Clogging in constructed wetlands: Indirect estimation of medium porosity by analysis of ground-penetrating radar images.

Identification of the degree of porous medium clogging in constructed wetlands (CWs) is a complex procedure because bed obstruction is a phenomenon that occurs in the subsurface and involves several factors. Ideal methods must allow for subsurface analysis and be non-invasive, what is the case of ground penetrating radar (GPR or georadar) used for soil characterization. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the use of GPR for clogging characterization of two full-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs), one unit planted with cattail (Typha latifolia) and the other unit with no vegetation. Both units received municipal sewage (50 p.e. each) previously treated in an anaerobic reactor, had been in operation for seven years (at the time the GPR was used) and showed signs of heavy clogging, leading to surface flow. In order to produce a standard for GPR image (created by the response of the reflected wave in the passage through different media) identification and association of colors with the environmental conditions inside the medium (cleaner or more obstructed condition), a clean granular rock filter (in operation for only one month), similar to the unplanted unit, was used. Equations developed for indirectly estimating the porosity, based on the RGB (red, green and blue) color scale, indicated that the methodology was in agreement with the visual conditions of surface flow occurrence in the HSSF-CW, showing to be a suitable non-invasive method to characterize the advancement of clogging in CWs.

Performance evaluation of a natural treatment system for small communities, composed of a UASB reactor, maturation ponds (baffled and unbaffled) and a granular rock filter in series.

Post-treatment of anaerobic reactor effluent with maturation ponds is a good option for small to medium-sized communities in tropical climates. The treatment line investigated, operating in Brazil, with an equivalent capacity to treat domestic sewage from 250 inhabitants, comprised a upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor followed by two shallow maturation ponds (unbaffled and baffled) and a granular rock filter (decreasing grain size) in series, requiring an area of only 1.5 m2 inhabitant-1. With an overall hydraulic retention time of only 6.7 days, the performance was excellent for a natural treatment system. Based on over two years of continuous monitoring, median removal efficiencies were: biochemical oxygen demand = 93%, chemical oxygen demand = 79%, total suspended solids = 87%, ammonia = 43% and Escherichia coli = 6.1 log units. The final effluent complied with European discharge standards and WHO guidelines for some forms of irrigation, and appeared to be a suitable alternative for treating domestic sewage for small communities in warm areas, especially in developing countries.

Diferentes fontes de ferro na prevenção da anemia ferropriva e no desempenho de leitões lactentes / Different sources of iron for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia and performance of suckling piglets

Com o objetivo de avaliar o uso de diferentes fontes de ferro na prevenção da anemia ferropriva e no desempenho em leitões lactentes, dividiram-se 202 leitões em cinco tratamentos: FD - aplicação intramuscular de 200mg de ferro dextrano no terceiro dia de idade; T24 - terra à vontade fornecida aos leitões a cada 24 horas do terceiro ao 19º dia; T48 - terra à vontade fornecida aos leitões a cada 24 horas do terceiro ao 10º dia e do 11º ao 19º dia, com intervalo de 48 horas; T72 - terra à vontade fornecida aos leitões a cada 24 horas do terceiro ao 10º dia e do 11º ao 19º dia, com intervalo de 72 horas; SA - suplemento alimentar ultraprecoce rico em ferro quelatado em pó (SAUP) fornecido do terceiro ao 11º dia, com intervalo de 48 horas. O ferro dextrano aplicado no terceiro dia de vida e a suplementação com terra e SAUP foram eficientes para garantir o desempenho de leitões no período de aleitamento e não influenciaram no consumo de ração nem na taxa de viabilidade. As diferentes fontes de ferro estudadas não influenciaram o leucograma e foram eficientes na prevenção da anemia ferropriva e no desempenho dos leitões lactentes. Com relação às concentrações de hemoglobina e hematócrito, os animais suplementados com ferro dextrano apresentaram valores superiores quando comparados aos que recebem terra e SAUP.(AU)

In order to evaluate the use of different sources of iron to prevent iron deficiency anemia and to appraise the performance of suckling piglets, we sorted 202 piglets in five treatments. ID - intramuscular injection of 200mg of iron dextran on the third day of age; T24 - free daily access to land provided to piglets every 24 hours from the third to the nineteenth day; T48 - free daily access to land provided to piglets every 24 hours from the third to the tenth day and from day 11 to day 19 with an interval of 48 hours; T72 - free daily access to land provided to piglets every 24 hours from the third to the tenth day and from day 11 to day 19 with an interval of 72 hours; FS - Food supplement rich in iron-chelating powder (SAUP) available from the third to the eleventh day with an interval of 48 hours. The iron dextran applied on the third day of life as well as the supplementation with land and SAUP were effective to ensure the performance of piglets during the lactation period and did not affect feed intake or the viability rate. The different sources of iron studied did not influence the WBC (White Blood Cell) and succeded in preventing iron deficiency anemia and performance of suckling piglets. Regarding the concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit, the animals supplemented with iron dextran showed higher values when compared to those who receive land and SAUP.(AU)

An anti-inflammatory lectin from Luetzelburgia auriculata seeds inhibits adhesion and rolling of leukocytes and modulates histamine and PGE2 action in acute inflammation models.

OBJECTIVES: To study and characterize the in vivo effect of the lectin from Luetzelburgia auriculata seed on acute inflammation models. METHODS: The lectin was purified from the crude saline extract by affinity chromatography on a guar-gum matrix. Native, heat-treated, and digested lectin was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by using peritonitis and paw edema models. The anti-inflammatory activity was characterized by intravital microscopy, nitric oxide production, and myeloperoxidase activity. RESULTS: The lectin exhibited anti-inflammatory activity (2 mg/kg) on both models, reducing local myeloperoxidase activity. Galactose or heat treatment (100 degrees C, 10 min) reduced anti-inflammatory action. Anti-inflammation involves the inhibition of adhesion and rolling of leukocytes along with augmentation of nitric oxide in serum. The lectin inhibited the edematogenic effect of histamine and prostaglandins (PGE2) but did not alter the chemoattractant effect of IL-8. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that this lectin is a potent anti-inflammatory molecule. Its effects engage diverse modulatory events.

Accumulative sodium poisoning in Brazilian swine fed whey.

Fifty 3-4-mo-old piglets died of accumulative sodium poisoning, but none of the 60 adult pigs with the same feeding and management did. The average ambient temperature throughout the period was 32 C. The herd had been regulary fed whey, ground corn and vegetables, but for at least 2 d the pigs were deprived of water and then water was offered ad libitum. Twenty hours later 20 piglets had died and the remaining exhibited classical nervous signs and died within 14 h. Only the piglets had a high degree of dehydration caused by water deprivation and exacerbated by the high average ambient temperature. Pulmonary edema was evident in most piglets. Acute cerebral edema and meningoencephalitis were present in all animals, but there was no polioencephalomalacia. The sodium accumulation was caused by the continuing intake of whey which contained 10,810 mg sodium/L. To produce the whey, 2 kg of sodium chloride had been added to every 100 kg of milk.

[Sick building syndrome in bank employees]. / Síndrome dos edifícios doentes em bancários.

This study seeks, for the first time, to identify the sick building syndrome in Brazil. The study population consisted of 312 bank-clerks distributed in two closed buildings situated in S. Paulo city, Brazil. Data were collected by questionnaire, the design was cross-sectional and analysis made by logistic regression. Female, job satisfaction and inappropriate temperature were related to general symptoms. Female and inappropriate temperature were related to mucus membrane symptoms. Job satisfaction was related to absenteeism.