Submitted by Ana Hilda Fonseca (anahilda@ufba.br) on 2016-08-30T15:51:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Edevaldo da Silva - Dissertação de Mestrado - AVALIAÇÃO DA DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE METAIS, SELÊNIO E HIDR.pdf: 2884849 bytes, checksum: fa7b35ee716d9dafe11da9dc385d97ef (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Reis (vanessa.jamile@ufba.br) on 2016-09-02T15:19:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Edevaldo da Silva - Dissertação de Mestrado - AVALIAÇÃO DA DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE METAIS, SELÊNIO E HIDR.pdf: 2884849 bytes, checksum: fa7b35ee716d9dafe11da9dc385d97ef (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-02T15:19:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edevaldo da Silva - Dissertação de Mestrado - AVALIAÇÃO DA DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE METAIS, SELÊNIO E HIDR.pdf: 2884849 bytes, checksum: fa7b35ee716d9dafe11da9dc385d97ef (MD5) / CNPq / O consumo de crustáceos vem crescendo rapidamente, graças à expansão da cultura de camarão. As fazendas de camarão são geralmente localizadas próximas da costa e utilizam a água na criação de camarões, a qual pode estar contaminada por vários tipos de poluentes químicos. Nesse trabalho, foi investigada a concentração e distribuição de metais, selênio e Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos (HPAs) em diferentes tecidos, e em ambos os sexos, da espécie de camarão Litopenaeus vannamei. As amostras foram coletadas entre outubro de 2005 e janeiro de 2006 em carciniculturas ao redor da Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS), em Salvador, e em carcinicultura de águas do Rio São Francisco na cidade de Paulo Afonso, Bahia. Os metais e selênio foram quantificados por Espectroscopia de Emissão Óptica com Plasma indutivamente Acoplado (ICP OES) e os HPAs quantificados por Cromatografia Gasosa com Espectrômetro de Massa (CG MS). Os resultados da maioria dos metais e do selênio indicaram variações significativas entre os tecidos - músculos, vísceras e exoesqueleto – das amostras, assim como variações entre níveis de concentrações entre camarões de localidades diferentes. Não foi verificada variação entre os sexos, com exceção do selênio. Os metais com valores limítrofes estabelecidos pela ANVISA apresentaram níveis abaixo dos limites máximos aceitáveis para consumo. Os HPAs apresentaram níveis baixos de concentração, sendo mais altas em Salinas da Margarida. HPAs de baixa massa molecular se apresentaram em predominância nas amostras analisadas, indicando provável origem petrogênica, com exceção das amostras de Salinas da Margarida, cuja origem provável seja pirolítica. / The consumption of crustaceans has been growing rapidly, thanks to expansion of carciniculture. The farms of shrimps are generally localized near of coast and their water is use in the culture of shrimps, these waters can be contaminated with many kinds of chemical pollutants. In this work was investigated the concentration and distribution of metals, selenium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in differents tissues, and in both sex, of specie Litopenaeus vannamei. The samples were collected between November/2005 and January/2006 at carcinicultura around of Baía of Todos os Santos (BTS), in Salvador and at carciniculture of São Francisco River water’s in the city of Paulo Afonso, Bahia. The metals and selenium were quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) and the PAHs quantified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC MS). The results of major of metals and selenium indicated significatives variations between the tissues – muscle, viscera and exoskeleton – of samples, as well as the variations in the level of concentrations between samples of different localities. There weren’t significatives variations between the males and females, except for selenium. The metals with maximum values determined by ANVISA shown reduced of acceptable limits for consumption. The PAHs shown levels below of concentration, the higher values were found in Salinas da Margarida. PAHs of below molecular weight were majority in the samples, indicating probable petrogênic origin, except for the sample of Salinas da Margarida that be probably of pirolitic sources

Mining is a widespread industrial activity that in many cases, via mining wastes, leads to altered concentrations of metals in close vicinity to the mining activities. Metals in mining waste can have high toxicity and may persist in environments for long time periods. The presence of metals, such as lead (Pb), is known to contaminate and cause damage to nearby organisms and ecosystems. Birds are at risk of metal contamination and, since they are predators high up in the food chain, may face accumulation of metal in tissue over time, via consumption of contaminated prey. Small passerine species, such as the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), are suitable for studying metal contamination as they are ubiqutious, and high up in the food chain. Pied flycatchers feed exclusively on invertebrates, making the abundance, quality, and potential contamination of invertebrates interesting to study with regard to the health of the birds. Studies have shown that hemoglobin (Hb) levels in young pied flycatchers are reduced by high background levels of Pb.  This may be linked to prey availability and quality, as invertebrates are known to alter their composition, and contain higher Pb concentrations in Pb contaminated areas. Here, I investigated how invertebrate abundance and community composition, and pied flycatcher Hb concentrations (i.e. health), in reference and Pb contaminated areas, were related to each other. Invertebrate traps were set and sampled twice during the summer of 2018 to provide invertebrate data to the study. Bird Hb levels was acquired by taking blood samples from nearly fledged chicks in birdhouses placed in the different areas. I found a potential trend towards higher Hb levels in reference areas (p=0.110), suggesting that bird health is reduced by the presence of Pb, but this could not be explained by differences in invertebrate community composition or abundance (p>0.05). Hence, based on this study, high Pb concentrations in the soil does not directly, or indirectly via potential impacts on the prey community composition, influence the health of pied flycatchers.

Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) represents the highest post-transfusion infectious risk. The skin flora bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis has been reported to be the predominant aerobic contaminant of PCs. The Ramirez' group has shown that S. epidermidis can form surface-attached bacterial aggregates known as biofilms, and can outcompete other coagulase-negative staphylococci, such as Staphylococcus capitis, in PCs. The ability of S. epidermidis to form biofilms has been linked to increased pathogenicity and missed detection during PC screening with an automated culture system (BacT/ALERT). This thesis aimed at investigating the proliferative advantage and resistance mechanisms displayed by S. epidermidis in the PC milieu. Furthermore, in an effort to enhance PC safety for transfusion patients, I studied the anti-biofilm properties of essential oils and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). My studies aimed at improving PC safety by focussing on both the point of introduction of bacterial contaminants (blood collection), and the stage at which bacterial contaminants can form biofilms and proliferate (PC storage). S. epidermidis can be found in the skin of blood donors as biofilms, which are resistant to the blood donor skin disinfectant currently used by Canadian Blood Services, chlorhexidine-gluconate and isopropyl alcohol (CHG-IPA). Here, several plant-extracted essential oils were evaluated for their ability to enhance the anti-biofilm activity of CHG-IPA. Data revealed that the Lavandula multifida oil and its main component (linalool) greatly enhanced the activity of CHG-IPA against S. epidermidis biofilms. Furthermore, the ability of a combination of three synthetic AMPs to inhibit S. epidermidis biofilm formation during PC storage was assessed These results showed that the combination of AMPs could inhibit biofilm formation but was ineffective against pre-formed S. epidermidis biofilms. The accumulation associated protein (Aap) encoded by the aap gene, found in most S. epidermidis strains and absent in S. capitis, plays a role in biofilm formation. When S. epidermidis aap is transformed into S. capitis, this bacterium displayed increased biofilm formation and proliferated to higher concentrations compared to untransformed S. capitis and to a S. epidermidis aap deletion mutant. Based on these results, aap appears to play a role in providing S. epidermidis a proliferative advantage in PCs by enhancing biofilm formation. Lastly, the GraRS system and SepA were studied for their role in S. epidermidis resistance to platelet-derived AMPs using the synthetic AMP PD4 as a model molecule. Results indicate that the GraS mechanism is involved in resistance towards PD4. The work presented in my thesis provides further insights into why S. epidermidis has a proliferative advantage in the PC storage environment and allows for the proposal of alternative methods to enhance PC safety for transfusion patients.

The recycling industry which is efficiently functioning now has technical expertise, contented consumers, and resource availability and capital contributors. The potential inflow of new material into this existing system should be able to fulfill all the needs of the stakeholders involved in it. With most of the polymer wastes received from the polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), they are available in abundant crossing the threshold quantity (Cornell, 2007) needed for the recycling process to be carried for every single polymer starting from the individual source separation till the granulation of pellets with active investment for the potential expectancy of returns in the recycling market targeting suitable consumers. Unlike other polymers like polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene (PP), biopolymers fail to fulfill the necessary criteria of being in threshold quantity to carry out the recycling process. With the very small inflow of biopolymers in the recycling industry, standalone recycling units for the same is not highly performed and appreciated. In addition to this, there are possible means and ways of the biopolymers getting infused into the conventional petrochemical polymers either through the mis-throws in manual sorting or in automated sorting. Though the studies so far don't have any substantial threatening effect over the biopolymer infusion, still it has its adversity affecting the industry by other means. The volumes of biopolymers are presently small and contamination of biopolymer in the plastic waste stream is presently not a problem. However, with increasing volumes of biopolymers, this can be a problem. Contamination could then be a future problem. This study investigates that problem and checks the truth to the claims of biopolymer infusion in the conventional post-consumer recycling systems affecting the quality of the recyclates. In order to investigate this, a biodegradable biopolymer (TPS & PHA) will be mixed into a conventional polymer (PE, PP, PET) at various percentages. The mechanical and thermal properties are then measured as a function of the percentage biopolymer. In a second part of the project, the blend of conventional plastics and bioplastic is conditioned in humidity in order to simulate what will happen to a conventional polymer that has been contaminated with a biopolymer in a humid climate.

