Exploring the diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in different soybean-maize management systems.

Soybean-maize are cultivated in different management systems, such as no-tillage and pastures, which presents potential to add organic residues, and it can potentially impacts the soil microbial community present in these systems. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effects of different soybean-maize management practices on the diversity and composition of soil microbial communities. Specifically, 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to investigate whether the use of pasture species in a fallowing system influences microbial communities in a soybean-maize rotation system, as compared to conventional tillage and no-tillage systems. The results indicate that the inclusion of the pasture species Urochloa brizantha in soybean-maize management systems leads to distinct responses within the soil microbial community. It was found that different soybean-maize management systems, particularly those with U. brizantha, affected the microbial community, likely due to the management applied to this pasture species. The system with 3 years of fallowing before soybean-maize showed the lowest microbial richness (∼2000 operational taxonomic units) and diversity index (∼6.0). Proteobacteria (∼30%), Acidobacteria (∼15%), and Verrucomicrobia (∼10%) were found to be the most abundant phyla in the soil under tropical native vegetation, while soils under cropland had an increased abundance of Firmicutes (∼30% to ∼50%) and Actinobacteria (∼30% to ∼35%). To summarize, this study identified the impacts of various soybean-maize management practices on the soil microbial community and emphasized the advantages of adding U. brizantha as a fallow species.

Microbial communities in the rhizosphere of maize and cowpea respond differently to chromium contamination.

Chromium (Cr) contamination can affect microorganisms in the soil, but the response of the microbial community in the rhizosphere of plants grown in Cr-contaminated soils is poorly understood. Therefore, this study assessed the microbial community, by amplicon sequencing, in the rhizosphere of maize and cowpea growing in uncontaminated (∼6.0 mg kg-1 Cr) and Cr-contaminated soils (∼250 mg kg-1 Cr). Comparing Cr-contaminated and uncontaminated soils, the microbial community in the maize rhizosphere clustered separately, while the microbial community in the cowpea rhizosphere did not present clear clustering. The microbial richness ranged from ∼5000 (rhizosphere in Cr-contaminated soil) to ∼8000 OTUs (in uncontaminated soil). In the comparison of specific bacterial groups in the rhizosphere of maize, Firmicutes were enriched in Cr-contaminated soil, including Bacilli, Bacillales, and Paenibacillus. Cowpea rhizosphere showed a higher abundance of six microbial groups in Cr-contaminated soil, highlighting Rhizobiales, Pedomicrobium, and Gemmatimonadetes. The microbial community in both rhizospheres presented a similar proportion of specialists comparing uncontaminated (2.2 and 3.4% in the rhizosphere of maize and cowpea, respectively) and Cr-contaminated soils (1.8 and 3.2% in the rhizosphere of maize and cowpea, respectively). This study showed that each plant species drove differently the microbial community in the rhizosphere, with an important effect of Cr-contamination on the microbial community assembly.

Mauritia flexuosa palm trees airborne mapping with deep convolutional neural network.

Accurately mapping individual tree species in densely forested environments is crucial to forest inventory. When considering only RGB images, this is a challenging task for many automatic photogrammetry processes. The main reason for that is the spectral similarity between species in RGB scenes, which can be a hindrance for most automatic methods. This paper presents a deep learning-based approach to detect an important multi-use species of palm trees (Mauritia flexuosa; i.e., Buriti) on aerial RGB imagery. In South-America, this palm tree is essential for many indigenous and local communities because of its characteristics. The species is also a valuable indicator of water resources, which comes as a benefit for mapping its location. The method is based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to identify and geolocate singular tree species in a high-complexity forest environment. The results returned a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.75 trees and an F1-measure of 86.9%. These results are better than Faster R-CNN and RetinaNet methods considering equal experiment conditions. In conclusion, the method presented is efficient to deal with a high-density forest scenario and can accurately map the location of single species like the M. flexuosa palm tree and may be useful for future frameworks.

