Optimization and Tradeoff Analysis for Multiple Configurations of Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage Systems in Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol Sector.

Bio-energy systems with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) will be essential if countries are to meet the gas emission reduction targets established in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This study seeks to carry out a thermodynamic optimization and analysis of a BECCS technology for a typical Brazilian cogeneration plant. To maximize generated net electrical energy (MWe) and carbon dioxide CO2 capture (Mt/year), this study evaluated six cogeneration systems integrated with a chemical absorption process using MEA. A key performance indicator (gCO2/kWh) was also evaluated. The set of optimal solutions shows that the single regenerator configuration (REG1) resulted in more CO2 capture (51.9% of all CO2 emissions generated by the plant), penalized by 14.9% in the electrical plant's efficiency. On the other hand, the reheated configuration with three regenerators (Reheat3) was less power-penalized (7.41%) but had a lower CO2 capture rate (36.3%). Results showed that if the CO2 capture rates would be higher than 51.9%, the cogeneration system would reach a higher specific emission (gCO2/kWh) than the cogeneration base plant without a carbon capture system, which implies that low capture rates (<51%) in the CCS system guarantee an overall net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in sugarcane plants for power and ethanol production.

First Report of Rhizoctonia solani AG 4 HG-III Causing Stem Lesion of Watermelon in Idaho.

In July 2022, stem lesions, approximately 4 to 5 cm in length as well as leaf wilt and dark brown necrosis on stems and roots were observed in two fields in Southwest Idaho on 20 to 30% of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus). To determine the causal agent, isolations were attempted from symptomatic tissue. The surface of the affected material was disinfected with 0.6% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min and rinsed three times with sterile water. Approximately 2 mm3 sections of tissue were plated on water agar amended with 0.02% penicillin and 0.08% streptomycin and incubated at room temperature for 7 days. Fungal colonies were tentatively identified as Rhizoctonia from right-angle branching and septate hyphal structures, slight constriction and septum near the branch base, and the production of 1 to 2 mm white to light brown irregularly shaped sclerotia. Single hyphal tips were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and grown at room temperature. Approximately ten isolates from each field with a consistent macromorphology were observed. These isolates had light brown mycelia, produced sclerotia at ambient temperature with no exposure to continuous light, and a representative isolate, designated D22-110 was selected for sequencing and pathogenicity testing. For isolate D22-110, mycelia were removed with a scalpel after 7 days of growth, for DNA extraction and sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as previously described (White et al., 1990). A 726 bp product was generated and the sequence was submitted to GenBank (Accession No. OQ794049). NCBI-BLAST indicated this sequence was 99% identical (631 of 634 bp and 632 of 634 bp identical) with known reference isolates previously identified as R. solani AG 4 HG-III (Accession No. AF354075 and AF354076, respectively) from a phylogenetic study (Gonzalez et al., 2001). Pathogenicity testing was performed twice on two-week-old seedlings of watermelon cultivars Endless Summer and Wingman in greenhouse conditions (29oC, 12 h daylight). Two disks (3 mm diam) from 7-day-old plates of PDA were placed around each seedling at the root and stem convergence point. Ten seedlings were mock-inoculated with sterile PDA plugs as a control. Approximately 35% damping-off incidence was observed on inoculated seedlings six days post-inoculation, while control seedlings remained healthy. At 20 days post-inoculation, 20 (first trial) and 34 seedlings (second trial) were assessed for visible stem and root lesions. Incidence of stem lesions occurred on 90% of seedlings, with 80% of seedlings possessing lesions greater than 10 mm in diameter. Seedlings without R. solani inoculation were free of stem and root lesions. R. solani was re-isolated from symptomatic tissue, with 40% frequency of isolation, identified by right-angle branching of the hyphae thus confirming Koch's postulates. R. solani AG 4 has been reported in watermelon in the US since 1994 (Hall and Summer, 1994) but the AG 4 subgroup was not reported. AG 4 HG-III was reported in melon seedlings causing damping-off in Kyrgyzstan (Erper et al. 2016). In other hosts, AG 4 HG-III was found in potatoes in South Africa (Muzhinji et al., 2014), buckwheat and foxtail millet in China (Zhou et al., 2015; Hao et al., 2023), broccoli and spinach (Kuramae et al., 2003) and turnip green (Sekiguchi et al., 2015). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani AG 4 HG-III causing disease in watermelon in Idaho. Given the the rate of disease incidence observed in the field, growers should consider avoiding planting alternative host crops to minimize inoculum buildup.

