Redução da interferência de Brachiaria plantaginea (link) hitch. em milho através de capinas e aplicação de herbicidas em diferentes épocas

O rendimento de grãos de milho é afetado pela interferência com as plantas daninhas, que pode variar em função da eficiência e da época de realização do método de controle utilizado no manejo da cultura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os efeitos da aplicação de herbicidas e de capinas em diferentes épocas sobre o controle de plantas daninhas e o rendimento de grãos na cultura do milho. O experimento foi instalado no sistema convencional de preparo do solo em Eldorado do Sul (RS), no ano agrícola 1997/98. A espécie de planta daninha predominante na área experimental foi Brachiaria plantaginea (BRAPL), em infestação média de 285 plantas por m². Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela aplicação isolada, seqüencial ou em mistura em tanque, em diferentes doses e épocas, dos herbicidas atrazine, atrazine + óleo vegetal, metolachlor e nicosulfuron. Todos os tratamentos com herbicidas foram correspondidos por tratamentos em que se utilizou capina manual com início na mesma época de aplicação dos herbicidas. O controle realizado em pré-emergência ou no início do desenvolvimento da cultura proporcionou maior rendimento de grãos, mesmo com a diminuição do controle de BRAPL no final do ciclo. As aplicações seqüenciais de herbicidas proporcionaram maior rendimento de grãos do que as misturas em tanque. Os rendimentos de grãos obtidos com a aplicação de herbicidas nas diversas épocas não foram diferentes em relação às suas respectivas capinas.

Fontes de óleo vegetal na dieta de cordeiros em confinamento

Objetivou-se avaliar a ingestão de matéria seca, o ganho de peso diário, a conversão alimentar, o peso vivo ao abate e o período de confinamento em cordeiros Santa Inês puros e ½Dorset ½Santa Inês, alimentados com dietas isoenergéticas (76,59% de NDT) e isoprotéicas (17,48% de PB) contendo diferentes fontes de óleo vegetal (óleos de soja, canola e linhaça) e uma dieta controle (sem inclusão de óleo vegetal). A relação volumoso:concentrado foi de 30:70 e utilizou-se feno de aveia como volumoso. Realizou-se também um ensaio de digestibilidade, utilizando quatro cordeiros não-castrados, distribuídos em delineamento quadrado latino, avaliando-se ingestão, excreção fecal e digestibilidade total dos nutrientes das rações. A ingestão de matéria seca, expressa em porcentagem do peso vivo, foi menor nos cordeiros que receberam dieta contendo óleo de canola que naqueles que receberam dieta controle. Porém, todas as rações proporcionaram ganhos de peso e conversão alimentar satisfatórios. Os valores de digestibilidade total da matéria seca (76,02%) e matéria orgânica (76,82%) da dieta controle foram superiores aos da dieta contendo óleo de linhaça (72,11% e 72,97%, respectivamente), embora não tenham diferido das dietas contendo óleos de soja (72,94 e 73,71%) e canola (73,45 e 74,25%). A digestibilidade do extrato etéreo foi menor na dieta controle (84,02%), enquanto as demais dietas apresentaram valor médio de 91,98%. Os óleos vegetais reduziram a digestibilidade da matéria seca e da matéria orgânica, não afetando a ingestão e digestão dos demais nutrientes.

A SIMPLE METHOD FOR DETERMINING LOCATION OF FORAGING ANT NESTS USING LEAF-CUTTING ANTS AS A MODEL

In many situations, it is difficult to evaluate the location of nests of ants, especially in tropical systems, or to determine which trail system corresponds with which nest, as in the case of high-density populations of leaf-cutting ants, Atta spp. Fragments of colored drinking straws coated with an attractant, generally vegetable oil and/or a starchy carbohydrate, are carried by ants and following removal of the attractant are deposited in middens, allowing determination of the origin of foraging workers.

