Removal of famoxadone,fluquinconazole and trifloxystrobin residues in red wines: Effects of clarification and filtration processes

The effects of six clarification agents [egg albumin, blood albumin, bentonite + gelatine, charcoal, polyvinylpolypyrrolidine (PVPP) and silica gel] on the removal of residues of three fungicides (famoxadone, fluquinconazole and trifloxystrobin) applied directly to a racked red wine, elaborated from Monastrell variety grapes from the D.O. Region of Jumilla (Murcia, Spain) were studied. The clarified wines were filtered with 0.45 μ m nylon filters to determine the influence of this winemaking process in the disappearance of fungicide residues. Analytical determination of fluquinconazole and trifloxystrobin was performed by gas chromatography with electron captor detector (ECD), while that of famoxadone using an HPLC equipped with a diode array detector (DAD). Generally, trifloxystrobin is the fungicide that is the lowest persistent one in wines, except in the egg albumin study whereas, the most persistent one is fluquinconazole. The elimination depends on the nature of the active ingredient, though the water stability in the presence of light within it has more influence than the solubility and polarity of the product itself. The most effective clarifying agents were the charcoal and PVPP. The silica gel and bentonite plus gelatine were not enough to reduce considerably the residual contents in the wine clarified with them. In general terms, filtration is not an effective step in the elimination of wine residues. The greatest removal after filtration is obtained in wines clarified with egg albumine and bentonite plus gelatine, and the lowest in those clarified with PVPP.     

Divided Combustion Chamber Gasoline Engines A Review for Emissions and Efficiency

To facilitate the distinction among different engine types, this paper indicates first a general classification of gasoline engines. This classification contains the group of stratified charge engines, and shows that, within this group, the divided combustion chamber engine type constitutes a major subdivision. Three characteristic designs of this type of engine are described in some detail, and fuel economy and emission results are presented. Data obtained with one of these engines indicate excellent fuel consumptions, showing at light loads values close to those achieved by Diesel engines. Data also show that automobiles equipped with another of the engines described in the paper have passed, with ample margin, the 1975 Federal Emission Standards, without added devices for exhaust gas treatment, while maintaining satisfactory fuel economy. Some aims that should be pursued in order to achieve, simultaneously, both the optimal fuel economy and emission reduction potential of the stratified engine are outlined. It is concluded that substantial improvements should yet be expected if the proven advantages of the divided combustion chamber engine are recognized and sufficient efforts are applied for further development.     

Quantitative assessment of the differential coastal vulnerability associated to oil spills

The risk associated with a given hazard (natural or technological) generally results from the interaction between the hazard potential and the vulnerability. This paper is centred on the assessment of the vulnerability variable. A quantitative vulnerability assessment and mapping methodology is proposed, with two main specificities: (1) it is hazard- and spatially-centred (respectively, oil spills and coastal areas) and; (2) the spatial segregation level used is the municipality. Due to the geographic context of the Portuguese mainland coast, the proposed methodology was applied in an attempt to illustrate the spatial distribution and the degree of the vulnerability associated to oil spills for mainland Portugal coastal municipalities. A final map is presented together with other informative elements. Analysis and discussion of the results allows for the understanding that: (1) there is a very heterogeneous and differential distribution of the degree of vulnerability to oil spills along the Portuguese coastline; (2) the application of specific hazard-centred and spatially-centred vulnerability assessment methodologies, comprising multi-dimensional indicators (e.g., geographic, ecological, demographic, social and economic), produces more robust and realistic results, highlighted by a thorough and spatially detailed analysis; and (3) future research is required on vulnerability assessment in Portugal; along side, hazard potential assessment methodologies must also be developed in order to create a final risk profile, which can be an extremely useful tool in spatial planning and management.     

CO2 enrichment inhibits shoot nitrate assimilation in C3 but not C4 plants and slows growth under nitrate in C3 plants

The CO2 concentration in Earth's atmosphere may double during this century. Plant responses to such an increase depend strongly on their nitrogen status, but the reasons have been uncertain. Here, we assessed shoot nitrate assimilation into amino acids via the shift in shoot CO2 and O2 fluxes when plants received nitrate instead of ammonium as a nitrogen source (deltaAQ). Shoot nitrate assimilation became negligible with increasing CO2 in a taxonomically diverse group of eight C3 plant species, was relatively insensitive to CO2 in three C4 species, and showed an intermediate sensitivity in two C3-C4 intermediate species. We then examined the influence of CO2 level and ammonium vs. nitrate nutrition on growth, assessed in terms of changes in fresh mass, of several C3 species and a Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species. Elevated CO2 (720 micromol CO2/mol of all gases present) stimulated growth or had no effect in the five C3 species tested when they received ammonium as a nitrogen source but inhibited growth or had no effect if they received nitrate. Under nitrate, two C3 species grew faster at sub-ambient (approximately 310 micromol/mol) than elevated CO2. A CAM species grew faster at ambient than elevated or sub-ambient CO2 under either ammonium or nitrate nutrition. This study establishes that CO2 enrichment inhibits shoot nitrate assimilation in a wide variety of C3 plants and that this phenomenon can have a profound effect on their growth. This indicates that shoot nitrate assimilation provides an important contribution to the nitrate assimilation of an entire C3 plant. Thus, rising CO2 and its effects on shoot nitrate assimilation may influence the distribution of C3 plant species.     

