The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. the two young designers have been developing and expanding the project over the past three years Casa Atibaia will serve as a foundation for art and design a laboratory for research in sustainable construction as well as a retreat for the members of the Atibaia key-holder community Casa Atibaia will be built and operated through a process that extends beyond the traditional client-commissioned process and involves a community of people who follow and believe in its vision.‘The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that although it started out in the most digital of fashions a strong focus was kept on keeping the project real and timeless in the sense that it is not subject to any of the trends we have seen in the past few years when it come to digital art or architecture,’ Nicholas Préaud and Charlotte Taylor tell designboom the designers’ goal has been to the bring Casa Atibaia to life through meaningful projects and events ‘Most of the architectural NFTs we have come across in the past years have ostensibly been on the unrealistic conceptual side of things which is an extremely interesting and visually pleasing exercise but doesn’t amount to anything that can be experienced with all senses,’ Préaud and Taylor explain Steering away from what we have already seen in the digital realm the project’s realistic design will allow it to be truly experienced in the physical world Upon the release of Casa Atibaia’s first video trailer designboom spoke with Nicholas Préaud and Charlotte Taylor to learn more about the project’s architectural development the designers’ vision for the future and the Web3 tools they are employing to bring the digital house to life. Read our interview in full below and watch the video trailer above Casa Atibaia | all images courtesy of Nicholas Préaud designboom (DB): How did you start working on Casa Atibaia and what is the stage of the project now Nicholas Préaud and Charlotte Taylor (NP & CT): Casa Atibaia was initiated by a shared admiration and passion for Brazilian Modernist design The project itself was driven by pure passion and excitement towards the topic and our desire to reinterpret the values of Brazilian modernism and design our very own jungle house borrowing materials and concepts from the era Starting with a conversation to sketch in 3D the project has been originally developing and expanding over the past three years and will continue to do so for many years to come the modernist house inhabits the forest by coexisting around and in-between the landscape DB: What are some architectural references that influenced the design of the project NP & CT: Lina Bo Bardi was a very prevalent inspiration for the project for her humble yet striking structures and blurring the boundaries between the inside and outside The likes of Phillip Johnson and other prominent modernist architects who explored the open plan aspect and non defined rooms played a part in the airy and boundless nature of the house Casa Atibaia is a building that inhabits the forest by coexisting around and in-between the landscape rather than imposing itself in its place Brazilian modernism is about the contemplative nature of living inside with the feeling of being outside; the purity elegance and lightness of glass façades Casa Atibaia sits between this delicate and airy essence and a more brutal and primitive aspect The structure of the home follows the geometric modernist principles yet opens up onto an expansive organic inner courtyard that curves and responds to the surrounding vegetation bridging a gap between the outside and inside This boundary is further broken down by the landscape itself acting as a supporting element of the home; the entire structure is built around pre-existing rocks as natural pilotis a more brutalist take on the modernist language These rocks also occupy the interior as functional elements The bathroom and dressing room are carved entirely out of such forms with the smaller rocks acting as furnishing elements The residing furniture is a balance of modernist gems antique pieces and more contemporary additions with the likes of Pierre Augustin Rose the building opens up onto an expansive inner courtyard that curves and responds to the exterior vegetation DB: The project’s development seems to be turning the traditional architectural process on its head how are you planning on funding this project NP & CT: The most exciting part of this project is the intricate involvement we are seeking to harness from the community of people who follow and believe in our work and vision By allowing early access to members of the community through the sale of different art and design pieces designed and produced specifically for this project but also to give incremental access to the different aspects of the space once it comes to life Different pieces of art and furniture will be auctioned off ultimately giving access to the house and associated spaces One of the most significant and important pieces of the collection which we are working on is a record by Canadian artist Charlotte Day Wilson This musical piece will also be the soundtrack to the short film which we release later this year The fact that this architectural project is being brought to life through innovative means beyond the traditional client commissioned process is indeed uncommon The strong vision we expressed through this once digital project is now slowly coming to life and fruition with the help of our community as well as a handful of art collectors who have blessed us with their knowledge and ongoing support We are also working on curating the ownership and structuring access to this extensive project in a way that makes sense for our collectors Some aspects of the project will be accessible to all regardless of if you are a top or lower level collector to the spaces and the variety of art and furniture pieces which lie within them Funding for this project will indeed come through different channels Some of it will come from traditional investment from brand partnerships Partners who will not only be involved with bringing the project to life maintaining and helping it expand over the years Casa Atibaia blends into its natural surroundings DB: What kind of uses are you imagining for Casa Atibaia once it’s built NP & CT: A Foundation for art and design a retreat for the Atibaia community of key holders an open-air Laboratory for sustainable