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The past two decades have witnessed a revolutionary era for peripheral bronchoscopy. Though the initial description of radial endobronchial ultrasound can be traced back to 1992, it was not until the mid-2000s that its utilization became commonplace, primarily due to the introduction of electromagnetic navigation (EMN) bronchoscopy. While the diagnostic yield of EMN-assisted sampling has shown substantial improvement over historical fluoroscopy-assisted bronchoscopic biopsy, its diagnostic yield plateaued at around 70%. Factors contributing to this relatively low diagnostic yield include discrepancies in computed tomography to body divergence, which led to unsuccessful lesion localization and resultant unsuccessful sampling of the lesion. Furthermore, much of peripheral bronchoscopy utilized a plastic extended working channel whose tips were difficult to finely aim at potential targets. However, the recent introduction of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, and its associated stability within the peripheral lung, has ignited optimism for its potential to significantly enhance the diagnostic performance for peripheral lesions. Moreover, some envision this technology eventually playing a pivotal role in the therapeutic delivery to lung tumors. This review aims to describe the currently available robotic-assisted bronchoscopy technologies and to discuss the existing scientific evidence supporting these.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the salinization process and the changes in the chemical properties of an Acrisol cultivated with melon irrigated with water of different saline concentrations. The experiment was carried out in the field conditions using the experimental design of randomized blocks, arranged in split-plot. The plots were composed of salinity levels of irrigation water, expressed in terms of water electrical conductivity (ECw): 0.54; 1.48; 2.02 dS m-1; and the sub-plots for melon cultivars: Sancho and Medellín (Toad Skin), Mandacaru (Yellow), Nectar (Galia) and Sedna (Cantaloupe). Soil samples were collected at the beginning and end of the crop cycle to evaluate the changes in the physical-chemical properties of the soil. The electrical conductivity of saturation extract in the soil profile varied for each cultivar, observing high salinity values in soils with cultivars with lower water demand (Sedna and Nectar). The salinity of the soil was lower than the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water in the treatments with high values of ECw. The soil pH values showed little reaction in relation to the initial values. The exchangeable sodium percentage values were approximate twice the sodium adsorption ratio of the saturation stratum.

Purpose. To develop a mobile app that allows capturing and editing of photographs, performs image transposition and projection of a protractor with 360° axis markings, and permits accurate visualization of programmed alignment for the positioning of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs). Methods. In this prospective case series study, a codesign methodology was chosen to develop the Eye Axis Check application. After app development, measurements were obtained and comparisons were made between manual marks and toric IOL alignment without and with the app in 30 eyes that had undergone cataract surgery with toric IOLs. The mobile app was made available to 15 ophthalmic surgeons in different cities to assess its usability. Results. The users approved the developed application for its ease of use and utility. The mean difference between the markings made manually and those made with the app was 1° (±2°; range: 0°–5°), and the mean difference between the IOL position and the assessment made by the app was 3° (±3°; range: 0°–12°). Upon comparison of the agreement between the app measurements and the manual measurements for the IOL angle, no significant differences were found, and an excellent concordance (0.997) and a strong positive linear correlation (0.995) were observed. Conclusion. A mobile app for preoperative planning and intraoperative toric IOL alignment was developed and revealed to be useful and easy to use.

In order to evaluated the impact of the high salinity reject brine from reverse osmosis desalination on hydroponics lettuce cultivated in greenhouse an investigation was carried out in Mossoro, Northeast of Brazil (5º11'S, 37º20'O and 18m above sea). Two lettuce cultivars ('Verônica' and 'Babá de verão') were cultivated with a basic nutrient solution with 1.1 dS m-1 (control) during the crop cycle (1-28 days after transplanting - DAT) - T0 and with basic nutrient solution containing 50% of the reject water from desalinization with 4.8 dS m-1 exposed during 1-7, 21-28, 7-14 e 1-28 DAT (T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). The addition of 50% of brine reject from desalination into the hydroponic nutrient solution allows grow only 'Verônica' lettuce with no reduction in fresh biomass. This lettuce cultivar shows to be more tolerant to salinity for all exposure time with reject brine in the nutrition solution, despite the fact that 'Babá de Verão' cultivar is more productive.