abstract: This paper presents a theoretical model for evaluating flashover performance of insulators under contaminated conditions. The model introduces several new features when compared with existing models such as, the formation of dry bands, variations in insulator geometry and surface wettability. The electric field distribution obtained from software for 3-Dimensional models along with form factor are used to determine the dimensions of the dry bands and the onset of arcing. The model draws heavily from experimental measurements of flashover voltage and surface resistance under wet conditions of porcelain and composite insulators. The model illustrates the dominant role played by the insulator shape and housing material on the flashover performance. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2012

abstract: This research presents potential and electric field calculations on medium voltage (MV) epoxy insulated outdoor current transformers (CTs) using a numeri-cal calculation approach. Two designs of MV dry-type epoxy insulated CTs were modeled using 3D field simulation software COULOMB® 9.0. Potential and elec-tric fields were calculated based on boundary element method. Different condi-tions such as dry exterior surface, wet exterior surface and internal voids were considered. The research demonstrates that the presence of internal conductors in CTs results in a less severe surface electric field distribution when compared to outdoor insulators of the same voltage range and type. The high electric field near the exited end triple-point of the CT reduces. This remained true even under wet conditions establishing better outdoor performance of CTs than outdoor insulators which have no internal conductors. The effect of internal conductors on voids within the insulation structure was also established. As a down side, internal voids in CTs experience higher electric field stress than in conductor-less insulators. The work recognizes that internal conducting parts in dry type CTs improves their outdoor performance when compared to electrical equipment without internal conductors. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2012

Submitted by Claudinei Garcia (claudinei.garcia@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-06-25T23:11:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AVALIAÇÃO DO PERIGO À POLUIÇÃO DAS ÁGUAS SUBTERRÂNEAS NO MUNICÍPIO DE PIRACICABA SP.pdf: 6931690 bytes, checksum: ca32dc4d54818c6994582918f1151a35 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Lucilene Cordeiro da Silva Messias null (lubiblio@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-06-26T12:41:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 garcia_c_me_bauru.pdf: 6931693 bytes, checksum: 9701edc264d8220201a6e0dea3d79f0b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-26T12:41:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 garcia_c_me_bauru.pdf: 6931693 bytes, checksum: 9701edc264d8220201a6e0dea3d79f0b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-04 / Este trabalho buscou a avaliação do perigo à poluição das águas subterrâneas no município de Piracicaba, através da interação entre os índices de vulnerabilidade intrínseca e vulnerabilidade específica dos aquíferos aflorantes no município de Piracicaba, motivado pela importância estratégica destas fontes, pela ausência de estudos específicos locais e pela crescente demanda de exploração de cunho econômico da área de estudo. Para a análise dos índices de vulnerabilidade intrínseca, que define-se como a capacidade de atenuação natural do meio local à contaminação de determinado aquífero imposta por uma carga contaminante, utilizou-se do método GOD - groundwater hydraulic confinement; overlaying strata; depth to groundwater table (FOSTER, 1987; FOSTER; HIRATA, 1988), e para a avaliação da vulnerabilidade específica que considera a probabilidade de determinado sistema aquífero ser exposto a um contaminante, classe de contaminantes ou atividade contaminante, utilizou-se do método POSH - pollutant origin, surcharge hydraulically (FOSTER, et al., 2006) e da análise do potencial de contaminação das áreas urbanas e rurais por fontes de nitrato. A manipulação de dados envolveu informações de poços profundos outorgados, pedologia e litologia da área de estudo, informações de uso do solo e de fontes potenciais de contaminação local, obtidos de fontes públicas e privadas. A avaliação do perigo à poluição das águas subterrâneas, que pode ser definido como a interação entre a vulnerabilidade intrínseca e a vulnerabilidade específica, se deu pela interação dos resultados obtidos de vulnerabilidade intrínseca e da vulnerabilidade específica, cujos produtos finais se apresentam em forma de mapas situacionais ilustrativos. Embora a análise da vulnerabilidade intrínseca tenha produzido classes predominantes de baixa vulnerabilidade natural, a avaliação da vulnerabilidade específica para o município revelou, ao contrário, índices significativos de fontes potenciais contaminantes difusas e pontuais. Esta particularidade resultou em situação de médio perigo de poluição dos recursos subterrâneos locais para aproximadamente 74% dos pontos avaliados. Os resultados auferidos, embora contextuais objetivam em síntese identificar os locais onde é pertinente se intensificar recursos e esforços para estudos complementares e conclusivos, e constituem primeiro passo importante para a caracterização e avaliação dos riscos aos recursos hídricos subterrâneos locais, frente às novas imposições de demanda de usos de águas subterrâneas, oriundos do crescimento econômico e populacional, atrelados ao esgotamento das fontes de água superficiais. / This work sought to evaluate the danger to groundwater pollution in the municipality of Piracicaba through the interaction between intrinsic vulnerability indexes and specific vulnerability of outlying aquifers in the city of Piracicaba, motivated by the strategic importance of these sources due to the absence of specific local studies and by the growing demand for economic exploration of the study area. For the analysis of the intrinsic vulnerability indexes, which is defined as the natural attenuation capacity of the local environment to the contamination of a given aquifer imposed by a contaminant load, the GOD method was used - groundwater hydraulic confinement; overlaying strata; depth to groundwater table (FOSTER, HIRATA, 1988), and for the assessment of the specific vulnerability that considers the probability of a certain aquifer system being exposed to a contaminant, class of contaminants or contaminant activity, the POSH method - pollutant origin, surcharge hydraulically (FOSTER, et al., 2006) and the analysis of the potential of contamination of urban and rural areas by nitrate sources. Data manipulation involved information from deep wells, pedology and lithology of the study area, land use information and potential sources of local contamination obtained from public and private sources. The groundwater hazard assessment, which can be defined as the interaction between intrinsic vulnerability and specific vulnerability, was the interaction of the results obtained from intrinsic vulnerability and specific vulnerability, the final products of which are presented in the form of maps illustrative situations. Although the analysis of intrinsic vulnerability has produced predominant classes of low natural vulnerability, the assessment of specific vulnerability to the municipality revealed, on the contrary, significant indices of potential diffuse and point source contaminants. This particularity resulted in a situation of average danger of pollution of the local underground resources to approximately 74% of the assessed points. The results obtained, although contextual, aim in a synthesis to identify the places where it is pertinent to intensify resources and efforts for complementary and conclusive studies, and constitute important first step for the characterization and evaluation of the risks to the local groundwater resources, in face of the new impositions of demand of groundwater uses, derived from economic and population growth, linked to the depletion of surface water sources.

