Since abiotic and biotic factors can compromise the survival of bacteria and their viability, encapsulation of cells in biodegradable gel matrices, a biological macromolecule, is one alternative to have their shelf life extended. Here, it was developed a gel-based formulation of the bioinoculant Azospirillum brasilense strain AbV5 and determined the effect of trehalose and humic acid supplementation in viability and survival of bacteria. For each 2 ml of sodium alginate solution (3%), 1 ml of the inoculum was extruded in a solution containing sodium alginate complexed with calcium chloride, forming calcium alginate beads. Supplements were used in a ratio of 2:2:1. Treatments were peat; alginate; alginate + humic acid; alginate + trehalose 0.1 M; alginate + trehalose 1 M. Morphometric aspects, survival rate and viability were determined in 9 storage periods (3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 30, 45, 60, 90 days). As results, beads were able to sustain the growth of A. brasilense for 90 days. Shelf life quality decreased in all treatments and peat remained the best carrier. Encapsulation, despite promoting the greatest losses in the survival of bacteria in the first days, ensured better cell viability. Trehalose in low concentrations (0.1M) improved cell viability during storage, optimizing plant inoculation.

The present work evaluated the daily addition of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis), during the rearing of Macrobrachium rosenbergii juveniles in a biofloc system for 40 days. Juveniles (0.12 ± 0.32 g) were stocked in 16 experimental units with bottom area of 0.20 m2, 50 L of useful volume, and an equivalent density of 150 prawns m−2. Four treatments were evaluated: Control (without addition of probiotics), TP1 (1.08 × 105 CFU g−1), TP2 (2.17 × 105 CFU g−1) and TP3 (3.25 × 105 CFU g−1). The treatments were randomly assigned to the experimental units with four replicates each. For quantitative evaluation of probiotic bacteria in the rearing water and in the hepatopancreas of prawns, microbiological analyses were carried out at days 0, 20 and 40. The results indicated a predominance of B. subtilis in the hepatopancreas and B. licheniformis in the water. The bacteria were differentiated by colony morphology and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using species‐specific primers. This study demonstrated that concentrations as low as 1.08 × 105 CFU g−1 (TP1) contribute to significantly higher survival (p = 0.014) of M. rosenbergii in Biofloc Technology System (BFT).

Due to the current importance of sustainability, the federal association of the calcium silicate masonry unit industry has taken intensive interest in the question of the resource efficiency of calcium silicate masonry units and construction and has carried out an extensive investigation to this end. The study subjected all stages of calcium silicate, from raw materials reserves and their extraction, production and use in building to recycling, including all transport routes and energy demands, to detailed analysis and critically examined the sustainability of calcium silicate blocks. The present article explains and evaluates the entire life cycle of calcium silicate masonry units.