巴西在水电开发方面的改革

巴西政府在认清了资金和体制问题是巴西能源工业目前危机的症结所在之后，制定了一系列法令，加大了将电力工业私有化的灵活性，允许本国公司或个人开发水电项目，外国公司也可通过设在巴西的分公司或占有少数股份参与巴西的水电开发。     

Effects of differential supplementation of fatty acids during the peripartum and breeding periods of Holstein cows: I. Uterine and metabolic responses, reproduction, and lactation

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of differential timing of supplementation of different Ca salts (CS) of fatty acids (FA) on FA profiles of cotyledonary-caruncular tissues, metabolic status, uterine health, pregnancy, pregnancy losses after 2 artificial inseminations (AI), and milk yield. Holstein cows (n = 1,380) were assigned randomly to be fed either CS of palm oil (PO) or safflower oil (SO) from 30 d prepartum until 30 d postpartum (dpp) and further randomized to receive either CS of PO or fish oil (FO) from 30 to 160 dpp. Supplementation of CS of FA was at 1.5% of dietary dry matter. Tissues (n = 23) and blood (n = 32) were collected from a subsample of cows. Blood was collected daily from parturition to 10 dpp and three times weekly thereafter until 30 dpp for analyses of PGF_2α metabolite, nonesterified FA, β-hydroxybutyric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and glucose. Cows were evaluated once between 8 to 10 dpp for cervical discharge type. At 43 dpp, cows received 2 injections of PGF_2α 14 d apart, followed 14 d later by injections of GnRH at 7 d before and 56 h after an injection of PGF_2α with AI at 16 h after the second GnRH injection. All cows received intravaginally a controlled internal drug-releasing device, containing 1.38 g of progesterone, at 18 d after the first AI followed 7 d later by removal of the device and injection of GnRH. Nonpregnant cows at 32 d after AI were injected with PGF_2α, followed 56 h later with a GnRH injection and second AI 16 h thereafter. Cows diagnosed pregnant after both AI were re-examined at 60 d of pregnancy to determine pregnancy losses. Milk weights were recorded monthly for all cows. Caruncular n-6:n-3 FA ratio was greater in cows fed SO. Plasma concentrations of metabolites and frequency of cervical discharge type did not differ between PO- and SO-fed cows. Plasma PGF_2α metabolite was greater in SO-fed cows at 4 and 7 dpp. Pregnancy per AI at 32 and 60 d post first AI was not affected by diets, but pregnancy loss was less in FO-fed cows. At second AI, pregnancy was greater in FO-fed cows at 32 d and in SO-FO-fed cows at 60 d post AI. Pregnancy loss after second AI was not affected by diets. Overall pregnancy per AI was greater in cows fed SO followed by FO at 60 d of pregnancy and pregnancy loss was reduced in FO-fed cows. Monthly milk yield was greater (0.7 kg/d) in SO-fed cows. In conclusion, strategic feeding of CS of FA during transition and breeding periods can benefit fertility and milk production of lactating dairy cows.     

Type of cottonseed and level of gossypol in diets of lactating dairy cows: effects on lactation performance and plasma gossypol

Objectives were to determine the effects of feeding whole linted Upland (WUP) and cracked Pima cottonseed (BUPCP) to lactating cows on plasma gossypol concentrations and lactation performance. Holstein cows (n = 813) from three commercial dairies were assigned to one of two diets starting at 13+/-11 d in milk (DIM) for a 170-d experimental period. Cottonseed was included at 10% of the diet dry matter, and treatments consisted of replacing WUP with a 1:2 blend of BUPCP. Blood was collected from all cows at 61 and 91 DIM and from a subset of 56 cows on one dairy at 10, 33, 61, 91, 120, and 152 DIM. Intakes of free gossypol increased 32% in cows receiving the BUPCP diet, and concentrations of total gossypol (TG), as well as the proportion of TG as minus (-) isomer in plasma, were higher for cows fed BUPCP than WUP. Plasma TG increased linearly with increasing DIM, but cows fed the BUPCP, especially multiparous cows, had a higher increase in plasma TG over time. Yields of milk and milk components did not differ between the two treatments, although, yields of milk and milk components were greater in cows with higher plasma TG. Replacement of WUP cottonseed with BUPCP cottonseed increased plasma gossypol, but dry matter intake and yields of milk and milk components were not affected.     

