Search

This review paper examines the applicability of biogas and biomethane as potential maritime fuels and examines issues of these fuels from a supply chain perspective (from production to end use). The objectives are to identify: (1) the latest research, development, and innovation activities; (2) issues and key barriers related to the technology readiness to bring biogas/biomethane to market; and (3) commercialisation issues, including cost parity with natural gas (the main competitor). A survey of the literature was carried out based on research articles and grey literature. The PESTEL and SWOT analyses identified opportunities for these fuels due to the relevant regulations (e.g., Fit for 55; the recent inclusion of the Mediterranean Sea as a SECA and PM control area; MPEC 79), market-based measures, and environmental, social, and governance strategies. The potential of biomass feedstock is estimated to have a substantial value that can satisfy the energy needs of the maritime industry. However, production costs of biomethane are high; estimated to be 2–4 times higher compared to natural gas. The market is moving in the direction of alternative drop-in fuels, including liquefied and compressed biomethane (LBM and CBM) and biogas. In terms of potential market penetration, LBM can be used as a marine drop-in fuel for the existing fleet that already combust LNG and LPG due to similar handling. Currently, these vessels are LNG and LPG tankers. However, in newly built vessels, LBM can be also supplied to container ships, vehicle carriers, and bulk carriers (about 20% of newly built vessels). Provided that compressed natural gas infrastructure exists, CBM can be exploited in vessels with low energy needs and low space requirements and shore-side electrification, because investments in retrofits are lower compared to constructing new infrastructure.

Hydrogen supplementation in diesel Compression Ignition (CI) engines is gaining more attention, since it is considered as a feasible solution to tackle the challenges that are related to the emission regulations that will be applied in the forthcoming years. Such a solution is very attractive because it requires only limited modifications to the existing technology of internal combustion CI engines. To this end, numerous work on the investigation of an engine’s performance and the effects of emissions when hydrogen is supplied in the engine’s cylinders has been completed by researchers. However, contradictory results were found among these studies regarding the efficiency of the engine and the emission characteristics achieved compared to the diesel-only operation. The different conclusions might be attributed to the different characteristics and technology level of the engines that were utilized, as well as on the chosen operational parameters. This paper aims to present an overview of the experimental studies that have examined the effects of hydrogen addition in CI four-stroke diesel engines, reporting the characteristics of the utilized engines, the quantities of hydrogen tested, the method of hydrogen induction used, as well as the operational conditions tested, in order to help interested researchers to easily identify relevant and appropriate studies to perform comparisons or validations by repeating certain cases. The presented data do not include any results or conclusions from these studies. Furthermore, an experimental configuration along with the appropriate modifications on a heavy-duty auxiliary generator-set engine that was recently developed by the authors for the purposes of the HYMAR project is presented.

This review paper examines the key barriers to using green ammonia as an alternative fuel in maritime industry. A literature survey is performed based on research articles and grey literature, with the aim of discussing the technoeconomic problems with and benefits of ammonia and the relevant technologies. The limitations of ammonia as a maritime fuel and its supply chain, the expected percentage demand by 2030 and 2050, its economic performance compared to other shipping fuels such as hydrogen, and the current regulations that may impact ammonia as a maritime fuel are discussed. There are several key barriers to ammonia’s wide adoption: (1) High production costs, due to the high capital costs associated with ammonia’s supply chain; (2) availability, specifically the limited geographical locations available for ammonia bunkering; (3) the challenge of ramping up current ammonia production; and (4) the development of ammonia-specific regulations addressing issues such as toxicity, safety, and storage. The general challenges involved with blue ammonia are the large energy penalty and associated operational costs, and a lack of technical expertise on its use. Regardless of the origin, for ammonia to be truly zero-carbon its whole lifecycle must be considered—a key challenge that will aid in the debate about whether ammonia holds promise as a zero-carbon maritime fuel.

This review paper examines the possible pathways and possible technologies available that will help the shipping sector achieve the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) deep decarbonization targets by 2050. There has been increased interest from important stakeholders regarding deep decarbonization, evidenced by market surveys conducted by Shell and Deloitte. However, deep decarbonization will require financial incentives and policies at an international and regional level given the maritime sector’s ~3% contribution to green house gas (GHG) emissions. The review paper, based on research articles and grey literature, discusses technoeconomic problems and/or benefits for technologies that will help the shipping sector achieve the IMO’s targets. The review presents a discussion on the recent literature regarding alternative fuels (nuclear, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol), renewable energy sources (biofuels, wind, solar), the maturity of technologies (fuel cells, internal combustion engines) as well as technical and operational strategies to reduce fuel consumption for new and existing ships (slow steaming, cleaning and coating, waste heat recovery, hull and propeller design). The IMO’s 2050 targets will be achieved via radical technology shift together with the aid of social pressure, financial incentives, regulatory and legislative reforms at the local, regional and international level.

Abstract Background Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is used for the diagnosis and monitoring of asthma, although its utility to guide treatment and its correlation with other tools is still under discussion. We study the possibility to withdraw inhaled corticosteroid treatment in atopic patients with mild asthma based on the FeNO level, as well as to study its correlation with other clinical control tools. Methods Prospective and randomized study including atopic patients aged 18 to 65 with mild asthma, stable, on low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment, who had their treatment withdrawn based on a FeNO level of 40 ppb. Patients were randomized into two groups: control group (treatment with ICS was withdrawn regardless of FeNO level) and experimental group (according to the FeNO levels, patients were assigned to one of two groups: FeNO > 40 ppb on treatment with budesonide 200 mcg every 12 h and SABA on demand; FeNO ≤ 40 ppb only with SABA on demand). Follow-up was conducted for one year, during which medical assessment was performed with FeNO measurements, asthma control test (ACT), lung function tests (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and RV/TLC), and recording of the number of exacerbations. Results Ninety-two patients were included, with a mean age of 39.92 years (SD 13.99); 46 patients were assigned to the control group, and 46 patients to the experimental group. The number of exacerbations was similar between the groups (p = 0.301), while the time to the first exacerbation was significantly shorter in the control group (30.86 vs. 99.00 days), p 0.05). Both FeNO and ACT showed significant changes in the groups in which ICS was withdrawn (p

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity between genotypes based on the physical, chemical and physicochemical characteristics of araçá-boi in tropical conditions. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Roraima, in the municipality of Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. Genotypes were obtained in the F1 generation, through open pollination. Twelve plants were evaluated, with 10 fruits being collected per plant. The physical and physicalchemical characteristics of the fruits were evaluated: fresh mass, length and diameter of the fruits, pulp yield, firmness, mass of the pulp, peel and seeds, number of seeds, soluble solids, tritratable acidity, pH, ratio SS/AT and vitamin C from fruits. The araçá-boi genotypes showed medium to high genetic variability, obtaining averages for the physical and physicalchemical characteristics higher than those observed in the literature. G genotypes A9, A10 and A6 adopted fruits with larger sizes and produced a greater number of fruits genotypes A1 obtained fruits with higher organoleptic quality. Genotypes A3 produced fruits with higher levels of Vitamin C and fruits with greater firmness. Genotypes A3, A6, A9 and A10 were promising with high agronomic potential and could be selected for the genetic improvement program of the species.

