Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Improved Development during In Vitro Multiplication of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in a Semi-Automated Bioreactor.

Carbon nanotubes play an important role in plant biotechnology due to their effects on the growth and differentiation of cells, tissues, organs, and whole plants. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) during in vitro multiplication of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) using a temporary immersion system. Morphological characterization of MWCNTs was carried out under a transmission electron microscope. Different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200 mg L-1) of MWCNTs were added to Murashige and Skoog liquid culture medium in the multiplication stage. At 30 d of culture, number of shoots per explant, shoot length, number of leaves per shoot, total chlorophyll, dry matter percentage, carbon percentage, and macro- and micronutrient content were evaluated. Results showed an increase in the development of sugarcane shoots at concentrations of 100 and 200 mg L-1 MWCNT. Total chlorophyll content increased at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg L-1 MWCNT, whereas macro- and micronutrient content was variable at the different MWCNT concentrations. Results suggest a hormetic effect, characterized by stimulation at low concentrations. In conclusion, the use of low concentrations of MWCNTs had positive effects on development, total chlorophyll, carbon percentage, and macro- and micronutrient (N, Ca, S, Fe, Cu, Zn and Na) contents during in vitro multiplication of sugarcane and may have a potential use in other species of agricultural interest.

Nutritional evaluation of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivated in soils developed from basalt and sandstone in the state of Paraná / Avaliação nutricional da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivada em solos desenvolvidos de basalto e de arenito no estado do Paraná

Determining the nutritional composition of a pasture is necessary to evaluate its quality, aiming to meet the requirements of feeding animals and guarantee good performance. The quality of the forage biomass produced depends directly on the fertility and type of soil, environmental conditions, and management. In this scenario, the aim was to evaluate the chemical composition, in vitro digestibility of dry matter, and macro- and micronutrient contents of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivated in soils developed from basalt and sandstone in the state of Paraná. A total of 120 forage samples were collected in a soil developed from basalt and 116 in soil developed from sandstone. Forage harvesting occurred in autumn and spring for basalt soil (season effect), and in spring (soil effect) for sandstone soil. Soil samples (020 cm) were collected in the spring season, at the same forage collection sites, to obtain a greater sample representativity regarding climatesoilplant relationships. Forage samples were separated in leaf blade and stem + sheath, and analyses of dry matter (DM), mineral matter (MM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), total digestible nutrients (TDN), nitrogen, and macro- and micronutrient contents were performed. In soil samples, the contents of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn were analyzed. There were season and soil-type effects on the chemical composition of the cultivar studied. The highest levels of protein, NDF, ADF, lignin, and cellulose were obtained in autumn. In samples from soil developed from basalt, higher levels of hemicellulose, IVDMD, and TDN were obtained in the spring. K, P, Mn, and Zn presented levels within the range recommended for the studied forage, but the values of Ca and Mg in autumn and N in the three studied periods remained below the level considered adequate. Soil nutrient contents...(AU)

A determinação da composição nutricional da pastagem é necessária para avaliação da sua qualidade, visando atender as exigências do rebanho e garantir o bom desempenho do plantel. A qualidade da biomassa forrageira produzida depende diretamente da fertilidade e tipo de solo, das condições ambientais e do manejo empregado. Diante deste cenário, objetivou-se avaliar a composição química, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca e teores de macro e micronutrientes da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, cultivada em solos desenvolvidos de basalto e de arenito, no Estado do Paraná. Foram coletadas 120 amostras de forragem em solo desenvolvido de basalto e 116 em solo desenvolvido de arenito. As coletas de forragem ocorreram no outono e na primavera para o solo de basalto (efeito estação do ano), e na primavera (efeito solo) para os solos do arenito. Foram coletadas amostras de solo (0-20 cm), na estação da primavera, nos mesmos locais da coleta de forragem, visando obter maior representatividade amostral quanto às inter-relações clima-solo-planta. As amostras de forragem foram separadas em lâmina foliar e colmo + bainha, e analisadas quanto aos teores de matéria seca (MS), matéria mineral (MM), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina, celulose, hemicelulose, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS), nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), nitrogênio, macro e micronutrientes. Nas amostras de solo foram avaliados os teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn e Zn. Houve efeito da estação e do tipo de solo sobre a composição química da cultivar estudada. Os maiores teores de proteína, FDN, FDA, lignina e celulose foram obtidos no outono. Em amostras provenientes de solo desenvolvido de basalto, foram obtidos maiores teores de hemicelulose, DIVMS e NDT, na primavera. K, P, Mn e Zn apresentaram teores dentro da faixa recomendada para a forrageira estudada, porém os valores de Ca e Mg no outono, e N nos três períodos...(AU)