construction a venue for an annual show of curated artists and designers whose artworks will build the collection of the foundation It will indeed be all those things at once The main house will be a fully functional space for hospitality a showroom for the most unique pieces of art and furniture as well as a laboratory for sustainable and cutting edge construction Our project aims to merge the educational and artistic purposes of a cultural center and foundation with the comfort and beauty of unique accommodations for guests finished design but rather as a blank canvas for unforeseen and future spontaneous uses The main house being the pivot for the event and cultural aspects other satellite pavilions would accommodate guest rooms and an exhibition/event space The house itself will be a springboard in which a much larger scale project will be born from Other buildings which we have been developing will join Casa Atibaia in the future the structure of the home follows geometric modernist principles DB: Once the first building’s construction is done our goal is to expand the project with the gradual construction of additional accommodations within a very limited number and a limited amount of time Each new construction being a uniquely themed research project in and of itself showcasing the latest and most innovative construction methods products and artwork will be associated with such developments DB: What is the ideal location of the project NP & CT: We are currently looking at locations in Central and South America The location will be remote while being easily accessible We are currently in discussion with hospitality partners about potential sites The first phase of the project will be located and accessible digitally in the meantime until a location is secured the residing furniture is a balance of modernist gems antique pieces and more contemporary additions designers: Nicholas Préaud and Charlotte Taylor visuals: Nicholas Préaud, Charlotte Taylor trailer soundtrack: Charlotte Day Wilson – Find You AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Nicholas Préaud is working towards bringing his digital architectural project Casa Atibaia to the real world Andrés Reisinger’s Digital Art Occupies a Hybridised Dimension Five's Digital Dreamscapes Inspired by Nature The Design Studio Growing Carbon Neutral Homewares A collaboration between designers Charlotte Taylor and Nicholas Préaud resulted in the beautiful Casa Atibaia surrounded by lush vegetation that celebrates and honours Brazilian Modernism It is the first time that Charlotte Taylor Their first collaboration immediately led to a stunner of a project: Casa Atibaia The villa is a tribute to Brazilian modernism and was inspired by Lina Bo Bardi's Casa de Vidro ‘Having lived and studied architecture in Brazil I was overwhelmed by the presence and national pride around Modernist jewels such as Casa de Vidro or Casa das Canoas by Oscar Niemeyer,’ Préaud told Dezeen ‘These homes have become landmarks not only for their style and modern construction methods at the time but also because of the simplicity of the lifestyle they implemented.’ Lina Bo Bari has always been a great inspiration to Taylor's career and when she heard that Nicholas Préaud had an equal passion and enthusiasm for Brazilian Modernism The residence is located on the Atibaia River in São Paulo in beautiful green surroundings 'It is a home that inhabits the forest by coexisting around and in-between the landscape rather than imposing on nature,’ the designers say ‘For us Brazilian modernism is all about living inside with the illusion of being outside the purity and elegance of ramps and staircases gently swirling around in a contemplative nature with a lightness of glass façades.’ The concept combines a light and delicate refinement with a more primitive and brutal aspect The architecture was designed according to the geometric Modernist principles undulating courtyard where nature intrudes and there is literally a gap between inside and outside This boundary between the building and nature is broken even more by the fact that the house is supported by rocks that also reappear in the interior the designers used a balanced mix of Modernist gems antique pieces and more contemporary editions we find beautiful furniture by Pierre Augustin Rose The whole complex of Casa Atibaia has something magical and dreamy about it we hope for more collaborations between Charlotte Taylor and Nicholas Préaud Courtesy of Charlotte Taylor x Nicholas Préaud Imagicasa uses cookies to give you the best possible experience Find your weekly inspiration in our newsletter The floating glass structure blurs the boundaries between inside and out With coronavirus lockdowns happening across the world the appetite for escapism is at an all-time high Two creatives responded to this need for escapism by designing their dream home; a glass home in the São Paulo jungle inspired by Brazilian modernist architecture Casa Atibaia is a modernist jungle home made of glass nestled amongst the forested banks of the Atibaia river in São Paulo Dreamed up by creatives Charlotte Taylor and Nicholas Préaud the design is brought to life in this series of ultra-realistic renderings The pair took inspiration from the modernist architecture of Lina Bo Bardi in particular her design for Casa de Vidro which Bo Bardi designed in 1951 for herself and her husband Comprising a concrete and glass volume supported by slim columns Bo Bardi's house is a striking example of Brazilian modernism – an architectural movement that both Taylor and Préaud have come to admire during their careers the imaginary Casa Atibaia also features a white-concrete framework and expansive glass windows – but instead of using columns Casa Atibaia is instead elevated by huge jagged boulders that jut out from the terrain below The Livingetc newsletters are your inside source for what’s shaping interiors now - and what’s next and curated shopping inspiration that brings design to life Subscribe today and stay ahead of the curve The entire structure is built around pre-existing rocks as natural pillars Some of the boulders propping up the home pierce through the interior Aside from offering a striking contrast to the smooth curves smooth poured floors and curved glass walls these rugged boulders are transformed into something functional too these rocks have been carved to incorporate bookcases or are used as headboards or even craggy plinths for