Optical Characterization of Bitumen: Inspecting the Quantum Size Effect in the Nanostructured Phase.

Bitumen (BIT) is an oil sub-product with many applications. A variety of literature reports the analysis of its optical properties, as the fluorescence and the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) optical transmittance (OT). We have performed photoluminescence (PL) on the visible region of the spectrum and OT on the visible-NIR in solutions of BIT in toluene at different concentrations. The results revealed a nonlinear, concentration-dependent effect attributed to intermolecular solvent-solute interactions. PL analysis of pure BIT as a function of the temperature and the laser pumping power pointed to the existence of nanosized crystalline inclusions on the amorphous BIT matrix with noticeable optical properties. The inference was confronted with the results of X-ray diffraction studies and literature reports. The possibility of the occurrence of a quantum size effect governing the luminescence is considered.

Uso de la escala LRINEC en pacientes con infecciones necrosantes en el miembro superior y su correlación con la morbimortalidad ortopédica / LRINEC score diagnostic value for necrotizing infections of the upper extremity and correlation with morbidity and mortality in orthopedics patients

Objetivo: Utilizar la escala LRINEC en pacientes con infecciones necrosantes de miembros superiores y evaluar su correlación con la morbimortalidad ortopédica. Materiales y Métodos: Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de las historias clínicas de los pacientes operados por nuestro equipo, entre el 1 de marzo de 2015 y el 1 de marzo de 2020. Se registraron los puntajes de la escala LRINEC de cada paciente operado con diagnóstico clínico y posoperatorio de infección necrosante de partes blandas, así como sus antecedentes clínicos, el microorganismo, las complicaciones y la morbimortalidad ortopédica, y otros datos clínicos importantes (tiempo de internación en terapia intensiva, necesidad de asistencia respiratoria mecánica y de diálisis, cantidad de cirugías), y se los comparó con el puntaje. Resultados: Se analizaron 4126 historias clínicas de pacientes operados por nuestro equipo. Tres tuvieron infecciones necrosantes del miembro superior. El puntaje aplicado en forma retrospectiva determinó que todos tenían una alta probabilidad de sufrir una infección necrosante. Los pacientes con puntaje más alto desarrollaron más comorbilidades ortopédicas y clínicas. Conclusiones: La escala LRINEC es un instrumento reproducible para el diagnóstico de infecciones necrosantes de partes blandas y está relacionada con el número de complicaciones y la morbilidad ortopédica, aunque no necesariamente con la cantidad de cirugías realizadas. Nivel de Evidencia: II

Objective: To use the LRINEC scoring system for necrotizing infections of the upper extremity and study its correlation with morbidity and mortality in Orthopedics patients Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the medical records of patients operated on by our team between March 1, 2015, and March 1, 2020. Data collection included the LRINEC scores of every patient who underwent surgery and had a clinical and postoperative diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infection, as well as their clinical history, causative organism, complications, Orthopedics-related morbidity and mortality data, and other significant clinical data (length of intensive care stay, need for mechanical respiratory assistance, need for dialysis, number of surgeries), which were then compared with their respective LRINEC score. Results: The review included 4126 medical records of patients who had undergone surgery by our team. There were three recorded cases of necrotizing infections in the upper extremity. Their LRINEC scores were retrospectively calculated and all of them showed a high risk of developing a necrotizing infection. The patients with the highest scores developed more Orthopedics and other clinical conditions. Conclusions: The LRINEC score is a reproducible method for the diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infections and is related to the number of complications and orthopedic conditions, although not necessarily with the number of surgeries. Level of Evidence: II

Control of Gray Mold on Clamshell-Packaged 'Benitaka' Table Grapes Using Sulphur Dioxide Pads and Perforated Liners.

The use of vented clamshells has become popular in the packaging of grapes for local and international markets. The aim of this study is to evaluate the postharvest preservation of 'Benitaka' table grapes individually packaged in vented clamshells using different types of SO2-generating pads and perforated plastic liners during cold storage. A completely randomized design with four replications in a two-factor arrangement with an additional treatment [(4 × 3) + 1] was used. The trials were carried out under two situations: Artificial or natural infections with Botrytis cinerea, which is the causal agent of gray mold on table grapes. The incidence of gray mold, shattered berries, and stem browning were evaluated at 30 and 45 days of cold storage at 1 ± 1 °C and 3 days of shelf-life at 22 ± 1 °C after the period of cold storage. Mass loss and berry firmness were also examined at the end of the cold storage period. The use of dual-release SO2-generating pads containing 5 or 8 g of a.i. and slow-release pads with 7 g of a.i. was effective in controlling the incidence of gray mold in grapes packaged in vented clamshells and kept under cold storage for up to 45 days. Under these storage conditions, perforated plastic liners with 0.3% ventilation area or micro-perforated liners with 1.0% ventilation area reduced the percentage of mass loss and shattered berries.

