Remote sensing plays a crucial role in the detection of invasive alien species. This study aimed to explore and present the existing literature on the use of remote sensing technologies for the detection of invasive Prosopis spp canopies in semiarid environments over a long period. A total of fifty studies spanning twelve years were analyzed using the Google Scholar and Science Direct databases, with the help of the ResearchGate social network of researchers and Excel software for data visualization, including word clouds and other graphical representations. The research carried out between 2017 and 2021 witnessed a significant increase in the application of geotechnologies such as Sentinel, LiDAR and hyperspectral images. Vegetation indices, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), were widely used. Africa emerged as the continent with the highest level of concern regarding the species discussed, which is evident from the publication of 28 studies. The data revealed that Prosopis juliflora showed greater invasive potential in America and Asia. However, African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, faced a high risk of invasion. The terms found most frequently in the analysis were Prosopis and juliflora. It is essential to prioritize research focused on the application of remote sensing geotechnologies, especially in semiarid regions, to enable informed decision-making by government environmental agencies in relation to the management and control of these invasive species.
A integração entre componentes curriculares e um artefato educacional, uma estufa de hortaliças com vermicompostagem, visa melhorar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem e fomentar a interdisciplinaridade na educação escolar. Com uso do método Design Science Research (DSR), foram identificadas rotinas para diferentes cursos, como Agronomia, Química e Tecnologia em Gestão de Turismo, ao relacionar o conteúdo programático com os elementos da estufa. O estudo foi conduzido em uma instituição de ensino, onde foram mapeados os componentes curriculares de diversos cursos e suas possíveis conexões com o artefato proposto. Como resultado, foram identificadas 23 rotinas para o curso de Agronomia, 2 para Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas, 3 para Química, 2 para Tecnologia em Gestão de Turismo, 5 para Ciências Biológicas, 6 para o Técnico em Agropecuária Integrado ao Ensino Médio, 1 para o Técnico em Informática Integrado ao Ensino Médio e 5 para o Técnico em Alimentos Integrado ao Ensino Médio. Essa abordagem propõe uma forma prática de ensino, pois possibilita aos alunos uma experiência direta com os conceitos aprendidos em sala de aula. Essa estratégia não só promove a compreensão dos conteúdos, mas também prepara os estudantes para enfrentar desafios complexos no mercado de trabalho, ao estimular uma formação mais holística e interdisciplinar. O estudo destaca a importância de buscar benefícios educacionais através da integração entre ensino, pesquisa e extensão, ao possibilitar o avanço do conhecimento prático em um determinado campo de estudo.
Anaerobic technology is widely used in Brazil for the treatment of domestic sewage, due to favorable conditions such as a hot climate and lower operational costs. In this process, by-products such as biogas are formed, which can be recovered and converted into energy. Accordingly, the present study aimed to report the correlations between biogas production-both in gaseous and dissolved forms-and domestic sewage parameters, using full-scale modified UASB-type reactors installed in Curitiba, Paran & aacute;. Measurements were performed in real time over five months. The monitored influent and effluent parameters included pH, temperature, alkalinity, acidity, TSS, VSS, FSS, COD, sulfate, dissolved methane, and flow rate. Biogas parameters included flow rate and the concentrations of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. To assess the relationships between variables in the gaseous and liquid phases, Spearman's correlation tests were applied. Operational results showed low removal efficiencies for BOD, COD, and TSS, attributed to the open design of the three-phase separator in this type of reactor. Most of the correlations between influent and effluent sewage parameters and biogas flow were moderate and positive, indicating that as biogas flow increased or decreased, these parameters tended to follow the same trend. However, correlations between sewage parameters and dissolved methane concentrations were weak or statistically non-significant, suggesting the need for further studies to better understand the influencing factors behind this relevant but often overlooked methane fraction.