A systematic review of the nutritional implications of military rations.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess military rations. Military rations must provide military personnel with suitable nutrition, as high-quality nutrition is crucial for promoting health. AIM: This systematic review provides information regarding the nutritional design of military rations according to energy and protein intake and supplements. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted for articles published to date regarding the nutritional needs involved in a military diet for an active population of either gender, ranging from 18 to 60 years old, without excluding material by year, type of document, location, or author. The pertinent articles found were published from 1994 to 2017. RESULTS: Physical activity and environmental factors directly affect calculating energy needs and carbohydrate intake when designing military rations. However, the results showed no influence on protein, fat and/or sodium intake. Furthermore, the search revealed that military populations have a high intake of dietary supplements; it is thus worth considering their incorporation into campaign rations. CONCLUSION: Military personnel macro- and micro-nutrient needs depend on physical activity and nutrient intake measurement methodologies. The data regarding military personnel dietary supplement consumption indicated that this is a niche worth considering when designing military rations. Research on nutritional needs for military rations could concentrate on optimizing the amount of macro- and micro-nutrients and their biological value, according to physical activity, as well as maintaining their sensory quality, safety and shelf life using different processing technologies.

A comparative metagenomic and spectroscopic analysis of soils from an international point of entry between the US and Mexico.

The Paso del Norte region is characterized by its dynamic industries and active agriculture. Throughout the years, urban and agricultural soils from this region have been exposed to xenobiotics, heavy metals, and excess of hydrocarbons. In this study, samples of urban [domestic workshops (DW)] and agricultural-intended (AI) soils from different sites of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico were evaluated for their fertility, element content, and microbial diversity. Chemical analyses showed that nitrites, nitrates, P, K, Mg, and Mn were predominantly higher in AI soils, compared to DW soils (p ≤ 0.05). The composition of soil microbial communities showed that Proteobacteria phylum was the most abundant in both soils (67%, p ≤ 0.05). In AI soils, Paracoccus denitrificans was reduced (p ≤ 0.05), concurring with an increment in nitrates, while the content of nitrogen was negatively correlated with the rhizobium group (r2 = -0.65, p ≤ 0.05). In DW soils, the Firmicutes phylum represented up to ~25%, and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria strongly correlated with a higher Cu content (r2 = 0.99, p ≤ 0.0001). The monotypic genus Sulfuricurvum was found only in oil-contaminated soil samples. Finally, all samples showed the presence of the recently created phylum Candidatus saccharibacteria. These results describe the productivity parameters of AI soils and its correlation to the microbial diversity, which are very important to understand and potentiate the productivity of soils. The data also suggest that soils impacted with hydrocarbons and metal(oid)s allow the reproduction of microorganisms with the potential to alleviate contaminated sites.

Nutritional evaluation of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivated in soils developed from basalt and sandstone in the state of Paraná / Avaliação nutricional da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivada em solos desenvolvidos de basalto e de arenito no estado do Paraná

Determining the nutritional composition of a pasture is necessary to evaluate its quality, aiming to meet the requirements of feeding animals and guarantee good performance. The quality of the forage biomass produced depends directly on the fertility and type of soil, environmental conditions, and management. In this scenario, the aim was to evaluate the chemical composition, in vitro digestibility of dry matter, and macro- and micronutrient contents of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu cultivated in soils developed from basalt and sandstone in the state of Paraná. A total of 120 forage samples were collected in a soil developed from basalt and 116 in soil developed from sandstone. Forage harvesting occurred in autumn and spring for basalt soil (season effect), and in spring (soil effect) for sandstone soil. Soil samples (020 cm) were collected in the spring season, at the same forage collection sites, to obtain a greater sample representativity regarding climatesoilplant relationships. Forage samples were separated in leaf blade and stem + sheath, and analyses of dry matter (DM), mineral matter (MM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), total digestible nutrients (TDN), nitrogen, and macro- and micronutrient contents were performed. In soil samples, the contents of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn were analyzed. There were season and soil-type effects on the chemical composition of the cultivar studied. The highest levels of protein, NDF, ADF, lignin, and cellulose were obtained in autumn. In samples from soil developed from basalt, higher levels of hemicellulose, IVDMD, and TDN were obtained in the spring. K, P, Mn, and Zn presented levels within the range recommended for the studied forage, but the values of Ca and Mg in autumn and N in the three studied periods remained below the level considered adequate. Soil nutrient contents...