THE CASSAVA (MANIHOT-ESCULENTA, C) CV PIONEIRA .3. COOKING CHARACTERISTICS

The edible parts of cassava cultivar Pioneira roots after 12 and 24 months of cultivation were analysed for human consum. The yield was 63% when the roots were harvested at the right time (12 months), and lower (58%) for older roots, with 24 months. Total cyanide contents were 62,0 - 61,8 and 58,0 - 63,4 ppm, respectively. Cooking time was 13,5 min and 19,5 min, respectively, although the cooked mass quality was similar good. The edible part of the roots was processed in french fries or tholes, submited to two treatment: blanching for three minutes and boiling for ten minutes. Treated and in natura tholes were fried in vegetable oil at 190-degrees-C. The effect of freezing (-20-degrees-C for 60 days) on the cooking quality was also evaluated. The frozen storage reduced the total cyanid content in all treatment. The rate of cyanid decrease were 45%, 84% and 88% with frying, blanching and frying, and boiling and frying, respectively. Blanching followed by frying assured a safe cyanid level for human consum as well as a good acceptance in sensorial analysis. The influence of the age of the roots in cooking quality was a decrease in softness. Frozen storage softened the 24 month old roots and worsened the flavor of 12 month old root. For table purposes cassava roots should be processed in french fries and blanching, what would allow frozen storage of edible part.

Rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI growing on soapstock as the sole carbon source

A new bacterial strain, was isolated from petroleum contaminated soil, identified and named Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain LBI. The new strain produced surface-active rhamnolipids by batch cultivation in a mineral salts medium with soapstock as the sole carbon source. Biosurfactant production increased after nitrogen depletion. The maximum rhamnolipid concentration, 15.9 g/l, was reached when it was incubated in a bioreactor with a constant K(L)a of 169.9 h(-1). (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Review on the Challenges for Increased Production of Castor

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is one of the oldest cultivated crops, but currently it represents only 0.15% of the vegetable oil produced in the world. Castor oil is of continuing importance to the global specialty chemical industry because it is the only commercial source of a hydroxylated fatty acid. Castor also has tremendous future potential as an industrial oilseed crop because of its high seed oil content (more than 480 g kg(-1)), unique fatty acid composition (900 g kg(-1) of ricinoleic acid), potentially high oil yields (1250-2500 L ha(-1)), and ability to be grown under drought and saline conditions. The scientific literature on castor has been generated by a relatively small global community of researchers over the past century. Much of this work was published in dozens of languages in journals that are not easily accessible to the scientific community. This review was conducted to provide a compilation of the most relevant historic research information and define the tremendous future potential of castor. The article was prepared by a group of 22 scientists from 16 institutions and eight countries. Topics discussed in this review include: (i) germplasm, genetics, breeding, biotic stresses, genome sequencing, and biotechnology; (ii) agronomic production practices, diseases, and abiotic stresses; (iii) management and reduction of toxins for the use of castor meal as both an animal feed and an organic fertilizer; (iv) future industrial uses of castor including renewable fuels; (v) world production, consumption, and prices; and (vi) potential and challenges for increased castor production.

Effect of isotretinoin on tooth germ and palate development in mouse embryos.

Vitamin A and its derivatives, retinoic acid, tretinoin and isotretinoin, are currently used in dermatological treatments. The administration of high doses of this vitamin provokes congenital malformations in mice: cleft palate, maxillary and mandibular hypoplasia and total or partial fusion of the maxillary incisors. This study compares the tooth germs of the first maxillary and mandibular molars of fetal mice submitted to isotretinoin during organogenesis. Twelve 60-day-old female Mus musculus were divided into two groups on the 7th day of pregnancy: treated group--1 mg isotretinoin per kg body weight, dissolved in vegetable oil, was administered from the 7th to the 13th day of pregnancy; control group--vegetable oil in equivalent volume was administered orally for the same period. On the 16th day of pregnancy, the females were sacrificed, the fetuses were removed and their heads amputated. After standard laboratory procedures, 6-micron thick serial slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for optical microscopy examination. The results showed that both groups had closed palates with no reminiscence of epithelial cells; however, the first molar germs of the isotretinoin-treated animals showed delayed development compared to the control animals.