Offshore wind generation has aroused the interest of various sectors and entities in Brazil, mainly because of its high capacity to generate energy within the energy transition scenario. After IBAMA issued the Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Study, the number of registered projects increased significantly. Although there are no offshore wind farms installed in Brazil, onshore generation stands out, especially in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, whose region is characterized by high wind speeds. Despite the increase in energy generation associated with offshore wind farms, the arrival of new developments could trigger socio-environmental conflicts in the marine space already occupied by various activities. The main conflicts identified are dealt with in this paper, namely: limitation of areas for artisanal fishing, alteration of the natural landscape, damage to tourist and sporting activities, limitations on maritime travel and risks to biodiversity. The analysis of these potential conflicts indicates the need to implement Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and increase investment in biodiversity studies in order to analyze the main environmental impacts of offshore wind farms within the Brazilian context.
The integration between curricular components and an educational artifact-a vegetable greenhouse with vermicomposting-aims to enhance the teaching-learning process and foster interdisciplinarity in school education. Using the Design Science Research (DSR) method, routines were identified for various courses, such as Agronomy, Chemistry, and Tourism Management Technology, by linking the curriculum content to the elements of the greenhouse. The study was conducted at an educational institution, where the curricular components of multiple courses were mapped, and their potential connections with the proposed artifact were analyzed. As a result, 23 routines were identified for the Agronomy course, 2 for Systems Analysis and Development, 3 for Chemistry, 2 for Tourism Management Technology, 5 for Biological Sciences, 6 for the Integrated High School Agricultural Technician course, 1 for the Integrated High School Computer Technician course, and 5 for the Integrated High School Food Technician course. This approach proposes a practical teaching method, as it allows students to gain direct experience with the concepts learned in the classroom. This strategy not only promotes a deeper understanding of the content but also prepares students to tackle complex challenges in the labor market by encouraging a more holistic and interdisciplinary education. The study highlights the importance of seeking educational benefits through the integration of teaching, research, and outreach, enabling the advancement of practical knowledge in a specific field of study.
Charcoal is of paramount importance in the steel industry, where it is used as a reductant and heat source in the combustion of iron ore and the production of pig iron. Research has been conducted to identify wood species that produce charcoal with superior physical, mechanical, and chemical characteristics compared to those currently used in the industry. This study aimed to characterize hybrid clones of Corymbia torelliana, Corymbia citriodora, and a clone of Eucalyptus urophylla at two final pyrolysis temperatures, 350 degrees C and 550 degrees C, to determine which is most suitable for use in the steel industry. Two hybrid clones of Corymbia torelliana and Corymbia citriodora and one clone of Eucalyptus urophylla were analyzed, with the latter serving as a comparison standard due to its prevalent use in charcoal production. The clones, seven years old and planted in Bom Despacho, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were subjected to laboratory pyrolysis at final temperatures of 350 degrees C and 550 degrees C, with a heating rate of 5 degrees C.min-1. The lignin and extractive contents of the species were measured, along with the gravimetric yields of the charcoal produced. The clones were characterized for apparent density, chemical analysis, higher, lower, and useful calorific values, energy density, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The Corymbia citriodora clone, at a pyrolysis temperature of 350 degrees C, produced the best charcoal for steelmaking, evidenced by its high fixed carbon content (65.24%), energy density (1.26 Gcal.m-3), and a visually observed reduction in cracks and fissures. The hybrid clone of Corymbia citriodora presents a promising alternative, offering rapid growth and qualities that are comparable or superior to species currently used in the industry.
Precision agriculture and irrigation improve yields and efficiency in agricultural activity. It is important to consider the impact of irrigation on the environment and adopt mitigation solutions. In this work, a regression equation model for remote prediction of environmental impact caused by the construction of irrigation dams in the micro watersheds of the Ijuizinho River/RS was developed through quantitative data. For this, 20 dams were selected in the study area, where a history of construction and maintenance was informed. Two buffers were drawn around the dams, considering the minimum PPA required for dams following current environmental legislation, Law Number 12.651/2012 and CONSEMA Resolution n degrees 323/2016. To carry out the spatial analysis of land use and occupation, images from the Sentinel-2A sensor were selected. The pre-processing of images was carried out following supervised classification to determine the land use classification. The information was used to obtain the proportion of each type of habitat present in the study area, namely: water, tillage, arboreal vegetation, damp areas, and undergrowth. For the analysis of environmental impact, equations of modeling were realized using multiple linear regression and Pearson's correlation. Currently, there are no forms of prior analysis to define the environmental impact caused by the construction of an irrigation dam. Prior analysis of the environmental impact would be an important tool for decision-making on environmental licensing. The proposed methodology does not replace the other licensing steps but may justify their starts. Based on the present data set and statistical analyses applied, developing models to predict the environmental impact was not possible. Therefore, it is important to consider the peculiarities and importance of each habitat in the watershed. The suppression of a stable habitat for the construction of a dam, even with PPA recovery, will cause an environmental impact.
