Employment of GPR in the study of soils and its correlation with laboratory methods<br>Emprego de GPR no estudo de solos e sua correlação com métodos laboratoriais

This work aims to evaluating some physical properties of soil using georadar associated to the CRIM equation, as well as its correlation with laboratory methods. Soil samples were obtained from deformed and undeformed in two transects to a depth of 0.5 m to determine the soil volumetric humidity and total porosity by laboratorial methods. At the same places and depths, georadar investigations were carried out, to determine the soil dielectric constant (k), which was applied the semi-empirical CRIM equation to determine the total porosity and subsequently volumetric humidity. The statistical analysis, carried out by the (“t test”), showed a significant difference at a level of 5% between the results for total porosity and volumetric humidity obtained by laboratorial and geophysical methods which are influenced by the high amount of clay and potassium in solution from the fertilizer and vinasse application. The correlation between parameters estimated with GPR and achieved with the laboratory analysis was low (r = 0.58 for total porosity and r = 0.59 for volumetric humidity), showing the difficulty in determining physical properties through such geophysical techniques.<p><p> O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar algumas propriedades físicas do solo utilizando o georadar associado à equação CRIM, assim como, sua correlação com os métodos laboratoriais. Foram obtidas amostras de solos deformadas e indeformadas em dois transectos, até a profundidade de 0,5 m para determinação da umidade volumétrica e da porosidade total do solo por métodos laboratoriais. Nestes mesmos locais e profundidades foram feitas investigações com o georadar para determinação da constante dielétrica do solo (k) a qual foi aplicada à equação semi-empírica CRIM para determinação de porosidade total e posteriormente umidade volumétrica. A análise estatística realizada por meio do (“teste t”) mostrou a existência de diferença significativa ao nível de 5% entre os resultados de porosidade total e umidade volumétrica obtidos por métodos laboratoriais e geofísicos, sendo estes, influenciados pela elevada quantidade de argila e de potássio em solução, proveniente da adubação e aplicação de vinhaça. A correlação obtida entre os parâmetros estimados com o GPR e os conseguidos com as análises laboratoriais foi baixa, (r = 0,58 para porosidade total e r = 0,59 para umidade volumétrica), mostrando a dificuldade em se determinar propriedades físicas por meio de tais técnicas geofísicas

RNAi Knock-Down of LHCBM1, 2 and 3 Increases Photosynthetic H-2 Production Efficiency of the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Single cell green algae (microalgae) are rapidly emerging as a platform for the production of sustainable fuels. Solar-driven H-2 production from H2O theoretically provides the highest-efficiency route to fuel production in microalgae. This is because the H-2-producing hydrogenase (HYDA) is directly coupled to the photosynthetic electron transport chain, thereby eliminating downstream energetic losses associated with the synthesis of carbohydrate and oils (feedstocks for methane, ethanol and oil-based fuels). Here we report the simultaneous knock-down of three light-harvesting complex proteins (LHCMB1, 2 and 3) in the high H-2-producing Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant Stm6Glc4 using an RNAi triple knock-down strategy. The resultant Stm6Glc4L01 mutant exhibited a light green phenotype, reduced expression of LHCBM1 (20.6% +/- 0.27%), LHCBM2 (81.2% +/- 0.037%) and LHCBM3 (41.4% +/- 0.05%) compared to 100% control levels, and improved light to H-2 (180%) and biomass (165%) conversion efficiencies. The improved H-2 production efficiency was achieved at increased solar flux densities (450 instead of similar to 100 mu E m(-2) s(-1)) and high cell densities which are best suited for microalgae production as light is ideally the limiting factor. Our data suggests that the overall improved photon-to-H-2 conversion efficiency is due to: 1) reduced loss of absorbed energy by non-photochemical quenching (fluorescence and heat losses) near the photobioreactor surface; 2) improved light distribution in the reactor; 3) reduced photoinhibition; 4) early onset of HYDA expression and 5) reduction of O-2-induced inhibition of HYDA. The Stm6Glc4L01 phenotype therefore provides important insights for the development of high-efficiency photobiological H-2 production systems