Resumo: A literatura tem indicado que o ensino tem maior significado quando se parte de temas presentes na realidade do aluno. No entanto, um fato pode fazer parte do cotidiano e não se tornar ponto de partida para o ensino, mesmo sendo importante. Diante disso, esta pesquisa buscou investigar como quatro escolas públicas de uma região contaminada por chumbo trabalhavam esta temática. Nestas escolas encontravam-se matriculadas mais de 300 crianças com histórico de contaminação por este metal, e as demais, em condições de exposição, por morarem em uma área de risco no interior paulista. Considerou-se portanto que a temática fazia parte da realidade desta população. De modo geral, verificou-se que, temas factuais podem ser ponto de partida para o ensino, desde que o professor esteja capacitado para lidar com estratégias e conteúdos envolvidos. Do contrário, será necessário capacitá-lo. O tema da contaminação por chumbo, apesar da relevância, sem a capacitação docente, correria o risco de não ser abordado pela escola. O apoio dos órgãos governamentais, foi e será importante para promover condições para formação permanente de professores, partindo de suas necessidades. / Abstract: Literature has indicated that teaching has greater significance when it comes from the studentþs reality. However, a fact can be part of the daily life and not become a starting point for teaching, even being very important. Before this, this research tries to investigate how four public schools of a region contaminated by lead worked this subject. In these schools more than 300 children were registered with description of contamination by this metal, and the others in conditions of exposition to the metal for living in a risk area in São Paulo interior. It was considered, therefore, that the subject - contamination by lead - was part of this populationþs reality. The subject of contamination by lead, although relevant, without the teachersþ qualification, runs the risk of not being adopted by the school. The support of the governmental bodies was and will always be important to promote conditions for permanent qualification of teachers, starting from their necessities. / Orientador: Ana Maria Lombardi Daibem / Coorientador: Olga Maria Piazentim Rolim Rodrigues / Banca: Vera Lúcia Messias Fialho Capellini / Banca: Marília de Freitas Campos Tozoni Reis / Mestre

