Vania Elisabete Schneider

Morphometric evaluation of watersheds in Caxias do Sul City, Brazil, using SRTM (DEM) data and GIS

The morphological characteristics of watersheds play an important role on its hydrological behavior. Hence, the knowledge of the natural conditions of the watershed can ensure a greater efficiency of interventions that may be performed and therefore environmental planning should consider elements such as the characterization of these units, being a necessary quantitative expression of these factors for an understanding of its interrelationships. Thus, the main objective of this study was to analyze the physical characteristics of the watersheds of the Tega, Maestra, Faxinal, Belo, Pinhal and Piaí rivers, located in Caxias do Sul, in southern Brazil. The main results indicate moderate drainage conditions in these watersheds, which might be associated with moderate transmissibility of the soil and also moderate susceptibility to erosion. Furthermore, the results indicate high constants of channel maintenance and elongated shape, to which can be attributed a good capacity of groundwater recharge. Finally, it is hoped that this study will help future research in these areas, besides supporting the planning and management of watersheds.

Geração de resíduos de madeira e derivados da indústria moveleira em função das variáveis de produção

The production processes of furniture industry generate significant amounts of wood waste, which has not always a correct destination. The potential for exploitation of these residues is significant, whether as secondary raw material, whether by its energy potential. The management of this waste is one of the challenges for the management and environmental performance of companies. This work used multivariate analysis with the extraction of key components, to analyze the load of each original variable and identify key variables that have similarities in relation to the waste generation. The variables of production considered was: quantity of raw materials consumed, number of employees, number of machines, energy consumption and water consumption. By linear regression, using the stepwise method, were obtained the equations to estimate the waste according to the original variables of production. With these results is possible to calculate the amount of waste generated by class of raw material for a particular company or municipality researched. The estimate of generation was applied to the furniture industries located on Serra Gaucha / RS.

Modelagem de misturas na fabricação de compósitos polímero-fibra, utilizando polietileno e serragem de Pinus sp.

In this work, the effect of different compositions of virgin and recycled high density polyethylene/ Pinus sp. on physical-mechanical properties of sheets made by compression molding was studied. The compositions were blended in a thermokinetic mixer (Draiss) and compression molded at 150 o C. ASTM samples for tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests were taken from the sheets. The density of the sheets were determined. The statistical model used was a centroid simplex with seven compositions and three repetitions. Results showed that tensile and flexural strength as well as hardness and density followed a linear model, while impact strength is explained by a quadratic model. Physical-mechanical properties of compositions using virgin and recycled HDPE did not show significative changes, except for impact strength, when virgin HDPE showed higher numerical results.

Determinação de agrotóxicos na água e sedimentos por HPLC-HRMS e sua relação com o uso e ocupação do solo

In present times, the Brazil is in the middle of the largest pesticide consumers worldwide, which demands proper control of environmental contamination. This study evaluated herbicides, acaricide, insecticides and fungicides in water and sediment carried-out from Lageado Tacongava hydrographic basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For analysis, a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe), and/or SPE (Solid-Phase Extraction) using HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) with MS (Mass Detector) was optimized. As result, the Linearity R2 > 0.99; Recuperation between 78 a 117%; and RSD < 20% for the 70 compounds simultaneously analyzed. The Acetamiprid, Azoxystrobin, Bendiocarb, Fenamidone, metribuzin, Pendimethalin, pyridaben, Thiophanate-methyl and Truflumizole found in water, and Acetamiprid, Azoxystrobin, Bendiocarb, boscalid and thiophanate-methyl in sediment, at concentrations from 0.1 µg kg-1 to 39.6 µg kg-1. Standard of pesticide residues in water and sediment studies are needed to evaluate such contamination. Regional samplings standard, as was done here, will be useful in a future water resources contamination mapping.

Assessment of diversity of adenovirus DNA polymerase gene in recreational waters facilitated by ultracentrifugal concentration

Adenoviruses (AdV) are related to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in animals and human beings. Their wide genetic diversity in water bodies and their resistance to environmental conditions allow the use of AdV as a reliable marker for detection of fecal contamination. In this work, the diversity of AdV along Belo Stream - in the city of Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - was evaluated. Samples were compared in both concentrated and unconcentrated forms. The identification of different AdV species was performed by amplifying a partial sequence of the DNA polymerase gene. AdV was detected in 24 out of 55 concentrated samples (43.6%) and the following species were identified: human adenovirus (HAdV) species C (4/55; 7.2%), D (6/55; 10.9%), E (2/55; 3.6%), and F (9/55; 16.3%). AdV related to other mammalian hosts, such as bovine adenovirus (1/55, 1.8%) and murine adenovirus (2/55, 3.6%), have also been identified; 23.6% (13/55) of the unconcentrated samples were positive, and identified as HAdV species C (6/55, 10.9%), D (1/55, 1.8%), and F (6/55, 10.9%). Results obtained evidenced the presence and the great diversity of AdV, mainly of human origin, circulating in Belo Stream. As expected, the concentration step performed helped to detect AdV in more samples.