A determinação da composição nutricional da pastagem é necessária para avaliação da sua qualidade, visando atender as exigências do rebanho e garantir o bom desempenho do plantel. A qualidade da biomassa forrageira produzida depende diretamente da fertilidade e tipo de solo, das condições ambientais e do manejo empregado. Diante deste cenário, objetivou-se avaliar a composição química, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca e teores de macro e micronutrientes da Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, cultivada em solos desenvolvidos de basalto e de arenito, no Estado do Paraná. Foram coletadas 120 amostras de forragem em solo desenvolvido de basalto e 116 em solo desenvolvido de arenito. As coletas de forragem ocorreram no outono e na primavera para o solo de basalto (efeito estação do ano), e na primavera (efeito solo) para os solos do arenito. Foram coletadas amostras de solo (0-20 cm), na estação da primavera, nos mesmos locais da coleta de forragem, visando obter maior representatividade amostral quanto às inter-relações clima-solo-planta. As amostras de forragem foram separadas em lâmina foliar e colmo + bainha, e analisadas quanto aos teores de matéria seca (MS), matéria mineral (MM), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina, celulose, hemicelulose, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS), nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), nitrogênio, macro e micronutrientes. Nas amostras de solo foram avaliados os teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn e Zn. Houve efeito da estação e do tipo de solo sobre a composição química da cultivar estudada. Os maiores teores de proteína, FDN, FDA, lignina e celulose foram obtidos no outono. Em amostras provenientes de solo desenvolvido de basalto, foram obtidos maiores teores de hemicelulose, DIVMS e NDT, na primavera. K, P, Mn e Zn apresentaram teores dentro da faixa recomendada para a forrageira estudada, porém os valores de Ca e Mg no outono, e N nos três períodos...

ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE ALUMNOS UNIVERSITARIOS DE LA PROVINCIA DE MISIONES / NUTRITIONAL STATE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM PROVINCE OF MISIONES

las actuales presiones sociales condicionan conductas que conducen a desequilibrios nutricionales.

Consumo de alimentos y estado nutricional según estrato socioeconómico en una población infantil de caracas / Dietary intake and nutritional status according to the socioeconomic status in a childhood population from caracas

La desnutrición calórica proteica por ingesta insuficiente de macro y micronutrientes, repercute en el crecimiento y desarrollo del niño, fundamentalmente cuando se produce en las primeras edades. Analizar el consumo de alimentos, su adecuación nutricional y el estado nutricional por indicadores antropométricos segúnestrato socioeconómico. 270 niños entre 1-3 años (143 niños y 127 niñas) de Caracas pertenecientes a los estratos sociales III (17%), IV (61%)y V (22%) según Graffar- Méndez Castellano. Se analizó el peso y la talla, por indicadores individuales y según diagnóstico com binado (DCOMB) con valores de referencia de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Para el consumo de alimentos se aplicó recordatorio de un día, adecuación de nutrientes y fórmula dietética. Los varones resultaron con mayor déficit que las niñas según DCOMB y por indicadores antropométricos: peso edad (P-E), talla-edad (T-E) y peso-talla (P-T). El estado nutricional clasificó 7% sobre la norma, 75% normales y 17% de déficit, más acentuado en los niños menores. La fórmula dietética es adecuada en todos los nutrientes. La adecuación de la energía, en sus términos porcentuales con respecto al requerimiento ideal del individuo disminuyó significativamente al descender en la escala social. Las proteínas presentaron adecuaciones altas y se encontró elevado consumo de vitamina A y calcio, con manifiesto déficit (85-100%) en el consumo de hierro y zinc respectivamente. El consumo deficiente en calorías y nutrientes se observa acompañado de profundas carencias de hierro y de zinc, factores que afectan el estado nutricional de los niños, y que constituyen causa de retardo en el crecimiento físico

The concept of protein calorie malnutrition comprises a shortage of macro and micronutrients intake that influences the growth and development of children, especially when the insufficiency occurs during early childhood. The study was conducted in order to analyze according to socioeconomic status, dietary intake, nutritional adequacy and nutritional status. Sample comprises 270 children with ages 1-3 years (143 boys and 127 girls) classified according to Graffar Méndez-Castellano social methodology; stratum III (17%), IV (61%) and V (22%). Weight and height were analyzed by specific indicatorsand combined ranking of nutritional status (DCOMB), following WHO values. Food consumption, adequacy and dietetic formula were calculated by means of a 24-hour recall questionary. Combination rank of nutritional status, showed 7% above the norm, 75% normal and 17% nutritional deficit, especially in the younger ones. Results derived from all indicators suggested more vulnerability amongst boys than girls. On the other hand, the dietetic formula highlighted adequate proportion in all the nutrients, although there is a decrease of macro-nutrients as one moved down the social scale. Proteins showed high adequacy and high consumption of vitamin A and calcium was found, but other trace elements as iron and especially zinc showed especially low intake. Overall 25% of the children had protein-calorie malnutrition accompanied by nutritional deficiencies of iron and zinc. A failure of adequate caloric and energy dietary intakes comes along with a low consumption of iron and zinc, whichinfluence negatively the nutritional status in children and causes growth retardation