displaying vases The rest of the furniture is a balance of modernist gems rugged elements are peppered throughout the home further blurring the boundary between indoors and out Casa Atibaia takes on a more sinuous in shape than Bo Bardi's designs the elevated structure winding inwards to form a courtyard around a cluster of existing palm trees The structure is built around existing nature without impacting it and swallows existing trees up within openings in the home If you like this, you may also like This Skinny House's 3.3 Metre Wide Shape Leaves Natural Surroundings Untouched 2019 at 5:51 PMThis is Junior — a handsome stray cat who appeared at this parish in Brazil one day a few months back this kitty considers himself to be kind of a big deal Paróquia São Sebastião - Atibaia/SPNo one knows for certain where exactly Junior came from, but he's decided that the São Sebastião Parish It was a magnanimous move on the kitty's part Junior seems to think that those he graces with his sweet kitty presence should consider themselves nothing short of blessed here's a photo of Junior having "donated" himself in the church's collection basket: Paróquia São Sebastião - Atibaia/SPIf Junior's sense of self-worth seems a tad inflated throngs of worshippers began filling the pews there on a regular basis — singing praises and exaltations that must be directed toward him the cat never fails to give his followers what they want "He always goes to mass," the São Sebastião Parish wrote Paróquia São Sebastião - Atibaia/SPDuring services choose one lucky person's lap to settle in for a rest Junior decided to ease back on the modesty a bit — placing himself front and center And despite the fact that the priest's sermon was most certainly about how wonderful Junior is Paróquia São Sebastião - Atibaia/SPAlthough Junior may be somewhat mistaken about what "his" followers are actually showing up for their love for him is more than just lip service Paróquia São Sebastião - Atibaia/SPJunior is cared for by the church's leader who's been doting on him since the day he arrived And while the cat might not be the little deity he imagines himself to be he has brought a heavenly aura to the church in the kindness his presence inspires And even people outside the church have taken notice This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page There’s a popular joke in the wine industry which goes: “Do you know how to make a million dollars out of a small winery The joke illustrates why owning a small winery is perceived more as an expensive hobby or an act of passion than a money making venture albeit one that might not be easy to manage or profit from The past 10 years has seen the number of wineries in Lebanon grow from around seven to almost 50 according to wine shop Les Caves De Taillevent’s General Manager Paul Choueiry Although there isn’t one absolute definition for small or boutique wineries the wine specialists Executive spoke to believe a small winery is defined by a low production (around 20,000 bottles or less per year) often with only one or two labels (or wines) a wine shop in Mar Mikhael selling only Lebanese wines are also characterized by the winemaker being involved in the whole process from harvest to distribution “There is something beautiful about the winemaker coming to distribute their wine to us with their finger stained red from having personally pressed the wine earlier that morning,” muses Ghazzi Producing only a small quantity of wine usually translates to being able to better control the production process and wine quality “Boutique wineries are interesting because producing 10,000 liters is different than producing 10 million liters Micro-wineries work on a small scale so they can control every single kilo that without government regulated appellations on wine the only way one can evaluate the vintage is through tasting it Micro-wineries have the benefit of working at an artisanal level in contrast to the large wineries “When the winery grows with a production of over 50,000 they find themselves at a position of a corporation or company and then might have to take decisions at that level such as sourcing the grapes from a cheaper source The winery then becomes detached from the agricultural side of its production,” elaborates El Ghazzi adding that it’s not wrong for a winery to function like that but that it would not fit into the criteria Zawya has set for its selection of independent wineries Lebanon’s wine drinkers are showing an increasing interest in these boutique wineries influenced by the global trend for the artisanal and independent wine producers “There is a worldwide trend towards this small artisanal way of production even in beer or food; there’s a different spirit and style of making or producing,” says Choueiry features 35 boutique and medium-sized Lebanese winery brands in his shop and says he has seen demand for them increase in the past five years “There is a great interest among the Lebanese for micro-wineries though at the beginning they were a little afraid to try something new But now these wineries have proven themselves in quality and consistency so people are trying them more,” explains Moutran Starting up a winery in Lebanon requires an investment of between $500,000 and a million dollars according to the winery owners Executive spoke to [pullquote]While still considered a small crowd Lebanon’s wine drinkers are showing an increasing interest in these boutique wineries[/pullquote] securing the grapes and contracting winemakers or specialists this budget is spent on winemaking equipment from the tanks to the bottling machine to the barrels themselves The cost of winemaking machinery does not change depending on the quantity of wine made meaning that a small winery has to divide that cost among the limited amounts of bottles it produces annually Micro-winery owners face another problem when importing bottles corks and barrels in that they only need small amounts of them which makes the costs much higher in comparison to that of larger wineries which order these products en masse “Costs for small wineries are [relatively] much higher than the big ones because we acquire small quantities Everything is imported here,” laments Sebastian El Khoury All the small winery owners Executive spoke to say they have discussed coming together to cooperate on reducing costs by investing in a mobile bottling truck (a common service for small wineries in countries such as France) and