THE PEAR TREE RESPONSE TO PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization and to establish the critical levels of P and K in the soil and in the plant tissue in pear trees. Two experiments were conducted in São Joaquim (SC), Brazil. In experiment 1, the plants received annually the application of increasing rates of phosphate fertilizer (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg P2O5 ha-1), while in experiment 2, increasing rates of potassium fertilizer (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg K2O ha-1) were applied annually. In the two experiments, soil was collected annually from the 0-10, 10-20 and 0-20 cm layers, and the available P (experiment 1) and exchangeable K (experiment 2) content was analyzed. Whole leaves were collected annually, which were subjected to analysis of total P (experiment 1) and total K (experiment 2) content. The number and weight of the fruits per plant and fruit yield were evaluated. Application of P on the soil planted with pear trees increased the nutrient content in the soil and, in most crop seasons, in the whole leaf, but it did not affect the yield components and fruit yield. The application of K on the soil with pear trees increased the nutrient content in the soil and, in most of the crop seasons, in the whole leaf, but the potassium content in the whole leaf decreased in the crop season with greater fruit yield. The yield components and fruit yield were not affected by K fertilization.

Whole-body MRI: comprehensive evaluation on a 48-channel 3T MRI system in less than 40 minutes. Preliminary results

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a comprehensive MRI protocol that investigates for cancer, vascular disease, and degenerative/inflammatory disease from the head to the pelvis in less than 40 minutes on a new generation 48-channel 3T system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All MR studies were performed on a 48-channel 3T MR scanner. A 20-channel head/neck coil, two 18-channel body arrays, and a 32-channel spine array were employed. A total of 4 healthy individuals were studied. The designed protocol included a combination of single-shot T2-weighted sequences, T1-weighted 3D gradient-echo pre- and post-gadolinium. All images were retrospectively evaluated by two radiologists independently for overall image quality. RESULTS: The image quality for cancer was rated as excellent in the liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, pelvic organs, and brain, and rated as fair in the colon and breast. For vascular diseases ratings were excellent in the aorta, major branch vessel origins, inferior vena cava, portal and hepatic veins, rated as good in pulmonary arteries, and as poor in the coronary arteries. For degenerative/inflammatory diseases ratings were excellent in the brain, liver and pancreas. The inter-observer agreement was excellent. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive and time efficient screening for important categories of disease processes may be achieved with high quality imaging in a new generation 48-channel 3T system.

Influence of the temperature and type of salt on the phase equilibrium of peg 1500 + potassium phosphate and peg 1500 + sodium citrate aqueous two-phase systems

The present work analyzed the effect of the temperature and type of salt on the phase equilibrium of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) formed by poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) 1500 + potassium phosphate, from (278.15 to 318.15) K, and PEG 1500 + sodium citrate, from (278.15 to 298.15) K. The rise of the temperature normally increased the slope of the tie line (STL). With respect to the influence of the type of salt, sodium citrate showed better capability to induce phase separation, when compared to potassium phosphate.

Losartan potassium dissolution test for drug release evaluation in pharmaceutical capsules using HPLC and UV spectrophotometry

This work describes the development and validation of a dissolution test for 50 mg losartan potassium capsules using HPLC and UV spectrophotometry. A 2(4) full factorial design was carried out to optimize dissolution conditions and potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.8 as dissolution medium, basket as apparatus at the stirring speed of 50 rpm and time of 30 min were considered adequate. Both dissolution procedure and analytical methods were validated and a statistical analysis showed that there are no significant differences between HPLC and spectrophotometry. Since there is no official monograph, this dissolution test could be applied for quality control routine.

Basic properties of potassium oxide supported on zeolite y studied by pyrrole-tpd and catalytic conversion of methylbutynol

ABSTRACT We report on the basic properties of zeolite NaY and potassium supported on NaY (K/NaY) assessed by pyrrole-TPD and MBOH transformation. Pyrrole-TPD revealed that impregnation of zeolite NaY with potassium promoted additional adsorption sites for pyrrole compared to parent zeolite. For zeolite with various potassium loadings, pyrrole adsorbed on K/NaY decreased with increased potassium loading. Reduction in pyrrole adsorption could be due to potassium hindering intrinsic basic sites (lattice oxygen), to oxide of potassium occluding in zeolite cavities restricting access for pyrrole, or to K2O reacting with pyrrole to form nondesorbed pyrrolate anions. On MBOH transformation, potassium almost completely suppressed NaY acid sites while K/NaY basicity increased with potassium loading.

Characterization and catalytic performance of potassium loaded on rice husk silica and zeolite nay for transesterification of jatropha seed oil

Rice husk silica (RHS) and NaY were used as supports for potassium (K) prepared from acetate buffer (B) and acetate (A) solutions. K loading did not destroy the NaY structure, but it caused a decrease in the surface area; the K species resided in micropores and on the external surface. In contrast, K loading resulted in the collapse and a decrease in the surface area of RHS. It was found that 12K/NaY-B was the most active catalyst for the transesterification of Jatropha seed oil. The minimum K content in K/NaY-B that provided complete conversion of the Jatropha seed oil was 11 wt%, and the biodiesel yield was 77.9%.