Water for human consumption must comply with legal potability standards, involving treatments that often use chemical agents that have impacts on the environment , human health. An alternative is to use organic polymers, such as chitosan, but in some situations, its structure should be modified to improve its applicability. This is achieved by adding reagents such as CHPTAC to make it cationic. This research aimed to create a cationic polysaccharide derived from chitosan using the CHPTAC reagent and apply it in water treatment, varying dosages and pH. The results showed that the synthesized chitosans achieved good efficiency in removing turbidity and color, in which some dosages were more effective. Furthermore, each flocculant performed better in a specific pH range, often in an acidic pH. The research highlighted that both cationic and non-cationic chitosan are effective in water treatment, providing a viable alternative to commonly used inorganic coagulants.
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of ultraviolet light on the germination of Trifolium resupinatum L. seeds (Persian clover). The seeds were exposed to different times (doses) of exposure to UV-B and UV-C light with radiation intensity of 2.5 W m(-2). Afterward, they were sown in gerbox boxes with germitest paper and stored in a Biochemical Oxygen Demand at 20 degrees C. Tests such as germination, germination speed index, length and dry mass of seedling were performed. No significant differences were among UV-B light treatments. However, seeds exposed to 8 hours of UV-C light showed a reduction in the germination speed index when compared to control (from 92.5 to 88.7). Furthermore, the length of the seedlings increased by an average of 1.3 cm in relation to the control. Under the conditions of this study, it was concluded that Persian clover seeds exhibit relative tolerance to UV-B radiation while showing some sensitivity to UV-C radiation. The pelleting of the seeds associated with the tegument acted as a physical block, impeding the passage of UV light. The results contribute to our understanding of how Persian clover responds to UV radiation exposure.
Solid waste management (SWM) at the municipal level is challenging for developing countries. Typically, the service runs at an economic loss and is of low quality, with high environmental impacts. The research aimed to evaluate how budgetary and public policies may affect the quality of solid waste management in small municipalities in underdeveloped countries. This study reports the economic impact of the operational routine, legislation, taxes, and total SWM costs in a small municipality in Brazil (36,000 inhabitants). Eleven types of waste and related services were evaluated from 2017 to 2020. Results show that the SWM budget would have to increase from the current 3.64% of the annual city budget to 7.48% to supply this management's financial needs under a future scenario of full legislative compliance. The costs required for this compliance would increase expenses from US$ 29.09 to US$ 46.05 per inhabitant per year. Alternatives to solve or alleviate the problem are efficiency's continuous improvement, new types of fundraising, inter-municipal cooperation, and increased inspection, especially related to establishing the legal responsibilities for waste generators. A new fee could also be discussed since this municipality (as well as more than half of Brazilian cities) has no specific charge for SWM. A US$ 9.40 per inhabitant/year charge would cover the operational costs related to domestic solid waste.
This work aims to present the contributions of a vegetable garden in the school context of Elementary School- early years, providing the interdisciplinary teaching of Science, Mathematics, Arts, Physical Education, Religious Education, Geography, History, English Language, Portuguese language, and contemplating the general competences of the National Common Curricular Base. The study was developed with fifth grade students at an Elementary School in the city of Santa Maria (RS, Brazil). For its effectiveness, we sought to understand the National Common Curricular Base and its general competences about interdisciplinarity and the concepts worked in the different disciplines that go through the Initial Years of Elementary School. The dynamics of work were guided by a didactic sequence that guided the activities, namely: 1th) Investigation of previous knowledge of students; 2th) Recognition of physical space for the construction of the garden; 3th) Research on cultures; 4th) Planning of the interdisciplinary activity; 5th) Construction and management of the School Garden; 6th) Contribution of each curricular component in the School Garden; 7th) Impact of the interdisciplinary activity. The vegetable garden, which was planned and built together with teacher and students, presented itself as a concrete environment for the realization of practical activities by students, allowing them to relate theory and practice as well as the approach of concepts in an interdisciplinary way.