Extended Abstract Background: The increased demand for cereals that are consumed by humans and livestock can be met through the development of planting drought-tolerant genotypes. Due to the interaction of genotypes × environment, the best genotype in one environment may not be the best in other environments, and therefore, this interaction provides valuable information about the yield of each genotype in different environments and plays an important role in evaluating yield stability. Genetic modification of drought tolerance in crops is one of the most stable and cost-effective approaches to increase production and yield stability. Examining the compatibility and stability of grain yield based on various parametric and non-parametric stability statistics and evaluating tolerance to drought stress based on stress indices in promising barley genotypes of the country's temperate climate are among the goals of this research. Methods: To assess grain yield adaptation and stability and to select high-yielding barley genotypes suitable for terminal drought stress in the temperate climate of Iran, 16 barley genotypes were cultivated during two crop years 2021-2023 in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in three research stations including Varamin, Birjand, and Yazd under two none-stress and drought stress conditions at the end of the season (12 environments). After determining the grain yield, stress indices, including MP, GMP, TOL, HARM, STI, YI, YSI, RSI, and SSI, and the correlation of each with grain yield were calculated in this study. Stability statistics included Nassar and Huehn’s stability statistics (S(1-6)), Thennarasu’s stability statistics (NP(1-4)), deviation from regression (S²dᵢ), regression coefficient (b), Shukla’s stability variance (σ²ᵢ), environmental variation coefficient (CV), variance component (θᵢ), coefficient of variance (θ(i)), Wricke’s ecovalence (Wᵢ²), and Kang’s sum of ranks (KR). Their relationships were calculated based on Pearson’s correlation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), mean comparison, and simple correlation were calculated using the SAS-9.0 program, stability statistics were calculated using STABILITYSOFT and principal component analysis (PCA). Stress indices and the correlation of each of these indices with grain yield were calculated using iPASTIC. The three-dimensional distribution diagram of genotypes in the ranges of A, B, C, and D was drawn using Grapher software. Results: The results of the combined ANOVA indicated the significance of the genotype × environment interaction. According to S(1-2) statistics, G7, G10, G11, and G3, and according to S(3-6) statistics, G7, G3, and G9 were the most stable genotypes. Among the non-parametric Thennarasu’s stability statistics according to the NP(1) criterion of G9, G3, and G5, according to NP(2) G5, G3, and G8, and according to NP(3) and NP(4) criteria, G7, G3, and G9 were recognized as the most stable genotypes. Based on Wricke (W²) and Shukla (σ²) equivalency stability statistics, G3, G9, and G13 were the most stable genotypes. Based on Eberhart and Russell's regression method, G9, G7, and G3 genotypes, with high yields, had general compatibility and good yield stability. Based on Francis and Kannenberg (CVi), genotypes G1, G2, and G15 had the lowest coefficients of environmental variation. Based on the average rank of each genotype in all stress indices (AR), G2, G7, and G3 genotypes were the most tolerant, and G14, G11, and G10 were the most sensitive genotypes to drought stress at the end of seasons, respectively. In the drought stress conditions at the end of the season, grain yield had positive and significant correlations with YI, HM, GMP, STI, MP, YSI, and RSI indices and negative and significant correlations with the SSI index. In non-stress conditions, grain yield had positive and significant correlations with MP, GMP, STI, HM, and YI indices, but no significant correlations were observed between grain yield and SSI, TOL, YSI, and RSI indices. The PCA revealed that the first and the second principal components explained 69.71% and 30.27% of the variance of the main variables, respectively. The first main component had a positive and high correlation with yield in both stressed and non-stressed environments, as well as MP, STI, GMP, and HM indices. The second component showed a positive and high correlation with grain yield in the non-stressed environment and TOL and SSI indices; it also had negative and high correlations with RSI and YSI indices. Based on the biplot diagram, G3, G7, G8, G9, G12, and G13 presented higher grain yield potential and are more tolerant to drought stress. Conclusion: In this study, grain yield had negative and significant correlations with NP(3), KR, NP(2), NP(4), S(6), and S(1) statistics, respectively, therefore these statistics can be used for identifying stable genotypes. G3, G7, and G9 with averages of 6732.9, 6730.6, and 6608.1 kg/ha, respectively, not only produced the highest grain yield but also showed the highest grain yield stability and tolerance to terminal drought stress among the studied genotypes based on the total ranking of all studied stability statistics and stress indices. Therefore, they can be used as new cultivars in drought-affected regions in temperate climates or as desirable genetic materials in barley breeding programs for drought tolerance.

Improving the crop yield by conventional breeding methods and selection of genetically modified genotypes are the basic approaches to produce tolerance against salinity stress. In total 20 wheat genotypes and cultivars in non-stress and salinity stress environments were evaluated during the cropping years of 2015-2016 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The amount of dry matter during pollination and maturity stages was higher in non-stress conditions than in salinity stress. The results showed that exposure to salinity stress significantly increased dry matter remobilization and decreased current photosynthesis in wheat. The dry matter remobilization rate and its efficiency in genotypes No. 14, 16, and Arg cultivar and the dry matter remobilization ratio in genotypes No. 9, 5, and 14 were higher than others. Also, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the first principal component (PC1) had a high positive correlation with grain yield under stress conditions (Ys) and MP, STI, GMP, HM, YI, and RSI indices, and the second principal component (PC2) had a high positive correlation with grain yield under non-stress conditions (Yp) and TOL and SSI indices. According to the biplot diagram, genotypes No. 16 and 14 with more value of PC1 and less value of PC2 identified as the most tolerant genotypes to salinity stress.

The E. stipitata is a native fruit tree from the Amazon, currently in the domestication phase due to its high nutritional and economic potential. In this process, studies aiming at the technical feasibility of propagating materials with desirable agronomic qualities are necessary but still incipient. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate different grafting methods forE. stipitata propagation and the compatibility between scion and rootstock using anatomical analysis as a tool. For the experiment, a randomized block design was used in a split-plot scheme over time, with three replications. The plots consisted of three grafting types: cleft grafting, side-veneer grafting, and budding. The subplots were four evaluation times: 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after grafting (DAG). The evaluated variables were the grafting success rate, the number of shoots per graft, shoot length, and shoot diameter. There was a significant interaction between the factors under study. During the experimental period, an increasing grafting success rate and the number of shoots emitted were observed for budding, although with a low success rate. Through cleft grafting, there was a complete loss of shoots at 120 DAG, leading to the subsequent death of all tissues. Budding grafting appears as a promising method for E. stipitata propagation, demonstrating vascular tissue connection feasibility, although this effect did not reflect in the grafting success rate.

