ABSTRACT Cachaça is a typical Brazilian spirit of significant economic and social relevance. The spirit may contain organic and inorganic contaminants that impair its quality, such as ethyl carbamate (EC), which is potentially carcinogenic. The study of factors that cause EC incidence is extremely important to produce cachaça with good physicochemical and sensory quality and for public health reasons. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze and quantify nitrogen (N) in sugarcane juice and correlate it with the EC levels, with copper (Cu) as precursor, in cachaça from stills, produced from the sugar of three different sugarcane varieties (RB857515, RB966928 and RB855453). We used the plantation systems without fertilization and with organic and conventional fertilization. The EC and Cu levels were below the legislation threshold and the N levels were correlated with EC formation in different planting systems.

Resumo O consumo e o cultivo da couve de folha crespa no Brasil são recentes e mostram-se escassas as informações sobre sistemas de produção e sua aceitação pelo consumidor. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar as características sensoriais de couves de folhas crespas cultivadas em sistemas convencional e hidropônico, considerando os tratamentos: cultivo sistema convencional, sem adubação (A), sistema convencional com fertilizantes orgânicos (C, E) e sistema hidropônico (F). As colheitas foram realizadas aos 60, 90 e 120 dias após plantio para as plantas cultivadas em sistema convencional e, aos 30 dias, para o sistema hidropônico. Foi analisado o teor do índice de clorofila total e realizada a análise sensorial de ordenação de diferença e aceitação. O índice de clorofila nas couves de folhas crespas no sistema convencional foi menor em relação ao da couve cultivada em sistema hidropônico. Para teste de ordenação, a cor verde foi mais escura na couve crespa produzida em sistema convencional e, para os demais atributos (aroma, gostos doce e amargo, e crocância), não houve diferença significativa.

Abstract The consumption and cultivation of curly kale in Brazil is recent and information on production systems and their acceptance by the consumer are scarce. The aim of this work was to evaluate the sensory characteristics of curly kales cultivated using the conventional and hydroponic systems, considering the treatments: cultivation under the conventional system, without fertilization (A), conventional system with organic fertilizers (C, E) and hydroponic system (F). The harvests were performed at 60, 90 and 120 days after planting for the plants cultivated using the conventional system and at 30 days for the hydroponic system. The total chlorophyll index content and the sensory analyses of ranking of difference and acceptance were analyzed. The lowest chlorophyll index in the curly kales was verified for the one cultivated under the hydroponic system. In the ranking test, the darkest green color was obtained for the curly kale produced using the conventional system and for the attributes aroma, sweet and bitter taste and crunchiness, there was no significant difference.

The volatile compounds present in cachaça can derive from the raw material used in the production of the beverage, from the fermentative process, from distillation or aging. The aim of the research was to evaluate the volatile compounds, in the cachaças from stills produced with different sugarcane varieties, under the organic and conventional managements. The varieties RB867515, RB962869 and RB85553 were cultivated in three distinct ways, planting without fertilization (OUTF); organic planting (ORGN) and conventional planting (CONV). The results showed that for the total esters, higher alcohols and coefficient of congeners present in the cachaça, the varieties and managements are dependent, unlike volatile acidity, total aldehydes, methyl alcohol and furfural. Therefore, the quality, origin and lineage of the sugarcane variety used for the production of cachaça were confirmed to influence the chemical concentrations of the volatile compounds of the beverage, modifying its chemical profile. It is worth reinforcing that none of the volatiles presented concentration above that allowed by the Brazilian legislation.

ABSTRACT: Ethyl carbamate (EC) (NH2COOCH2CH3) is found in cachaça, and its presence in the beverage is conspicuous for its toxicity. Copper, the metal of choice used in the construction of stills, is also considered a beverage contaminant and is often related to the presence of EC in beverages. The study aimed to monitor the quality of cachaça by measuring the presence of copper and EC, and comparing the influences of sugarcane cultivation systems on the concentration of these contaminants. The varieties, RB 867515, RB 962869 and RB 85553, were cultivated under the following management systems: planting without fertilization; organic planting; and conventional planting. For cultivation, a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme of 3 varieties × 3 managements was used as experimental planning, in 4 replications. The concentrations of copper and EC in beverages were evaluated and submitted to univariate analysis of variance (p ≤ 0.05). The organic and conventional systems presented no significant variations in copper content, both of which are recommended for the planting of sugarcane as raw material for cachaça. From amongst the varieties evaluated, RB966928 presented the lowest concentrations of copper for the organic and conventional systems, and was the most recommended for the production of cachaça. To evaluate the EC concentration (μg L–1) in the cachaças produced, all beverages were considered in accordance with national legislation. Significant differences were observed between them, but the conventional and organic systems are favored for deployment in the cultivation of sugarcane as the raw material of cachaça. The same applies to the RB966928, RB867515 and RB855453 varieties.

