day 0 (D0) received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and the insertion of a progesterone (P4) intravaginal device. Eight days later, the device was removed, and cows received 0.15 mg of prostaglandin and 0.5 mg of estradiol cypionate (EC), and were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: eCG (n=60), in which cows received 300 U of eCG; and control (n=64). Cows were TAI 48 h after P4 device removal. The diameter of the largest follicle (LF) present on D8 and D10 and of CL on D15 and D26 were measured. Conceptus recovered rate, conceptus length, CL diameter and weight were determined at slaughter on D26. Plasma P4 concentration was determined on D15 and D26. Follicular growth from D8 to D10 (P=0.03), the diameter of CL at D15 (P=0.03) and D26 (P=0.003) and the CL weight at day 26 (P=0.04) were greater in the eCG group than the control. However, there was no effect of eCG treatment on oestrus occurrence, conceptus recovery rate and length, or P4 concentrations on either D15 or D26. In conclusion, although eCG increases follicular responses and the diameter of the CL, this gonadotropin treatment does not influence the length of the conceptus or the P4 concentration on the subsequent oestrus cycle

A AGROINDÚSTRIA DE ALIMENTOS DERIVADOS DE CACAU NO NORDESTE BRASILEIRO

O objetivo deste artigo é caracterizar o setor agroindustrial de alimentos derivados de cacau no Nordeste Brasileiro. O trabalho foi desenvolvido com base na metodologia de pesquisa descritiva e explicativa, focado na identificação das características e nas inter-relações entre os elos dessa atividade econômica no Nordeste. A agroindústria de derivados de cacau no Nordeste tem se expandido e apresentado maior integração com as cadeias produtivas do setor rural. Porém, o fortalecimento do setor agroindustrial depende, ainda, do fornecimento de matérias-primas com qualidade e regularidade; estabelecimento, disseminação e fiscalização de controles de qualidade e de normas e padrões sanitários; profissionalização de dirigentes nas áreas administrativas e de agronegócios; qualificação da mão-de-obra; assistência técnica com qualidade; regulamentação da concorrência; simplificação de normas fitossanitárias; educação e conscientização de consumidores, além da elevação de renda da população.---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------The objective of this article is to characterize the agro-industrial food sector derived of cacao from Brazilian Northeast. The work was developed on the basis of the characteristics and the Inter-relations between the links of this economic activity from northeast. The agro-industry of derivatives of cacao in the Northeast if has expanded and presented bigger integration with the productive chains of the agricultural sector. However, to fortify the agro-industrial sector depends, still, of the raw material supply with quality and regularity; establishment, dissemination and fiscalization of norm and quality control and sanitary standards; professionalization of controllers in the administrative areas and agribusiness; qualification of the worker; assistance technique with quality; regulation of the competition; simplification of fitossanitaries norms; education and awareness of consumers, beyond the rise of income of the population.Agroindústria, Cacau, Nordeste Brasileiro, Agro-industry, Cacao, Brazilian Northeast, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries,

A AGROINDÚSTRIA DE ALIMENTOS DE FRUTAS E HORTALIÇAS NO NORDESTE E NORTE DOS ESTADOS DE MINAS GERAIS E ESPÍRITO SANTO

A Região Nordeste tornou-se a maior produtora de frutas irrigadas e de sequeiro, resultando na instalação de unidades de processamento distribuídas em todos os estados da área de atuação do Banco do Nordeste do Brasil – BNB (Região Nordeste e norte dos Estados de Minas Gerais e Espírito Santo). Como principal órgão de desenvolvimento dessa Região, o BNB necessita conhecer as características e problemas do processamento agroindustrial de alimentos em sua área de atuação, contribuindo para suas ações e políticas em relação ao setor, sendo este o objetivo desta pesquisa. As fontes de informações para o trabalho foram entrevistas com agroindustriais, intermediários, produtores rurais, centros de pesquisa e supermercados. Os resultados permitem concluir que existem diferenças entre as categorias de agroindústria pesquisadas, principalmente no que diz respeito às formas de gestão, organização, linhas de produção, acesso à tecnologia, informações e participação no mercado. --------------------------------------------------The Northeast Region became it bigger producer of irrigated fruits and dry land, resulting in the installation of units of processing distributed in all the states of the area of performance of the Banco do Nordeste do Brasil - BNB (Northeast Region and north of the States of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo). As main agency of development of this Region, the BNB needs to know the characteristics and problems of the agro-industrial food processing in its area of performance, contributing for its action and politics in relation to the sector, being this the objective of this research. The sources of information for the work had been agro-industrial, intermediate, producing interviews with agricultural, centers of research and supermarkets. The results allow to conclude that differences between the searched categories of agroindustry exist, mainly in that it says respect to the management forms, organization, lines of production, access to the technology, information and participation in the market.Agroindústria de alimentos, Processamento de frutas e hortaliças, Região Nordeste, Foods’ agroindustry, Processing of fruits and vegetable. Northeast Region, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries,

Effectiveness of ultrasonography in detecting intraosseous vascularization: an in-vitro study