Myrciaria dubia (caçari or camu-camu) is a species with great relevance because of its high levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. The species is propagated mainly by seed, which leads to high genetic diversity. Producing plants that maintain their characteristics on a large scale at a low cost is a challenge for fruit species, especially in the Myrtaceae family. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the effects of different plant growth regulators at various concentrations for the induction of somatic embryogenesis from caçari nodal segments and leaf disk explants. Two independent experiments were performed using nodal segments and leaf disks from plants grown in the greenhouse. In the first experiment, the combined effect of auxin and cytokinin at different concentrations was evaluated: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg⋅L–1; and benzylaminopurine at 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg⋅L–1). In the second experiment, the application of different plant growth regulators (benzylaminopurine, kinetin, thidiazuron, and isopentenyl adenine) and their concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mg⋅L–1) were evaluated. In both experiments, the basic culture medium was woody plant medium. Callus formation via nodal segments and leaf disks occurred in the first 30 d from cultivation and proved to be responsive to induction by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and benzylaminopurine. Auxin proved to be essential for somatic embryogenesis induction in nodal segments using 1 and 4 mg⋅L–1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid alone. The results of this experiment will help advancing protocols for regeneration of somatic embryos and elucidating the physiological, molecular, and genetic mechanisms involved in the process of somatic embryogenesis for M. dubia. The development of an efficient protocol for in vitro clonal propagation of this species also lays the groundwork for further optimization of the system for genetic transformation.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of plant regulators (gibberellic acid and naphthalene acetic acid) and adjuvant LI 700® with and without hand pollination on the fruiting and quality of Annona squamosa L. cultivars. The experiment was conducted in the experimental orchard of the Florida Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC/UF) in Homestead, Florida, USA. The experimental design in random blocks comprised 14 treatments, 10 repetitions and 3 flowers per treatment and per tree for ‘Red’ and ‘Lessard Thai’ cultivars. To assess quality, 9 fruit from each treatment were used, with 3 repetitions and 3 fruit per repetition. High instability was observed in fruit fixation rates between cultivars. The application of growth regulators did not increase fruit fixation in the tested cultivars. The application of naphthalene acetic acid had a deleterious effect on the flowers of the sugar apple cultivars. The most uneven (asymmetrical) fruit was obtained in the treatments with the application of growth regulators. The application of the adjuvant showed toxicity, causing damage to the skin of the fruit. The fruit with the greatest symmetry had the lowest levels of soluble solids and the highest toxicity. The application of growth regulators associated with hand pollination was not efficient, presenting a low percentage of fruit fixation for Annonaceae cultivars. None of the studied treatments produced parthenocarpic fruit (without seeds). The utilization of an adjuvant in the applied concentration caused damage to the fruit peels (darkening) due to toxicity in both cultivars.

The beneficial health effects of prebiotics have been demonstrated in numerous research papers. However, their incorporation into daily food remains unfamiliar to consumers. This work evaluates the effects of the addition of resistant maltodextrin (RMD) on the sensory attributes of pasteurised orange juice, together with the physico-chemical properties and the aromatic profile. RMD addition increased the sweetness and decreased the acidity and bitterness, resulting in a higher overall panellists’ rating of orange juice. It also proportionally increased °Brix together with density and decreased acidity. Colour changes were registered with higher RMD concentrations. Orange pulp presence affected the volume particle size distribution analysis, while RMD addition did not have any effect. The aroma volatile compounds were also analysed. Pulp-added samples showed a higher quantity of alcohol and aldehydes, whereas pulp-free samples registered higher terpene and terpenoid values. Ketones and acids were also quantified. RMD had a moderate impact on volatile compound quantifications, with the orange pulp presence playing a much more decisive role. A correspondence analysis was also performed to relate instrumental and sensory determinations for all samples. This work proves that the addition of RMD to orange juice is technologically feasible while also achieving a good response at the sensory level.

The objective was to study the effectiveness of the growth regulator (ANA + GA3) associated or not to the application of adjuvant and artificial pollination in ‘Gefner’ atemoya. The experiment was conducted in the experimental orchard at Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center. The experimental design was in a randomized block, with 14 treatments, 10 repetitions and 3 flowers per plot. The highest percentages of fixed fruits were obtained with hand pollination – HP and 450 NAA + 1250 GA3 mg L-1 + adjuvant and HP. The use of hand pollination for ‘Gefner’ atemoya tree proved to be the most efficient method so far. Applying growth regulator without artificial pollination produces parthenocarpic fruits, however with high rate of abortions, and small fruits. Growth regulators together with hand pollination produces small and uneven fruits, and cause reduction in the fruits’ titratable acidity. The use of adjuvant caused low fixation and toxicity to fruits, and its use is not recommended.

Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) is an exotic fruit species of significant economic importance. However, due to genetic variability, its exploitation is hampered by the lack of homogeneous fruit production. In this scenario, this study aimed to select pitanga genotypes according to the physical and physicochemical parameters of fruits grown under semi-arid conditions. The study was developed at the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region with genotypes resulting from the open pollination of the pitanga variety ‘Tropicana”. Thirty-nine pitanga genotypes were evaluated for fruit mass, fruit length, fruit diameter, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid (AA), pH, and SS/TA ratio. The pitanga genotypes showed high variability. The clustering method separated the genotypes according to desirable traits. Genotype A12 showed the largest fruit sizes, whereas genotype A8 showed the highest SS and TA contents. Genotypes A2, A13, A34, and A39 showed fruits with the highest AT values. On the other hand, genotypes A11, A16, A45, A9, A26, and A44 showed the most significant contents of pH and SS/TA. Highlights • The grouping of two genotypes depends on the environmental conditions, mainly on the effect of two genotypes per year. • The analysis of principal components allows selecting the genotypes based on their desired characteristics. • The physical and chemical composition of two pitanga fruits are affected by climatic conditions, genotypes and years of cultivation.

To investigate the effect of different green manures from Gramineae and Brassicaceae families on yield, some agronomic traits of forage maize, overgrowth with weeds and soil organic matter, an experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications for three consecutive years (2017-2020) at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre of Southern Khorasan. Experimental treatments included control (without application of green manure) and application of green manures from the cultivation of barley, triticale, canola, arugula with their optimum and twice optimum densities. The results showed that barley and triticale at twice optimum density with 865.7 and 802.9 g m-2, respectively, had a higher green manure dry mass at the time of returning to the soil. Just before maize cultivation, soil organic matter with an average of 0.73 % was higher in barley green manure at twice optimum density compared to other treatments. Based on the results, the highest maize forage yield with 45.7 and 44.9 t ha-1 were achieved after treatment with barley green manure in twice optimum and optimum density (22.8 and 20.7 percent more than control treatment) and after that triticale in both densities, and canola and arugula at twice optimum density had the highest yield.

Abstract As complex systems, maritime vessels generate and require the utilization of large amounts of data for maximum efficiency. Designing, developing, and deploying these systems in a digital world requires rethinking how people interact and utilize technology throughout all areas of the industry. With growing interests in Industry 4.0, there are broad opportunities for the incorporation and development of new digital solutions that will support the improvement and optimization of next generation systems. However, while different technologies have been deployed with various levels of success the current challenge is not generating data but being able to harmoniously integrate different data streams into the decision‐making process. To support the development of next generation vessels, a comprehensive understanding of Maritime 4.0 is necessary. Current conceptions of 4.0 within the industry remain ambiguous and based on our research, have demonstrated a divergence in the levels of technological maturity and digital solutions in different industry sectors. This study leverages current state‐of‐the‐art literature and a series of interviews to formulate a descriptive definition of Maritime 4.0 that incorporates technologies that can be integrated to support decision‐making. Through a rigorous, empirically grounded, and contextually relevant approach, the contribution of this study is the establishment of an organized set of technologies and characteristics related to 4.0 and establishment of a practical definition.

Neuromorphic systems open up opportunities to enlarge the explorative space for computational research. However, it is often challenging to unite efficiency and usability. This work presents the software aspects of this endeavor for the BrainScaleS-2 system, a hybrid accelerated neuromorphic hardware architecture based on physical modeling. We introduce key aspects of the BrainScaleS-2 Operating System: experiment workflow, API layering, software design, and platform operation. We present use cases to discuss and derive requirements for the software and showcase the implementation. The focus lies on novel system and software features such as multi-compartmental neurons, fast re-configuration for hardware-in-the-loop training, applications for the embedded processors, the non-spiking operation mode, interactive platform access, and sustainable hardware/software co-development. Finally, we discuss further developments in terms of hardware scale-up, system usability, and efficiency.