Dynamics of bacterial and archaeal communities along the composting of tannery sludge.

The process of composting has been proposed as a biological alternative to improve the quality of tannery sludge (TS) by the action of microbial communities. However, there is limited knowledge about the dynamic of these microbial communities during the composting process. This study assessed the responses of bacterial and archaeal communities during TS composting using the 16S rRNA sequencing. The composting process occurred within 90 days, and samples of compost were collected on day 7 (d7; mesophilic stage), 30 (d30; thermophilic stage), 60 (d60; cooling stage), and 90 (d90; maturation stage). The results showed a succession of microbial phyla during the composting with enrichment of Synergistetes, WS1, and Euryarchaeota at the mesophilic stage, while at the thermophilic stage, there was an enrichment of Hydrogenedentes, WPS-2, Chloroflexi, and Deinococcus-Thermus. At the cooling stage, there was an enrichment of Kiritimatiellaeota, and at the maturation stage, there was an enrichment of Entotheonellaeota, Dadabacteria, Nitrospirae, Dependiatiae, and Fibrobacteres. When analyzing the drivers influencing microbial communities, Cr and pH presented more negative correlations with general phyla. In contrast, S, C, K, temperature, and N presented more positive correlations, while Ni, Cd, and P showed fewer correlations. According to niche occupancy, we observed a decreased proportion of generalists with a consequently increased proportion of specialists following the composting process. This study showed that different stages of the composting present a specific microbial community structure and dynamics, which are related to some specific composting characteristics.

Microbial co-occurrence network and its key microorganisms in soil with permanent application of composted tannery sludge.

Soil microbial communities act on important environmental processes, being sensitive to the application of wastes, mainly those potential contaminants, such as tannery sludge. Due to the microbiome complexity, graph-theoretical approaches have been applied to represent model microbial communities interactions and identify important taxa, mainly in contaminated soils. Herein, we performed network and statistical analyses into microbial 16S rRNA gene sequencing data from soil samples with the application of different levels of composted tannery sludge (CTS) to assess the most connected nodes and the nodes that act as bridges to identify key microbes within each community. The network analysis revealed hubs belonging to Proteobacteria in soil with lower CTS rates, while active degraders of recalcitrant and pollutant chemical hubs belonging to Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were found in soils under the highest CTS rates. The majority of classified connectors belonged to Actinobacteria, but similarly to hubs taxa, they shifted from metabolic functional profile to taxa with abilities to degrade toxic compounds, revealing a soil perturbation with the CTS application on community organization, which also impacted the community modularity. Members of Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria were identified as both hub and connector suggesting their role as keystone groups. Thus, these results offered us interesting insights about crucial taxa, their response to environmental alterations, and possible implications for the ecosystem.

Long-term effect of composted tannery sludge on soil chemical and biological parameters.

Composting has been recommended as a suitable alternative for recycling wastes and could improve tannery sludge (TS) before its use. However, the long-term application of composted tannery sludge (CTS) may bring concerns about its effects on soil properties and, consequently, on plants and environment, mainly when considering Cr contamination. In this study, we summarize the responses of soil chemical and biological parameters in a 10-year study with yearly applications of CTS. Chemical and biological parameters were assessed in soil samples, and the multivariate analysis method principal response curve (PRC) was used to show the temporal changes in all the biological and chemical properties caused by CTS. The PRC analysis showed different long-term response patterns of chemical and biological parameters according to the rates of CTS. Interestingly, Cr content increased strongly in the first 5 years and only increased slightly in the following 5 years. The yearly applications of CTS changed the biological and chemical parameters of the soil, negatively and positively, respectively. Organic matter, K and P, increased during the 10 years of application, while soil pH and Cr concentration increased, and soil microbial biomass and enzymes activity decreased.

Responses of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity to herbicides imazethapyr and flumioxazin.