In recent years an increase of 15 to 20% occurred in market share melons like Cantaloupes group, which present more attractive organoleptic characteristics and higher commercial value. However it needs more care in production due its higher sensitivity to soil salinity. Effects of soil and water salinity are among the main limiting factors to melon yield and quality at Rio Grande do Norte Sate, Brazil. This work was carried out with the objective of studying the effect of different irrigation water salinity levels on yield and quality of cantaloupe hybrid 'Sedna'. Experimental design was a randomized complete blocks with four replications. Treatments consisted of five salt concentrations in irrigation water (0.54; 1.48; 2.02; 3.03 and 3.9 dS m-1). Yield and quality characteristics evaluated were: number of marketable fruits per plant, yield of marketable fruits, mean weight of fruits, soluble solids content (SS) and pulp firmness. An increase on irrigation water salinity level negatively influenced yield of melon hybrid 'Sedna'. Yield loss in response to salinity was due to decrease in number of fruits per plant. Mean values of soluble solids and pulp firmness were not influenced by irrigation water salinity.

The objective of this work was to evaluate peduncle and fruit yield in clone MS 076 and in a clonal population of drip-irrigated, early dwarf cashew trees propagated by layering, in six cropping seasons. In order to meet the increased water requirements of the crop resulting from plant growth and development, irrigation during the dry season was performed daily according to the following water regime: 15 min/plant/day during the 1st year, 30 min/plant/day during the 2nd year, 45 min/plant/day during the 3rd year and 60 min/plant/day during all subsequent years. Water was supplied by one drip emitter/plant, at an (adjustable) flow rate of 36 L/h.The research was carried out in Fortaleza-Ceará, Brazil, and a random block design was utilized, with five replicates and split-plots. The clones were assigned to plots and the cropping seasons were considered as subplots. The clonal population was superior to the clone only with regard to number of nut shells (NNS), and solely in the first season. The clone was superior to the population as to NNS and peduncle yield (PY) in the second season, and also with regard to the three evaluated traits - NNS, PY, and nut shell yield, in the last three cropping seasons.O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar, em seis safras, os rendimentos de pedúnculos e frutos do clone CP 076 e de uma População Clonal de cajueiro-anão-precoce, propagados por alporquia, irrigados por gotejamento. Visando a atender às maiores necessidades hídricas da cultura, decorrentes do crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas, a irrigação, durante o período seco do ano, foi feita diariamente de acordo com o seguinte regime hídrico: 15 minutos/planta/dia durante o primeiro ano; 30 minutos/planta/dia durante o segundo ano; 45 minutos/planta/dia durante o terceiro ano, e 60 minutos/planta/dia durante os anos subseqüentes. A água foi fornecida através de uma torneira gotejadora/planta, com vazão (ajustável) de 36 L/h. O trabalho foi feito em Fortaleza-CE, utilizando-se do delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições e parcelas subdivididas. Os clones representaram as parcelas e as safras, as subparcelas. A População Clonal somente foi superior ao clone quanto ao número de castanhas (NC) e isto na primeira safra. O clone foi superior à População quanto ao NC e produtividade de pedúnculos (PP), na segunda safra, e quanto às três características avaliadas (NC, PP e produtividade de castanhas), nas três últimas safras.

