Land-use and coverage in the structure of the landscape in a Tropical Dry Forest in northeast Brazil

Landscape Ecology using GIS is applied to understand the effects of forest fragmentation and makes it feasible mainly for extensive areas, through the possibility of analyzing both the variety of units that compose it in time. This study aims to analyze the land use and coverage of tropical dry forests and to characterize their landscape structure in an area of the municipality of Floresta, Pernambuco, Brazil, in order to understand how the landscape configuration can influence the conservation. Orbital images were used from LANDSAT, and the classification was performed in the QGIS 2.18 software using the Maximum Likelihood methodification, for the years of 2007 and 2017. A circular buffer was incorporated around the area of study to analyze the structural patterns in the context of the landscape. Five thematic classes were used: dense vegetation, sparse vegetation, exposed soil, grassland, and water. The metrics were obtained through the Patch Analyst tool only to the class of dense vegetation. It is noted that much of the dense vegetation has become sparse. There was a reduction of exposed soil and an increase in grassland areas, which may indicate a regeneration process of the vegetation. The fragments of dense vegetation with more substantial dimensions are on constant exploratory actions and are the most affected with the reduction of size. Furthermore, climatic factors, periods of drought, and the presence of livestock may also affect the fragmentation of dense vegetation patches. Therefore, the landscape became heterogeneous, and a tendency was observed to increase the fragmentation, mainly in the more significant spots

Compositional analysis of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) peduncle bagasse ash and its in vitro antifungal activity against Fusarium species

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a plant with a highly social and economic importance in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Cashew peduncle bagasse is one of the greatest sources of residues (90–94%) produced by the cashew agronomic industry. In this study, we prepared cashew peduncle bagasse ash and submitted it to compositional analysis and in vitro tests for antifungal activity against Fusarium species. This analysis indicated a crystallinity of around 73%, corresponding to the following soluble phases: potassium bicarbonate - KHCO3 (39.54%), potassium sulfate - K2SO4 (24.87%), and struvite-K - MgKPO4·6H2O (8.59%). The amorphous phases (around 27%) were identified as the insoluble fraction of the ash. The solution showed high antifungal activity against F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme and F. lateritium. The activity of this product was greater than that of Cercobin® (thiophanate-methyl), indicating that this material could possibly be used as a non-toxic antifungal agent.(Análise da composição das cinzas do bagaço do pedúnculo do cajú (Anacardium occidentale L.) e sua atividade antifúngica in vitro contra espécies de Fusarium.). O Cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.) é uma planta com uma grande importância social e econômica no Nordeste do Brasil. O bagaço do pedúnculo do caju é uma das maiores fontes de resíduos (90-94%) produzidos pela indústria cajueira. Neste estudo, foram preparadas cinzas do bagaço e submetidas à análise da composição e a testes de atividade antifúngica in vitro contra espécies de Fusarium. Esta análise indicou uma cristalinidade em torno de 73%, correspondendo às seguintes fases solúveis: bicarbonato de potássio - KHCO3 (39,54%), sulfato de potássio - K2SO4 (24,87%), e estruvita-K - MgKPO4 • 6H2O (8,59%). As fases amorfas (cerca de 27%) foram identificadas como a fração insolúvel de cinzas. A solução apresentou alta atividade antifúngica contra F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme e F. lateritium. Sua ação foi maior do que o Cercobin® (tiofanato metílico), indicando uma possível utilização como um agente antifúngico não tóxico

DEGRADAÇÃO DO PESTICIDA METAMIDOFÓS NO SOLO UTILIZANDO BIOSSURFACTANTES

Foi estudada a degradação do inseticida Metamidofós em um solo com longo tempo de uso do produto, contendo altos níveis de resíduo, aplicando-se biossurfactantes em várias dosagens para acelerar a degradação. A degradação foi estudada em sistema de lisímetro com coleta de lixiviado

Biocatalisador enzimático usando enzimas da casca do abacaxi (Ananas comosus) imobilizado em esferas de hidrogel