C and N Content in Density Fractions of Whole Soil and Soil Size Fraction Under Cacao Agroforestry Systems and Natural Forest in Bahia,Brazil

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) have an important role in capturing above and below ground soil carbon and play a dominant role in mitigation of atmospheric CO₂. Attempts has been made here to identify soil organic matter fractions in the cacao-AFSs that have different susceptibility to microbial decomposition and further represent the basis of understanding soil C dynamics. The objective of this study was to characterize the organic matter density fractions and soil size fractions in soils of two types of cacao agroforestry systems and to compare with an adjacent natural forest in Bahia, Brazil. The land-use systems studied were: (1) a 30-year-old stand of natural forest with cacao (cacao cabruca), (2) a 30-year-old stand of cacao with Erythrina glauca as shade trees (cacao + erythrina), and (3) an adjacent natural forest without cacao. Soil samples were collected from 0-10 cm depth layer in reddish-yellow Oxisols. Soil samples was separated by wet sieving into five fraction-size classes (>2000 μm, 1000–2000 μm, 250–1000 μm, 53–250 μm, and <53 μm). C and N accumulated in to the light (free- and intra-aggregate density fractions) and heavy fractions of whole soil and soil size fraction were determined. Soil size fraction obtained in cacao AFS soils consisted mainly (65 %) of mega-aggregates (>2000 μm) mixed with macroaggregates (32–34%), and microaggregates (1–1.3%). Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N content increased with increasing soil size fraction in all land-use systems. Organic C-to-total N ratio was higher in the macroaggregate than in the microaggregate. In general, in natural forest and cacao cabruca the contribution of C and N in the light and heavy fractions was similar. However, in cacao + erythrina the heavy fraction was the most common and contributed 67% of C and 63% of N. Finding of this study shows that the majority of C and N in all three systems studied are found in macroaggregates, particularly in the 250–1000 μm size aggregate class. The heavy fraction was the most common organic matter fraction in these soils. Thus, in mature cacao AFS on highly weathered soils the main mechanisms of C stabilization could be the physical protection within macroaggregate structures thereby minimizing the impact of conversion of forest to cacao AFS.     

Influence of palladium content dispersed in the TiO2 photocatalyst for degradation of volatile organic compounds in gas emission

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is highlighted to treat volatile organic compound (VOC) emission. Then, this work analysed the influence of palladium (Pd) content loaded in TiO₂ on n-octane and iso-octane photodegradation. For this, TiO₂ was loaded with Pd in different contents: 0.4%, 0.7%, and 1.0%. The samples were characterized, and the photodegradation experiments were conducted by Pd/TiO₂/UV process. The characterization analyses showed that the metal presence did not change the catalyst structure or its surface area; however, it reduced the bandgap energy. The photocatalytic results proved that palladium improved n-octane degradation from 62% (pure TiO₂) to 92.6% (0.4%Pd/TiO₂) and, iso-octane degradation enhanced from 59% (pure TiO₂) to 90.6% (0.7%Pd/TiO₂); all results were obtained in the space time of 39 s. Therefore, 0.4%Pd/TiO₂ and 0.7%Pd/TiO₂ showed better oxidation results to degradation n-octane and iso-octane, respectively. The kinetic model of pseudo-first order showed a good fit for the data of both VOCs. Heterogeneous photocatalysis with Pd/TiO₂ showed to be an adequate technique to reduce VOCs emission.

     

The agricultural development of sub-Saharan Africa

A study prepared by FAO on the irrigation potential of sub-Saharan Africa is compared with the results of a similar study by the World Bank. The FAO study estimates that there are approximately 33 million hectares potentially suitable for irrigation. The World Bank study indicates that the actual number may be closer to 20 million. Reasons are offered to explain the difference in the conclusions of the two studies. This paper also examines the cost of developing irrigation in the sub-Sahara as well as the food-producing potential from irrigation. Costs are found to be in line with irrigation schemes of similar size in other regions. Nevertheless, because much of the irrigation potential is located in only six countries, irrigation does not appear to be a viable means of agricultural development in the sub-Sahara.     

Non-immunological hydrops fetalis and intrapericardial teratoma: Case report and review

A large intrapericardial teratoma was found at necropsy in a 38−week stillborn fetus, in which prenatal diagnosis of hydrops fetalis and an ehogenic cardiac mass had been made. Clinical and pathological data are reported. In utero intrapericardial teratomata lead to different outcomes depending on whether fetal hydrops is associated. When generalized fetal hydrops is not present, the outcome is good, even in cases with large pericardial effusions. When generalized fetal hydrops occurs, it often results in a poor outcome. In our literature review, we have found eight perinatal deaths in nine similar cases reported.