O objetivo do trabalho foi comparar a fenologia de plantas enxertadas dos clones CP 076 e 1001 de cajueiro anão precoce, sob condições de irrigação localizada. O trabalho foi conduzido em uma área experimental da Universidade Federal do Ceará, em Caucaia, Ceará, durante o período de abril de 1985 a março de 1991. As observações foram realizadas em 10 plantas de cada clone contidas em um jardim clonal em um espaçamento de 6 m x 6 m. Foi avaliada a evolução dos crescimentos quantitativo e qualitativo, da floração e frutificação, da queda foliar e de plantas em produção. As médias mensais de temperatura, umidade relativa do ar, velocidade do vento, e os totais mensais de insolação, de radiação solar e de precipitação pluvial foram determinados durante todo o experimento. Constatou-se que as fenofases altura, envergadura, queda de folhas e crescimento vegetativo qualitativo ocorreram continuamente, para ambos os clones, durante todo o experimento, mais como uma conseqüência da irrigação a que as plantas foram submetidas. Para as fenofases floração e frutificação, ocorreu uma resposta diferenciada. O clone CP 1001 apresentou uma periodicidade muito mais definida que o clone CP 076. A distribuição das chuvas é o fator meteorológico que parece mais influenciar neste comportamento.The main objective of this research was to compare the phenology of grafted plants of the clones CP 076 and 1001 of precocious dwarf cashew tree, under localized irrigation conditions. It was carried out from April 1985 to March 1991 on an experimental area of the Federal University of Ceará, in Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil. Observations were taken on 10 plants from each clone planted in a clonal germoplasm area spaced 6 m x 6 m. The development of quantitative and qualitative growths, leaves abscission, flowering, fruit set, and plants in production were evaluated The monthly averages of temperature, relative humidity of air, and wind speed as well as the monthly totals of insolation, solar radiation, and rainfall were registered during the whole experiment. It was verified that height, plant spread, leaves abscission, and qualitative vegetative growth took place for both clones, continuously throughout the experiment, more as a consequence of the irrigation that the plants were submitted. Flowering and fruit set of both clones showed a different behaviour. The clone CP 1001 presented a much more defined periodicity than clone CP 076. The rain distribution is the climatic factor that seems to influence more in this behaviour.

O trabalho foi instalado no campo experimental de Pacajus - Ceará - Brasil, pertencente ao Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Caju (CNPAT/EMBRAPA), no decurso do ano agrícola 1991 / 1992, tendo como objetivo avaliar o uso de estimulantes químicos na extração da goma de cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale, L.), bem como estudar sua interferência sobre safras futuras da referida matéria. Na pesquisa, foram testadas, através de esquema fatorial, concentrações de 0, 15, 30 e 45% de ácido sulfúrico, combinadas com um nível de dimetil sulfóxido (5%) mais 5 níveis de ethephon que variaram de 0 a 20% do ácido 2 - cloroetilfosfônico. Obteve-se um aumento generalizado das produções de goma nos meses que se seguiram à primeira operação de estriamentos por efeito dos estimulantes aplicados. O ácido sulfúrico não interferiu na exsudação, enquanto a solução de 15% de ácido 2-cloroetilfosfônico promoveu a melhor resposta sobre a produção de goma.