O desenvolvimento inicial das pitayas pode ser limitado por alguns fatores, entre eles a escassez de água. Os hidrogeis agrícolas podem ser usados como alternativa para aumentar a retenção ea disponibilidade de água e nutrientes no solo. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a frequência de irrigação e das doses de hidrogel no desenvolvimento de mudas de pitaya branca ( Hylocereus undatus ). Buscar estabelecer um intervalo de tempo em dias entre as irrigações que proporcionam o melhor desenvolvimento das mudas e determinar a dose de hidrogel que oferece uma redução do consumo de água sem prejudicar o desenvolvimento das mudas.O delineamento utilizado para blocos ao acaso (DBC) em esquema fatorial 4 x 4, em que os correspondam a 4 doses de hidrogel (0, 2, 4 e 6 g planta -1 de Biogel Hidro Plus) incorporado ao substrato e quatro frequências de irrigação (1, 3, 5 e 7 dias). Após 120 dias, foram tomadas como características biométricas, pigmentos fotossintéticos, solutos orgânicos e inorgânicos das plantas. O uso da irrigação diária influencia negativamente a maioria das variáveis analisadas das mudas de pitaya, que têm maior desenvolvimento quando se utiliza uma frequência de irrigação em torno de 3 dias. Para as condições de teste, uma aplicação de 6 g planta -1de hidrogel proporcionou como maiores médias para o acúmulo de biomassa seca, pigmentos fotossintéticos, solutos orgânicos e inorgânicos. Uma incorporação com o incremento de hidrogel o intervalo entre as irrigações em 1 dia sem prejuízo ao desenvolvimento das mudas.

The need to diversify agricultural production has fostered the cultivation of several crops under environmental conditions atypical to their origin, justifying the extreme importance of studies on the agricultural management of crops in semiarid regions. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of irrigation depth and potassium doses on fig quality under semiarid conditions. The experiment was conducted in a 4 × 4 split-split-plot design, in randomized block design, with three replicates. The plots corresponded to four irrigation levels (50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% ETc), the subplots consisted of four potassium doses (0, 60, 120, and 240 g K2O plant−1), and the sub-subplot corresponded to the crop years (2018/19 and 2019/20). Results showed that water deficit reduced fig productivity, and the irrigation levels equal to or greater than 100% ETc performed cumulatively throughout the growing cycles. Therefore, irrigation depths from 85.19% to 95.16% ETc are recommended for greater water-use efficiency and fruit quality. Furthermore, potassium fertilization mitigated water stress in fig plants, allowing for reduced irrigation levels, especially in the second year, without compromising fruit traits.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of and the content of bioactive compounds in camu-camu fruits harvested at different maturation stages and stored. The fruits were harvested in the municipality of Cantá, Roraima State, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three replications, in a factorial arrangement consisting of three different maturation stages (immature, semi-mature and mature) and eight days of storage (3 x 8). The fruits were analysed every day regarding total vitamin C, carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH). According to the results obtained, the interaction of maturation stages x eight days of storage had a significant effect according to the F test at 5% probability. The highest antioxidant activity (FRAP) was observed in the fruits harvested in the semi-mature stage, providing a longer shelf life. The carotenoid pigment, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and vitamin C contents were higher in the fruits harvested in the mature stage, and this stage was the most suitable for obtaining these functional biocompounds. Additionally, in mature fruits, the highest mean content of total phenolics and antioxidant activity (DPPH) were observed during storage. It was concluded that the mature stage is the most recommended for the extraction of pigments and antioxidant biocompounds from camu-camu fruits.

Sugar apples have attracted attention in recent years due to their medicinal and nutritional properties. However, the shelf life of sugar apples is one of the most concerning problems owing to their perishability. This work aimed to determine the ideal harvest time for sugar apple fruits in relation to different classes of carpel interspaces. Therefore, fruits were classified into three stages according to the carpel interspace: stage 1 (0.0 - 2.0 mm); stage 2 (2.1 - 3.0 mm); and stage 3 (3.0 - 4.0 mm). After harvesting, the fruits were evaluated daily in the laboratory regarding their physical and physicochemical aspects until they reached the point of consumption (horticultural maturation). The following variables were evaluated: fruit diameter and length (mm); fruit, peel, pulp, and seed masses (g); color index, including the chromatic attributes L* (luminosity), C* (chroma), and h* (hue angle); bark firmness (N); soluble solids (°Brix); titratable acidity (g citric acid 100 g-1 of pulp-1); pulp yield; and ratio SS/TA. Fruits at stage 3 showed larger diameters, less firmness, and better chromaticity means. Fruits at stages 2 and 3 had eight days of postharvest life. However, fruits at stage 2 took longer for 50% of the fruits to be ready for consumption. The results demonstrate that stages 2 and 3 can be determinants for the harvest time of sugar apples.

Resistant maltodextrin (RMD) is a water-soluble and fermentable functional fiber. RMD is a satiating prebiotic, reducer of glucose and triglycerides in the blood, and promoter of good gut health, and its addition to food is increasingly frequent. Therefore, it is necessary to study its potential effects on intrinsic bioactive compounds of food and their bioaccessibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding RMD on the bioactive compounds of pasteurized orange juice with and without pulp, and the bioaccessibility of such compounds. RMD was added at different concentrations: 0 (control sample), 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%. Ascorbic acid (AA) and vitamin C were analyzed using HPLC, whereas total phenols, total carotenoids (TC), and antioxidant capacity were measured using spectrophotometry. After that, sample in vitro digestibility was assessed using the standardized static in vitro digestion method. The control orange juice with pulp presented significantly higher values of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity than the control orange juice without pulp (p < 0.05). RMD addition before the juice pasteurization process significantly protected all bioactive compounds, namely total phenols, TC, AA, and vitamin C, as well as the antioxidant capacity (AC) (p < 0.05). Moreover, this bioactive compound protective effect was higher when higher RMD concentrations were added. However, RMD addition improved phenols and vitamin C bioaccessibility but decreased TC and AA bioaccessibility. Therefore, the AC value of samples after gastrointestinal digestion was slightly decreased by RMD addition. Moreover, orange pulp presence decreased total phenols and TC bioaccessibility but increased AA and vitamin C bioaccessibility.

The Araca-boi is a native fruit of the Amazon region and its fruits have great potential for agro-industrial use due to the intrinsic characteristics of the pulp. The seeds are dormant and the primary cause could be due to the presence of inhibiting chemicals germination and can also be caused by the impermeability in tegument. The objective of this study was to assess the osmopriming efficiency promoted by Sucrose (C12H22O11) and Potassium Nitrate (KNO3 ) on germination of seeds of araca-boi in different immersion times. Thus, the seeds were osmoconditioned in following solutions: C12H22O11, KNO3 , KNO3 + C12H22O11 and H2 O, by period of 6, 12 and 24 h. Throughout of 70 days were evaluated the germination percentage and germination rate (index). The experiment is based on a completely randomized in a factorial analysis 4x3 with four replications of 10 seeds. The osmopriming of Araca-boi seed in KNO3 solution was shown to be efficient both to promote germination and the germination rate. The Araca-boi seeds osmoconditioned in KNO3 solution has an average efficiency of 99% in the germination percentage up to 70 days. The osmopriming period showed no influence on seed germination of the seeds of Araca-boi.