Comparison of Potassium and Sodium Content in Diet and Non-Diet Soft Drinks by Using Capillary Electrophoresis with Capacitively Coupled Contactless Conductivity Detection

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) was used for determination of sodium and potassium concentrations in diet and non-diet soft drinks. Higher sodium concentrations were found in the diet samples due to the utilization of sodium salts of cyclamate and saccharine as sweeteners. The CE-C4D method can be used by food industries and health regulatory agencies for monitoring sodium and potassium content, not only in soft drink but in many others food products.

Net melon resistance to Didymella bryoniae according to grafting and potassium levels

Chemical control of the fungus Didymella bryoniae, the causal agent of the disease gummy stem blight in melon, is frequently inefficient; thus, alternatives such as grafting and nutrition must be studied. Rootstocks and potassium levels were tested aimed at controlling this disease in net melon under protected environment. The melon hybrid 'Bônus II', ungrafted and grafted onto 'Dinero' melon and 'Strong Tosa' pumpkin rootstocks, was cultivated and inoculated by using the toothpick insertion method with 7-mm mycelial disks from the isolate D. bryoniae Dbr 37; for control, only toothpick insertion was used. The plants were subjected to the following potassium levels: 0, 62.5, 125, 187.5, 250 mg L-1. Grafted 'Bônus II' melon plants were resistant to the fungus, whereas ungrafted ones were susceptible. The adopted potassium levels did not influence the stem lesion size or the survival of plants.

Temperature effect in potassium and nitrate ions in soil transport

When doing researches on solute dynamics in porous medium, the knowledge of medium characteristics and percolating liquids, as well as of external factors is very important. An important external factor is temperature and, in this sense, our purpose was determining potassium and nitrate transport parameters for different values of temperature, in miscible displacement experiments. Evaluated parameters were retardation factor (R), diffusion/dispersion coefficient (D) and dispersivity, at ambient temperature (25 up to 28 ºC), 40 ºC and 50 ºC. Salts used were potassium nitrate and potassium chlorate, prepared in a solution made up of 5 ppm nitrate and 2.000 ppm potassium, with Red-Yellow Latosol porous medium. Temperature exhibited a positive influence upon porous medium solution and upon dispersion coefficient.

Effect of the application of different water depths and nitrogen and potassium doses on quality of Tanzania grass

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of different water depths and nitrogen and potassium doses in the quality of Tanzania grass, in the southern of the state of Tocantins. The experiment was conducted on strips of traditional sprinklers, and used, as treatments, a mixture of fertilizer combinations of N and K2O always in the ratio of 1 N:0.8 K2O. This study determined throughout the experiment: plant height (PH), the crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The highest plant height obtained was 132.4 cm, with a fertilizer dose of 691.71 kg ha-1 in the proportion of N:0.8 K2O, in other words, 384.28 kg ha-1 of N and 307.43 kg ha-1 of K2O, and water depth of 80% of the ETc. The highest crude protein content was 12.2%, with the fertilizer dose application of 700 kg ha-1 yr-1 in the proportion of 1 N to 0.8 of K2O, in other words, 388.89 kg ha-1 of N and 311.11 kg ha-1 of K2O and absence of irrigation. The lowest level of neutral detergent fiber was 60.7% with the application of the smallest dose of fertilizer and highest water depth. It was concluded in this study that there was an increase in plant height by increasing the fertilizer dose and water depth. The crude protein content increased 5.4% in the dry season, by increasing the fertilizer dose and water depth. In the dry season, there was an increase of NDF content by 4.5% by increasing the application of fertilizer and water depth.

Jatropha seed oil content and yield under different irrigation and potassium fertilization levels

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of different irrigation depths and potassium dosages, of Jatropha seed oil content and yield. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, in split-plots, with four replicates. The treatments were four water depths (plots) and four potassium dosages (subplots) applied through irrigation water. The water depths were applied based on the percentage of accumulated evaporation of a Class A (ECA) tank and of rainfall, as following: L0 = without irrigation, L40, L80 and L120, representing 40, 80 and 120% of the balance, respectively. The potassium dosages were K30, K60, K90 and K120 (30, 60, 90 and 120kg ha-1 of potassium, respectively). The oil extraction of samples was done through chemical extraction by organic solvent. The seeds used in this test were from the sampling of two seed productions from 2009, second year of crop production. It was possible to observe that irrigation use increased oil yield and decreased the oil content of Jatropha seed. Potassium fertilization did not influence oil content and yield. There was a relative increase of efficiency in water use producing oil until certain water depth, and after that there was a decrease.

