Technological Quality of Sugarcane Inoculated with Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Residual Effect of Phosphorus Rates.

Phosphate fertilization in highly weathered soils has been a major challenge for sugarcane production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the foliar levels of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) and the technological quality and productivity of second ratoon cane as a function of inoculation with plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) together with the residual effect of phosphate fertilization. The experiment was carried out at the research and extension farm of Ilha Solteira, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The experiment was designed in a randomized block with three replications in a 5 × 8 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of five residual doses of phosphorus (0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 kg ha-1 of P2O5, 46% P) applied at planting from the source of triple superphosphate and eight inoculations from three species of PGPB (Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens), applied in single or co-inoculation at the base of stems of sugarcane variety RB92579. Inoculation with PGPBs influenced leaf N concentration, while inoculations with Pseudomonas fluorescens and combinations of bacteria together with the highest doses exerted a positive effect on leaf P concentration. Co-inoculation with A. brasilense + Pseudomonas fluorescens associated with a residual dose of 135 kg ha-1 of P2O5 increased stem productivity by 42%. Thus, it was concluded that inoculations with Pseudomonas fluorescens and their combinations are beneficial for the sugarcane crop, reducing phosphate fertilization and increasing productivity.

Can 2,4-D promote the hormesis effect in upland rice?

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of low doses of 2,4-D on the agronomic traits of upland rice applied at different stages of crop growth. The work was carried out in a randomized completly blocks, and consisted of the application of 5 low doses of the 2,4-D herbicide (0, 0.68, 1.36, 2.04, 3.40 and 5.44 g acid equivalent (e.a.) ha-1) in two stages of rice development (tillering and floral differentiation). Nitrogen contentes in leaves, SPAD index and yield are higher when low doses of 2,4-D is applied in the tillering stage. Application of 2,4-D at a dose of 2.04 g a.e ha-1 results in a 19% increase in the number of spikelet per panicle. On the other hand, there is no effect of the application of low doses of 2,4-D on height, number of stems, active tillering and weight of 100 seeds. Our results contribute to increase knowledge of the hormesis effect in plants in order to increase crop yield.

Spent mushroom substrate is capable of physisorption-chemisorption of CO2.

No in-depth investigation exists on the feasibility of integrating hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and pelletization into the process of making spent mushroom substrate (SMS), an agro-food residue from the commercial mushroom industry, into an adsorbent for post-combustion CO2 removal. Therefore, this study analyzed if it could be possible for systematically converting low-pressure hydrochars of various SMSs into carbon-adsorbing mini-capsules. Sources of SMS included paddy straw and achiote capsule shell from Pleurotus ostreatus; eucalyptus sawdust and grassy straw from Lentinula edodes; and compost containing peat or soil as casing layer from Agaricus subrufescens. The eucalyptus sawdust and grassy straw from L. edodes outperformed the other biomaterials in adsorbing CO2, and thus effectively encapsuled most of the gas, 8.25 mmol g-1 and 8.10 mmol g-1, respectively. They contained mostly hetero-atoms of O and N, requiring less unit energy to bind acidic molecules of CO2 at the alkaline sites. The amount of unit energy the pore-filling process demanded at 25 °C was 12.65 kJ mol-1, an attribute of self-sustaining and saleable physisorption. A negative 6.80 kJ mol-1 free energy validated both spontaneity and exothermal of biocarbons at steady-state atmosphere. The major findings and innovations of our study support utilizing SMS as an adsorbent as a carbon capture, storage and utilization networking. Our insights into the physisorption-chemisorption on SMS are timely and relevant to help manage the re-use of SMS, and thus bring the global mushroom industry closer to environmental sustainability and toward a lower carbon society and circular economy.

Second-Generation Lignocellulosic Supportive Material Improves Atomic Ratios of C:O and H:O and Thermomechanical Behavior of Hybrid Non-Woody Pellets.

Pellets refer to solid biofuels for heating and power. The pellet's integrity is of great relevant to ensure safe and effective transportation and storage, and comfort to stakeholders. Several materials that are supportive, whether organic and inorganic, to pellets exist. However, no work in the literature is linking making hybrid non-wood pellets with addition of residual biomass from distillation of cellulosic bioethanol, and this requires further investigations. Figuring out how effective this challenging agro-industrial residue could be for reinforcing non-wood pellets is accordingly the scientific point of this study focusing on management of waste and valorization of biomass. The pilot-scale manufacturing of hybrid pellets consisted of systematically pressing sugarcane bagasse with the lignocellulosic reinforcement at the mass ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 on an automatic pelletizer machine at 200 MPa and 125 °C. Elemental contents of C and H, durability, and energy density all increased significantly from 50.05 to 53.50%, 5.95 to 7.80%, 95.90 to 99.55%, and 28.20 to 31.20 MJ kg-1, respectively, with blending the starting material with the reinforcement at 1:3. Preliminary evidence of residual biomass from distillation of second-generation bioethanol capable of highly improving molecular flammable/combustible properties, mechanical stability, and fuel power of composite non-wood pellets exist.

