RESUMOSubmitted on 02/20/2014 and approved on 01/20/2016 Growth of sugar cane varieties under salinityLarge salty areas in the Brazilian semi-arid region have limited farming in Northeastern Brazil. One example is the sugar cane cultivation, which reinforces the need of selecting varieties that are more tolerant to salinity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of salinity on growth of ten varieties of sugar cane. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, set in the experimental field of Embrapa Semiárido, in Petrolina, Pernambuco State. The experimental design was randomized blocks arranged in a 6 X 10 factorial arrangement, comprised of six levels of salinity (0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 dS m -1 ) and ten sugar cane varieties (VAT 90212; RB 72454; RB 867515; Q 124; RB 961003; RB 957508; SP791011; RB 835089; RB 92579 and SP 943206). Salt levels of irrigation water were obtained by adding NaCl, CaCl 2 .2H 2 O and MgSO 4 .7H 2 O to achieve an equivalent ratio among Na:Ca:Mg of 7:2:1. Sixty days later, plant height, stem diameter (base), number of leaves, stalks and sprouts, leaf area and fresh and dry mass of the aerial part and roots were all measured. The varieties of sugar cane showed similar responses for growth reduction as soil salinity increases, being considered moderately sensitive to salinity.

O interesse pelo desenvolvimento de nanocompósitos com matrizes poliméricas aumentou significativamente nos últimos anos, levando a uma grande quantidade de trabalhos publicados e de grupos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento interessados e trabalhando nesta importante área. Em geral, os materiais inorgânicos não apresentam uma boa interação com polímeros orgânicos, o que é desejável para obter um bom estado de dispersão no sistema e otimização de desempenho. Em função desta característica dos sistemas polímeros orgânicos/materiais inorgânicos como argila, tem-se buscado uma solução para este problema através de tratamentos prévios de superfícies das argilas com modificadores orgânicos. Os nanocompósitos poliméricos utilizando argila usualmente apresentam propriedades mecânicas e térmicas bastante atrativas e superiores aos compósitos convencionais, bem como valores reduzidos de permeabilidade, melhor resistência química a solventes e maior retardância a chama. Nas últimas décadas, nanocompósitos de policloreto de vinila (PVC) também têm sido preparados através de intercalação no estado fundido e apresentam resultados interessantes mas ainda com possibilidades de melhoria em função do potencial do material e de estudos similares com outras matrizes termoplásticas. O PVC é um material muito mais versátil e devido à sua necessidade de formulação mediante a incorporação de aditivos, o PVC pode ter suas características alteradas dentro de um amplo espectro de propriedades em função da aplicação final e características finais desejadas. Entretanto, devido a suas desvantagens inerentes, tais como baixa resistência à fratura, baixa estabilidade térmica e produção de fumaça escura durante sua combustão, o PVC e seus compósitos estão sujeitos a algumas limitações em certas aplicações. Dessa forma, o desenvolvimento de nanocompósitos poliméricos é uma alternativa promissora para tentar superar essas limitações e possibilitar o desenvolvimento de novos produtos com desempenho e propriedades diferenciados.

The controlled-release of natural plant oils such as linalool is of interest in therapeutics, cosmetics, and antimicrobial and larvicidal products. The present study reports the release characteristics of linalool encapsulated at three concentrations (10, 15 and 20 wt.%) in poly(lactic acid) nanofibrous membranes produced by electrospinning and solution blow spinning (SBS) as well as the effect of linalool on fiber morphology and structural properties. PLA nanofibrous membranes were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and contact angle measurements. The average diameters of the electrospun and solution blow spun nanofibers were similar, ranging from 176 to 240 nm. Linalool behaved as a plasticizer to PLA decreasing the glass transition temperature (Tg), melting point (Tm) and crystallization temperature (TC) of PLA. Curves of the release of linalool at 35 °C were non-linear, showing a clear biphasic pattern consistent with one or more Fickian release components. The time required to release 50% of linalool (t1/2) decreased with increasing linalool concentration. The range in t1/2 values for SBS nanofibers was higher (291-1645s) than the t1/2 values for electrospun fibers (76-575s).