O The cupuassu can be propagated either sexually or asexually, with seeds being the process most widely employed. Suitable environments for the production of seedlings can therefore provide better conditions for initial growth in the field, and contribute to an increase in the homogeneity and health, and to a reduction in the mortality of plants when planting, with factors such as light and type of substrate being important for germination and initial emergence. To this effect, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different substrates, and the influence of shading on emergence and initial growth in cupuassu seedlings. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Roraima, using a completely randomised design in a 3 x 7 factorial scheme, comprising different environments (a plot with no covering, a plot with sombrite covering, giving 50% shade, and a plot with a clear-plastic, 100-micron covering) combined with different substrates (sand, soil, vivatto®, sawdust, sand+soil, sand+soil+vivatto® and sand+soil+sawdust). Percentage emergence and emergence speed index (ESI) were evaluated at five days after seeding, and shoot length, number of leaves, leaf area, root-system length, stem diameter, and shoot and root-system dry weight were evaluated at 50 days. It was found that the best values for percentage emergence, ESI and initial development of the cupuassu seedlings were obtained when using a substrate consisting of sand+soil+sawdust. The environment with 50% shade affords greater percentage emergence, ESI, stem diameter and root dry mass. = O cupuaçu pode ser propagado por via sexuada ou assexuada, sendo a via seminífera o processo mais utilizado. Dessa forma, ambientes apropriados para a produção de mudas propiciam melhores condições para o crescimento inicial em campo, colaborando para o aumento da homogeneidade, sanidade e redução da mortalidade de plantas no momento do plantio. Assim, fatores como luz e tipo de substrato são importantes para a germinação de sementes e emergência inicial de plantas. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o efeito de diferentes substratos, bem como a influência do sombreamento na emergência e no crescimento inicial de plântulas de cupuaçu. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Roraima, utilizando-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 7, constituídos de diferentes ambientes (canteiro sem cobertura, canteiro com cobertura tipo sombrite de 50% de luminosidade e canteiro com cobertura plástica transparente de 100 micras), combinados com diferentes substratos (areia, solo, vivatto®, serragem, areia+solo, areia+solo+vivatto® e areia+solo+serragem). Após a semeadura, avaliou-se a porcentagem de emergência e o índice de velocidade de emergência no intervalo de cinco dias, quando, ao final dos 50 dias, avaliou-se o comprimento da parte aérea, o número de folhas, a área foliar, o comprimento do sistema radicular, o diâmetro do caule, a massa seca da parte aérea e do sistema radicular. Observou-se que maior porcentagem de emergência, IVE e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de cupuaçuzeiro são obtidos ao se utilizar substrato constituído por areia+solo+serragem. O ambiente com sombreamento de 50% de luminosidade proporciona maior porcentagem de emergência, IVE, diâmetro do colo e massa seca do sistema radicular.

Resistant maltodextrin (RMD) is a water-soluble fibre that can be fermented in the colon and exert prebiotic effects. Therefore, its addition to food and beverage products could be beneficial from both technological and nutritional viewpoints. However, to date, most studies have focused on the stability of the prebiotic fibre rather than its impact in the original food matrices. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the addition of RMD on the physico-chemical properties of pasteurised orange juice (with and without pulp). °Brix, pH, acidity, particle size distribution, density, turbidity, rheology, and colour were measured in orange juices with increasing RMD concentrations (2.5, 5, and 7.5%). Control samples without RMD were also prepared. RMD added soluble solids to the orange juice, affecting the °Brix, density, turbidity, and rheology. Slight colour differences were observed, and lower citric acid content was achieved because of orange juice replacement with RMD. Differences in particle size distribution were exclusively because of pulp content. Further studies are needed to elucidate if potential consumers will appreciate such physico-chemical changes in organoleptic terms.

The tomato easily deteriorates post-harvest, even under refrigeration. The aim of this work therefore was to evaluate the effect of levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVC) for different periods of storage, on refrigerated ‘Pitenza’ tomatoes. The fruit were harvested and immediately transported to the laboratory where they were kept at 12 ± 1 °C for 12 hours. The fruit were sorted, and later subjected to levels of UVC radiation: 0 (control), 2.27, 4.54 and 7.19 kJ m-2. They were then stored under refrigeration at 12 ± 1 °C and 90-95% RH for 21 days. Every 7 days for a period of 21 days, an analysis was made of the hydrogen ion potential, ascorbic acid, peroxidase, lycopene and lipoxygenase. The experimental design was completely randomised, in a 4x4 factorial (level x time), with three replications. For enzyme activity, as well as for lycopene and ascorbic acid levels, no interaction was seen between the factors level x time, with a statistical difference only being noted for the level of radiation. By the end, it could be seen that fruits submitted to levels of 2.27 and 4.54 kJ m-2 displayed a positive effect on the quality of the tomatoes from the UVC radiation. = O tomate se deteriora facilmente em pós-colheita, até mesmo quando submetido à refrigeração. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de doses de radiação ultravioleta (UV-C) em diferentes tempos de conservação de tomates ‘Pitenza’ refrigerados. Os frutos foram colhidos e imediatamente transportados ao laboratório, onde foram mantidos a 12 ± 1 0C, por 12 horas. Posteriormente, os frutos foram padronizados, sendo submetidos às doses de radiação UV-C 0 (controle); 2,27; 4,54 e 7,19 kJ m-2 e armazenados sob refrigeração a 12 ± 1 oC e 90-95% de UR, por 21 dias. Realizaram-se análises a cada 7 dias, em um período de 21 dias, quanto ao potencial hidrogeniônico, ácido ascórbico, peroxidase, licopeno e lipoxigenase. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4x4 (dose x tempo), com 3 repetições. Na atividade enzimática, bem como nos teores de licopeno e ácido ascórbico, não foi verificada a ocorrência da interação entre os fatores dose x tempo, somente sendo evidenciada a diferença estatística nas doses de radiação. Ao final, observou-se que os frutos submetidos às doses de 2,27 e 4,54 kJ m-2 demonstraram efeito positivo da radiação UV-C sobre a qualidade dos tomates.

Arsenic is a metalloid highly toxic to plants and animals, causing reduced plant growth and various health problems for humans and animals. Silicon, however, has excelled in alleviating stress caused by toxic elements in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Si in alleviating As stress in maize plants grown in a nutrient solution and evaluate the potential of the spectral emission parameters and the red fluorescence (Fr) and far-red fluorescence (FFr) ratio obtained in analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence in determination of this interaction. An experiment was carried out in a nutrient solution containing a toxic rate of As (68 μmol L-1) and six increasing rates of Si (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mmol L-1). Dry matter production and concentrations of As, Si, and photosynthetic pigments were then evaluated. Chlorophyll fluorescence was also measured throughout plant growth. Si has positive effects in alleviating As stress in maize plants, evidenced by the increase in photosynthetic pigments. Silicon application resulted in higher As levels in plant tissue; therefore, using Si for soil phytoremediation may be a promising choice. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis proved to be a sensitive tool, and it can be successfully used in the study of the ameliorating effects of Si in plant protection, with the Fr/FFr ratio as the variable recommended for identification of temporal changes in plants.