splitting the cost or even ordering materials together in bulk and dividing the shipping expenses this talk has not been followed up by action “I’ve been looking at ways to collaborate together with some small wineries to cut down on expenses related to bottling and corking and collaborate on marketing issues things are slow simply because everyone is busy with their own work and they each have their own financial capabilities,” says Salibi Although Kafalat offers start up loans to small wineries which several of the wineries Executive spoke to have benefited from other payment facilities or government support for this agroindustry sector is not available loan beneficiaries are given up to six years to pay back the amount He compares this with wine producing countries abroad where wineries are given up to 20 years to repay their loans Distribution is another area where small wineries face difficulties you don’t have the same budget as the big wineries We cannot afford the same marketing campaign and distribution and marketing pose the main financial challenges,” explains El Khoury but the international one is also highly competitive One of the main problems with distribution of micro-wineries is that their prices are also high when compared to the bigger Lebanese wineries “The high production cost is a big challenge in that it puts you in a price bracket which is sometimes a disadvantage Some Lebanese consumers think that Lebanese wines are not synonymous with quality they think it is too expensive and opt for foreign wine at a slightly more expensive price tag thinking it is of better quality which is not necessarily the case,” explains Jennifer Massoud communications and productions manager at Atibaia Moutran explains that alcohol distribution in Lebanon is typically done through big companies “The way distribution is being done in Lebanon is that you have this link between big distributors and brands of wine; if you don’t have this big distribution company you don’t have penetration power in the market especially with the Syrian border closed and with a minimal export market for small wineries,” says Moutran Although some of the small wineries Executive spoke to have distributors they say it is not enough to be competitive with the bigger wineries in the country we have an issue with how wine sales happen in Lebanon The majority of wine sales happen in supermarkets and supermarkets want a product with a high turnover in order to maximize the dollar profit per square meter; so they want to have tastings promotions…a boutique winery will not provide them with those things so they don’t list it or give you a small space with no visibility,” explains Massoud adding that in the on trade sector (namely restaurants) the issue is mainly with restaurant owners pushing imported wine over the local wines because they can make higher margins Some of the wineries interviewed do have an export market abroad but all wineries say they prefer selling in the local market as they make higher profits we benefit more when we sell here because we can sell them at a higher price; outside we have to lower our prices because we have customs and transportation expenses,” explains El Khoury the government offers no support for small Lebanese wineries Boutique wineries that have paid the fees to be part of the Union Vinicole du Liban (UVL) (fees are proportional to the size of the winery) benefit from attending the international wine exhibitions with them under the Lebanese wines pavilions Fees for these exhibitions are often subsidized by the Chamber of Commerce or the Ministry of Agriculture (the subsidies exclude airfare and accommodation) and so could be the only chance for small wineries to attend such events small wineries can market their wines through consumer festivals such as Vinifest or others which take place before Christmas and have a focus on wine Small winery owners describe their venture as something they started out of passion giving the impression that their wineries might not be all about the bottom line and that they are content to stay at the size they are at evaluating whether or not they will take the leap to become a medium sized winery “This is why I started with only 5,000 bottles,” says El Khoury “I started small so as not to have any left and increased the product number as the demand increased.” He now produces 15,000 bottles annually small and medium-sized wineries have brought dynamism into the Lebanese wine industry all wine production in Lebanon was in Bekaa but the nice thing was that with the new wineries mushrooming across the country wine now has different microclimates and soils which lead to different profiles and tastes of Lebanese wine,” says Choueiry Now that is something we can all raise a glass to Jean Massoud’s family already owned a house in the mountains of Batroun but “fell in love” with a 17th century house in the vicinity and decided to buy it Daughter and communications manager Jennifer Massoud recounts that because the family was passionate about wine they decided to transform the house into a winery named Atibaia They sent soil samples to France to see what grape varieties would work in the Batroun climate as there were few wineries in the areas back then “It was 2005 so there were still very few wineries if any in Batroun but at the same time we wanted to do a wine that we enjoy drinking and are passionate about,” recalls Massoud stressing that their family’s interest in the winery was not commercial saw Atibaia as more of a chance for him to work in agriculture a subject he is passionate about and had studied at university Atibaia has three vintages under one red wine label and plans to release a white wine by next year Sixty percent of Atibaia’s production is exported while 40 percent is distributed locally through their distribution company Atibaia can be found in the major wine retailers select restaurants and a few upscale supermarkets Massoud explains their presence in supermarkets with the following: “We are in high end supermarkets because it is a one stop shop for many clients who don’t go to wine retailers or cavists and just buy their wine from there We are also in supermarkets in areas where you cannot find cavists.” Sebastian El Khoury says his family has always been fans of wine his father had vineyards and used to sell grapes to wineries such as Château Ksara which furthered El Khoury’s fascination with wine he had studied business in university