Cocos nucifera L. is a palm tree of paramount importance in the food and chemistry industries, although over 50% of its biomass is discarded as waste. The aim of the study is to investigate different pretreatments in to coconut husks (CH), based on acid, alkaline, ionic liquid (IL), and peroxidative, in order to produce fermentable sugars. Severity factors were calculated for pretreatments; values ranged from 0.3 to 1.7 for peroxide, from 0.01 to 1.4 for alkaline, from 1.4 to 2.8 for acid and from 2.0 to 3.0 for ionic liquid. Pretreatments were optimized (time and temperature) to maximize the sugar yield and to remove the total lignin after acid hydrolysis. Reducing sugar yield (70%) was higher when CH waste was alkaline-pretreated for 2 h at 76.21 °C. The highest lignin removal rate was recorded when alkaline (21.4%) and peroxide solutions (27.2%) were used. The IL did not increase sugar yield and was not effective in lignin removal. These outcomes were confirmed through infrared spectroscopy, whereas scanning electron microscopy showed increased biomass porosity during alkaline, acid and peroxide pretreatments. The IL showed little and non-significant changes. The crystallinity index notably increased after each pretreatment; besides, it was directly associated with sugar content.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of ewes subjected to a short-term protocol for estrus induction using 1 mg of Norgestomet during the non-breeding season in Brazil. A total of 84 ewes were randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 42 per group). Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) containing 330 mg progesterone was inserted into the vagina in the first 42 ewes, and for the other 42 ewes in the second group, 1 mg of Norgestomet was placed subcutaneously in the convex surface of the ear. Implants and devices were removed in both groups on day 6. Following the removal of implants and devices, 10 mg of PGF2α and 300 IU of eCG were injected in all the ewes. After 48 h of application, three fertile rams were added to the herd. Ewes and rams were kept together for four days. Rams were removed on day 12, and after 42 days, pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasound scanning. Short-term protocols using either an intravaginal device or ear implant were similarly effective to estrus induction (95.23 vs. 92.85%), and all ewes from both groups had estrus manifestation within 72 h after implant removal (72±9 h). In addition, no significant difference in pregnancy rate was observed between ewes treated with the intravaginal device and ear implant protocols (52.38 vs. 57.14%). These results suggest that 1 mg of Norgestomet is a good alternative for short-term protocols for estrus induction/synchronization during the non-breeding season in ewes. It is possible to replace the progesterone-releasing intravaginal device by the ear implant and obtain the same reproductive effectiveness in ewes.

The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA concentration [viral load (VL)] and CD4+ percentage (CD4%) during 6-12 weeks postpartum (PP) among HIV-infected women and to assess differences according to the reason for receipt of antiretrovirals (ARVs) during pregnancy [prophylaxis (PR) vs. treatment (TR)]. Data from a prospective cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development International Site Development Initiative Perinatal Study) were analyzed. Women experiencing their first pregnancy who received ARVs for PR (started during pregnancy, stopped PP) or for TR (initiated prior to pregnancy and/or continued PP) were included and were followed PP. Increases in plasma VL (> 0.5 log10) and decreases in CD4% (> 20% relative decrease in CD4%) between hospital discharge (HD) and PP were assessed. Of the 1,229 women enrolled, 1,119 met the inclusion criteria (PR: 601; TR: 518). At enrollment, 87% were asymptomatic. The median CD4% values were: HD [34% (PR); 25% (TR)] and PP [29% (PR); 24% (TR)]. The VL increases were 60% (PR) and 19% (TR) (p < 0.0001). The CD4% decreases were 36% (PR) and 18% (TR) (p < 0.0001). Women receiving PR were more likely to exhibit an increase in VL [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 7.7 (95% CI: 5.5-10.9) and a CD4% decrease (AOR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.6-3.2). Women receiving PR are more likely to have VL increases and CD4% decreases compared to those receiving TR. The clinical implications of these VL and CD4% changes remain to be explored.

Em solo de baixa fertilidade, sob pastagem natural degradada, pertencente à Universidade Federal de Viçosa - Viçosa (MG), foi estabelecida uma pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens consorciada com Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão, para avaliar os efeitos de doses de calcário (1.175, 2.350, 3.525 e 4.700 kg/ha, referentes a 25, 50, 75 e 100% da quantidade de calcário recomendada-QC), gesso agrícola (0, 230, 940, 1.880 e 2.820 kg/ha, referentes à substituição de 0, 3,0, 12,5, 25,0 e 37,5% do CaO do calcário pelo CaO do gesso) e de P2O5 (50, 100, 150, 200 e 250 kg/ha) sobre o pH do solo; os teores de P, K e S disponíveis e de Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, H + Al; a soma de bases (SB); a CTC efetiva (t) e a pH 7,0 (T); o índice de saturação por bases (V) e por Al (m); a produção de matéria seca, densidade de perfilhos e a altura de plantas da braquiária; e a porcentagem da leguminosa na pastagem. A substituição do CaO do calcário pelo CaO do gesso elevou a porcentagem do estilosantes na pastagem e os teores de S-SO42- e de Al3+, nas camadas de 0-15 e de 15-30 cm, e reduziu os teores de Ca2+ e de Mg2+, na camada de 0-15 cm. As doses crescentes de P2O5 aumentaram os teores de P (Mehlich-1) na camada de 0-15 cm do solo e favoreceram o perfilhamento e a altura da gramínea, reduzindo a porcentagem da leguminosa na pastagem.

At low fetility soil, in degraded natural pasture, a field trial was carried out at the Federal University of Viçosa, located at Viçosa - MG, was established the pasture of Brachiaria decumbens in mixture with Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão to evaluate the effect of limestone doses (1.175, 2.350, 3.525 and 4.700 kg/ha, equivalent 25, 50, 75 and 100% of limestone necessity), gypsum doses (0, 230, 940, 1.880 e 2.820 kg/ha equivalent the substitution of 0, 3,0, 12,5, 25,0 and 37,5% of limestone CaO by gypsum CaO) and P2O5 doses (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg/ha) on the pH; availables P, S and K; exchangeables Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, H + Al; sum of bases (SB); effetive CEC (t) and CEC determined in pH 7,0 (T); base saturation (V); aluminum saturation (m) and dry matter production, tillers number and height of brachiaria grass and legume percent. The substitution of the limestone CaO by gypsum CaO increased the percent of stylosanthes, available S and Al3+, in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil layer, and decreased Ca2+ and Mg2+, in 0-15 cm soil layer. The P doses increased the available P (Mehlich 1) in 0-15 cm soil layer, but decreased the legume percent in the pasture.