The expansion of the pig industry has consolidated this activity among those most negatively impacting the environment. Large volumes of wastewater generated in small units, combined with a lack of technologies and incentives to treat these wastes, make this problem even more serious. Aim to evaluate the removal of parameters Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Fixed Solids (FS), and Volatile Solids (VS), the anaerobic digestion of pig manure using biodigesters batch flow pilot-scale, under the influence of different ambient temperatures during the period of one year (365 days). The statistical design was a randomized block with eight treatments and three repetitions, each treatment a cycle with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 40 days. There were two cycles for each season, raw wastewater samples were collected, and each biodigester was treated. There are significant differences between the evaluated cycles. The end efficiencies found for BOD were 81.03% (cycle 5) and 14.86% (cycle 3). For COD, they were 76.07% (cycle 5) and 17.79% (cycle 1). To FS 58.58% (cycle 3) and 15.97% (cycle 6). For VS, it was 86.68% (cycle 7) and 24.75% (cycle 3). The mean efficiency in eight cycles was higher for COD. It was concluded that the anaerobic biodigesters batch pilot-scale was shown to be effective in the treatment of swine waste. However, its efficiency depends on the temperature and the adopted HRT.
This article aimed to present the goals of the ABC Plan for low-carbon agriculture, and uses the multiple regressions modeling technique to investigate economic activity variables in relation to CO2 emissions over the period from 1990 to 2018 in all Brazilian states. The results show that the CO2 emissions in the states, have the same behavior as the land use change timeline, and that public policies and society actions were fundamental to the decrease verified in both CO2 emissions and the change in use, of the land observed from the year 2004 until 2010. From this year, followed a trend of stability in CO2 emissions and land use change. Another important characteristic is that despite the decrease in the number of deforestations, economic activities continued to grow in the regions, which demonstrates that there may be an increase in production even though the numbers of deforestation and CO2 emissions are decreasing. This information, strengthen the Low Carbon Agriculture Program, as the main strategy for the development of the productive sector, mainly for sustainable agriculture.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) aims to facilitate both integration and assessment of opportunities and threats for action strategies within the framework of sustainable development. Its stages comprise Screening, which analyzes its need, Scoping, which establishes the range of environmental issues to be covered, Analysis, in which the Environmental Report is prepared, Decision-Making, Follow-up, in which both Monitoring and Follow-up of the assessment are conducted, and finally Consultation. Three types of effectiveness approaches, namely procedural effectiveness, substantive effectiveness, and transactional effectiveness can be identified. This article addresses the effectiveness of SEA in Brazil, Ireland, and Scotland through a comparative analysis, since it enables rich discussions on the subject.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a decision-making tool and in many cases is a legal requirement in projects with activities potentially causing environmental degradation. In the case of agroecological projects, negative impacts are not allowed and an assessment is important to identify factors that distance them from the agroecological proposal. Based on the literature, the EIA, in general, is done with electronic spreadsheets, there is no software focused on the process. In view of this, the objective of this article was to carry out a diagnosis of environmental impacts in the Brígida Irrigation Project - Orocó/PE during the planting of different crops and animal husbandry, presenting a system to facilitate this task, named SAIA - Impact Assessment System Environmental, which can point out impacts that detract from an agroecological theme project. For this, after a survey on EIA techniques and agroecological projects, on the basis of scientific works and patents, the SAIA was validated in that Project, with questionnaires being applied with the participating family farming producers, to align the tool to the agroecological proposal. The diagnosis allowed us to conclude that there are negative impacts that keep the Project away from agroecology for all analyzed crops and creations. It is noteworthy that the number of impacts is not fixed for each type of crop, as it depends on how the steps are carried out. Furthermore, there was good acceptance of the tool, with suggestions, which were accepted, bringing SAIA closer to the reality of producers.
Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen among bacterial infections, also having the ability to produce biofilm, thus becoming tolerant and resistant to antibiotics and immune responses. Essential oil extracted from plants has shown broad-spectrum antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against bacteria. In this study it was evaluated whether rosemary, clove and cinnamon essential oil exert antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. aureus in vitro. The essential oils were purchased and their chemical composition was identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antibiofilm and antibacterial effects were assessed by the 96-well microtiter plate adhesion assay. The highest antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity were observed with 3% and 6% cinnamon essential oil while the essential oil of clove and rosemary did not show satisfactory results. These results support new antimicrobial therapies against S. aureus infections and biofilm formation, using cinnamon essential oil, thus contributing to both human and veterinary medicines.
Entende-se o relevo e sua dinâmica como complexos e resultado de inúmeras relações exógenas e endógenas. O mapeamento geomorfológico surge como importante ferramenta de caracterização e interpretação das características geomorfológicas. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar uma caracterização geomorfológica da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Vacacaí (BHRV) com base em diferentes escalas de análise e produtos cartográficos. A classificação geomorfológica aqui presente é baseada na metodologia proposta por Ross (1992), com adaptações e automação da definição dos produtos cartográficos, definindo assim 4 níveis de análise. Em termos de resultado, há predominância de estruturas sedimentares da Depressão Periférica, morfoesculturas da Depressão do Rio Jacuí, padrões de colinas suaves sobre estruturas sedimentares e elementos de áreas planas. A metodologia se mostrou eficiente e trouxe importantes aspectos do relevo e produtos cartográficos que podem servir para ações de organização espacial.
The development of a country is intimately linked to the industrial development that is responsible for wealth generation, jobs and income, however, it is followed by serious environmental impacts caused by production and incorrect disposal of waste. The present research aimed to characterize the solid waste management system in metallurgic companies from Joaçaba/SC. For this, a research instrument was applied containing twelve open questions for the heads of seven companies. The questions included the identification of solid waste generated in the production process and the disposal method, as well as information about environmental licensing and reverse logistic. The research showed that only one company has an environmental management system and has a better understanding about its environmental responsibilities, both the management of waste generated by the production process and the importance of preserving the environmental.
Oil is considered the main source of energy, being essential for the realization of various industrial activities. However, it is detrimental to the environment, since in addition to the release of polluting gases during combustion, its exploitation involves risks of water contamination, through leaks. Petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants are part of the recalcitrant compounds and their elimination from the environment causes enormous ecological impacts. The restoration of these environments is not a trivial challenge, as natural degradation, without anthropogenic involvement, depends on the nature, composition, physical and chemical properties of these compounds. Thus, bioremediation appears as alternative in the biodegradation process through the addition of microorganisms, nutrients or other substances that cause and accelerate decontamination. The advantages of these methods involve efficiency and low cost, when compared to other technologies. This work gathers knowledge about the perspectives of application of bioremediation systems in the recovery of environments polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons, discussing progress, perspectives and challenges.
Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen among bacterial infections, also having the ability to produce biofilm, thus becoming tolerant and resistant to antibiotics and immune responses. Essential oil extracted from plants has shown broad-spectrum antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against bacteria. In this study it was evaluated whether rosemary, clove and cinnamon essential oil exert antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. aureus in vitro. The essential oils were purchased and their chemical composition was identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antibiofilm and antibacterial effects were assessed by the 96-well microtiter plate adhesion assay. The greatest antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity were observed with 3% and 6% cinnamon essential oil, while clove and rosemary essential oils showed little or no inhibitory activity even at concentrations of 3% or 6%. These results support new antimicrobial therapies against S. aureus infections and biofilm formation, using cinnamon essential oil, thus contributing to both human and veterinary medicines.