The enzymatic extract from pineapple peels, considering the time factor, low cost and ease of preparation of the reaction system, makes the use of this plant material scrap an economical alternative for some reactions of synthetic interest. Therefore, this work aimed to prepare pineapple peel enzymatic extract containing bromelain, with and without mechanical grinding for a period of up to 9-days of extraction, and then immobilizing those extracts on hydrogel beads for their application as a biocatalyst to produce energy interest esters. The best protein content obtained was 1.95 mg mL-1 for 6-days with mechanical grinding, as for the hydrolysis of p-NPP (p-nitrophenyl palmitate), 0.0125 U.mL-1 for 1-day extraction with trituration. The best index esterification activity achieved for the lauric acid as a substrate was 1.8 U mL-1 at 1-day extraction without grinding. For the hydrogel beads immobilization, a maximum protein yield of 28.8% was obtained with the 1-day extract and mechanical grinding, and in terms of p-NPP activity, a yield of 40.6% for the immobilized with 9-day extract without mechanical grinding. The immobilized and dehydrated beads with 1-day extract without grinding took the best esterification activity, 7.2 U g-1 of biocatalyst. The best conversion performance in the biocatalysis of fatty esters was by esterification of the dodecanoate n-propyl, with 95.1% for a period of 48 hours of reaction. For the transesterification reaction, the methyl oleate yield reached 47.3% after 120 hours of reaction.O extrato enzimático das cascas de abacaxi, considerando o fator tempo, o baixo custo e a facilidade de preparo do sistema de reação faz com que o uso desse material da planta de abacaxi seja uma alternativa econômica para algumas reações de interesse sintético. Portanto, este trabalho teve como objetivo preparar o extrato enzimático de casca de abacaxi contendo bromelaína, com e sem trituração mecânica por um período de até 9 dias, e imobilizar esses extratos em esferas de hidrogel para sua aplicação como biocatalisador para produção de ésteres de interesse energético. O melhor teor de proteína obtido foi de 1,95 mg mL-1 por 6 dias com moagem mecânica, quanto à hidrólise de p-NPP (p-nitrofenil palmitato), 0,0125 U mL-1 para extração de 1 dia com trituração. A melhor atividade de esterificação do índice alcançada para o ácido láurico como substrato foi 1,8 U mL-1 na extração de 1 dia sem trituração. Para a imobilização das esferas de hidrogel, obteve-se um rendimento proteico máximo de 28,8% com o extrato de 1 dia e moagem mecânica e, em termos de atividade de p-NPP, um rendimento de 40,6% para o imobilizado com extrato de 9 dias sem moagem mecânica. As esferas imobilizadas e desidratadas com extrato de 1 dia sem trituração apresentaram a melhor atividade de esterificação, 7,2 U g-1 de biocatalisador. O melhor desempenho de conversão na biocatálise de ésteres graxos foi pela esterificação do dodecanoato n-propílico, com 95,1% por um período de 48 horas de reação. Para a reação de transesterificação, o rendimento de oleato de metila atingiu 47,3% após 120 horas de reação

Effect of the gelatin extraction method from tilapia skin and its application as a coating

The objective of this study was to analyze gelatins extracted from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skin and evaluate its effect as a coating on fish fillets of the same species. Four gelatin extractions from tilapia skins were prepared in acidic and alkaline conditions, followed by filtration and freeze drying. The samples were analyzed for moisture, lipids, ash, proteins, color parameters, viscosity, spectrophotometry and the coatings made with fish gelatin (FG) and commercial gelatin (CG) were sensorially tested. The protein content and the viscosity of the FG were influenced by the extraction method. The fillets coated with FG showed less moisture than those coated with CG. The sensorial acceptance of the fillets was not influenced by the use of the coatings. Therefore, the use of fish gelatin appears as a sustainable alternative to use tilapia skin after disposal in industrial processing

Avaliação da qualidade do ar na cidade de São Gonçalo do Amarante sob influência do complexo industrial do Pecém/Ceará / Air quality assessment in the São Gonçalo do Amarante city under the influence of Pecém/Ceará industrial complex