and thought of entering the wine export/import business but decided to focus on winemaking instead He went to back to Bordeaux for seven years where he worked in a winery out of the belief that hands-on experience would be the most useful El Khoury returned and prepared his first vintage of 5,000 bottles but we started out with only 5,000 and grew slowly I plan to reach a maximum of 25,000 bottles because for me small is better: risk wise it’s more manageable that way as I have to think of distribution,” says El Khoury explaining that many wineries make the mistake of producing as many bottles as they can afford-sometimes up to a 100,000 from the first vintage without securing a market for them first Domaine de Baal is close to an organic wine although El Khoury prefers the term natural wine meaning there are barely any additives to the wine (low in sulfur no yeast or additives) and has both red and white vintages Forty percent of the wine is distributed locally by Fawaz Holding through their wine shop La Cave de Joël Robuchon and the remaining is exported Being around vineyards has always relaxed Sarmad Salibi he would hang out with his father while he tended to his vineyards and while living in South California he would always head to Napa Valley and stroll around the vineyards whenever he wanted a relaxing taste of home It is no wonder then that Salibi loved wine he would often visit a friend who was producing wine and enjoy the smells and sights of wine making That friend gifted him several hundred grape vines and this is what began pushing Salibi into starting Domain Iris was that he had land and a house in Bhamdoun that were abandoned during the Lebanese civil war and soon after Salibi was able to enjoy the first vintages of his hard work Today Salibi produces 6,000 bottles which he distributes locally at the major wine shops a few premium restaurants and what he calls the five major hotels in Beirut Salibi handles market and distribution himself and says that times have been hard in line with the economic situation in Lebanon he is selling a luxury item and not a basic necessity Salibi admits that the winery is taking up most of his time “because I love it” but says he has another line of business which helps make ends meet “Small winery owners can be called passionate fools If the project is self-sufficient and financed then it is enough for me; it is something for the soul,” concludes Salibi Thanks for a wonderful story about the small wineries of Lebanon It is a similar story for small wineries everywhere Since its first edition emerged on the newsstands in 1999 Executive Magazine has been dedicated to providing its readers with the most up-to-date local and regional business news Executive is a monthly business magazine that offers readers in-depth analyses on the Lebanese world of commerce covering all the major sectors – from banking No, Thank you these are connected by a shared common axis This segment combines internal and external areas The Casa Gaya final project is comprised of 460m2 indoors The complex is located in the vicinity of Atibaia You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email That sentence is in addition to a 12-year, one-month prison term he began serving last April after an earlier conviction was upheld on appeal. In the latest case, federal Judge Gabriela Hardt said Lula benefited from renovations totaling some 1 million reais ($271,000) that the construction companies Odebrecht, OAS and Schahin carried out on a country home in Atibaia, a town in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo. The house is in the name of a longtime friend of Lula’s family, businessman Fernando Bittar, who allowed the former center-left president (in office from 2003-2010) and his relatives to use the residence. But despite not being the owner of the property, Lula was found to have illegally benefited from the renovations carried out by firms that received inflated contracts from Brazilian state oil company Petrobras during Lula’s administration. Besides the 73-year-old Lula, Hardt also handed down convictions to several business leaders, including the former chief executive officer of OAS, Jose Adelmario Pinheiro Neto (sentenced to one year, seven months in prison); Emilio Odebrecht, patriarch of the Odebrecht construction giant (three years, three months in prison); and his son, Marcelo Odebrecht (five years, four months in prison). The corruption conviction is Lula’s second in less than two years. In July 2017, then-federal Judge Sergio Moro found Lula guilty of having accepted bribes from a construction company in the form of renovations to a seaside condo that the former president never owned or occupied. An appeals court in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre voted unanimously in January 2018 to uphold that earlier verdict and also increased Lula’s prison sentence to 12 years and one month. Lula has been behind bars at the Federal Police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba since last April, leading to his being barred from the October 2018 presidential election amid polls showing that he would have won by a wide margin. Moro had been spearheading the major Lava Jato (Car Wash) corruption probe, which was initially focused on a massive bribes-for-inflated-contracts scandal centered on Petrobras. But late last year he agreed to serve as justice minister under rightist Jair Bolsonaro, who became Brazil’s president on Jan. 1. Moro was replaced by Hardt, who in November questioned Lula in connection with the Atibaia case. Política Internacional Deportes Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Journal of Cleaner ProductionCitation Excerpt :Multiple barrier treatments have been studied using reverse osmosis advanced photochemical oxidation process (AOP-UV) and biological activated carbon filtration aiming to identify the best treatment for the DPR can be implemented (Hespanhol et al. Recently Medeiros and Montagner (2024) evaluated the ocurrence of pesticides in this pilot plant after the advanced treatment by multiple barriers and both surface and tap waters from the urban region of Campinas (representing De facto reuse) The authors reported the same pesticide concentrations level in the Atibaia River (used as source for drinking water) and in the post-MBR effluent Researchers use microorganism to detect hormone in rivers has the highest levels of contaminationLeo Ramos A new type of test conducted by a