En este trabajo presentamos una manera distinta de probar la buena definición de la Trayectoria Central. Concepto derivado de la teoría de los métodos de punto interior. Para tal fin vamos a utilizar el concepto (muy poco utilizado) de Cono de Recesión.

Araçà-boi is a fruit, which awakes great interest for presenting pulp of quality. Their seeds are recalcitrant and present a relatively short period of viability. The water absorption by seeds is a mechanism of growth resuming of the embryo with a subsequent of the tegument breakage by the radical. The seed electric conductivity is a vigor testing is directly related to the membrane permeability. Study of the curve of water absorption by the araçá-boi seeds will contribute to characterize their germination process. In this context, studies concerned with seeds were conducted, which characterized the mass, biometrics, water content, electric conductivity and water imbibition by seeds. It was found that the population of plants established in Manaus-AM produces small, medium and large seeds and which present 70.2, 68.2 and 47.5% of moisture. The greatest water increase takes place in the first hour of absorption, regardless of the size of seeds and water absorption velocity is not influenced by their size. The imbibition curves characterized in the 144-hour period, independent of the size of seeds, show changes of two physiological phases. Both the large and medium seeds present smaller conductivity values, obtaining smaller percentages of germination for possessing increased vigor indices.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a fleshy fruit that presents a rapid pulp softening during ripening. However, the timeline on how papaya pectinases act in polysaccharide solubilization and the consequent modification of the cell wall fractions during ripening is still not clear. In this work, the gene expression correlations between, on one hand, 16 enzymes potentially acting during papaya cell wall disassembling and, on the other hand, the monosaccharide composition of cell wall fractions during papaya ripening were evaluated. In order to explain differences in the ripening of papaya samplings, the molecular mass distribution of polysaccharides from water-soluble and oxalate-soluble fractions (WSF and OSF, respectively), as well as the oligosaccharide profiling from the WSF fraction, were evaluated by high performance size exclusion chromatography coupled to a refractive index detector (HPSEC-RID) and high performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled to pulse amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) analyses, respectively. Results showed that up-regulated polygalacturonase and β-galactosidase genes were positively correlated with some monosaccharide profiles. In addition, an overall increase in the retention time of high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) polysaccharides in WSF and OSF was shown. The apparent disappearance of one HMW peak of the OSF may result from the conversion of pectin that were crosslinked with calcium into more soluble forms through the action of PGs, which would increase the solubilization of polysaccharides by lowering their molecular weight. Thus, the results allowed us to propose a detailed process of papaya cell wall disassembling that would affect sensorial properties and post-harvesting losses of this commercially important fruit.

O cupuaçu pode ser propagado por via sexuada ou assexuada, sendo a via seminífera o processo mais utilizado. Dessa forma, ambientes apropriados para a produção de mudas propiciam melhores condições para o crescimento inicial em campo, colaborando para o aumento da homogeneidade, sanidade e redução da mortalidade de plantas no momento do plantio. Assim, fatores como luz e tipo de substrato são importantes para a germinação de sementes e emergência inicial de plantas. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o efeito de diferentes substratos, bem como a influência do sombreamento na emergência e no crescimento inicial de plântulas de cupuaçu. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Roraima, utilizando-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 7, constituídos de diferentes ambientes (canteiro sem cobertura, canteiro com cobertura tipo sombrite de 50% de luminosidade e canteiro com cobertura plástica transparente de 100 micras), combinados com diferentes substratos (areia, solo, vivatto®, serragem, areia+solo, areia+solo+vivatto® e areia+solo+serragem). Após a semeadura, avaliou-se a porcentagem de emergência e o índice de velocidade de emergência no intervalo de cinco dias, quando, ao final dos 50 dias, avaliou-se o comprimento da parte aérea, o número de folhas, a área foliar, o comprimento do sistema radicular, o diâmetro do caule, a massa seca da parte aérea e do sistema radicular. Observou-se que maior porcentagem de emergência, IVE e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de cupuaçuzeiro são obtidos ao se utilizar substrato constituído por areia+solo+serragem. O ambiente com sombreamento de 50% de luminosidade proporciona maior porcentagem de emergência, IVE, diâmetro do colo e massa seca do sistema radicular.

O Brasil destaca-se por ser o maior produtor de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) e por dominar todos os estágios da tecnologia de produção de açúcar e etanol. Atualmente se observa a expansão dessa cultura para a região semiárida brasileira, a qual apresenta solos propensos à salinização. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a resposta à salinidade de duas variedades de cana-de-açúcar. O ensaio foi implantado em casa de vegetação, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 8 com cinco repetições, correspondendo a duas variedades de cana-de-açúcar (RB867515 e RB863129) e oito níveis de NaCl (0; 25; 50; 75; 100; 125; 150; 200 mM de NaCl). A salinidade induziu aumento na fluorescência e diminuição na concentração de clorofila em ambas as variedades. A redução da clorofila, entretanto, foi maior na variedade RB867515. Observou-se, nesta mesma variedade, aumento da atividade da peroxidase do ascorbato (APX) e da catalase (CAT), enquanto na variedade RB863129 ocorreu redução na atividade dessas enzimas. Esses resultados indicam que a variedade RB867515 apresenta um mecanismo mais eficiente na proteção da planta contra danos no aparato fotoquímico e contra a ação de espécies reativas de oxigênio, em particular o H2O2.Brazil is seen as being the largest producer of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and of mastering all stages in the production of sugar and ethanol. Currently this production is being expanded into the semi-arid regions of Brazil, where there are soil-types prone to salinity. This study aimed to evaluate the response to salinity in two sugarcane genotypes, RB867515 and RB863129. Salinity caused an increase in chlorophyll fluorescence and a reduction of chlorophyll concentration in both varieties. The reduction of chlorophyll however was higher in RB867515. In this same type, an increase in the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) was observed, while in genotype RB863129 there was a reduction in the activity of these two enzymes. These results show that RB867515 has a mechanism which better protects the plant against damage to the photochemical system and the action of reactive oxygen species, particularly H2O2.

O tomate se deteriora facilmente em pós-colheita, até mesmo quando submetido à refrigeração. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de doses de radiação ultravioleta (UV-C) em diferentes tempos de conservação de tomates ‘Pitenza’ refrigerados. Os frutos foram colhidos e imediatamente transportados ao laboratório, onde foram mantidos a 12 ± 1 0C, por 12 horas. Posteriormente, os frutos foram padronizados, sendo submetidos às doses de radiação UV-C 0 (controle); 2,27; 4,54 e 7,19 kJ m-2 e armazenados sob refrigeração a 12 ± 1 oC e 90-95% de UR, por 21 dias. Realizaram-se análises a cada 7 dias, em um período de 21 dias, quanto ao potencial hidrogeniônico, ácido ascórbico, peroxidase, licopeno e lipoxigenase. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4x4 (dose x tempo), com 3 repetições. Na atividade enzimática, bem como nos teores de licopeno e ácido ascórbico, não foi verificada a ocorrência da interação entre os fatores dose x tempo, somente sendo evidenciada a diferença estatística nas doses de radiação. Ao final, observou-se que os frutos submetidos às doses de 2,27 e 4,54 kJ m-2 demonstraram efeito positivo da radiação UV-C sobre a qualidade dos tomates.