A queima de combustíveis fósseis e as atividades industriais são os principais responsáveis pela emissão de poluentes atmosféricos. Esses poluentes estão cada vez mais associados a efeitos negativos à saúde humana. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade do ar no município de São Gonçalo do Amarante, Estado do Ceará, o qual possui 46,8% de seu território na área do Complexo Industrial do Pecém (CIP). Experimentalmente, foram realizadas coletas no período entre outubro e dezembro de 2015 para os parâmetros de: material particulado total em suspensão (PTS), NO2, SO2, O3 e metais pesados (Fe, Ni, Cu e Pb) usando amostradores de grande volume (64 m3/h) para o PTS e de pequeno volume (0,20 L/min) para o SO2 e NO2. O O3 foi determinado por absorção no ultravioleta (254 nm) e as concentrações dos metais pesados associados ao PTS foram estimadas por espectroscopia de absorção atômica. Os resultados mostraram níveis de PTS (24 h) entre 32,6 e 75,3 µg/m3 e de ozônio (1 h) entre 63,8 e 165,6 µg/m3. As concentrações de SO2 e NO2, por sua vez, apresentaram-se muito abaixo dos valores estabelecidos pela resolução CONAMA 491/2018. Entre os metais somente o ferro foi quantitativamente identificado, com níveis entre 3,6 e 19,9 µg/m3. Em geral, os valores obtidos mostraram que a qualidade do ar na área durante o período do estudo pode ser considerada boa para os poluentes ambientais analisados.

Treatment of water with aromatic hydrocarbons by use of sequential batch reactor with fungi inoculum

Um reator em batelada, aerado, com biomassa imobilizada de Aspergillus niger AN400 foi operado durante 10 ciclos de 7 dias para remover benzeno (200 mg.L-1), tolueno (200 mg.L-1) e xileno (50 mg.L-1) - BTX - e de nutrientes de meio basal. O reator era alimentado semanalmente com 4 L do meio e glicose - 1 g.L-1, na Fase I, e 0,5 g.L-1, na Fase II. Os BTX foram detectados até o quarto dia de operação, em todos os ciclos. As melhores eficiências médias de remoção foram na Fase I: 75%de matéria orgânica solúvel, 80% de ortofosfato e 77% de amônia. O reator pode ser uma alternativa viável para tratamento de águas poluídas com BTX, porém há a necessidade de estudar o comportamento do reator durante período de operação mais longo e com ciclos reacionais mais curtos, bem como da identificação dos metabólitos produzidos

Bovine Leukosis Virus and Antibodies against Bovine Herpesvirus Type-1 and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus and in Buffaloes of the State of Pará, Brazil