Structural analysis of Si-substituted hydroxyapatite: zeta potential and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the incorporation of silicon on the surface charge of hydroxyapatite (HA) and to assess surface structural changes of HA and Si–HA induced by dissolution in both static and dynamic systems. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that SiO₄ ^4– groups were substituted for PO₄ ^3– groups in the silicon-hydroxyapatite (Si–HA) lattice according to a previously proposed substitution mechanism without the formation of other crystalline phases, such as tricalcium phosphate or calcium oxide. The substituted silicon induced a decrease in the net surface charge and the isoelectric point of HA as determined by zeta potential (ZP) measurements. At physiological pH=7.4 the surface charge of Si–HA was significantly lowered compared to unmodified HA, i.e. –50±5 to –71±5 eV, caused by the presence of silicate groups in the HA lattice, which may account for a faster in vitro apatite formation using SBF testing. XPS results indicated that silicon seems to be preferentially leached out from Si–HA surface compared to other ionic species after dissolution studies in tris-buffer using a dynamic system.     

Reproduction in dairy cows following progesterone insert presynchronization and resynchronization protocols

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of an intravaginal insert containing progesterone (CIDR, controlled internal drug releasing) administered in presynchronization and resynchronization protocols on cyclicity, detection of estrus, pregnancy rate, and pregnancy loss to first AI; reinsemination patterns; and pregnancy rates to second postpartum AI before and after the time of first-service pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cows. Holstein cows (n = 1,052) were blocked by parity and BCS at 3 ± 3 d in milk (study d 0 = day of calving) and assigned randomly to 1 of 3 presynchronization treatments. During the presynchronization programs, all cows received 2 injections of PGF_2α, on study d 35 and 49. Cows enrolled in the control presynchronization treatment received AI after detected estrus from study d 49 to 62. Cows enrolled in the CIDR estrus-detection (CED) presynchronization treatment received a CIDR insert from study d 42 to 49 and AI on detection of estrus from d 49 to 62. Cows enrolled in the CIDR timed AI (CTAI) presynchronization treatment received the same treatment as CED, but were subjected to timed AI on study d 72 after the Ovsynch (GnRH, 7 d PGF_2α, 2 d GnRH, 24 h timed AI) protocol. The control and CED cows not inseminated by study d 62 were enrolled in the Ovsynch protocol on the same day and received timed AI on study d 72. After first AI, cows were assigned to no resynchronization (RCON) or resynchronization with a CIDR insert (RCIDR) between 14 and 21 d after AI. Blood samples collected on study d 35, 49, and 62 were analyzed for concentrations of progesterone and cows were classified as anestrous when progesterone was <1.0 ng/mL in the first 2 samples. On study d 62, anestrous cows with progesterone ≥ 1.0 ng/mL were classified as having resumed cyclicity. Pregnancy was diagnosed at 31 and 60 d after first AI and at 42 d after second AI. A greater proportion of anestrous cows in CED and CTAI became cyclic by d 62 postpartum than control cows. Resynchronization with the CIDR insert increased the pregnancy rate at 31 d after first AI in CED and CTAI, and at 60 d after AI in all cows because of reduced pregnancy loss. These results indicate that presynchronization with the CIDR insert increased induction of cyclicity in anestrous cows and that resynchronization with the CIDR insert did not affect the reinsemination rate but did reduce pregnancy loss and increased the pregnancy rate at 60 d after first AI.     

Coupling automated radon and carbon dioxide measurements in coastal waters

Groundwater discharge could be a major, but as yet poorly constrained, source of carbon dioxide to lakes, wetlands, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters. We demonstrate how coupled radon ((222)Rn, a natural groundwater tracer) and pCO(2) measurements in water can be easily performed using commercially available gas analysers. Portable, automated radon and pCO(2) gas analysers were connected in series and a closed air loop was established with gas equilibration devices (GED). We experimentally assessed the advantages and disadvantages of six GED. Response times shorter than 30 min for (222)Rn and 5 min for pCO(2) were achieved. Field trials revealed significant positive correlations between (222)Rn and pCO(2) in estuarine waterways and in a mangrove tidal creek, implying that submarine groundwater discharge was a source of CO(2) to surface water. The described system can provide high resolution, high precision concentrations of both radon and pCO(2) with nearly no additional effort compared to measuring only one of these gases. Coupling automated (222)Rn and pCO(2) measurements can provide new insights into how groundwater seepage contributes to aquatic carbon budgets.     

