Water End-Uses in Low-Income Houses in Southern Brazil

Knowing water consumption patterns in buildings is key information for water planning. This article aims to characterize the water consumption pattern and water end-uses in low-income houses in the region of Florianópolis, Southern Brazil. Data were collected by interviewing householders, as well as by measuring the flow rate of existing water fixtures and appliances. The results indicated that the shower was the fixture with the largest water consumption in households, i.e., about 30%–36% of total water consumption on average, followed by the toilet (18%–20%). The surveyed households consumed from 111 to 152 L/capita·day on average, based on different income ranges. No correlation was found between income and water consumption. The results of this study can be used to estimate the consumption of water for new buildings, as well as to develop integrated water management strategies in low-income developments, in Florianópolis, such as water-saving plumbing fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and greywater reuse. Likely, there would be a deferral of capital investments in new water assets for enhancing water and wastewater services by saving water in low-income houses

Effects of types and doses of yeast on gas production and in vitro digestibility of diets containing maize (Zea mays) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) or oat hay

Two yeast products formulated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated at the same colonyforming units (CFUs) per gram of substrate. Samples of maize, lucerne and oat hays were mixed (0.5 kg) to a proportion of 80% forage (lucerne or oat) with 20% maize (DM basis) and combined with each yeast to obtain 1.5 x 107 or 3.0 x 107 CFU/g DM. There was also a control without yeast. In vitro gas production was measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 60, and 72 h incubation. There was no forage/yeast interaction. Both yeast products tended to reduce the maximum volume produced quadratically and lag time linearly, while in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) increased linearly. Ruminal ammonia N and lactic acid were not affected, whereas methane and carbon dioxide tended to be reduced with the intermediate dose of yeast. When the mixture included oat hay, the total volume of gas increased, the lag time decreased, and there was higher IVDMD than in the lucerne-based mixtures, which were associated with lower methane production. Ammonia and lactic acid remained unchanged. The two yeast products showed the same effects on the dynamics of gas production and in vitro digestibility when dosed at the same number of viable cells or CFUs, and there was no interaction with forage quality

CONOCIMIENTO Y PRÁCTICA DE LA HERBOLARIA EN EL ESTADO DE MÉXICO, PAUTAS HACIA LA SUSTENTABILIDAD

Identificar como los productores y recolectores de plantas medicinales utilizan el concepto de sustentabilidad, muchos de los conocimiento que tienen son transmitidos de generación en generación que se pierden cuando ya no hay interés en los jóvenes por estas prácticasLa herbolaria y la medicina tradicional en México son actividades persistentes en la población, las cuales se abordan desde perspectivas diversas, aunque existen pocos reportes que mencionen su sustentabilidad. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar y documentar el conocimiento y prácticas sustentables realizadas por los recolectores, productores y consumidores de plantas medicinales del oriente del estado de México. La hipótesis fue que el conocimiento transmitido intergeneracionalmente ha llevado a una práctica sustentable de la herbolaria. El método etnobotánico se utilizó para determinar la sustentabilidad del sistema. Entrevistas semiestructuradas se realizaron a actores claves que fueron adultos mayores, recolectores y productores de plantas medicinales. En la herbolaria local se identificaron 61 especies de plantas utilizadas, de las cuales 35 se recolectan o cultivan para su venta en el tianguis de Ozumba, estado de México. Los adultos mayores usan las plantas locales y refirieron otras 26 especies diferentes, de las cuales cinco las adquieren en comercios naturistas, de las restantes (21), su utilidad principal no es la medicinal: seis son de ornato, 13 se usan en la cocina y dos se consideran perennes silvestres. La herbolaria sigue presente en el oriente del estado de México, a través de un intercambio proactivo entre el productor recolector y los adultos mayores, quienes adquieren las plantas locales de temporada y favorecen la conservación de prácticas agrícolas amigables con el ambiente. La herbolaria es una práctica sustentable gracias a los procesos de recolección y producción. Aunque puede estar en riesgo debido a la pérdida del conocimiento intergeneracional; ya que al disminuir la transmisibilidad se arriesga el futuro de la actividad. Otros riesgos detectados son económicos por los precios bajos de las plantas medicinales

