Diet of crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) in two conservation units of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil

The present study aimed to evaluate the diet of the free-living crab-eating fox by identifying the stomach contents of the 17 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) roadkilled in two conservation units, both located in the Amazon rainforest. The food items were quantified by frequency of occurrence (FO) and percentage of occurrence (PO). The stomach contents were analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE), and mineral matter (MM). Nitrogen-free extractives (NFE), metabolisable energy (ME) values, as well as the energy need for maintenance were estimated. The composition of the diet for the crab-eating fox presented 29 food items from the different taxonomic groups, with a greater diversity of items of animal origin (n=22), although the highest frequency of occurrence was gramineae (Poaceae) (41.18%). Among the items of animal origin, 21% were mammals, 18% reptiles, 10% amphibians, 9% invertebrates and 3% birds. A high content of CF (62.76%) were determined. Nitrogen-free extractive and dry matter averages were 5.91% and 141.82 kcal/100g, respectively. The average maintenance energy was 447.01 kcal/day. These findings suggesting that the crab-eating foxes have a generalist diet with an omnivorous diet in the Amazon basin, feeding on gramineae, fruits, insects, snakes, amphibians, birds and small mammals and have the same feeding habit that present in other Brazilian biomes.

Physical, nutritional, textural and sensory qualities of Turkish noodles produced with siyez wheat (Triticum monococcum), kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) and chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.)

In this study, physical (cooking time, water ab-sorption, cooking loss and color), chemical (proximate composition, pH, total phe-nolic content, mineral mat-ter (Ca, K, Fe, Mg and Zn)), textural (hardness and adhe-siveness) and sensory (col-or, taste, flavor, appearance, hardness, adhesiveness and overall acceptability) attrib-utes were determined in dif-ferent types of noodles pro-duced from siyez wheat flour, kale powder and chia seed mucilage. Results were statistically evaluated using SAS software. The optimal cooking time for the noo-dles were 20 min and cook-ing loss varied between 8.36-12.22%. Kale powder and chia mucilage addition decreased L* and a* values of the noodles. Ash, crude fiber, mineral matter and total phenolic contents of the noodles were higher and fat contents of the noodles were lower than the control sample. Hardness and adhe-siveness of the noodles were decreased by addition of the kale powder at 10%. The noodles with higher hard-ness and lower adhesiveness were preferred by the panel-ists in sensory evaluation. Increasing the kale powder level in the noodle formula-tion from 5% to 10% result-ed in higher color scores. However, the control sam-ple was the most preferred sample in terms of taste.

Preliminary Evaluation of Quality and Rank of Banik Coal, Zakho, Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

This study aims to evaluate the rank (or grade) and economic value of so–called coal horizons outcropping in the vicinity of Banik and Shiranish-Islam villages of Zakho District, Duhok Governorate. These coal-like beds (locally known as Banik Coal) make up few meters within the upper part of the Jurassic Naokelekan Formation. The evaluation was mainly based on standard chemical tests of coal (proximate and ultimate analyses) achieved in foreign and local laboratories. The test results were assessed according to the standard coal tests introduced by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The latest stratigraphic studies revealed that the presumable coal horizons were thin beds of limestone and dolomitic limestone alternated with frequent shales all impregnated with bituminous materials, mostly of hydrocarbon source. The bituminous beds were traced in both upper and lower parts of Naokelekan Formation. The standard proximate coal analysis has shown low percent of fixed carbon and high percent of volatiles and ash which support the hydrocarbon source of these bituminous beds. Consequently, it would be difficult to classify these bituminous beds similarly to the standard coal ranks of ASTM. The high values of mineral matter display the dominance of minerals rather than the carbon in the local samples. However, the Gross Calorific Value (heating value) of these beds would imply that they can be used as relatively poor quality source of fuel. Besides, the exploitation of Banik coals would be influenced by the cost of extraction (or mining), the expected prices of produced coal, and the prices of alternative sources of energy.

Nutritional Quality of Opuntia ssp. at Different Phenological Stages: Implications for Forage Purposes

The study aimed to evaluat the chemical composition of forage cactus cladodes of the genus Opuntia spp. at different stages of phenological development. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with a 4×3 factorial scheme, with four species of cactus (Opuntia stricta Haw, Opuntia undulata Griffiths, Opuntia atropes Rose and Opuntia larreri FAC Weber) and three stages of cladode development (young, intermediate, and mature). The chemical composition of Opuntia cladodes varied according to species and phenological stage. Dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations increased, and crude protein (CP) decreased with cladode maturation. The species O. atropes had the lowest levels of organic matter (OM), CP, total carbohydrates, and non-fibrous carbohydrates, as well as the highest values of mineral matter, NDF and ADF. Calcium and phosphorus contents increased with cladodium maturation. The concentrations of boron, copper and manganese were higher in the young and intermediate stages. The cladodes of O. stricta, O. undulata and O. larreri showed better nutritional quality for feeding domestic ruminants. Young and intermediate cladodes are more proteinaceous and less fibrous. These results can be useful in selecting the forage cactus species and in optimizing the use of cladodes for feeding different categories of ruminants in semiarid regions.