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Informal settlements are often implicated in surface water pollution with faecal matter. In most instances faecal pollution in the associated surface waters persists despite improvements in sewage removal infrastructure. This study evaluates the importance of investigating the water quality of the Plankenbrug River before it reaches Khayamnandi settlement by comparing water quality in spring and in winter upstream (Pre-Khayamnandi) and downstream (Post- Khayamnandi) from the settlement. In this study, faecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and total coliforms) were enumerated using Chromocult agar. E. coli was further characterized with analytical profiling index (API) and haemolysis assays. Both Pre- and Post-Khayamnandi were not significantly different from each other for both total coliforms and E. coli in winter. Pre-Khayamnandi had between 105 and 108 cfu/100 ml for total coliforms while Post-Khayamnandi had total coliform colony count between 106 and 107 cfu/100 ml. E. coli also exhibited a similar pattern with slightly higher counts at Post-Khayamnandi with colony counts from 104 to 107 and 105 to 107 cfu/100 ml. Spring microbial count demonstrated a significant difference to winter counts within each test site (p ≤ 0.01) and across the two sites (p ≤ 0.05). Both total coliforms and E. coli were 102 fold higher at Post-Khayamnandi than at Pre-Khayamnandi in spring. The API assay demonstrated significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the two test sites. Pre- Khayamnandi predominantly had two different profiles while Post-Khayamnandi had three. These profiles represented five distinct E. coli biotypes. Sorbitol and sucrose tests within the API assay demonstrated significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the two test sites. The prevalence of sorbitol fermenters at Pre-Khayamnandi was 100% while at Post-Khayamnandi it was 73%. Pre-Khayamnandi also demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of sucrose fermenters than Post-Khayamnandi at 100% and 59% respectively. These differences indicated dissimilar sources of faecal contamination around these sites. Differences in the distributions of sorbitol and sucrose fermenting biotypes demonstrate different toxicity potentials across these two test sites. The haemolysis assay demonstrated that 9% of isolates were haemolytic with reference to both known α- and β-haemolyitic streptococci at Post-Khayamnandi. At Pre-Khayamnandi there was a higher percentage of α- and β-haemolyitic species, 29% and 28%, respectively. Post- Khayamnandi and Pre-Khayamnandi were significantly different from each other with reference to both α- and β-haemolysis (p ≤ 0.05). These haemolytic activities also demonstrate different toxicity potentials across the two sites. In conclusion Khayamnandi contributes to an already heavy faecal load in the Plankenbrug River. Thus remedial measures to maintain high surface water quality of Plankenbrug River should be directed upstream from the Khayamnandi settlement as well as within the settlement equally. This study recommends integration of microbial loads with programs such as the National Microbial Monitoring Program of South Africa to drive prioritization process in directing reclaiming of water quality, inter alia.

[pt] O presente trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento e avaliação de um sistema de dessorção térmica ex situ desenhado na PUC - Rio destinado a remediação de solos contaminados por hidrocarbonetos de petróleo. Trata-se de um sistema modular que emprega altas temperaturas para volatizar o contaminante do meio poroso. O principal módulo do sistema consiste de caixas metálicas onde o solo escavado é disposto e submetido ao tratamento. No interior de cada caixa são inseridas resistências que permitem a aplicação de altas temperaturas através da rede elétrica. A temperatura durante o ensaio é controlada por um sistema que permite a aplicação de rampas e patamares. O sistema também possui uma unidade de aeração que evita o coqueamento do material a ser tratado. A avaliação do sistema foi realizada com o tratamento ex situ de um solo contaminado oriundo de um antigo posto de serviços no Bairro do Grajaú, Rio de Janeiro. O sistema mostrou ter um bom desempenho reduzindo a contaminação do solo a valores abaixo do limite de detecção do analisador de gases Thermo modelo GasTech Innova SV. O tratamento realizado apresentou um custo de R$ 0,43 por quilograma de solo tratado, valor este bem abaixo do cobrado por unidades de incineração do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (i.e., cerca de R$ 3,00/kg). / [en] This dissertation describes the development and assessment of an ex situ thermal desorption system designed at PUC - Rio aimed on treating petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soils. The modular system employs high temperatures to volatilize the contaminants presented in the porous media. The main component of this system comprises steel boxes where the contaminated soil is disposed and treated. In each box, electrical resistances are inserted enabling the application of very high temperature. The temperature during testing is controlled by a system that allows the use of ramps and steps. The system also has a unit of the aeration which prevents coking of the material to be treated. The system was assessed employing a contaminated soil excavated from a former gas station in Grajaú, Rio de Janeiro. The system showed a good performance reducing the contamination to levels below the limit detection of a Thermo GasTech Innova SV gas analyzer. The treatment presented a cost of R$ 0,43/kg, well below the average cost charged by incineration units in the State of Rio de Janeiro (i.e., circa R$ 3,00/kg).