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RESUMO -O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a influência de três sistemas de irrigação sobre as trocas gasosas e as qualidades tecnológicas da cana-de-açúcar, variedade RB 92579, por três ciclos consecutivos, cultivada em dois tipos de solos na região do Submédio do São Francisco. Os experimentos foram instalados utilizando delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com seis repetições, em áreas com solo arenoso e argiloso. Os sistemas de irrigação foram: sulco, gotejamento superficial e gotejamento subsuperficial. Avaliaram-se as características fisiológicas das plantas: fotossíntese líquida, condutância estomática, transpiração e temperatura foliar. Para análises tecnológicas foram determinados o teor de sólidos solúveis, porcentagem de fibra industrial, pureza do caldo, porcentagem de açúcar bruto, açúcares redutores e umidade. Verificou-se que a irrigação por gotejamento subsuperficial em solo arenoso interfere negativamente nas trocas gasosas da cultura. Os sistemas de irrigação não influenciaram na qualidade tecnológica dos colmos quando cultivada em solo arenoso e, no argiloso, o sulco interfere negativamente no processo de maturação dos colmos. Palavras-chave:ABSTRACT -The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three irrigation systems on the gas exchange and technological qualities of the sugarcane variety RB 92579, for three consecutive cycles, grown in two types of soil in the Lower Basin region of San Francisco in Brazil. The experiments were set up in a randomised-block design, with six replications, in areas of sandy and clayey soil. The irrigation systems used were: furrow, surface drip and subsurface drip. The following physiological characteristics of the plants were evaluated: net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration and leaf temperature. In the technological analyses, levels were determined for soluble solids, percentage of industrial fibre, juice purity, percentage of raw sugar, reducing sugars and moisture. It was found that subsurface drip irrigation in sandy soil impairs the gas exchange of the crop. The irrigation systems did not influence the technological quality of the stalks when grown in sandy soil. In clay soil, furrow irrigation impairs the maturation process of the stems.

R E S U M OO objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a tolerância à salinidade de seis variedades de sorgo forrageiro a partir da porcentagem de germinação e do crescimento inicial das plântulas submetidas a seis níveis de salinidade. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 6 x 6, com quatro repetições contendo 25 sementes. Germination and initial growth of varieties of forage sorghum under saline stress A B S T R A C TThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the salt tolerance of six varieties of forage sorghum, based on germination percentage and seedling growth subjected to six salinity levels. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design, according to a factorial arrangement 6 x 6 with four replications containing 25 seeds. The treatments were six varieties (V) of forage sorghum [F305 (V1), BRS 655 (V2), BRS 610 (V3), Volumax (V4), 1.015.045 (V5), 1.016.005 (V6)] and six salinity levels [0 (distilled water), 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 dS m -1 ]. Experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Seed Analysis of Embrapa Semiárido in August 2012. The variables assessed were percentage of germination, shoot (PA) and root (R) length, ratio PA/R, shoot and root fresh mass, shoot and root dry mass. Salinity levels did not affect the seed germination of varieties of forage sorghum until the conductivity of 10 dS m -1 . The salinity levels between 3 and 5 dS m -1 favored the growth of shoots and roots, showing good tolerance to salinity of forage sorghum varieties, especially F305, Volumax and 1.015.045.

Electrospun fibers are explored as a new system for controlled drug delivery. Novel techniques capable of obtaining polymer nanofibers have been reported in the literature. They include solution blow spinning (SBS), which is a technique to produce polymer nanofibers in the same range as electrospinning, using pressurized gas instead of high voltage. The present study investigates release characteristics of diclofenac sodium encapsulated at three concentrations (5, 10, and 20% w/v) in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanofibers made by electrospinning and SBS and determines the drug’s effect on fiber morphology and structural properties. PHBV nanofibers were characterized using scanning electronic microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction, and the release profile was examined via UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Both electrospinning and SBS encapsulated diclofenac sodium in PHBV membranes efficiently and effectively. The profile of thein vitrorelease of diclofenac sodium was dependent on drug concentration and temperature. The drug reduced crystallinity and increased flexibility.

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