The use of herbicides is important for controlling weeds in crops. However, they can present impacts on soil properties, such as biological properties. In this study, we evaluated the responses of soil microbial biomass and enzymes activity to the application of the herbicides imazethapyr and flumioxazin and their mixture in an experiment under laboratory conditions, using soils with a different history of use. Soil microbial biomass C (MBC) decreased, while microbial biomass N (MBN) was not affected after the application of the herbicides as compared to the control. Soil respiration, respiratory quotient, and dehydrogenase (DHA) activity increased significantly after the application of the herbicides compared to the control. The hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was not significantly different between the control and the herbicide treatments. The principal response curve showed the largest initial effects for the flumioxazin, followed by imazethapyr and their mixture. Flumioxazin had a different influence on soil respiration and respiratory quotient than imazethapyr and their mixture. Finally, the effects of herbicides on soil microbial biomass and enzymes are short-term as we observed recovery in the biological parameters over time.

Protist species richness and soil microbiome complexity increase towards climax vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Biodiversity underlies ecosystem functioning. While aboveground biodiversity is often well studied, the belowground microbiome, in particular protists, remains largely unknown. Indeed, holistic insights into soil microbiome structures in natural soils, especially in hyperdiverse biomes such as the Brazilian Cerrado, remain unexplored. Here, we study the soil microbiome across four major vegetation zones of the Cerrado, ranging from grass-dominated to tree-dominated vegetation with a focus on protists. We show that protist taxon richness increases towards the tree-dominated climax vegetation. Early successional habitats consisting of primary grass vegetation host most potential plant pathogens and least animal parasites. Using network analyses combining protist with prokaryotic and fungal sequences, we show that microbiome complexity increases towards climax vegetation. Together, this suggests that protists are key microbiome components and that vegetation succession towards climax vegetation is stimulated by higher loads of animal and plant pathogens. At the same time, an increase in microbiome complexity towards climax vegetation might enhance system stability.

Less abundant bacterial groups are more affected than the most abundant groups in composted tannery sludge-treated soil.

The application of composted tannery sludge (CTS) has promoted shifts in soil chemical properties and, therefore, can affect the soil bacterial community. This study assessed the effect of the CTS on the soil bacterial community over time. The CTS was applied at five rates (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 t/ha), and the bacterial community was evaluated for 180 days. The principal curve response (PRC) analysis showed that the most abundant phyla were not influenced by the CTS rates over time, while the analysis of the bacterial community showed that some of the less abundant phyla were influenced by the CTS rates. Similarly, the PRC analysis for the bacterial classes showed the significant effect of the CTS rates. The redundancy analyses for the bacterial phyla and classes showed the relationship between the significant chemical properties and the bacterial community of the soil after the CTS amendment over time. Therefore, there was a shift in the bacterial community over time with the application of the composted tannery sludge. Our study has shown that the less abundant bacterial groups were more influenced by the CTS than the most abundant bacterial groups and that these bacterial groups were driven by soil chemical properties, primarily chromium (Cr) and the soil pH.

Bacillus subtilis improves maize tolerance to salinity / Bacillus subtilis melhora a tolerância do milho a salinidade

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical responses of maize, under saline stress, inoculated with Bacillus subtilis. Four levels of salinity were assessed: 0mM, 50mM, 100mM, and 200mM of sodium chloride (NaCl). Saline conditions influenced negatively maize growth. However, the inoculation of B. subtilis improved the plant growth at highest level of NaCl. Chlorophyll content decreased while proline increased in inoculated plants submitted to highest salt levels. Also, B. subtilis increased the relative water content in leaves. B. subtilis improves the plant growth under salinity and ameliorates the biochemical damages in maize.