Propriedades moleculares e mecanismos de reação

No trabalho proposto, um modelo quântico é desenvolvido para estabelecer um método de planejamento de sínteses orgânicas. O método é baseado em uma nova solução analítica para a equação de Schrödinger independente do tempo. O principal diferencial do método proposto é a otimização de tempo de processamento que cresce linearmente com o aumento do número de átomos que formam o sistema químico. Simulações analíticas são apresentadas.In this work a quantum model is developed in order to establish a method for planning organic synthesis. The method is based on a new analytical solution for the time-independent Schrödinger equation. The main difference of the proposed method is the optimization of total time processing which increases linearly with number of atoms made by the chemical system here presented. Analytical simulations are reported

Prevalência de anticorpos séricos para hantavírus em população rural do extremo sul do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Introduction: Rodent-borne hantaviruses cause severe human diseases. We completed a serological survey of hantavirus infection in rural inhabitants of Turvo County, in the southern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in which seropositivity for hantavirus was correlated to previous disease in the participants. Methods: The levels of IgG antibodies to hantavirus Araraquara in the sera of 257 individuals were determined using an immunoenzymatic assay. Results: IgG antibodies to hantavirus were found in 2.3% of the participants. All seropositive participants reported previous disease with symptoms suggestive of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Conclusions: Human infections causing unreported cardiopulmonary syndrome probably occur in the southern state of Santa Catarina.INTRODUÇÃO: Hantaviroses são zoonoses de roedores silvestres que causam doenças graves em seres humanos. Este trabalho mostra inquérito sorológico para hantavírus em população rural e periurbana do município de Turvo, Estado de Santa Catarina e a correlação da presença de anticorpos anti-hantavírus com a história mórbida pregressa dos indivíduos. \ud MÉTODOS: Investigaram-se os 257 participantes do estudo quanto à presença de anticorpos IgG séricos anti-hantavírus Araraquara, por método imunoenzimático. \ud RESULTADOS: A prevalência de anticorpos anti-hantavírus na população foi de 2,3%. Os soropositivos possuíam antecedente nosológico sugestivo de hantavirose pregressa. \ud CONCLUSÕES: Os achados mostram a ocorrência de infecções por hantavírus no extremo sul de Santa Catarina.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

GEMINI 3D spectroscopy of BAL+IR+Fe II QSOs: II. IRAS 04505-2958 an explosive QSO with hypershell and a new scenario for galaxy formation and galaxy end

From a study of BAL + IR + Fe II QSOs (using deep Gemini GMOS-IFU spectroscopy) new results are presented: for IRAS 04505-2958. Specifically, we have studied in detail the out flow (OF) process and their associated structures, mainly at two large galactic scales: (i) two blobs/shells (S1, S2) at radius r = 1.1 and 2.2 kpc; and (ii) an external hypergiant shell (S3) at r = 11 kpc. In addition, the presence of two very extended hypergiant shells (S4, S5) at r = 80 kpc is discussed. From this GMOS study the following main results were obtained: (i) For the external hypergiant shell S3 the kinematics GMOS maps of the ionized gas show very similar features to those observed for the prototype of exploding external supergiant shell: in NGC 5514. (ii) The main knots K1, K2 and K3 -of this hypergiant shell S3- show a stellar population and emission line ratios associated with the presence of a starburst + OF/shocks. (iii) The internal shells S1 and S2 show structures, OF components and properties very similar to those detected in the nuclear shells of Mrk 231. (iv) The shells S1+S2 and S3 are aligned at PA = 131: i.e. suggesting that the OF process is in the blow-out phase with bipolar structure. In addition, the shells S4 and S5 (at 80-100 kpc scale) are aligned at PA = 40, i.e.: a bipolar OF perpendicular to the internal OF. Finally, the generation of UHE cosmic rays and neutrino/ dark-matter -associated with HyNe in BAL + IR + Fe II QSOs- is discussed.Comment: Submitted MNRAS, 81 pages, 25 Figure

Unraveling Amazon tree community assembly using Maximum Information Entropy: a quantitative analysis of tropical forest ecology

In a time of rapid global change, the question of what determines patterns in species abundance distribution remains a priority for understanding the complex dynamics of ecosystems. The constrained maximization of information entropy provides a framework for the understanding of such complex systems dynamics by a quantitative analysis of important constraints via predictions using least biased probability distributions. We apply it to over two thousand hectares of Amazonian tree inventories across seven forest types and thirteen functional traits, representing major global axes of plant strategies. Results show that constraints formed by regional relative abundances of genera explain eight times more of local relative abundances than constraints based on directional selection for specific functional traits, although the latter does show clear signals of environmental dependency. These results provide a quantitative insight by inference from large-scale data using cross-disciplinary methods, furthering our understanding of ecological dynamics