Resumo Métodos clássicos de análise de modelos não lineares são amplamente utilizados em estudos da cinética de degradação ruminal. Como esse tipo de estudo envolve medidas repetidas na mesma unidade experimental, propõe-se o uso de modelos não lineares mistos (MNLM), buscando resolver os problemas de heterogeneidade de variâncias das respostas, de correlação entre as medidas repetida se a consequente falta de esfericidade da matriz de covariâncias. Os objetivos deste trabalho envolvem apresentar uma avaliação da aplicabilidade dos MNLM na estimação de parâmetros para descrever a cinética de degradação ruminal in situ da matéria seca de fenos de capim-Tifton 85 e comparar os seus resultados com os obtidos da análise usual realizada em duas fases. Os novilhos utilizados no ensaio foram alimentados com rações compostas por três diferentes combinações de volumoso e concentrado e dois fenos com diferentes qualidades nutricionais. A abordagem proposta mostrou-se tão efetiva quanto à tradicional para a estimação dos parâmetros do modelo. Contudo, ela modela de forma adequada a correlação entre os dados longitudinais, o que pode afetar as estimativas obtidas, o erro padrão associado a elas e, potencialmente, alterar os resultados das inferências. É bastante atraente quando a pesquisa busca entender o comportamento do processo da degradação dos alimentos ao longo dos tempos de incubação.

Abstract Classical methods of analysis of nonlinear models are widely used in studies of ruminal degradation kinetics. As this type of study involves repeated measurements in the same experimental unit, the use of mixed nonlinear models (MNLM) is proposed, in order to solve problems of heterogeneity of variances of the responses, correlation among repeated measurements and consequent lack of sphericity in the covariance matrix. The aims of this work are to present an evaluation of the applicability of MNLM in the estimation of parameters to describe the in situ ruminal degradation kinetics of the dry matter of Tifton 85 hay and to compare the results with those obtained from the usual analysis in two-phases. The steers used in the trial were fed diets composed of three different combinations of roughage and concentrate and two hays with different nutritional qualities. The proposed approach was proven as effective as the traditional one for estimating model parameters. However, it adequately models the correlation among the longitudinal data, which can affect the estimates obtained, the standard error associated with them and potentially change the results of the inferences. It is quite attractive when the research seeks to understand the behavior of the process of food degradation throughout the incubation times.

Resumo No Brasil, o açúcar mascavo possui apenas o valor de polarização como padrão de qualidade exigido em legislação própria; entretanto, este valor (90% de polarização) não representa a realidade dos produtos encontrados à venda nos mercados. Além disso, procedimentos como a adição de açúcar bruto de alta polarização (VHP) têm se tornado frequentes, uma vez que esta ação altera a qualidade final do produto e de seu processamento. É essencial, portanto, a elaboração de novos padrões de qualidade a serem exigidos para o açúcar mascavo. Avaliou-se, neste trabalho, a qualidade do açúcar mascavo produzido sem e com adição de VHP, sendo ambos os processos sem e com correção de pH, com o objetivo de fornecer subsídios que possam auxiliar na atualização dos padrões de qualidade do açúcar mascavo no país. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que não houve interação entre a matéria-prima (caldo de cana com diferentes teores de sólidos solúveis iniciais) e o processo utilizado (adição de VHP com e sem correção de pH) que influenciasse as características físico-químicas analisadas, exceto a umidade, em que o processo de adição de açúcar VHP acompanhado de correção de pH resultou em produtos com menores teores de umidade.

Abstract In Brazil, the only quality standard required for brown sugar by specific legislation is the polarization value. However, this value (90% polarization) does not represent the reality of the products found for sale on the market. In addition, procedures such as the addition of very high polarization (VHP) raw sugar has become commonplace, since this changes the final quality of the product and its processing. The development of new quality standards for brown sugar is essential, thus this work evaluated the quality of brown sugar produced with and without the addition of VHP, both with and without pH correction, in order to provide subsidies that could aid in updating the quality standards for brown sugar in Brazil. The results obtained demonstrated there was no interaction between the raw material (sugarcane juice with different initial soluble solids contents) and the process used (addition of VHP with and without pH correction) influencing the analyzed physicochemical characteristics, except the humidity, in which the process of addition of VHP sugar accompanied by pH correction resulted in products with lower moisture content.