RESUMO: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a resposta bioquímica do milho, sob stresse salino, inoculado com Bacillus subtilis. Quatro níveis de salinidade foram avaliados: 0mM, 50mM, 100mM e 200mM de cloreto de sódio (NaCl). Condições salinas influenciaram negativamente o crescimento do milho. Entretanto, a inoculação com B. subtilis melhorou o crescimento das plantas no maior nível de NaCl. O teor de clorofila decresceu enquanto que a prolina aumentou em plantas submetidas aos níveis salinos e inoculadas com B. subtilis. B. subtilis também aumentou o conteúdo de agua foliar. A inoculação com B. subtilis promove melhor crescimento das plantas sob salinidade e atenua os danos bioquímicos no milho.

Contraception and family planning at the extreme of reproductive life-climacteric / Anticoncepção e planejamento familiar no extremo da vida reprodutiva-climatério

SUMMARY Menopause is an endocrine phenomenon characterized by gradual estrogen decline. This is a stage in a woman's life in which contraception is extremely important as the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth increase, both maternal issues associated with higher incidence of comorbidities and issues related to fetal abnormalities, mitochondrial abnormalities, or genetic syndromes. On the other hand, there is a growing number of women who have postponed motherhood and need effective contraception, but without prolonging the return to fertility. Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), low-dose oral hormonal contraceptives and non-oral contraceptives are preferred. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system is a very good alternative that can maintain endometrial protection after menopause. Definitive methods such as tubal ligation and vasectomy are options for couples that already have their offspring. In this review, we present evidence for contraceptive indication and the effects of hormonal methods on climacteric including options for contraception, control of bleeding during perimenopause and of climacteric symptoms, as well as the transition from such methods to hormone therapy if indicated.

Resumo O climatério é um fenômeno endócrino caracterizado pelo gradativo declínio estrogênico. Esta é uma fase da vida da mulher em que a contracepção tem crescente importância, uma vez que crescem os riscos no ciclo gravídico-puerperal, seja por questões maternas, associadas à maior incidência de comorbidades, seja por questões ligadas a malformações fetais, anormalidades mitocondriais ou síndromes genéticas. Por outro lado, é cada vez maior o número de mulheres que tem postergado a maternidade, necessitando de contracepção eficiente; porém, que não prolongue o retorno à fertilidade. Dá-se preferência para métodos contraceptivos de longa duração (LARC), baixas doses hormonais orais e administradas por vias não orais. O sistema intrauterino liberador de levonorgestrel é ótima alternativa, podendo manter proteção endometrial na pós-menopausa. Os métodos definitivos, como laqueadura e vasectomia, são opções para o casal com prole constituída. Nesta revisão apresentamos evidências para indicação e efeitos dos métodos hormonais no climatério, como opções contraceptivas, para controle de sangramento perimenopausa e de sintomas climatéricos, bem como a transição destes para a terapia hormonal quando indicada.

Contraception and family planning at the extreme of reproductive life - climacteric.

Menopause is an endocrine phenomenon characterized by gradual estrogen decline. This is a stage in a woman's life in which contraception is extremely important as the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth increase, both maternal issues associated with higher incidence of comorbidities and issues related to fetal abnormalities, mitochondrial abnormalities, or genetic syndromes. On the other hand, there is a growing number of women who have postponed motherhood and need effective contraception, but without prolonging the return to fertility. Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), low-dose oral hormonal contraceptives and non-oral contraceptives are preferred. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system is a very good alternative that can maintain endometrial protection after menopause. Definitive methods such as tubal ligation and vasectomy are options for couples that already have their offspring. In this review, we present evidence for contraceptive indication and the effects of hormonal methods on climacteric including options for contraception, control of bleeding during perimenopause and of climacteric symptoms, as well as the transition from such methods to hormone therapy if indicated.

