The use of bioproducts, economically viable, are of extreme importance in the protection and stimulation of germination in vegetable crops. This work evaluated the effect of the microorganisms Azospirillum brasiliense, Bacillus sub-tilis, Trichoderma harzianum and the commercial seed treatment product (Fipronil + Pilaclostrobin and Methyl Thiophanate) on seeds and seedlings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), carrot (Daucus carota) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The seeds were inoculated before being submitted to the germination test. The chemical treatment proved ineffective in protecting the seed of all crops and stimulating germination. T. harzianum increased the germination index of lettuce seeds, had better values in root system size in tomato crop and stimulated radicle emission in carrot. B. subtilis stood out in dry matter accumulation in tomato crop. The microorganisms B. subtilis and T. harzianum present potential for vegetable seed treatment.

Synthesis of macro-mesoporous Titania (Titanium dioxide-TiO₂) nanospheres was successfully achieved using a modified template-free methodology to incorporate macroporous channels into a mesoporous TiO₂ framework to form mixed macro-mesoporous TiO₂ spheres (MMPT), which were doped with carbon dots (C-dots) to form improved nanocomposites (C-dots@MMPT). Elemental composition, surface bonding and optical properties of these nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-VIS). Evaluation of photocatalytic activity for each (C-Dots@MMPT) sample was performed via degrading the Methylene Blue (MB) dye compared with bare samples (MMPT) under visible light irradiation using 300 Watt halogen lamp.

In order to improve the quality and efficiency of heat treatment in welds of power stations, this paper summarizes the current situation of 600 MW supercritical power plant welding site heat treatment and puts forward the improved methods and measures accordingly. The heat treatment of welding holes in the construction site Play a certain guiding role.

This study uses the opening of the new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in stages between 2010 and 2012 in Singapore as the exogenous event to empirically test the impact of the new Circle Line (CL) on housing wealth. Applying a "differences-in-differences" approach to the non-landed private housing transaction data covering the period from 2009 to 2013, we find that the average housing prices increase by 1.6% in the post-opening of the CL. We find significant capitalization of the new CL into housing prices, especially households living within a 400-meter radius (the treatment zone) from the closest MRT stations on the CL. The treatment effects that are measured by the "marginal willingness to pay" for houses located within the treatment zone is 13.2% relative to houses located outside the treatment zone. The new CL opening creates an estimated S$1.23 billion housing wealth effects for households living in close proximity to the CL MRT stations. However, we do not find significant "anticipative" effects on house prices in the six-month window prior to the opening of CL. The strongest treatment effect is found after the opening of the phase 1 of CL, and the treatment intensity declines in phases 2 and 3 of the CL opening.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results and complications of arthroscopic subcapital realignment osteotomy for the treatment of chronic and stable proximal femoral epiphysiolysis (PFE) in an initial series of patients. According to the literature review, the study presents the first description of an arthroscopic technique of this type of osteotomy. Methods: Between June 2012 and December 2014, seven patients underwent arthroscopic subcapital realignment osteotomy for the treatment of chronic, stable PFE. The mean age of the patients was 11 years and four months. Minimum follow-up ranged from 6 to 36 months (mean, 16.5 months). Patients were clinically evaluated according to the Harris Hip Score modified by Byrd and radiographically according to Southwick’s quantitative classification and the epiphyseal-diaphyseal angle. Postoperative complications were analyzed. Results: With regard to the evaluation of the Harris Hip Score Modified by Byrd clinical score, a preoperative mean of 35.8 points and a postoperative mean of 97.5 points were observed (p < 0.05). Radiographically, five patients were classified as Southwick grade II and two as grade III. A mean correction of the epiphyseal-diaphyseal angle of 40° was observed. There were no immediate postoperative complications. One patient developed avascular necrosis of the femoral head, without collapse or chondrolysis at the last follow-up (22 months). Conclusion: The arthroscopic technique presented by the authors for the treatment of chronic, stable PFE resulted in clinical and radiographic improvement of the patients in this initial series.

Gout is an arthritis characterized by the deposition of sodium monoacid crystals in the synovial membrane, articular cartilage, and periarticular tissues that leads to an inflamatory process. In most cases, the diagnosis is established by clinical criteria and analysis of the synovial fluid for MSU crystals. However, gout may manifest in atypical ways and make diagnosis difficult. In these situations, imaging studies play a fundamental role in helping to confirm the diagnosis or even exclude other differential diagnoses. Conventional radiography is still the most commonly used method in the follow-up of these patients, but it is a very insensitive test, because it only detects late changes. In recent years, advances in imaging methods have emerged in relation to gout. Ultrasound has proven to be a highly accurate test in the diagnosis of gout, identifying MSU deposits in articular cartilage and periarticular tissues, and detecting and characterizing tophi, tendinopathies, and tophi enthesopathies. Computed tomography is an excellent exam for the detection of bone erosions and evaluation of spinal involvement. Dual-energy computed tomography, a new method that provides information on the chemical composition of tissues, allows identification of MSU deposits with high accuracy. MRI can be useful in the evaluation of deep tissues not accessible by ultrasound. In addition to diagnosis, with the emergence of drugs that aim to reduce the tophaceous burden, imaging examinations become a useful tool in the follow-up treatment of gout patients.