team of researchers from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) in partnership with American colleagues from the University of Tennessee revealed that some water sources in São Paulo State contain high levels of estrogen compounds a class of contaminants that can cause serious damage to the environment showed that this situation is most hazardous in the Cotia River which runs through São Paulo’s Metropolitan Region and supplies water to several towns along the way The research team tested water from four sources – namely Atibaia and Sorocaba Rivers and the Tanque Grande reservoir The research team also included technicians from São Paulo State Environmental Company (Cetesb) linked to the State’s Secretary of the Environment The analysis showed that 83% of the samples contained estrogen; 8 of the 16 compounds tracked by the team were found in at least one sample “Our research showed higher levels in places widely known to be significantly contaminated by domestic sewage,” says toxicologist Gisela Umbuzeiro a professor at the School of Technology of Unicamp but it demands immediate action by the authorities in order to improve sewage treatment in Brazil.” According to Gisela the bioassay is highly sensitive and can be immediately applied by environmental authorities to monitor the quality of the water “The project was created with this objective,” she says also referred to as endocrine disruptors because they interfere in the hormone-producing endocrine glands have raised concern among scientists and sanitation authorities because of their speedy dissemination in the planet’s water reserves Studies have shown that they can provoke the feminization of fish and amphibians generate sexual anomalies in mollusks and reduce the fertility rate of the Northern Hemisphere’s polar bears There is growing suspicion that the existence of these pollutants in the water consumed by human beings is anticipating girls’ first menstruation and reducing men’s sperm counts These compounds are comprised of a broad group of hormones among which are the natural female hormones estrone (E1) the synthetic estrogen 17-alfa-ethinylestradiol (EE2) an industrial compound that is found in such products as polycarbonate plastics The problem is that many of these substances are eliminated in urine They also become contaminants when medical drugs are poured down toilets from urine of animals that are given hormones and from rain water that takes these contaminants directly into sewage systems or into rivers and lakes The paint that covers the hulls of ships and boats is another source The compounds come from different sources; if these compounds are not removed from the sewage systems “Conventional water and sewage treatment methods are generally unable to remove these compounds very efficiently they can contaminate the water used for human consumption,” says professor Wilson Jardim head of the Environmental Chemistry Institute of the Chemistry Institute of Unicamp and coordinator of a project on this matter Efficient existing sewage treatment methods – such as advanced oxidation and ultra filtration – can eliminate these hormones The risk of contamination is higher in countries such as Brazil which has inefficient sanitation services and many places where sewage treatment is non-existent The importance of the study conducted in Brazil is the fact that it is a pioneering study After having developed the bioluminescent yeast the researchers from the University of Tennessee started to use it in tests to detect estrogen activity in U.S which runs through the nation’s capital city because the existence of these compounds in the water sources was insignificant “The innovative aspect of our work was that for the first time a wide-scale test using yeasts was applied to monitor the quality of untreated and treated water and to compare the results with the chemical analyses of the estrogenic compounds This kind of testing had never been conducted before,” says Gisela Genotoxicology and Environmental Microbiology Department of Cetesb The company asked the National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) for permission to use transgenic yeast in Brazil Tiago CirilloFuture monitoring In view of the project’s good results the company has advised that it intends to use the test for its monitoring activities “We are adjusting the methodology and we are interested in implementing the test in our future monitoring activities of surface and underground water,” says Rúbia Kuno currently the head of the same department at Cetesb The Blyes (acronym for bioluminescent yeast estrogen screen) test – used to detect estrogen – as well as the yeast used to monitor the quality of the water sources in São Paulo were developed by a team headed by microbiologist John Sanseverino and by molecular biologist Melanie Eldridge from the Environmental Biotechnology Center at the University of Tennessee with whom the researcher Gisela has maintained contact since 2008 “I visited the lab twice to learn how to conduct the test one of my students enrolled in the Master’s Program at the School of Pharmacy at USP various samples of water were analyzed in the United States Cetesb was able to implement the test with a batch of yeasts donated by the researchers from the University of Tennessee the American scientists had to initially alter the genetic code of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast in order to make it luminescent and capable of detecting the estrogen compounds the yeast received a gene that produces the human estrogen receptor along with a set of genes that produce light; these genes came from a luminescent bacteria “The production of the luminescent yeast strain took two years It was ready in 2005 and is being continuously improved,” says Melanie Eldridge The gene that produces the estrogen receptor is always active in yeast; that is When the receptor binds with the estrogen compounds the tested water samples the receptor plus the estrogen compounds activate the light-producing genes and the yeast becomes luminescent To quantify this luminescence – which is not visible to the naked eye – the scientists use a very sensitive type of equipment called illuminometer “The intensity of the light is in proportion to the quantity of detected estrogen compounds,” Gisela explains This light measurement is always in proportion to a standard compound “This is why we say that a sample has the equivalent of x nanograms of E2 