Applying Nightingale charts to evaluate the heterogeneity of biomedical waste in a Hospital

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Microbial risk assessment in recreational freshwaters from southern Brazil

In this study, total coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli, enterovirus (EV), rotavirus (RV), and human mastadenovirus species C and F (HAdV-C and HAdV-F) were evaluated in water samples from Belo Stream. For HAdV-C and F, the infectivity was assessed by integrated cell culture quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (ICC-qPCR). Samples were collected monthly (May/2015 to April/2016) at four sites. Viral analyses were performed for both ultracentrifuge-concentrated and unconcentrated samples. For site P4 (used for recreational purposes), QMRA was applied to estimate health risks associated with exposure to E. coli and HAdV-C and F. TC and E. coli were present throughout the collection period. EV and RV were not detected. HAdV-C were present in 8.51% (1.89E + 06 to 2.28E + 07 GC (Genomic Copies)/L) and 21.27% (2.36E + 05 to 1.29E + 07 GC/L) for unconcentrated and concentrated samples, respectively. For HAdV-F were 12.76% (2.77E + 07 to 3.31E + 08 GC/L) and 48.93% (1.10E + 05 to 4.50E + 08 GC/L) for unconcentrated and concentrated samples, respectively. For unconcentrated samples, infectivity for HAdV-C was detected in 37.20% (1st ICC-qPCR) and 25.58% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For HAdV-F, infectivity was detected in 6.97% (1st ICC-qPCR) and 6.97% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For concentrated samples, HAdV-C infectious was observed in 17.02% (1st ICC-qPCR) and in 8.51% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For HAdV-F, were present in 8.51% for both 1st and 2nd ICC-qPCR. Statistical analyzes showed significant difference between the collection sites when analyzed the molecular data of HAdV-F, data of TC and E. coli. Correlation tests showed direct correlation between HAdV-F with E. coli and TC. E. coli concentrations translated to the lowest estimates of infection risks (8.58E-05 to 2.17E-03). HAdV-F concentrations were associated with the highest infection risks at 9.99E-01 and for group C, 1.29E-01 to 9.99E-01. These results show that commonly used bacterial indicators for water quality may not infer health risks associated with viruses in recreational freshwaters.

ESTIMATIVA DE RECARGA PELO MÉTODO DO BALANÇO HÍDRICO EM UMA BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA COM OCORRÊNCIA DE AQUÍFEROS FRATURADOS

A estimativa de recarga e essencial em estudos de disponibilidade, modelagem e protecao de sistemas aquiferos auxiliando a gestao dos recursos hidricos. Existem muitas tecnicas utilizadas para avaliar recarga, cada qual com caracteristicas e aplicacoes distintas. Neste trabalho foi utilizado o modelo do balanco hidrico associado a um indice de fluxo basal, em uma bacia com ocorrencia de aquiferos fraturados inserida na Bacia Hidrografica Taquari-Antas. Para isso, foram utilizados dados de evapotranspiracao calculados pelo metodo de Thornthwaite e dados de precipitacao de um pluviometro proximo a bacia, abrangendo o periodo de 1997 a 2006. Para a separacao de escoamento utilizou-se o metodo do BFI padrao apresentado por Whal e Whal (1996). Os resultados obtidos indicam uma taxa de recarga media mensal de 25% e anual de 18% em relacao a precipitacao que ocorre na bacia. Destaca-se a importância do refinamento desta informacao, comparando os resultados com outras tecnicas que se utilizam de separacao de escoamento ou empregam somente o balanco hidrico, a fim de avaliar as diferencas existentes.

Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Water Quality data Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques

The natural factors and anthropogenic activities that contribute to spatial and temporal variation in superficial waters in Caxias do Sul’s urban hydrographic basins were determined applying multivariate analysis of data. The techniques used in this study were Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. The monitoring was executed in 12 sampling stations, during January, 2009 to January, 2010 with monthly periodicity in total of 13 campaigns. Between chemical, biological and physical, 20 parameters were analyzed. The results state that with the use of ACP, a data variance of 70.94% was observed. Therefore, it testifies that major pollutants that contribute to a water quality variation in the county are classified as domestic and industrial pollutants, mainly from galvanic industry. Moreover, two clusters were found which differentiated regarding their location and distance from areas with a high human density, corroborating on identifying of impact due to human activities in urban rivers.

Aplicação de gráficos nightingaleanos para avaliação da heterogeneidade de Resíduos de Serviço de Saúde de um hospital

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