O tratamento endovascular dos aneurismas aórticos torácicos tem se desenvolvido consideravelmente nos últimos anos. No entanto, complicações tardias desta nova modalidade terapêutica apenas agora estão sendo observadas e analisadas. Fístulas aorto-esofágicas são complicações raras do tratamento endovascular dos aneurismas aórticos, sendo encontrados poucos relatos na literatura. O presente caso reporta um paciente com aneurisma aórtico torácico tratado há 4 anos e complicado com fratura da endoprótese. Após nova intervenção endovascular, foi observada extrusão da antiga endoprótese através do esôfago com formação de fístula. Apesar do tratamento realizado, o paciente evoluiu a óbito 9 dias após por hemorragia digestiva maciça. Aspectos técnicos e revisão de literatura são discutidos.The endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms has undergone considerable development over the past years. However, late complications of this new therapeutic modality have only recently been observed and analyzed. Aortoesophageal fistulas are rare complications of the endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms, and there are few reports in the literature. We report a case of a patient with thoracic aortic aneurysm treated 4 years ago and with complications due to stent-graft fracture. After a new endovascular intervention, there was extrusion of the old graft through the esophagus with fistula formation. Despite the treatment, the patient died 9 days later due to massive digestive hemorrhage. Technical aspects and review of the literature are discussed.

O uso de cateteres venosos centrais em pacientes hemofílicos é muito freqüente, devido às próprias características terapêuticas da doença. As complicações desses procedimentos, tais como pseudo-aneurisma, geralmente são mais graves nesses pacientes. A correção cirúrgica do pseudo-aneurisma que acomete a artéria subclávia constitui um dos maiores desafios da cirurgia vascular. Em pacientes hemofílicos, à dificuldade habitual de exposição cirúrgica somam-se os problemas de alteração no processo normal de coagulação. Como alternativa ao tratamento cirúrgico convencional, a utilização de técnicas endovasculares constitui uma solução segura e com bons resultados.The placement of central venous catheters in hemophiliac patients is very frequent, due to the specific treatment characteristics of the disease. The complications of these procedures, such as pseudoaneurysm, are generally worse in such patients. Surgical treatment of subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm is known to be one of the greatest surgical challenges in vascular surgery. In hemophiliac patients, the alterations in the normal cascade of coagulation are added to the difficult surgical exposure. As an alternative to the usual surgical treatment, the use of endovascular techniques is a safe method and has good outcomes.

A pesar de la importancia que tiene la producción hortícola en el Ecuador para la reactivación de la economía campesina, en la agroindustria del tomate y la exportación de brócoli, la producción hortícola nacional depende casi totalmente de la importación de semillas. El principal proveedor de semillas hortícolas es Estados Unidos. Para algunos cultivos, las importaciones de semillas de este país representan más del 90 % del total. Esta gran dependencia a la importación de semillas va en detrimento de la soberanía alimentaria del país.

Combined effects of several complex phenomena cause the deterioration of elements of steel hydraulic structures on the nation’s lock systems: loss of protective systems, corrosion, cracking and fatigue, impacts, and overloads. This paper presents examples of deterioration of steel hydraulic structures. A method for predicting future deterioration based on current conditions is also presented. This paper also includes a procedure for developing deterioration curves when condition state data is available.

Case Description: A 21-year-old healthy female presented with severe left lateral hip pain beginning suddenly two weeks prior. Physical examination revealed zero degrees of left hip external rotation passive range of motion with a firm end feel and pain severity and irritability out of proportion to an expected musculoskeletal presentation. She was referred to her physician with a recommendation for imaging to determine the source of pain and appropriateness of physical therapy., Outcome: Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a foreign mass in her left gluteus medius muscle which biopsy revealed to be a desmoid fibromatosis., Conclusion: This case demonstrates a thorough differential diagnostic process leading to medical imaging referral in a patient with a non-musculoskeletal source of pain. Physical therapists must be diligent in their differential diagnostic process to ensure appropriateness of their treatments or the need for referral.

Several efforts have recently emerged to develop methods capable of determining groundwater natural background levels (NBLs) due to their utmost importance in assessing water quality. A recently developed systematic approach to derive NBLs is the Khadra-Stuyfzand (KS) scheme. It has a clear and standardized flow with multi-steps to eliminate biased or contaminated samples, and hence it is capable of dealing with different pollution sources as well as saltwater intrusion. This method was applied to the Koura-Tripoli-Zgharta (KTZ) Miocene aquifer of coastal North Lebanon. It derived baseline conditions for 2 physical, 16 chemical, and 3 bacteriological parameters in addition to 8 trace elements, and 83 pesticides, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds. The results revealed the extent of anthropogenic shift from background levels, and delineated the main contaminated spots. In fact, the established groundwater baseline composition is typical of limestone aquifers with oligohaline-fresh, moderate alkalinity, calcium bicarbonate water, under freshening conditions. Nonetheless, this quality is locally degraded by microbial contamination due to wastewater disposal sites, saltwater intrusion, and minor nutrient loading from agricultural activities and/or urban development. The measured concentrations of major water ions and a variety of drinking water contaminants (e.g. nutrients, pesticides, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals) are below human health benchmarks, but the microbiological content at several spots has exceeded the permissible limits which renders the water unsuitable for domestic use, and calls for prompt mitigation measures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Risk factors for postpartum depression in euthymic pregnant women with histories of major depressive disorder (MDD) were evaluated., Methods: From April 2003 to March 2009, 343 pregnant women with a history of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)-diagnosed major depressive disorder were prospectively assessed from the third trimester into the postpartum period using the SCID mood module and 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Data from 300 subjects who completed at least 2 mood module assessments (1 within 60 days before and the other within 60 days after delivery) were analyzed for predictive associations between variables assessed in the third trimester and the development of a postpartum depression., Results: The majority of women were euthymic in pregnancy by SCID criteria. Women with third trimester SCID-diagnosed depression (n = 45) versus euthymia (n = 255) had a significantly higher risk for having depression after delivery (24% vs 11%, P = .013). For pregnant euthymic women, third trimester total HDRS scores significantly predicted postpartum depression (P < .0001); specifically, scores on 3 HDRS items alone-work activities, early insomnia, and suicidality-significantly predicted postpartum depression. Antidepressant use in the third trimester in euthymic women did not confer protection against the onset of postpartum depression., Conclusions: Among women with a history of MDD who are euthymic in the third trimester, 3 HDRS items-work activities, early insomnia, and suicidality-may be useful as screening items for clinicians working with pregnant women with histories of MDD to identify a group at risk for developing postpartum depression. Additionally, in euthymic women with a history of MDD, antidepressant use in the third trimester may not reduce the risk of developing postpartum depression., (© Copyright 2017 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.)

Though essential to athletic performance, the ability to land from a jump often remains limited following injury. While recommended, jump training is difficult to include in rehabilitation programs due to high impact forces. Body weight support (BWS) is frequently used in rehabilitation of gait following neurological and orthopedic injury, and may also allow improved rehabilitation of high-impact tasks. There is a differential effect of BWS on walking and running gaits, and the effect of BWS on movements with relatively large vertical displacement is unknown. The current study evaluates the effect of BWS on a replicable single-leg hopping task. We posited that progressive BWS would decrease limb loading while maintaining the joint kinematics of the task. Twenty-eight participants repetitively hopped on and off a box at each of four BWS levels. Peak vertical ground reaction forces decreased by 22.5% between 0% and 30% BWS (P < .001). Average hip, knee, and ankle internal moments decreased by 0.5 N·m/kg each. Slight kinematic changes across BWS levels were clinically insignificant. The high level of task specificity evidenced by consistent kinematics coupled with a similar reduction of internal moment at each joint suggests that BWS may be a useful strategy for rehabilitation of jumping tasks.