Green Manure Species for Phytoremediation of Soil With Tebuthiuron and Vinasse.

Tebuthiuron is often used to control weed growth in sugarcane cultures. This herbicide is highly toxic and can persist in soil for up to 2 years according to its degradation half-life. Hence, its residual effect is highly hazardous for the environment and local habitants via leaching, surface runoff. Screening out of species of green manure as potential phytoremediators for tebuthiuron in soil, with and with no vinasse, accordingly is the scientific point of this study. Green manure species selected for the trial in greenhouse were jack bean [Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.], pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L. Millsp.)], velvet bean [Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.)], and millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.], and Crotalaria juncea L. as bioindicator of this herbicide. The determination/quantification of height, stem diameter, and number of leaves in all plants were monitored, as well as other morphological traits for drafting any inference on biomass production. Moreover, ecotoxicity bioassays were performed from soil samples at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Results showed preliminary evidence of effective phytoremediation capacity by M. pruriens and P. glaucum in soils with tebuthiuron, as the growth of C. juncea was sustained. Both Gompertz approach and principal component analysis predicted that these green manure species could grow healthier and for longer periods in soils containing tebuthiuron and vinasse and, thus, reduce physiological anomalies due to ecotoxicity. The implications of this study may aid in the implementation of cost-effective strategies targeting decontamination of tebuthiuron in sugarcane crops with vinasse application in fertigation.

Modelo experimental para infusäo de nutriçäo parenteral: estudo em coelhos / Experimental method for parenteral nutrition infusion: study in rabbits

Foi desenvolvido e avaliado um modelo experimental em coelhos para infusäo venosa prolongada sem restriçäo à mobilidade dos animais e que se prestou a estudos com soluçöes de nutriçäo parenteral. Embora em muitos aspectos seja este método semelhante a outros citados na literatura, algumas modificaçöes introduzidas tornaram-no de fácil aplicabilidade a estudos que envolvam infusäo venosa em animais desse porte. O tempo de observaçäo variou de 4 a 28 dias e durante este período de experimentaçäo a tolerabilidade pelos animais foi excelente sob todos os aspectos

Deficiência vitamínicas em nutriçäo parenteral / Vitamin deficiencias in parenteral nutrition

Uma variedade de condiçöes incluindo doenças crônicas, trauma e sépsis pode necessitar quantidades de vitaminas em doses bem maiores que aquelas recomendadas pelo NAG e RAD para o indivíduo sadio. Durante o suporte nutricional, as deficiências de vitaminas surgem mais freqüentemente quando näo se observam certos dogmas na preparaçäo, armazenamento e administraçäo das soluçöes de nutriçäo parenteral. Enfatiza-se que a composiçäo e as necessidades aumentadas säo fatores importantes na deficiência vitamínica e demonstraram ainda em um estudo realizado no HU-UFRJ, a vitamina C nas soluçöes de aminoácidos a 10%, quando exposta à luz, diminui sua concentraçäo em 17,5% nas primeiras 24 horas e 63% no quarto dia. Sob condiçöes especiais, a diminuiçäo foi de 3,5% nas primeiras 24 horas e 4,7% no quarto dia. Baseado nos resultados deste estudo sugere-se, que as vitaminas devem ser adicinonadas nas soluçöes de nutriçäo parenteral imediatamente antes da administraçäo e os frascos protegidos da luz

Nutriçäo parenteral pré-operatória nas neoplasias do aparelho digestivo / Preoperative parenteral nutrition in digestive system neoplasms

Os autores estudaram, em uma série de 46 pacientes portadores de neoplasias do tubo digestivo com indicaçäo de tratamento cirúrgico, as modificaçöes impostas pela utilizaçäo da nutriçäo parenteral pré-operatória, segundo alguns parâmetros utilizados na rotina de avaliaçäo nutricional no HU-UFRJ. Verificaram que anormalidades como perda de peso, reduçäo dos níveis de albumina sérica e alteraçöes de respostas imunológicas, freqüentemente associadas com doenças malignas, puderam ser revertidas pela utilizaçäo desta modalidade de suporte nutricional em um percentual significativo de seus pacientes

Fisiopatologia do coma hepático: conceito atual / Physiopathology of hepatic coma: present concept

Faz-se uma revisäo dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos envolvidos na gênese do coma hepático. Ressalta-se a moderna concepçäo etiológica considerada responsável pela síndrome neuropsiquiátrica. As significativas alteraçöes do aminoacidograma plasmático, caracterizadas por uma diminuiçäo nos amino-ácidos de cadeia ramificada e aumento na concentraçäo plasmática dos aminoácidos aromáticos, justificam também o emprego da terapia nutricional com finalidade de normalizar o balanço aminado plasmático