Segmentos de folhas de plântulas de urucum (Bixa orellana L), foram cultivados in vitro, em um meio básico idealizado por Murashige & Skoog (1962), suplementado com 0,5mg/l dos reguladores do crescimento, benzilaminopurina (BAP), cinetina (KN) e isopentenil-adenina (2iP), isolados ou combinados entre si, com o objetivo de avaliar qual a melhor citocinina ou combinação destas para indução de brotações de boa qualidade visando à micropropagação. Após 60 dias de cultivo, as gemas obtidas foram transferidas para um meio MS modificado, contendo a metade da formulação de sais minerais, sem a suplementação de reguladores do crescimento. Gemas de melhor qualidade foram obtidas nos tratamentos onde a KN e o BAP estavam em combinação. A KN sozinha não foi eficiente na indução de brotações. O maior número de gemas por explante foi obtido com KN, BAP e 2iP e no tratamento com apenas BAP.Excised leaf explants of annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seedlings were cultivated on a Murashige & Skoog basal medium containing benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KN) and isopentenyl-adenine (2iP) individually or in combination, each at concentration of 0.5mg/l, with the purpose of evaluated the best cytokinins or cytokinins combination for shoot bud formation. After 60 days, regenerated shoots were transferred to half strenght MS medium without growth regulators. Best shoots were observed where KN and BAP were added in combination. Isolated KN was ineffective for shoot bud formation. The maximum average number of shoot buds per leaf explant was obtained on medium with BAP, KN and 2iP in combination and on medium supplied of isolated BAP.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a influência da água de efluente de viveiros de peixes na composição do biofertilizante em alface como meio de integrar a agricultura e aqüicultura na diminuição de dejetos de forma poluidora para o ambiente. O delineamento utilizado foi um esquema de parcelas subdivididas em blocos completos casualizados, utilizando-se como tratamento principal às concentrações do biofertilizante (0, 5, 10, 20 e 40%) e nas subparcelas as fontes de água (efluente de viveiro de peixes e poço). As características avaliadas foram: altura, diâmetro, massa seca da parte aérea e produtividade. Não houve efeito significativo da interação entre concentrações do biofertilizante e tipos de água, nem entre as concentrações do biofertilizante. Somente as fontes de água apresentaram resultado significativo para a altura e o diâmetro das plantas sob a influência do efluente de viveiro de peixes.

O cajueiro é uma planta geralmente propagada por semente. Sua multiplicação vegetativa ainda não é comercialmente viável. Neste estudo os efeitos do estiolamento e do ácido indolebutírico (AIB) na formação de raízes do alporque da planta de caju foram investigados. O estiolamento foi realizado 30 dias antes do início do processo de alporquia. Por ocasião do anelamento do ramo, o AIB foi aplicado. Após 30 dias da realização da alporquia, os ramos já enraizados foram removidos da planta progenitora. Em seguida foram colocados em saco plástico na casa de vegetação sob condições de irrigação intermitente. Os resultados sugeriram um prévio estiolamento do ramo antes do processo de alporquia e uma aplicação de AIB, por ocasião do anelamento para, garantir a sobrevivência do alporque após o desmame.The Cashew tree is usually propagated by seed since vegetative multiplication has not been fully satisfactory. In this work the effects of etiolation and AIB on air layered branches of the cashew tree were studied. Previous to airlayering procedure, the branches were etiolated during 30 days. The AIB was applied when the bark of the stem was cut. After 30 days the layers were removed from the parent plant at which roots stage were observed through the transparent bag. The rooted layers were planted in polyethylene bags and placed in a greenhouse under an intermitent-mist water spray condition. The results show that the previous etiolation and application of AIB to the exposed wound were beneficial to increase rooting and survival of cashew air layers.