A comprehensive study of the high temperature pyrolysis of sewage sludge: kinetics, energy analysis and products formation

<p>This study evaluates the pyrolysis of sewage sludge until 960 °C using heating rates between 3 K/min and 12 K/min in a macro TG/EGA. Mass and energy balances and kinetic parameters are determined. Thermal decomposition is divided into a low temperature zone (until 550 °C to 590 °C), for decomposition of organic matter, and a high temperature zone, for decomposition of inorganic matter and secondary reactions of the residual organic matter. In dry basis at 570 °C solid, liquid and gaseous products amount to 69.2 wt.-%, 29.2 wt.-% and 1.6 wt.-%, respectively. An increment in the final temperature to 960 °C causes a successive decrease of the solid residue to 56.9 wt.-%. The solid product contains more than 80 wt.-% mineral matter with high amounts of valuable elements, such as Ca and P. An energy requirement of 2.18 MJ/kg of dry sewage sludge is calculated for the pyrolysis until 570 °C. At this temperature, 58.5 % of the energy entering the process is concentrated in the liquid product and 40.0 % in the solid. A suitable set of kinetic parameters is determined through a formal independent parallel reactions model with six-pseudo components, using a combination of isoconversional and fitting methods.</p>

Evaluation of Pig Manure for Environmental or Agricultural Applications through Gasification and Soil Leaching Experiments

The current study aimed at evaluating an untreated pig manure, firstly for its suitability for soil amendment in combination with an agricultural/bio-solid biochar, and secondly for its potential to be used for adsorption of hazardous species, replacing expensive activated carbons. Column soil leaching experiments were designed to simulate field conditions, and physical, chemical and mineralogical analyses were performed for raw materials and/or leachates. For activated carbon production, the manure was gasified by steam or carbon dioxide at high temperatures. Biochars were analyzed for organic and mineral matter, structural characteristics and organic functional groups. Activation by steam or carbon dioxide greatly enhanced specific surface area, reaching values of 231.4 and 233.3 m2/g, respectively. Application of manure to the soil promoted leaching of nitrates and phosphates and raised COD values of water extracts. Biochar addition retained these ions and reduced COD values up to 10 times at the end of the three-month period. The concentrations of heavy metals in the leachates were low and, in the presence of biochar in soil blends, they were significantly reduced by 50–70%. The manure presents a significant potential for adsorption of various pollutants or improvement of soil amendment if carefully managed.

Effect of Amazonian tree species on soil and pasture quality in silvopastoral systems

ABSTRACT With the expansion of livestock in the Amazon region, a high percentage of pasture areas are degraded and unproductive. Novel strategies are needed, including the use of native tree species, to simultaneously achieve economic and ecosystem benefits. This study aimed at assessing the effects of five multipurpose native tree species on soil fertility and forage quality of Urochloa brizantha pastures in the southern Amazon. Soil and forage samples were collected under the crown and adjacent to 25 isolated trees belonging to five species during a dry and a rainy season. The presence of native trees positively affected the level of potassium, calcium and manganese in the soil, as well as the mineral matter and crude protein of the forage, especially in the dry season, suggesting a protective effect against the seasonal drought. The tree species had variable effects on soil fertility and forage quality. Soil under Apeiba tibourbou had higher potassium levels, while the forage under Handroanthus serratifolius had higher protein and fiber content. Our results indicate that it is important to diversify silvopastoral systems in the Amazon through the use of native tree species, contributing to the design of novel silvopastoral strategies in the region. Common multipurpose tree species with widespread natural distribution could be used as a complementary aspect of pasture management to provide a protective effect against drought, contribute to enhanced nutrient cycling and even increase forage quality.

The Pizhemskoye titanium deposit is a new object of the nearest development in the Arctic zone of Russia

The Pizhemskoye titanium deposit (Middle Timan) has become one of the most attractive deposits for the industrial development in Russia as a result of the successful protection and approval of reserves at the State Reserves Committee (November 2020). 60 years have passed since the first finds of titanium mineralization in the basin of the Pechora Pizhma and Umba rivers by the thematic teams of the Ukhta Geological Exploration Department and the Komi branch of the Academy of Sciences, and now the deposit is considered one of the largest in Russia and the World. Together with the Yarega oil-titanium deposit, they contain up to 80% of the reserves and predicted resources of titanium in Russia. Timan becomes the largest raw material base of titanium in the world, the intensive development of which is possible for several hundred years. The article highlights the geological structure of the Pizhemskoye deposit (revealed a cellular, bowl-like structure of ore bodies); material and complex polymineral composition of ores; the Neoproterozoic age. The author proves the hydrothermal-metamorphogenic genesis of the ores, considers the sources of the mineral matter and solution of the technological scheme for processing refractory ores. The Pizhemskoye deposit is classified as a new pseudorutile-leucoxene-quartz subtype of primary metamorphogenic deposits.