Economic analysis of cashew early dwarf Crop BRS - 189 depending on water levels and doses of potassium fertilization

Water and fertilizer among the production factors are the elements that most restrict the production of cashew. The precise amount of these factors is essential to the success of the crop yield. This research aimed to determine the best factor-product ratio and analyze technical and economic indicators, of productivity of the cashew clone BRS 189 (Anacardium occidentale) to production factors water and potassium. The experiment was conducted from May 2009 to December 2009 in an experimental area of 56.0 m x 112.0 m in the irrigated Curu - Pentecoste, located in the municipality of Pentecoste, Ceará, Brazil. Production factors water (W) and potassium (K) were the independent variables and productivity (Y), the dependent variable. Ten statistical models that have proven satisfactory for obtaining production function were tested. The marginal rate of substitution was obtained through the ratio of the potassium marginal physical product and the water marginal physical product. The most suited model to the conditions of the experiment was the quadratic polynomial without intercept and interaction. Considering that the price of the water was 0.10 R$ mm -1, the price of the potassium 2.19 R$ kg -1 and the price of the cashew 0.60 R$ kg-1, the amounts of water and K2O to obtain the maximum net income were 6,349.1 L plant-1 of water and 128.7 g plant -1year, -1 respectively. Substituting the values obtained in the production function, the maximum net income was achieved with a yield of 7,496.8 kg ha-1 of cashew.

Potassium distribution in drip irrigation with fertigation for different injection distances in the main line

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the K2O distribution uniformity by surface drip irrigation at Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain (39º 29′ N, 0º 23′ W, 20 m). The irrigation was performed by drip lines with not-compensated emitters, spaced 0.3 m. The fertigation was realized using a fertilizer injector pump of electric action with injection of 0.25 h. The experimental design used completely randomized blocks with five treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of injection in five distances, located at 10; 20; 30; 40; 50 m of the first drip line. Samples were collected in emitters located at the start, at 1/3, at 2/3 and at the end of the drip lines. The nutrient concentration was determined by flame spectrophotometry. The Christiansen's uniformity coefficients (CUC), of distribution (DUC), of statistical (SUC) and of emission (eUC) were estimated. The K2O concentration and distribution decreased linearly with the increase of the injection distance. In all treatments, the CUC, SUC and DUC were described as 'excellent'. The eUC was described as 'recommended' only at smaller injection distances.

Análise interactômica da VDAC (voltage-dependent anion selective channel) nos cérebros aviar, bovino e murino

A VDAC é a proteína mais abundante na membrana mitocondrial externa. Exerce o controle da atividade desta organela através da regulação da troca de metabólitos e tem função crucial no mecanismo de apoptose. Em nosso caso, os estudos dos complexos protéicos, das interações entre a VDAC e outras proteínas presentes no interior do neurônio que auxiliam na manutenção das funções das organelas e da célula, fazem parte da chamada interactômica. O presente estudo determinou o interactoma do complexo protéico Hexoquinase-VDAC-ANT presente em cérebros murino, bovino e aviar. Nosso objetivo foi identificar se as expressões diferenciadas da VDAC1 e VDAC2 verificadas nos cérebros murino, aviar e bovino, estão associadas a diferenças nos interactomas dessas proteínas. Este estudo revelou que as espécies aviar e bovina apresentaram o maior número de complexos protéicos contendo VDACs (5) quando comparadas com os neurônios de rato (1), o que é indicativo de uma cinética diferencial de montagem ou desmontagem do complexo. Além disso, a VDAC mitocondrial neuronal aviar também interage com mais proteínas em relação à VDAC mitocondrial neuronal bovina, o que é resultado de uma composição de subunidades diferenciada. Tais resultados indicam diferenças significativas quanto ao metabolismo energético e apoptótico no cérebro aviar, bovino e murino, existindo interações diferenciais da VDAC no cérebro aviar.

Bradykinin enhances membrane electrical activity of pancreatic beta cells in the presence of low glucose concentrations

In most of cells bradykinin (BK) induces intracellular calcium mobilization. In pancreatic beta cells intracellular calcium is a major signal for insulin secretion. In these cells, glucose metabolism yields intracellular ATP which blocks membrane potassium channels. The membrane depolarizes, voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are activated and the intracellular calcium load allows insulin secretion. Repolarization occurs due to activation of the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel. The insulin secretion depends on the integrity of this oscillatory process (bursts). Therefore, we decided to determine whether BK (100 nM) induces bursts in the presence of a non-stimulatory glucose concentration (5.6 mM). During continuous membrane voltage recording, our results showed that bursts were obtained with 11 mM glucose, blocked with 5.6 mM glucose and recovered with 5.6 mM glucose plus 100 nM BK. Thus, the stimulatory process obtained in the presence of BK and of a non-stimulatory concentration of glucose in the present study suggests that BK may facilitate the action of glucose on beta cell secretion.