An olivine cumulate outcrop on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars.

The geological units on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars, are part of a wider regional stratigraphy of olivine-rich rocks, which extends well beyond the crater. We investigated the petrology of olivine and carbonate-bearing rocks of the Séítah formation in the floor of Jezero. Using multispectral images and x-ray fluorescence data, acquired by the Perseverance rover, we performed a petrographic analysis of the Bastide and Brac outcrops within this unit. We found that these outcrops are composed of igneous rock, moderately altered by aqueous fluid. The igneous rocks are mainly made of coarse-grained olivine, similar to some martian meteorites. We interpret them as an olivine cumulate, formed by settling and enrichment of olivine through multistage cooling of a thick magma body.

Evolution of the wheat blast fungus through functional losses in a host specificity determinant.

Wheat blast first emerged in Brazil in the mid-1980s and has recently caused heavy crop losses in Asia. Here we show how this devastating pathogen evolved in Brazil. Genetic analysis of host species determinants in the blast fungus resulted in the cloning of avirulence genes PWT3 and PWT4, whose gene products elicit defense in wheat cultivars containing the corresponding resistance genes Rwt3 and Rwt4 Studies on avirulence and resistance gene distributions, together with historical data on wheat cultivation in Brazil, suggest that wheat blast emerged due to widespread deployment of rwt3 wheat (susceptible to Lolium isolates), followed by the loss of function of PWT3 This implies that the rwt3 wheat served as a springboard for the host jump to common wheat.

Flammability limits of hydrated and anhydrous ethanol at reduced pressures in aeronautical applications.

There is interest in finding the flammability limits of ethanol at reduced pressures for the future use of this biofuel in aeronautical applications taking into account typical commercial aviation altitude (<40,000 ft). The lower and upper flammability limits (LFL and UFL, respectively) for hydrated ethanol and anhydrous ethanol (92.6% and 99.5% p/p, respectively) were determined for a pressure of 101.3 kPa at temperatures between 0 and 200°C. A heating chamber with a spherical 20-l vessel was used. First, LFL and the UFL were determined as functions of temperature and atmospheric pressure to compare results with data published in the scientific literature. Second, after checking the veracity of the data obtained for standard atmospheric pressure, the work proceeded with reduced pressures in the same temperature range. 295 experiments were carried out in total; the first 80 were to calibrate the heating chamber and compare the results with those given in the published scientific literature. 215 experiments were performed both at atmospheric and reduced pressures. The results had a correlation with the values obtained for the LFL, but values for the UFL had some differences. With respect to the water content in ethanol, it was shown that the water vapor contained in the fuel can act as an inert substance, narrowing flammability.

Flammability limits: a review with emphasis on ethanol for aeronautical applications and description of the experimental procedure.

The lower and upper flammability limits of a fuel are key tools for predicting fire, assessing the possibility of explosion, and designing protection systems. Knowledge about the risks involved with the explosion of both gaseous and vaporized liquid fuel mixtures with air is very important to guarantee safety in industrial, domestic, and aeronautical applications. Currently, most countries use various standard experimental tests, which lead to different experimental values for these limits. A comprehensive literature review of the flammability limits of combustible mixtures is developed here in order to organize the theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject. The main focus of this paper is the review of the flammability data of ethanol-air mixtures available in the literature. In addition, the description of methodology for experiments to find the upper and lower limits of flammability of ethanol for aeronautical applications is discussed. A heated spherical 20L vessel was used. The mixtures were ignited with electrode rods placed in the center of the vessel, and the spark gap was 6.4mm. LFL and the UFL were determined for ethanol (hydrated ethanol 96% °INPM) as functions of temperature for atmospheric pressure to compare results with data published in the scientific literature.