Controlled foam injection, or CFI, is a highly effective, novel non-explosive rockbreaking technology that with appropriate implementation and application can replace traditional drilling and blasting methods with drilling and non-explosive breaking. The CFI technology is safer, more productive, environmentally friendly, and fully developed; and it can operate with the same flexibility as more traditional small-hole drilling and blasting. To date, CFI has been regarded as an interesting rockbreaking process that could be used only in a few specialized applications. However, in extensive trials it has successfully broken every rock type encountered and in reality it could be used in place of all mining and civil engineering rockbreaking processes that utilize explosives in short and small-diameter blast-holes. The narrow-reef hard-rock mines, typical of the southern African gold, platinum, and chrome sectors are under severe pressure to mechanize and preferably operate on a 24/7 basis, and this could be achieved through the application of CFI. What is still outstanding is a suitable machine to fit a defined application, such as tunnel development or stoping.

The response of hybrid tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicumL. Cvs. TSS7 and TCAV10) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Claroideoglomus etunicatum(AMF-1) and Funneliformis mosseae(AMF-2) under 2% saline stress was evaluated with regard to growth, yield, quality, nutrient acquisition, AMF colonization, relative permeability and soil properties in two potted plant experiments. Inoculation with AMF-2 caused a significant increase (~30%) in the fruit yield of TCAV10, particularly under saline stress. The highest tomato juice extraction ratio was achieved for TCAV10 treated with AMF-2. Under saline stress, TCAV10 inoculated with AMF-2 demonstrated significantly enhanced N, P, K and Ca content in fruits; N, K and Mg content in roots; and N, P and Ca content in shoots. Fruits of TSS7 and TCAV10 grown under saline stress coupled with AMF-2 treatment showed a significant decrease in Na content (23.6 and 31.1%, respectively) as compared with fruits of non-inoculated hybrid cultivars grown under saline stress. Residual Na in soil, AMF-2 colonization ratios and relative permeability were higher in TCAV10 inoculated with AMF-2 under saline condition compared with the non-inoculated treatments. TCAV10 inoculated with AMF-2 achieved higher fruit yield, quality and nutrient acquisition compared with the non-inoculated TCAV10. The results of this study are important for the selection of appropriate cultivars and microbial species for sustaining yield and quality under saline stress.

INTRODUÇÃO: A magnetoterapia estática conquistou ampla aceitação da comunidade para alívio da dor neuromusculoesquelética em diversos países. No entanto, com exceção de relatórios anedóticos de seus benefícios, há uma grande escassez de evidências científicas para seu uso. OBJETIVOS: Nesta revisão, descrevemos as características físicas dos tradicionais magnetos estáticos unipolares e bipolares comuns, assim como os mais recentes conjuntos magnéticos quadripolares; discutimos o que se conhece sobre os efeitos fisiológicos da magnetoterapia estática e o suporte da literatura; e fazemos sugestões para futuras pesquisas direcionadas à magnetoterapia estática no controle de condições de dor neuromusculoesquelética.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic static magnets have gained wide community acceptance for neuromusculoskeletal pain relief in many countries yet, apart from strong anecdotal reports of benefit, there is a paucity of scientific evidence for their use. OBJECTIVES: In this review we describe the physical characteristics of traditional and commonplace unipolar and bipolar static magnets as well as newer quadripolar magnetic arrays; discuss what is known of the physiological effects of static magnets and the strength of the literature; and make suggestions for targeted future research for static magnets in the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain conditions.