Interação de Bacillus sp. com a rizosfera de três espécies de plantas forrageiras / Interaction of rhizobacteria Bacillus sp. with pastures rhizosphere

Foi realizado um estudo para investigar a colonização da rizosfera de plantas forrageiras por rizobactérias do gênero Bacillus, como também avaliar se a fertilidade do solo interfere nesta colonização bacteriana. Para isto foram coletadas amostras da parte radicular de Brachiaria decumbens, B. brizantha e Panicum maximum em 18 propriedades rurais com atividade pecuária na região oeste paulista, SP. Durante a condução do trabalho foram efetivadas análises de fertilidade do solo nas áreas amostradas. A quantificação de Bacillus spp. na rizosfera das plantas foi efetivada com o emprego da técnica do choque térmico e diluição seriada, finalizando-se com plaqueamento em meio de cultura. A colonização de Bacillus na rizosfera de plantas forrageiras apresentou-se com baixos valores e não houve correlação da colonização da rizosfera com a maioria dos parâmetros de fertilidade do solo. Apenas a matéria orgânica no solo se correlacionou de forma negativa com a colonização bacteriana na rizosfera. Não houve diferença significativa na colonização de Bacillus encontrada na rizosfera das três espécies de plantas forrageiras avaliadas.

A study was conducted to investigate whether the rhizosphere of pastures promotes root colonization by rhizobacteria of the Bacillus genus, as also the fertility of this soil interferes with bacterial colonization. For this we collected samples of the root system of B. decumbens, B. brizantha and Panicum maximum in 18 farms with cattle ranching in western Sao Paulo, Brazil. While driving to work were effective analysis of soil fertility in the sampled areas. Quantification of Bacillus spp. In the rhizosphere of plants was performed by employing the technique of thermal shock and dilution ending with plating on culture media. Colonization of Bacillus in the rhizosphere of pasture were considered low and there was no correlation between rhizosphere colonization with most of the parameters of soil fertility. Just organic matter in the soil correlated negatively with bacterial colonization in the rhizosphere. No significant difference was found in the colonization of Bacillus in the rhizosphere of three grassland species assessed.

Etonogestrel implant in adolescents: evaluation of clinical aspects.

BACKGROUND: This prospective noncomparative observational study evaluated the clinical aspects of adolescents who received an etonogestrel implant within 6 months of delivery. STUDY DESIGN: The study population comprised 44 adolescents managed at the Family Planning Sector of São Paulo Federal University. The implant was inserted, on average, 102 days after delivery and patients were followed during 1 year. At each monthly visit to the clinic, the participants were weighed, had their blood pressure measured and were asked to report on symptoms experienced during the last 30 days. RESULTS: Approximately one-third (38.6%) of the participants reported symptoms, mostly headaches. There were no complaints of dysmenorrhea, breast tenderness or lower leg edema throughout the 12 months of follow-up. Mean body weight dropped 1.2 kg on average, from 56.4 kg at implant insertion to 55.3 kg at the end of the 1-year period. Body mass index also decreased 0.5 kg/m(2) on average, although these changes did not reach statistical significance. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure remained unchanged throughout the study period. There were no pregnancies and none of the participants discontinued the method (528 women-months). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the etonogestrel implant is a safe and effective contraceptive method that is well accepted by adolescents after a pregnancy.

Evaluation of quality of life and sexual satisfaction in women suffering from chronic pelvic pain with or without endometriosis.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is one of the most frequent symptoms in women of reproductive age. This is an enigmatic clinical condition that results from the complex interactions of physiological and psychological factors with direct impact on the social, marital, and professional lives of women. AIM: To evaluate the quality of life and sexual satisfaction of women who suffer from CPP with or without endometriosis. METHOD: Forty-nine patients who had been diagnosed with endometriosis and 35 patients with CPP diagnosed with another gynecological condition, all 84 of whom were treated at the Chronic Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Clinic at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) from January to July of 2008. The controls were 50 healthy women from the Family Planning Clinic at UNIFESP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) quality of life questionnaire and the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with CPP symptoms, in either the results from the WHOQOL-BREF or in the GRISS questionnaire. In both questionnaires, differences were observed when the two groups of symptomatic women were compared with the group of healthy women. CONCLUSION: CPP caused by endometriosis or other gynecological conditions leads to a significant reduction of quality of life and sexual satisfaction.