Ultrasonography is useful to diagnose lesions, insofar as it detects the type of injury, and to assess the degree of vascularization of tumors. However, intraosseous lesions may represent a challenge, since the surrounding bone thickness could prevent ultrasound signal capture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the infl uence of surrounding bone thickness on the ability of ultrasonography in capturing the echo signal of blood vessels. Macerated porcine hemimandibles (n = 20) with different buccal bone thicknesses were prepared and adapted to receive CFlex-type rubber tubes connected to a glass capillary through which pump-driven water was conducted to simulate blood vasculature. Doppler ultrasonography was used to assess the blood fl ow in the region of the mandibular canal at the level of the molar teeth. Student’s t-test was used to assess differences between the bone thicknesses of hemimandibles with a negative and with a positive ultrasound signal. The presence of the echo signal in the simulated vasculature was assessed by ultrasonography. Reproducibility and reliability were confi rmed for the analyses. The simulated fl ow signal was captured in cortical bones with a thickness in the 0.2–1.0 mm range (0.59 ± 0.42 mm), but was not captured in those with a thickness greater than 1.0 mm (1.39 ± 0.59 mm). In conclusion, ultrasonography can be used to investigate intraosseous vascularization in mandibular areas with a buccal bone thickness up to 1.0 mm.A ultrassonografia é um recurso de imagem para a finalidade de diagnosticar lesões e para avaliar o grau de vascularização intraóssea de tumores. No entanto, lesões intraósseas podem representar um desafio devido à espessura de osso circundante que poderá impedir a captura do sinal de ultrassom. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência da espessura óssea na captura do sinal de eco dos vasos utilizando a ultrassonografia. Hemimandíbulas maceradas suínas (n = 20) com espessuras ósseas diferentes foram adaptadas para receber tubos de borracha tipo CFlex ligados a um capilar de vidro, por onde água foi conduzida por meio de uma bomba para simular a vascularização sanguínea. A ultrassonografia Doppler foi usada para avaliar o fluxo de sangue na região do canal mandibular ao nível dos dentes molares. O teste t de Student foi utilizado para avaliar as diferenças entre as espessuras de osso das hemimandíbulas por meio de sinal negativo e sinal positivo do ultrassom. A reprodutibilidade e a confiabilidade foram confirmadas para as análises. O sinal de fluxo simulado foi capturado em ossos corticais com espessura na faixa de 0,2 a 1,0 mm (0.59 ± 0.42 mm), mas não foi capturado a uma espessura superior a 1,0 mm (1.39 ± 0.59 mm). Concluindo, a ultrassonografia pode ser usada para investigar a vascularização intraóssea em áreas mandibulares com uma espessura óssea vestibular de até 1,0 mm

O Empreendedorismo Social como Alicerce do “Programa Empreender Comunidade”.

O Empreendedorismo Social representa um tipo de engajamento de agentes públicos e privados em esferas críticas da sociedade civil. Este estudo tem por objetivo descrever o “Programa Empreender Comunidade”, implementado pela Prefeitura Municipal de Garanhuns (PE), junto à comunidade da Várzea (Vale do Mundaú), como promotor de ações estruturadoras na perspectiva do Empreendedorismo Social. Isso é discutido por intermédio da análise qualitativa de conteúdo acerca do “Programa Empreender Comunidade”, a partir de revisão teórica que contempla aspectos envolvidos na ação desenvolvida no âmbito do empreendedorismo social. Este é um estudo de caso de natureza interpretativista, desenvolvido com uso de entrevistas semiestruturadas, análise de documentos textuais e não textuais. Foi constatada a existência de dimensões basilares para o desenvolvimento de práticas empreendedoras na esfera social, expressas como Inovação Social, Efetivação do Projeto, Engajamento entre Stakeholders e Ação Coletiva.

Eggplant crop in no tillage system under different irrigation depths

Este estudo foi conduzido no município de Seropédica, RJ, com o objetivo de se determinar, em cultivo orgânico e sistema de plantio direto, a produtividade da cultura da berinjela sob diferentes lâminas de irrigação e sistemas de cultivo (consorciada com leguminosa e solteira). O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso, no esquema de parcela subdividida com quatro repetições caracterizando, na parcela, os tratamentos equivalentes à lâmina de irrigação (40; 70; 100 e 120% ETc) e, na subparcela, os sistemas de cultivo consorciado com feijão caupi e solteiro. Ambos os sistemas de cultivo não influenciaram a produtividade final da berinjela; no entanto, considerando as diferentes lâminas, a maior produtividade comercial foi de 65,41 Mg ha-1, obtida para uma lâmina total de 690,04 mm (106,8% ETc). A menor lâmina aplicada resultou em qualidade inferior dos frutos em relação às maiores lâminas, sendo a taxa de descarte dos frutos de 3 e 14%, respectivamente, para a maior e a menor lâmina.This study was carried out in the municipality of Seropedica-RJ, in order to determine, under organic farming and no tillage system, the yield of eggplants under different irrigation depths and cropping systems (intercropped with legumes and alone). The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a split plot design with four replications. The plots were characterized by the treatments corresponding to different water depths (40, 70, 100, 120% ETc), and the sub plots, the intercropping systems with cowpea and eggplant alone. Cropping systems did not influence the final yield of eggplant. However, considering the different irrigation depths, the highest commercial yield (65.41 Mg ha(-1)) was obtained for a total depth of 690.04 mm (106.8% ETc). The lower applied depth provided lower quality of fruit compared with that observed in the higher depths. The rate of fruit discard was 3 and 14%, respectively, for the higher and lower depths of irrigation

Climate change and cultural resilience in late pre-Columbian Amazonia

The long term response of ancient societies to climate change has been a matter of global debate. Until recently, the lack of integrative studies between archaeological, palaeoecological, and palaeoclimatological data had prevented an evaluation of the relationship between climate change, distinct subsistence strategies, and cultural transformations across the largest rainforest of the world, Amazonia. Here, we review the most relevant cultural changes seen in the archaeological record of six different regions within Greater Amazonia during late pre-Columbian times. We compare the chronology of those cultural transitions with high-resolution regional palaeoclimate proxies, showing that, while some societies faced major reorganisation during periods of climate change, others were unaffected and even flourished. We propose that societies with intensive, specialised land-use systems were vulnerable to transient climate change. In contrast, land-use systems that relied primarily on polyculture agroforestry, resulting in the formation of enriched forests and fertile Amazonian Dark Earths in the long term, were more resilient to climate change