Impact assessment of odours emitted by a wastewater treatment plant

Complaints from the Domingos Martins population about sewage odours in the city made the district attorney order an impact assessment of the odours emitted by the city wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This study comprised various techniques, models and population surveys. In 2007, an odour emission model proved that the main hydrogen sulphide emitter was the aeration tank of the WWTP (13.5 g h(-1)) and such emissions, according to CALPUFF model, should be perceived in the whole Domingos Martins city centre area. In this area, 58% of those interviewed were annoyed by the WWTP odours. However, in 2009, the odour monitoring panel recorded few odour occurrences. A second population survey showed that hereafter only 20% of those interviewed were annoyed by the WWTP emissions. Odour emission and dispersion models run with 2010 data proved a drastic reduction of the WWTP aeration tank emissions and consequently the city centre was not bothered by WWTP emissions anymore. The odour emission reduction was due to the modification of the WWTP aeration tank system. Despite the odour emission reduction, houses located southeast of the WWTP were still annoyed by sewage odours. However, in this part of the town, other sources of sewage odours have been found.     

Cooperative Hypermedia Editing with CoMEdiA

CoMEdiA is a groupware tool which enables co-authors to cooperatively produce hypermedia documents.CoMEdiA allows co-authors to communicate their ideas,drafts,guidelines,constraints and annotations to other co-authors.In uses a mix of communication patterns,media and document organization to enable co-authors to keep on exchanging information(remotely or face-to-face),improving passages and modifying notes until a final document is achieved.We did not concentrate on th depth but on the breath of the features.Our efforts were on integrating and corrdinating concepts from collaboration,multimedia and hyper organization rather than on making a specialized system in any of them.We began with the text medium and are now including bitmaps and raster images.Later sound and video will also be integrated.In this paper we describe and sustain the available capacites.     

Recovery of polyphenols from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia H.B.K. McVaugh) depulping residue by cloud point extraction

In this study the potential of cloud point extraction formed by a non-ionic surfactant was used in order to separate polyphenols from industrial residues of camu-camu. The effects of operational conditions of the cloud point extraction (CPE) on the polyphenol recovery and volumetric ratio were investigated. The results showed a maximum recovery of 95.71% that was obtained using 7.0 wt% Triton X-114, native pH (3.25), and 80 wt% polyphenol extract at 30 °C. The use of cloud point extraction was successful to recover the polyphenols from agroindustrial residue since it is a simple as well as of low-cost technique.     

Phenol degradation by Aureobasidium pullulans FE13 isolated from industrial effluents

The degradation of phenol (2-30 mM) by free cells and by alginate-immobilized cells of Aureobasidium pullulans FE13 isolated from stainless steel effluents was studied in batch cultures with saline solution not supplemented with nutrients or yeast extract. The rate at which the immobilized cells degrade phenol was similar to the rate at which the suspended cells could degrade phenol, for a concentration of up to 16 mM of phenol. The maximum phenol volumetric degradation rate for 16 mM phenol was found to be 18.35 mg l(-1)h(-1) in the assays with free cells and 20.45 mg l(-1)h(-1) in the assays with alginate-immobilized cells, 18 mM phenol and cellular concentration of 0.176 g/l. At concentrations higher than this, an inhibitory effect was observed, resulting in the lowering of the phenol degradation rates. The immobilization was detrimental to the catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity. However, the immobilized cells remained viable for a longer period, increasing the efficiency of phenol degradation. The yeast showed catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity only after growth in the phenol, which was induced at phenol concentrations as low as 0.05 mM and up to 25 mM at 45 h of incubation at 30 degrees C. Phenol concentrations higher than 6mM were inhibitory to the enzyme. Addition of glucose, lactate, succinate, and benzoate reduced the rate at which phenol is consumed by cells. Our results suggest that inoculants based on immobilized cells of A. pullulans FE13 has potential application in the biodegradation of phenol and possibly in the degradation of other related aromatic compounds.