Etonogestrel implant in postpartum adolescents: bleeding pattern, efficacy and discontinuation rate.

BACKGROUND: The increasing rate of teenage pregnancies is a challenge to health professionals. New contraceptive methods have been developed to try to improve adherence in this group of patients. The study was conducted to evaluate the bleeding pattern, efficacy and discontinuation rate of etonogestrel implant (68 mg) inserted in postpartum adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: The study population comprised 44 postpartum adolescents managed at the Family Planning Sector of São Paulo Federal University. The implant was inserted, on average, 102 days after delivery. Patients were followed prospectively during four 90-day periods. RESULTS: All 44 patients completed the 12 months of follow-up, resulting in a study discontinuation rate of 0%. No implants were removed. There were no pregnancies during the study. After 1 year of use, frequent and prolonged bleeding were reported by less than 5% of the patients and amenorrhea occurred in 38.6% of the users. Laboratory parameters indicated a significant increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit among users. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the etonogestrel implant is a safe and effective contraceptive method that is well accepted by adolescents after a pregnancy.

Bioprospecção de isolados de Bacillus promotores de crescimento de milho cultivado em solo autoclavado e natural / Bioprospection of Bacillus isolates promoters of corn growth in natural and sterile soil

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, selecionar isolados bacterianos do gênero Bacillus em amostras de solo da região oeste paulista e avaliar o efeito de sua inoculação em milho cultivado em duas condições de solo (natural e autoclavado). Trinta e oito isolados bacterianos, caracterizados como Bacillus sp. foram avaliados previamente quanto ao antagonismo a fungos fitopatogênicos e produção de hormônio vegetal (auxinas) em laboratório. Foram selecionados 14 isolados para inoculação de milho cultivado em vasos, em casa de vegetação durante 50 dias. As avaliações efetuadas durante a condução do experimento foram: altura de plantas; número de folhas desdobradas e biomassa seca produzida aos 50 dias após a semeadura. O cultivo do milho em solo autoclavado proporcionou maior número de folhas desdobradas e produção de biomassa na planta. Os isolados bacterianos BRG-2, CAS-2, NGR-1, PNP-2, PRP-2 e TAC-2, destacaram-se como promotores de crescimento do milho, avaliado pela produção de biomassa pela planta aos 50 dias de idade. Dos oito antagonistas avaliados apenas quatro foram promotores de crescimento do milho. A maior produção de AIA não foi uma característica principal dos melhores isolados bacterianos que promoveram o crescimento do milho.

The objective of this work was to select bacterial isolates of the genus Bacillus in soil samples of West of the State of São Paulo and to assess the effect of their inoculation in corn growing in two soil conditions (natural and sterilized). 38 bacterial isolates characterized as belonging to the Bacillus genus were previously evaluated regarding their antagonism to phytopathogenic fungi and their production of plant hormones (auxines) in the laboratory. The corn plants were inoculated with 14 Bacillus isolates and grown in in a greenhouse for 50 days. The evaluations made during the conduction of the trial were: plant height, number of leaves and biomass dry weight. The bacterial isolates BRG-2, CAS-2, NGR-1, PNP-2, PRP-2 and TAC-2 were able to promote maize growth. Among the best isolates four were antagonist to phytopathogenic fungi. The AIA production was not the main feature of the best bacterial isolates that promoted the growth of corn.

Extended regimens of the contraceptive vaginal ring: evaluation of clinical aspects.