Composição fitoquímica dos óleos essenciais de folhas de Lippia alba (Mill.)N.E.Br. em diferentes épocas de colheita e partes do ramo

This work aimed to determine the best harvest time for biomass production, yield and essential oil composition considering the seasonal variation (spring, summer, autumn and winter) on different plant parts (apical, medial and basal). Essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation with a Clevenger apparatus for both fresh and dry mass obtained in field and lab conditions respectively. The extracted essential oils were analyzed by GS/MS (Shimadzu, QP-5000). The chemical components were identified by comparing their mass spectrum to the patterns filed in the MS computer memory (Wiley,139,Lib.), to the literature references, and by co-injection with authentic standards. Applying phyto-chemical tests on fresh and dry mass, the chemical component percentages of essential oils were calculated and identified as follows: citral (neral and geranial), myrcene, caryophylene and elemene.

Toxicity of Azadirachta indica to leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The leaf-cutting ants are responsible for great economical damages in cultivated areas, and because of this characteristic, they have aroused the interest of researchers around the world. Thus, extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica, A. Juss) were tested through ingestion and contact experiments to investigate their toxicity to Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers. Crude extract of neem seed oil was toxic to the ants by ingestion in all concentrations tested but no toxicity was observed in contact experiments. However, crude extract of neem seed paste produced a significant toxicity to workers by ingestion and by contact.

Solvent capacity of different substances on gutta-percha and resilon

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 solvents (eucalyptol, orange oil, and xylol) on 2 types of gutta-percha (conventional and thermoplastic) and Resilon. Specimens (10 mm diameter × 1 mm thick; n=7 per condition) were prepared and maintained at 37°C for 48 h. Each specimen was weighed on a precision scale every 24 h until its mass was stable, at which time the initial mass was determined. Specimens (n=7) were then immersed in the solvent solutions and, after 48 h at 37°C, they were reweighed at 24- h intervals, until stabilization (final mass). The difference between the final and the initial mass determined the solvent capacity of each solvent. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. The results demonstrated that xylol was the most effective, especially on conventional gutta-percha and Resilon (p<0.05). Eucalyptol and orange oil were more effective on thermoplastic gutta-percha than the other materials (p<0.05). It was concluded that all evaluated substances presented solvent action, but xylol was the most effective on both gutta-percha or Resilon.

Dimensional alterations and solubility of new endodontic sealers

This study evaluated the dimensional alterations and the solubility of two experimental endodontic sealers based on Copaifera multijuga oil-resin (Biosealer) and castor oil bean cement (Poliquil), maintained in different storage solutions. Twenty specimens (3 mm diameter and 2 mm height) of each sealer were assigned to 2 groups (n=10) according to the storage solution: simulated tissue fluid (STF) or distilled water (DW). The specimens were stored in these solutions during 90 days, being removed every 30 days for weighting. The solutions were renewed every 15 days. The results were subjected to statistical analysis by Dunn's and Mann-Whitney tests (α=0.05). The solubility of Poliquil was higher in STF (38.4 ± 36.0) than in DW (28.4 ± 15.0), while Biosealer showed higher solubility in DW (34.61 ± 6.0) than in STF (18.59 ± 8.0). The storage solution influenced the behavior of sealers in relation to the weight variation (p=0.0001). Poliquil presented higher variation of weight independent of the solution (p=0.239). Biosealer also presented higher variation of weight regardless of the solution (p=0.0001). The solubility of Biosealer was different from that of Poliquil, but both sealers showed low solubility in STF. Under the tested conditions, neither of the materials were according to the ADA'S specification.

Ozonized Oils: A qualitative and quantitative analysis

Most of the problems of endodontic origin have a bacterial etiological agent. Thus, there is a continued interest in seeking more effective chemical substances that can replace the camphorated paramonochiorophenol or antibiotics as intracanal medicaments. Among the possible substances, ozone has some interesting biological characteristics: bactericidal action, debriding effect, angiogenesis stimulation capacity and high oxidizing power. The purpose of this study was to chemically evaluate the presence of ozone in sunflower, castor, olive and almond oil, as well as in propylene glycol and byproducts of ozonation, such as formaldehyde. These compounds were ozonized, inserted into empty and sterile vials, and analyzed by testing the reaction between ozone and indigo, for determining the presence of ozone, and subjected to the chromotropic acid test for determining the presence of formaldehyde. It was observed complete absence of ozone in all samples tested and presence of formaldehyde. The bactericidal and healing action of ozonized oils could be attributed to products formed by the ozonation of mineral oils, such as formaldehyde, not to the ozone itself.