To test the hypothesis that lambs fed freeze-dried Nannochloropsis oceanica (NO) biomass will have a higher deposition of EPA in tissues than those fed other Nannochloropsis EPA-sources, we fed 28 lambs with one of four diets: i) C, control, without EPA; ii) O, with 1.2% Nannochloropsis oil; iii) SD, with 12.3% spray-dried NO biomass; iv) FD, with 9.2% freeze-dried NO biomass. Dry matter intake, growth, tissues fatty acid composition, oxidative stability and sensory traits of the resultant meat were evaluated. The EPA was highest in tissues of lambs fed SD and FD compared with O but was similar between SD and FD. Total trans-18:1 did not differ among treatments, but the t10/t11-18:1 ratio decreased with all EPA containing diets. EPA diets were also supplemented with Vitamin E preventing the lipid oxidation in EPA-enriched meat and the meat sensory traits were not affected although occasionally some off-flavours were detected in FD meat., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest J.S. is employee of the company that provided the microalgae (Allmicroalgae). The remaining authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from freeze-dried biomass of Nannochloropsis oceanica microalgae resists ruminal biohydrogenation in vitro, but in vivo demonstration is needed. Therefore, the present study was designed to test the rumen protective effects of N. oceanica in lambs. Twenty-eight lambs were assigned to one of four diets: Control (C); and C diets supplemented with: 1.2% Nannochloropsis sp. oil (O); 12.3% spray-dried N. oceanica (SD); or 9.2% N. oceanica (FD), to achieve 3 g EPA /kg dry matter. Lambs were slaughtered after 3 weeks and digestive contents and ruminal wall samples were collected. EPA concentration in the rumen of lambs fed FD was about 50% higher than lambs fed SD or O diets. Nevertheless, the high levels of EPA in cecum and faeces of animals fed N. oceanica biomass, independently of the drying method, suggests that EPA was not completely released and absorbed in the small intestine. Furthermore, supplementation with EPA sources also affected the ruminal biohydrogenation of C18 fatty acids, mitigating the shift from the t10 biohydrogenation pathways to the t11 pathways compared to the Control diet. Overall, our results demonstrate that FD N. oceanica biomass is a natural rumen-protected source of EPA to ruminants., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Thirty-two crossbred Merino branco male lambs were randomly allocated to eight diets, combining two forms of alfalfa presentation (chopped or ground), with four barley grain levels (0%, 11.2%, 21.3% and 33% dry matter (DM)), balanced by low starch agro-industrial by-products (LSBP). The diets were supplemented with 6% soybean oil and included 40% of alfalfa in DM. The lambs were individually housed and the trial lasted six weeks. Intake of DM, average daily weight gain (ADG) and carcass weight were higher with ground alfalfa (P < 0.01). Replacing barley grain by LSBP reduced linearly DM intake and ADG (P < 0.001) but increased meat tenderness (P = 0.046). Regardless of the treatments, meat showed a healthy biohydrogenation fatty acid (FA) profile, with high proportions of t11-18:1, c9,t11-18:2 and a t10-18:1/t11-18:1 ratio clearly below 1. The reduction of barley in diet had a moderate positive impact on meat FA composition, decreasing t10-18:1, which was enhanced by the increase of forage particle size., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the associations between abundance of rumen ciliate protozoa and the proportion of the main bioactive fatty acids related to rumen biohydrogenation, as 18:0, t10-18:1, t11-18:1, c9,t11-18:2, 18:3n-3 and 18:2 n-6, in rumen and meat of growing lambs, using data derived from 3 production experiments. A global correlation analysis and a linear regression analysis considering the effect of the experiment were performed. Ten of the 86 lambs involved in the experiments did not present ciliate cells in rumen liquor and the remaining lambs presented an average of 1.35 × 106ciliates / ml rumen liquor. From the nine genera of ciliates identified, Entodinium was the most abundant, averaging 1.17 × 106 cells / ml of rumen liquor. A large variation among lambs was observed for both rumen concentration and community structure of ciliates. Rumen t11-18:1 (P < 0.001) and meat deposition of t11-18:1 (P < 0.001) and of c9,t11-18:2 (P < 0.001) increased linearly with total ciliates, whereas the t10/t11 ratio in rumen (P = 0.002) and in meat (P = 0.036) decreased linearly. Entodiniomorphids seems to be strongly related with meat deposition oft11-18:1 and c9,t11-18:2 and with the reduction of the trans-10 shifted pathway. Completeness of RBH decreased linearly with Holotrichs (P = 0.029), Entodiniomorphids (P = 0.029), Isotricha (P = 0.011) and Epidinium (P = 0.027) abundances. Rumen 18:0 also decreased linearly with increasing counts of total ciliates (P = 0.015), Holotrichs (P = 0.020), Entodiniomorphids (P = 0.010) and Isotricha (P = 0.014). Rumen protozoa were positively linked with the deposition of healthy bioactive FA and simultaneously negatively associated with the occurrence of trans-10 shift., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.