BACKGROUND: Oral contraceptives used for extended periods of time have been extensively studied because of their potential benefits; however, there have been few publications on extended regimens of vaginal contraceptive rings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical symptoms, body weight and blood pressure changes in women using the vaginal ring continuously over a 1-year period. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort evaluated clinical aspects (dysmenorrhea, headache, breast tenderness, leg pain and irritability), body weight and blood pressure changes in 75 women (18-37 years of age) using a vaginal ring releasing 120 mcg of etonogestrel and 15 mcg of ethinyl estradiol daily, over a continuous period of 84 days, followed by a 7-day ring-free interval, during 1 year. The chi-square, Wilcoxon and paired t tests were used to analyze differences in the outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Compared to pre-enrollment status, at the end of the study period, the patients reported significantly less dysmenorrhea and irritability, a nonsignificant decrease in breast tenderness, leg pain and headaches. Blood pressure measurements remained unchanged. Although weight and body mass index increased significantly among users, they remained within the expected biological variation range. CONCLUSION: The vaginal ring used on an extended regimen is a well-tolerated contraceptive method and also offers noncontraceptive benefits.

Coinoculação rizóbio e Bacillus subtilis em feijão-caupi e leucena: efeito sobre a nodulação, a fixação de N2 e o crescimento das plantas / Co-inoculation rhizobia and Bacilus subtilis in cowpea and Leucaena: effects on nodulation, N2 fixation and plant growth

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da associação entre o rizóbio e o Bacillus subtilis sobre a nodulação, a fixação de N2 e o crescimento do feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata) e da leucena (Leucaena leucocephala) cultivados em um Latossolo vermelho. Os tratamentos consistiram de: a) testemunha; b) fertilização com NPK; c) inoculação com rizóbio + PK; e d) inoculação com rizóbio + Bacillus subtilis + PK. Houve um aumento na nodulação do feijão-caupi com a coinoculação. A massa da parte aérea seca, o acúmulo de N e a leitura da clorofila em feijão-caupi foram maiores nos tratamentos fertilizados (NPK) e no tratamento coinoculado. No caso da leucena, não houve diferenças entre os tratamentos NPK, inoculado e coinoculado. As massas das raízes secas do feijão-caupi e leucena aumentaram com a coinoculação. A coinoculação rizóbio e Bacillus subtilis favoreceu o aumento na nodulação em feijão-caupi e tem potencial para aumentar a fixação biológica do N2 e o crescimento das plantas.

This research aimed to evaluate co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus subtilis on nodulation, N2 fixation and growth of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) grown in a red Oxisol. Treatments consisted by: a) control; b) NPK; c) inoculation with Bradyrhizobium + PK; d) co-inoculation Bradyrhizobium + Bacillus subtilis + PK. There was an increase in nodulation of cowpea with co-inoculation. The shoot dry weight, N accumulation and chlorophyll were higher in both co-inoculated and fertilized (NPK) treatments. For leucaena, there were not differences between NPK, inoculated and co-inoculated treatments. The dry weight roots of cowpea and leucaena increased with co-inoculation. The co-inoculation Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus subtilis favored the increase in nodulation of cowpea and it has potential to increase biological N2 fixation and plant growth.

Extended regimens of the vaginal contraceptive ring: cycle control.

BACKGROUND: Oral contraceptives used for extended periods of time have been extensively studied because of their potential benefits; however, there have been few publications on extended regimen of vaginal rings. The aim of this study was to compare the bleeding patterns of women using extended regimens of the vaginal ring or oral contraceptives. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort involving 150 women: 75 used vaginal rings that release 120 mcg of etonogestrel and 15 mcg of ethinyl estradiol daily, and 75 took oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol 0.3 mcg and desogestrel 150 mcg. Both groups used their respective contraceptive method over continuous periods of 84 days, followed by a 7-day pause, during 1 year. RESULTS: The total number of scheduled bleeding and spotting days decreased significantly during the 1-year period of the study for both methods (p=.001), and this decrease was significantly higher for oral contraceptive users. Similarly, during the study period, there was a significant reduction in the total number of unscheduled bleeding and spotting days for both methods (p=.01), but this decrease was significantly higher among vaginal ring users (p=.003). CONCLUSION: Vaginal ring used on an extended regimen is a contraceptive method that offers good cycle control.