Background and Purpose: Patients frequently experience long-term deficits in functional activity following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and commonly present with decreased confidence and poor weight acceptance in the surgical knee. Adaptation of neuromuscular behaviors may be possible through plyometric training. Body weight support decreases intensity of landing sufficiently to allow increased training repetition. The purpose of this case report is to report the outcomes of a subject with a previous history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction treated with high repetition jump training coupled with body weight support (BWS) as a primary intervention strategy., Case Description: A 23-year old female, who had right ACL reconstruction seven years prior, presented with anterior knee pain and effusion following initiation of a running program. Following visual assessment of poor mechanics in single leg closed chain activities, landing mechanics were assessed using 3-D motion analysis of single leg landing off a 20 cm box. She then participated in an eight-week plyometric training program using a custom-designed body weight support system. The International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) and the ACL-Return to Sport Index (ACL-RSI) were administered at the start and end of treatment as well as at follow-up testing., Outcomes: The subject's IKDC and ACL-RSI scores increased with training from 68% and 43% to 90% and 84%, respectively, and were retained at follow-up testing. Peak knee and hip flexion angles during landing increased from 47 ° and 53 ° to 72 ° and 80 ° respectively. Vertical ground reaction forces in landing decreased with training from 3.8 N/kg to 3.2 N/kg. All changes were retained two months following completion of training., Discussion: The subject experienced meaningful changes in overall function. Retention of mechanical changes suggests that her new landing strategy had become a habitual pattern. Success with high volume plyometric training is possible when using BWS. Clinical investigation into the efficacy of body weight support as a training mechanism is needed., Level of Evidence: Level 4 - Case Report.

Introduction: The success of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing (MtbB) lineage in different geographical regions has been attributed to high transmission, increased virulence, drug resistance and rapid adaptation to the host. In some countries of secondary MtbB dispersion like South Africa and Peru, rising prevalence of the Beijing strains is registered. However, in neighboring countries to affected regions such as Mozambique and Brazil, respectively, the prevalence of these strains is still low and this could be due to biological particularities of the circulating MtbB strains and/or differentiated host susceptibility., Objective: To characterize genetically and phenotypically MtbB strains isolated in Brazil (n = 8) and Mozambique (n = 17)., Methods: This is a descriptive study of genotypes of the MtbB isolates, determined by spoligotyping, MIRU-VNTR typing, analysis of the IS6110 copy number in the NTF region and screening for mutations in mutT2, mutT4, rpoB, katG and pks 15/1 genes. Virulence-associated properties of the studied isolates were verified in the in vitro model of infection of human THP-1 cells., Results: The genotypes defined by the 24VNTRs were distinct for all isolates included in this study and presented an HGDI of 0.997. The VNTR patterns with seven copies of MIRU26 and seven copies of QUB26, representative for the previously described MtbB genotype B0, dominant in Russia, were detected in 38.5% of the studied isolates. In addition, all isolates presented RD105 deletion and a 7 bp insertion in pks15/1 gene. Almost all tested strains belonged to the RD181 sublineage, with the exception of two strains from Mozambique of RD150 sublineage. Combined analysis of the NTF region integrity and mutations in mutT genes showed that 62.5% and 47% of isolates obtained in Brazil and Mozambique, respectively, were of the ancestral genotype. The virulence index of the ancient isolates, evaluated in the THP-1 cells, was significantly lower than that of the modern genotype group., Conclusions: These data demonstrate genotype particularities of the Beijing strains isolated in Brazil and Mozambique, two countries of low prevalence of the MtbB lineage in local Mtb populations. In contrast to the neighboring countries with high prevalence of the MtbB strains of modern sublineage, significant proportions of the isolates obtained in Brazil and Mozambique were presented by the strains of the ancient sublineage. Our data suggest that lower virulence of the ancient strains, compared with the modern strains, could be involved in the slow spread of the MtbB strains in some regions., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Study Design: Pretest/posttest controlled laboratory study., Objectives: To determine changes in the neuromuscular activation of the quadriceps and hamstrings following instructions aimed at improving knee flexion during a single-limb landing task in persons who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)., Background: Clinicians advise patients who have undergone ACLR to increase knee flexion during landing tasks to improve impact attenuation. Another long-standing construct underlying such instruction involves increasing cocontraction of the hamstrings with the quadriceps to limit anterior shear of the tibia on the femur. The current study examined whether cocontraction of the knee musculature changes following instruction to increase knee flexion during landing., Methods: Thirty-four physically active subjects with unilateral ACLR participated in a 1-time testing session. The kinetics and kinematics of single-leg landing on the surgical limb were analyzed before and after instruction to increase knee flexion and reduce the impact of landing. Vastus lateralis and biceps femoris activities were analyzed using surface electromyography and normalized to a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Cocontraction indices were integrated over the weight-acceptance phase of landing., Results: Following instruction, peak knee flexion increased (preinstruction mean ± SD, 56° ± 11°; postinstruction, 77° ± 12°; P<.001) and peak vertical ground reaction forces decreased (preinstruction, 3.50 ± 0.42 body mass; postinstruction, 3.06 ± 0.44 body mass; P<.001). Cocontraction also decreased following instruction (preinstruction, 30.88% ± 17.68% MVIC; postinstruction, 23.74% ± 15.39% MVIC; P<.001). The change in cocontraction was correlated with a decrease in hamstring activity (preinstruction, 23.79% ± 12.88% MVIC; postinstruction, 19.72% ± 13.92% MVIC; r = 0.80; P<.001)., Conclusion: Landing instruction produced both a statistically and clinically significant change in landing mechanics in persons post-ACLR. Conscious improvement of the absorptive power of the surgical limb was marked by decreased hamstring activity and cocontraction during single-limb landing.

Background: We recently described the Mycobacterium tuberculosis RD(Rio) genotype, a clonally derived sublineage within the Latin American-Mediterranean (LAM) family. Genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis likely affects the clinical aspects of tuberculosis (TB). Prospective studies that address this issue are scarce and remain controversial., Objective: To determine the association of differential clinical features of pulmonary TB with the RD(Rio) M. tuberculosis etiology., Methods: Culture-proven pulmonary TB patients (n = 272) were clinically evaluated, including history, physical examination, chest X-ray and anti-human immunodeficiency virus serology. Isolates were classified as RD(Rio) or non-RD(Rio) M. tuberculosis by multiplex polymerase chain reaction and further spoligotyped. Clinical and M. tuberculosis genotype data were analyzed., Results: RD(Rio) M. tuberculosis caused disease in 26.5% (72/270) of all TB cases. The LAM genotype, of which RD(Rio) strains are members, was responsible for 46.0% of the TB cases. Demographic data, major signs and symptoms, radiographic presentation, microbiological features and clinical outcomes were not significantly different among patients with TB caused by RD(Rio) and non-RD(Rio) strains., Conclusions: Disease caused by M. tuberculosis RD(Rio) strains was not clinically distinctive or more severe than disease caused by non-RD(Rio) strains in this series of TB patients. Larger prospective studies specifically designed to disclose differential clinical characteristics of TB caused by specific M. tuberculosis lineages are needed.