per liter.” Approximately 400 water samples collected from the Sorocaba Cotia and Atibaia Rivers and from the Tanque Grande Reservoir were analyzed by Cetesb and Unicamp The American biologist spent three months in Brazil in early 2011 to help implement the test and to train the research team placed in ice-filled Styrofoam boxes and taken to the laboratory the samples went through a solid phase extraction process the objective of which was to put them into a more concentrated consistence This step is important because it facilitates the detection of estrogen compounds that might exist in the water The same samples were submitted to liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to undergo chemical analysis This chemical analysis method is already being used by several sanitation companies to detect estrogen compounds in water The researchers then compared the results of the Blyes test with the results of the conventional chemical analysis “We concluded that our test is more efficient it only requires a few low-cost reagents to prepare the yeast culture medium The initial investment for the purchase of a light meter is less than 10% of the value of a liquid chromatographer the price of which ranges from US$ 200 thousand to US$ 500 thousand because hundreds of samples can be tested each month it no longer requires a lot of infra structure to be operational,” says Gisela Another advantage of the Blyes test is its sensitivity the quantification limit of the chemical method was estimated at 4.2 nanograms per liter (ng/liter) while the test with the yeasts is able to detect concentrations of no more than 0.01 ng/liter the quantification limit per chemical analysis corresponds to 1.8 ng/liter in comparison with the 0.1 ng/liter of the Blyes method This system does not substitute chemical analyses; however it can be a highly efficient option in monitoring programs The researchers’ expectation is that these results will attract the attention of regulatory bodies linked to the environment and basic sanitation to establish rules and take corrective actions in the management of water supply and sewage services “Our objective is to provide a contamination scenario of major water sources in the state and the tools for the solution or mitigation of the problem We have to change the legislation to deal with this issue,” points out professor Wilson Jardim bioassays with luminescent yeasts will probably be available to any interested party “We are planning to market the Blyes test,” says Melanie We are checking on how to sell the strains so that many more people – and not only scientists – can use them to test their water samples.” © Revista Pesquisa FAPESP - All rights reserved RIO DE JANEIRO — The deafening chants roared from the packed bleachers each time the volleyball player stood and focused on his serve: "Bicha the crowd called out again the homophobic slur: "Bicha despite the constant chanting of the Brazilian slang word for "faggot" during the playoff match in Brazil's widely popular professional volleyball league Four days after the game in early April between Santos' team the player took the rare step among sports figures anywhere and declared on the GloboEsporte website: "I am gay That announcement stoked a national debate over homophobia in Brazil Brazil's top court ruled that same-sex civil unions must be recognized The nation has its first openly gay congressman Even one of its beloved soap operas will feature its first televised gay kiss this month While Rio de Janeiro is routinely ranked as a top destination for gay tourists watchdog groups say violence against gays is on the rise in Brazil and the casual homophobia thrown in the face of Santos is an endemic problem especially in sports and not only in Brazil Such controversies will resonate more widely now that Brazil is hosting both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics asking the Brazilian Confederation of Volleyball for sanctions against Sada Cruzeiro loss of points in the championship or immediate expulsion from the league Few high-profile athletes anywhere have acknowledged they are gay Sheryl Swoopes in the WNBA and Rosie Jones of the LPGA where gay marriage is legal in seven countries there are only two active big-name male athletes who have come out: Gareth Thomas There has yet to be an openly gay player in Major League Baseball and only a few have spoken publicly about their sexuality after retiring which were heard around the country because the match was televised Despite his stoic behavior during the match and I think it should be discussed publicly so that it doesn't happen anymore with anyone else," Santos said in a statement after the match Both teams and Santos declined interviews with The Associated Press saying they had released statements containing all they wanted to disclose TV commentators and bloggers across Brazil discussed the issue for weeks as the two teams faced off two more times in the semifinals Santos and his team also became part of a larger struggle by Brazilian gays for respect A popular prime-time soap opera broke stereotypes by including several gay characters and producers of another plan this month to air the genre's first gay kiss 60,000 same-sex couples in Brazil identified themselves to the national census in results released last week Thursday's ruling by the Supreme Court on civil unions gives gays the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to alimony retirement benefits of a partner who dies and inheritances Activist groups are encouraging people to come out Thousands have responded to an online campaign asking Brazilians to submit photos of themselves holding a sign saying a moment of conflict," Congressman Santos said "There is a reframing of the debate." Most Brazilian state capitals now have gay pride parades Same-sex couples can file their taxes jointly which has been keeping a record of attacks against gays bisexuals and transgender people for more than 30 years the body of 16-year-old Adriele Camacho de Almeida was found in a marshy area in the state of Goias The father and brother of her teenage girlfriend were arrested in connection to her death security cameras captured the beating death of Daniel Oliveira Felipe a category particularly targeted by violence; 110 were killed last year "The greater visibility is provoking greater aggression," Mott said Congressman Santos reported receiving threats of violence or death almost weekly Volei Futuro's