Effectiveness of three solvents and two associations of solvents on gutta-percha and Resilon

This study evaluated the effectiveness of 3 solvents (Citrol orange oil, Eucalyptol and Tetrachloroethylene) and 2 associations of solvents (Citrol orange oil+Tetrachloroethylene and Eucalyptol+Tetrachloroethylene) on 3 types of gutta-percha (conventional, thermoplastic and EndoREZ) and Resilon. Ten discs (10 mm diameter x 1 mm thick) from each material were prepared using standard metallic molds. Each specimen was weighed to determinate its initial mass. The specimens were immersed in the solvents for 10 min, followed by immersion in distilled water for 20 min, and were then reweighed to obtain the final mass. The mean weight loss determined the solvent capacity. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. Tetrachloroethylene was the most effective on conventional gutta-percha (p<0.05). Tetrachloroethylene was also the most effective on thermoplastic gutta-percha, but it was not significantly different (p>0.05) from Eucalyptol+Tetrachloroethylene, Citrol+Tetrachloroethylene, and Citrol. All solvents and associations presented little effectiveness on Resilon. The association Eucalyptol+Tetrachloroethylene was the most effective on EndoREZ, but it did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from Citrol+Tetrachloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene. All evaluated substances presented solvent action. Tetrachloroethylene improved the effectiveness of both Citrol and Eucalyptol.

Associação do padrão de ingestão lípidica com a qualidade da dieta, resistência insulínica e homocisteinemia em adultos

Objectives: To evaluate the association between the consumption of different dietary fats with the quality of the diet, insulin resistance, and hyperhomocysteinemia in adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with 624 overweight subjects (73.7% females). Assessments of food intake (24h food recall and health eating index-HEI), anthropometry, and biochemical assays of fasting glucose, insulin (HOMA-IR and β calculus) and homocysteinemia were performed. Results: The low quality of diet was associated with the vegetable oil at 3rd quintile (≥1.5-2.0 servings) showed risk 2.9 times and cholesterol at quintiles 2nd, 3rd, and 4th was 2.0 times. HOMA-IR was higher at 5th quintile of saturated fat (≥10,7% - total caloric value) with risk of 60% and hyperhomocysteinemia the vegetable oil at 3rd quintile (>1.5-2.0 servings) with risk of 12.0 times and 5th (≥3.5 servings) 7.1 times. However, significance disappeared when adjusted for anthropometric variables. Conclusion: Dietary fats were associated with the harm diet quality, insulin resistance, and hyperhomocysteinemia. However, associations are dependant of demographic variables, dietetic, and nutritional state. © 2011 CELOM.

Influência de pontas de pulverização e adjuvantes no potencial de redução de deriva em túnel de vento

The drift is intimately linked to inappropriate use of pesticides and an important factor for reducing it, is the correct selection of spray nozzles and adjuvants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the drift potential in wind tunnel with different spray nozzles and different concentrations of adjuvants. The experiment was composed by six spray solutions (vegetable oil (in three concentrations), mineral oil, surfactant and reducing drift), which were applied with two nozzles, one pre-orifice flat fan (DG 8003 VS) and other with air induction (AI 8003 VS), totaling 12 treatments, with three repetitions. The equipment used was a wind tunnel, where the drift collections were made at different points. The treatments averages were compared using Confidence Interval at 5% probability. The analysis of the percentage of drift showed that the treatments had different behaviors. The nonylphenol ethoxylate adjuvant presented the highest drift when applied with the nozzle of pre-orifice and the lowest drift when applied with the air induction. The behavior of these nozzles when the oil-based adjuvant was used showed apposite results to those obtained for the surfactant. For the DG nozzles the lowest percentage of drift, at all analyzed distances, was observed to the treatment with vegetable oil (1.0%) and with the AI nozzles the lower drift was found for the treatment with nonylphenol ethoxylate (0.0625%), for the four distances in the collection. The result showed that both the spray nozzles and adjuvants alter directly the drift potential. There was no proportionately between the concentration of the oil-based adjuvant and the drift percentage.