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Salt stress limits the crop yield in semiarid regions. Appropriate nitrogen sources mitigate salt stress in some species. Horticulturists prefer to use ammonium when growing Italian zucchini cv. Caserta, because ammonium is cheaper compared to nitrate. In this study, we evaluated the comparative effects of nitrate and ammonium ions on the growth, physiological responses, and production of Italian zucchini under salt stress conditions. An experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a hydroponic system, with two nitrogen sources (nitrate and ammonium), combined with five levels of irrigation water electrical conductivity (0.5; 2.0; 3.5; 5.0, and 6.5 dS m−1), in 2 × 5 factorial scheme and randomized block design, with four replicates. Cultivation extended up to 50 days, and we access the growth, gas exchanges, photochemical efficiency, energy quenching, and production components. Ammonium causes flower abortion in Italian zucchini and no fruits formed, regardless of the salt stress conditions. The growth, gas exchanges, photochemical efficiency, and production of the nitrate-fed plants outperform ammonium-fed plants. The water with electrical conductivity greater than 3.5 dS m−1reduced growth, gas exchange, photochemical efficiency, energy efficiency, and production of the Italian zucchini fed with nitrate. Nitrate is appropriate to grow Italian zucchini under salt stress conditions.

AbstractThe objective was to evaluate the fermentation parameters, chemical composition and in situdegradability of sesame silage in comparison to usual silages. The losses, fermentation quality and chemical composition of the forages and silages were evaluated using a completely randomised design with four treatments (sesame, corn, millet and sunflower) and four replicates per treatment, the silages were produced in experimental silos. In-situdegradability was evaluated using a completely randomised design with four treatments and three replicates (animals) per treatment. The results were statistically evaluated by analysis of variance and Tukey’s test with a level of 5% of probability. Three rumen fistulated non-castrated Santa Inês rams were used. Sunflower and corn silages presented higher percentages of losses through gases (p = .0256). Millet silage presented higher losses by effluent (p < .0001). The dry matter recovery (p < .0001) ranged from 70.0 to 96.5% for sesame and corn silage, respectively. The dry matter content (p = .0002) in the silages ranged from 280.0 to 429.4 g kg−1. The sesame silage presented loss amounts and fermentation parameters similar to those found in corn and sunflower silage. Sesame silage showed moderate dry matter (DM), content, excellent crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) contents, and low lignin content. Corn silage presented higher concentration of the soluble fraction of DM (p < .0001). The sesame silage presented a high degradability rate of DM and it was similar to corn and millet which have great nutritional potential for ruminants feeding. Sesame has the potential to produce quality biomass and silage for animal feeding.highlightsThe sesame can be an option for silage making.Sesame helps to ensure sustainability by promoting lower seasonal risks in this region through the usage of silage as feed for the animals.Sesame also increases the productivity of livestock throughout the year, through the availability of feed for the herd mainly during the dry season of the year.

•Hybridization of Dish-Stirling systems aiming at the harvesting of solar and wind energy.•Developing a modified parabolic concentrator to perform solar concentration and torque generation.•Methodology for designing the solar-wind energy harvesting device.•Increasing the electricity generation of solar energy conversion systems due to hybridization.

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Low plasma levels of vitamin D causes bone mineral change that can precipitate osteopenia and osteoporosis and could aggravate autoimmune diseases, hypertension and diabetes. The demand for vitamin D supplementation becomes necessary; however, the consumption of vitamin D is not without risks, which its toxicity could have potentially serious consequences related to hypervitaminosis D, such as hypercalcemia and cerebral alterations. Thus, the present study describes the electroencephalographic changes caused by supraphysiological doses of vitamin D in the brain electrical dynamics and the electrocardiographic changes. After 4 days of treatment with vitamin D at a dose of 25,000 IU/kg, the serum calcium levels found were increased in comparison with the control group. The electrocorticogram analysis found a reduction in wave activity in the delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands. For ECG was observed changes with shortened QT follow-up, which could be related to serum calcium concentration. This study presented important evidence about the cerebral and cardiac alterations caused by high doses of vitamin D, indicating valuable parameters in the screening and decision-making process for diagnosing patients with symptoms suggestive of intoxication.

Copyright of Bragantia is the property of Instituto Agronomico de Campinas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)