effort to have Sada Cruzeiro reprimanded for its fans' behavior saw mixed results Volei Futuro fans turned out with pink thundersticks bearing player Santos' name and even the maintenance crew wore rainbow-colored T-shirts with messages of support Many Sada Cruzeiro fans carried banners apologizing for the insults opposing fans booed him as they would any other player but without reference to his sexual orientation Team officials for Sada Cruzeiro denounced discrimination in a press release but they also called Volei Futuro "sore losers" and described the game as a "beautiful celebration where enthusiastic fans celebrated and helped their team." but moved by the customs of the society in which they live," Sada Cruzeiro said in its statement Brazil's media and on blogs overwhelmingly lauded Santos' decision to go public with his sexuality to combat homophobia in sports although there was no shortage of derogatory comments from mostly anonymous posts in online news sites and elsewhere A sports tribunal decided April 13 to fine Sada Cruzeiro $32,000 Volei Futuro said it was too small a price for using discrimination to unsettle an opponent pay and reach your objectives," the team said in a news release "It's just a matter of money." Associated Press writer Bradley Brooks in Sao Paulo contributed to this report A GROWING PARTNERSHIP: A machine harvests soybeans at a farm near Atibaia China is scooping up more Brazilian soybean supplies China is stepping up its soybean buying in Brazil as growers in Argentina continue to hoard and the Asian nation avoids American oilseed after an escalation in trade tensions between Washington and Beijing Private and state-owned companies bought 25 to 30 cargoes of soy from Brazil this week through Thursday according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the deals are private That's equivalent to about 1.5 million to 2 million metric tons and is helping push up the premiums buyers need to pay for soy at Brazilian ports stopped purchasing American soy as the spat with the U.S deepens and farmers in Argentina are withholding beans as a hedge against currency depreciation due to election uncertainty soybean futures in Chicago are heading for a weekly loss even after the U.S government reported smaller-than-expected plantings Chinese buyers are scooping up Brazilian supplies as they still haven't bought enough to cover their needs through October While Brazil has so far been able to meet China's demands inventories are now dwindling and Beijing is at risk of not being able to fulfill its needs Brazilian soybean inventories are now projected to fall to 2.6 million tons at the end of the season according to the country's soy-processor group That's also down from a July forecast of 5.6 million tons and compares with 3.6 million tons last year Chinese purchases of Brazilian beans last year surged after Beijing slapped 25% retaliatory tariffs on U.S Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post Saturday’s Mad Collab Block Party in Hagåtña brought together more than 70 local businesses and artists in celebration with hundreds of attendees It was all about the wonders of Artificial Intelligence in the palm of your hand All of the latest features in Samsung's Galaxy AI were showcased at a GTA-sponsored event Thursday University of Guam students and alumni presented original research at the 19th annual International Conference on Business Economics & Information Technology (ICBEIT) hosted by the University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration in Mactan Newtown Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: See detailed notes Top How about visiting beautiful farms and seeing fields of flowers and fruit the interior of São Paulo can be surprisingly enchanting check out the selection we’ve prepared for you get ready to hit the road and enjoy the best of the São Paulo countryside With several options for ecotourism and radical sports Socorro is also a great option for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and enjoy relaxing rural tourism The town is part of the Circuito das Águas (Water Circuit) and has several farms where you can go horseback riding and taste artisanal products but with diverse rural attractions is Brotas visitors can enjoy the cuisine and enjoy beautiful natural landscapes Known for being the polo do vinho paulista taste the artisanal products produced there you can even take part in the fruit harvest be sure to include this destination on your rural tourism list Brazilian Wife Cuts Off Hubby’s Manhood For Sleeping With Niece In a shocking incident that unfolded recently in Brazil a 39-year-old man became the victim of his wife’s wrath after she discovered his alleged relationship with her 15-year-old niece resorted to extreme measures by severing her husband’s genitalia and disposing of it in a toilet Also Read: Shock As Jilted Man Cuts Off Lover’s Ring Finger With A Machete the woman voluntarily surrendered herself to the police in Atibaia a city near Sao Paulo where how she lured her husband into bed under false pretences The woman said she teased him into getting into bed with her but instead of giving him a taste of the forbidden fruit she tied his arms and legs to the bed She then proceeded to pull out a razor and sliced off his manhood she then dumped it into the toilet and flushed it away When she handed herself to the police last Friday she confessed that she had flushed it away because she had ‘heard that it was possible to reattach it.’ Also Read: Mutoko Man Axes His Father And Cuts Off His Testicles  when she arrived at the police station accompanied by her brother she calmly approached an officer and introduced herself saying because I just cut off my husband’s penis.’ Emergency services promptly transported the 39-year-old husband, whose name remains undisclosed to a hospital where his current condition is unknown at this time his wife has been placed under police custody and is now facing an attempted murder charge Police officers are currently investigating the incident and are yet to comment on the woman’s allegations regarding her husband’s involvement with her teenage niece It is important to note that the age of consent in Brazil is 14 and authorities are looking to establish if there was a consensual relationship between the husband and his wife’s niece Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2023 iHarare - All Rights Reserved © 2023 iHarare - All Rights Reserved