Background: Viral diseases affecting reproduction cause economic losses in cattle, as reproductive failure interrupts the production cycle, thus reducing herd productivity. Buffaloes are susceptible to most of the diseases that affect cattle. Some of the viral diseases of reproductive importance are infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bovine leukosis (BL). The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of IBR virus (bovine herpes virus-1, BoHV-1), BVD virus (BVDV), and BL virus (BLV) in female buffaloes living in wetland areas or plains in the state of Pará, as well as the seroprevalence of BoHV-1, BVDV, and BLV in females of different age groups.Materials, Methods & Results: It were used 225 crossbred buffaloes from 4 buffalo exclusive farms. The buffaloes reared on farms A (n = 50) and B (n = 89) were kept in wetland areas on Marajó Island (n = 139), Pará. On farms C (n = 30) and D (n = 56) buffaloes were kept in plains (n = 86) in a northeastern mesoregion of Para. Animals were categorized into age groups: I: 0-3 years (n = 34), II: 3-6 years (n = 58), III: 7-9 years (n = 55), and IV: over 9 years (n = 78). Blood samples were collected and sera were sent for processing at the Bovine Virus Laboratory, Biological Institute of São Paulo, Brazil. The presence of IBRV and BVDV was determined by neutralization and BLV antibodies by immunodiffusion in agar gel. Statistical analysis was performed using the Ȥ2 test at a significance level of 5%. Among the seroprevalences of IBRV, BVDV and BLV antibodies, the difference in prevalence for BVD [P < 0.01] was observed between wetland areas and plains of Para, varying from 12.4% to 96.0% and 0.0% to 13.3%, respectively. While levels of IBRV remained high on farms A (79.6%), B (86.5%), C (83.3%) and D (89.1%) [P = 0.60] and BLV was negative in all the animals. BVDV was similar for all the age groups [P = 0.60], while IBRV was more prevalent in animals over 6 years of age with group I: (76.5%), II (74.5%), III (92.3%) and IV (91.3%) [P = 0.01]. It was not possible verify the influence of age in prevalence for BL.Discussion: The prevalence obtained for the BoHV-1 on farms was high, with little variation between 79.6% and 89.1%. The high prevalence of BoHV-1 suggests the free circulation of the virus in the state of Para. Notably, the animals in this study had not been vaccinated, so the determined viral antibody titers were independent of vaccination. BVDV results showed high variation between 0.0% and 96.0%. The highest prevalence in wetland areas may be related to the breeding environment, because of a possible horizontal contamination. The lack of BLV antibodies prevalence can be attributed to the fact that all the evaluated animals were kept in an extensive breeding system where they had little direct contact. The prevalence of IBR was higher in the older animals. Variation in prevalence with age was not observed for BVD. It was concluded that the prevalence for IBR and BVD were high indicating that the etiological agents are circulating in Para, with IBR having a higher prevalence in older animals. Breeding buffalo in wetland areas may favor horizontal transmission of BVDV because facilitate contact of healthy animals with water contaminated by virus carriers animal secretion and the absence of seropositive animals at the BLV does not necessarily indicate that buffaloes are resistant to the virus

Characterization of Caatinga vegetation and diet of steers in the "Sertão" of Pernambuco, Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a composição botânica, a disponibilidade e a qualidade da forragem e da dieta de animais fistulados alimentados na Caatinga, no período chuvoso, em Pernambuco. Avaliaram-se a composição botânica e a disponibilidade de fitomassa dos estratos herbáceo, arbustivo e arbóreo, nos meses de março e junho. A avaliação da qualidade da forragem foi feita por meio da análise bromatológica, realizada em todos os meses do período chuvoso. Foram encontradas 67 espécies, das quais 28 herbáceas, 20 arbustivas e 19 arbóreas. Destas, 19 foram encontradas na dieta dos animais. A disponibilidade de fitomassa do componente herbáceo variou de 1.369 kg ha-1 de matéria seca (MS), em março, para 452 kg ha-1 de MS em junho. A disponibilidade do estrato arbustivo aproximou-se do herbáceo, enquanto o componente arbóreo contribuiu com apenas 178 kg ha-1 de MS. Apesar de a disponibilidade de fitomassa ser relativamente alta, apenas uma pequena porcentagem do material encontrado pode ser considerada como forragem. Foi observada baixa digestibilidade da proteína, provavelmente em conseqüência do alto teor em lignina.The objective of this work was to evaluate the botanical composition, the availability and quality of the fodder and diet of fistulated animals fed in an area of Caatinga, during the rainy season, in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Evaluations of botanical composition and fodder availability of herbaceous, arbustive and arboreous extracts were made in March and June. Fodder quality evaluation was performed through chemical analysis during the wet period. Sixty-seven species were found: 28 herbaceous, 20 arbustive and 18 arboreal; from these species, 19 were found in the animals diet. The fitomass availability from the herbaceous component varied from 1,369 kg ha-1 of dry matter (DM) in March, to 452 kg ha-1 of DM in June. The availability of the arbustive extract layer was close to the herbaceous, while the arboreal component contributed with only 178 kg ha-1 of DM. Despite the relatively high fitomass availability, only a small percentage was considered as fodder from the material found. It was observed a low digestion of the protein, probably due to high levels of lignin