Agronomic performance of sugarcane cultivated under quantities of sugarcane straw on the soil surface / Desempenho agronômico da cana-de-açúcar cultivada sob diferentes quantidades de palhada da cultura na superfície do solo

Mechanized harvesting has become increasingly common in the sugarcane production system. The sugarcane straw removed by mechanical harvesting could be converted into ethanol or be used to generate electricity by burning the material. At the same time, it is important to determine the amount of biomass that could be removed from the soil surface without damage to the cane crop. The agronomic performance of sugarcane was evaluated by growing the variety RB92579 under different amounts of sugarcane straw on the soil surface, in the first and second years of cane crop growth. An experimental randomized block in a split-plot design was used with four replications. In the first year the plots received five amounts of straw (0.0, 4.5, 9.0, 13.5, and 18 Mg ha-1), and six assessments (60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 days after planting) were made in the subplots. In the second year, the plots received the same amount of straw and four assessments (60, 120, 240, and 540 days after the regrowth) in the subplots. Biometric indexes, components of production, and crop yield were evaluated. The data were submitted to variance analysis and polynomial regression (p < 0.05). Increasing amounts of sugarcane straw deposited on the soil surface reduced the number and diameter of stalks at the beginning of crop establishment and the number of leaves for the first year. The maximum productivity of stalks was achieved by maintaining on the soil surface 9.6 Mg ha-1 of straw in the first year and 4.7 Mg ha-1 of straw in the second year of cane crop production.(AU)

A colheita mecanizada está cada vez mais presente no sistema de produção de cana-de-açúcar. A palhada retirada durante a colheita pode ser convertida a etanol ou utilizada para geração de energia elétrica por meio da queima, sendo importante determinar a quantidade desta biomassa que pode ser removida, sem que haja prejuízos à cultura. Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho agronômico da cana-de-açúcar, variedade RB92579, cultivada sob diferentes quantidades de palhada da cultura na superfície do solo, em cultivo de primeiro e segundo ciclo. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com quatro repetições. No primeiro ciclo as parcelas receberam cinco quantidades de palhada (0,0; 4,5; 9,0; 13,5 e 18 Mg ha-1) e seis épocas de avaliação (60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360 dias após o plantio DAP), dispostas nas subparcelas. No segundo ciclo, nas parcelas foram depositadas as mesmas quantidades de palhada e nas subparcelas foram dispostas as quatro épocas de avaliação (60, 120, 240 e 540 dias após a rebrota DAR). Foram avaliadas as características fitométricas, os componentes de produção e a produtividade. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e estudo de regressão polinomial (p < 0,05). O aumento das quantidades de palhada depositadas na superfície do solo reduz o número e o diâmetro do colmo no início do estabelecimento da cultura, e o número de folhas para a cana de primeiro ciclo. A produtividade máxima de colmos é obtida com a manutenção de 9,6 Mg ha-1 de palhada para o primeiro ciclo e 4,7 Mg ha-1 de palhada para o segundo ciclo.(AU)

Agronomic performance of sugarcane cultivated under quantities of sugarcane straw on the soil surface / Desempenho agronômico da cana-de-açúcar cultivada sob diferentes quantidades de palhada da cultura na superfície do solo

Mechanized harvesting has become increasingly common in the sugarcane production system. The sugarcane straw removed by mechanical harvesting could be converted into ethanol or be used to generate electricity by burning the material. At the same time, it is important to determine the amount of biomass that could be removed from the soil surface without damage to the cane crop. The agronomic performance of sugarcane was evaluated by growing the variety RB92579 under different amounts of sugarcane straw on the soil surface, in the first and second years of cane crop growth. An experimental randomized block in a split-plot design was used with four replications. In the first year the plots received five amounts of straw (0.0, 4.5, 9.0, 13.5, and 18 Mg ha-1), and six assessments (60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 days after planting) were made in the subplots. In the second year, the plots received the same amount of straw and four assessments (60, 120, 240, and 540 days after the regrowth) in the subplots. Biometric indexes, components of production, and crop yield were evaluated. The data were submitted to variance analysis and polynomial regression (p < 0.05). Increasing amounts of sugarcane straw deposited on the soil surface reduced the number and diameter of stalks at the beginning of crop establishment and the number of leaves for the first year. The maximum productivity of stalks was achieved by maintaining on the soil surface 9.6 Mg ha-1 of straw in the first year and 4.7 Mg ha-1 of straw in the second year of cane crop production.

A colheita mecanizada está cada vez mais presente no sistema de produção de cana-de-açúcar. A palhada retirada durante a colheita pode ser convertida a etanol ou utilizada para geração de energia elétrica por meio da queima, sendo importante determinar a quantidade desta biomassa que pode ser removida, sem que haja prejuízos à cultura. Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho agronômico da cana-de-açúcar, variedade RB92579, cultivada sob diferentes quantidades de palhada da cultura na superfície do solo, em cultivo de primeiro e segundo ciclo. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com quatro repetições. No primeiro ciclo as parcelas receberam cinco quantidades de palhada (0,0; 4,5; 9,0; 13,5 e 18 Mg ha-1) e seis épocas de avaliação (60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360 dias após o plantio – DAP), dispostas nas subparcelas. No segundo ciclo, nas parcelas foram depositadas as mesmas quantidades de palhada e nas subparcelas foram dispostas as quatro épocas de avaliação (60, 120, 240 e 540 dias após a rebrota – DAR). Foram avaliadas as características fitométricas, os componentes de produção e a produtividade. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e estudo de regressão polinomial (p < 0,05). O aumento das quantidades de palhada depositadas na superfície do solo reduz o número e o diâmetro do colmo no início do estabelecimento da cultura, e o número de folhas para a cana de primeiro ciclo. A produtividade máxima de colmos é obtida com a manutenção de 9,6 Mg ha-1 de palhada para o primeiro ciclo e 4,7 Mg ha-1 de palhada para o segundo ciclo.