Avaliação do estado nutricional do nitrogênio em batateira por meio de polifenóis e clorofila na folha

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses de N sobre índices fisiológicos relacionados à nutrição nitrogenada e verificar a possibilidade de estimar indiretamente os teores foliares de N em batata. Foram avaliados os índices de flavonóis (IFLV), de clorofila (ICHL) e de balanço de N (IBN), e as estimativas dos teores foliares de N foram realizadas aos 21 e 42 dias após a emergência, por meio do medidor portátil Dualex. O experimento foi conduzido de novembro de 2010 a fevereiro de 2011, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, e os tratamentos consistiram de cinco doses de N (0, 50, 100, 200 e 300 kg ha‑1 de N, na forma de ureia) aplicadas em pré‑plantio, com quatro repetições. Houve aumento no ICHL e no IBN e decréscimo no IFLV com o aumento das doses de N. Os índices determinados com o medidor Dualex correlacionaram-se com os teores de N e de clorofila extraível na quarta folha, bem como com o rendimento de tubérculos na safra. O Dualex pode ser utilizado para avaliar o estado nutricional de N em batateira e prognosticar a produtividade de tubérculos.

Avaliação do estado nutricional da videira 'Itália' na região de Jales, SP, usando o sistema integrado de diagnose e recomendação

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a avaliação do estado nutricional da videira 'Itália' na região de Jales, SP, Brasil, utilizando o DRIS. O levantamento nutricional foi realizado em 20 vinhedos em produção, submetidos a práticas culturais semelhantes. A coleta de amostras de folhas foi feita em três estágios de desenvolvimento da planta a saber: no florescimento, com frutos entre ervilha e meia baga e no início da maturação dos frutos. Nessa avaliação concluiu-se que o método DRIS é adequado para a videira 'Itália', pois permitiu obter informações a respeito do melhor órgão e épocas de amostragem, desordens nutricionais e índices referenciais para balanço nutricional. O limbo foi considerado o melhor órgão para amostragem, pois seus índices de balanço nutricional estavam mais ajustados. Os estágios de florescimento e de início da maturação dos frutos foram considerados adequados para amostragem de folhas. Seis vinhedos foram considerados em equilíbrio nutricional, pois apresentaram produção superior à média de 27,3 t/ha e Índice de Balanço Nutricional (IBN) igual a 11. Os 20 vinhedos amostrados foram considerados adequados para o cálculo das normas. Finalmente, o DRIS permitiu determinar os vinhedos que, em geral, apresentavam deficiência de potássio, magnésio, fósforo e enxofre, e excesso de cobre.

Avaliação do estado nutricional da videira 'Itália' na região de São Miguel Arcanjo-SP, utilizando o sistema integrado de diagnose e recomendação

Com o objetivo de avaliar o estado nutricional da videira cultivar Itália na região de São Miguel Arcanjo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, utilizando o Sistema Integrado de Diagnose e Recomendação (DRIS), foram selecionados 20 vinhedos em produção, com práticas culturais semelhantes. Amostras de limbo e pecíolo foram coletadas em três estádios de desenvolvimento da videira: florescimento, frutos entre ervilha e meia-baga, e início de maturação dos frutos. As amostras de limbo e pecíolo foram analisadas para macronutrientes. A população de referência usada no cálculo das normas DRIS foi à dos vinhedos com produtividade média entre 20,70 e 36,30t/ha. O Índice de Balanço Nutricional (IBN) e a seqüência de deficiência a excesso dos nutrientes foram calculadas para cada vinhedo, nas três épocas de amostragem, para limbo e pecíolo. Nessa avaliação, concluiu-se que o DRIS se mostrou um bom método para avaliação do estado nutricional da videira 'Itália'. De vinte vinhedos avaliados, onze foram considerados em equilíbrio nutricional. Correlações entre IBN e produtividade indicaram que o melhor órgão foi o limbo, e o florescimento a melhor época de amostragem. O DRIS permitiu determinar os vinhedos que, em geral, apresentavam deficiência de fósforo, potássio e magnésio.

Analytical investigation of chromium and zinc in sweet, sour and bitter tasting fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants

Sweet, sour and bitter tasting fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants are an important component of human diet. The role of chromium and zinc in carbohydrate metabolism for control of diabetes is highlighted in selected commodities. Average levels of chromium and zinc in sweet taste were 0.69 ± 0.48 mg kg-1 and 4.81 ± 4.31 mg kg-1 respectively with correlation of 0.545, while in sour taste the values were 22.5 ± 22.0 mg kg-1 and 24.5 ± 11.8 mg kg-1 respectively with the correlation of 0.239 and in bitter taste, 0.61 ± 0.33 mg kg-1 and 4.70 ± 3.54 mg kg-1 respectively with correlation of 0.343. Overall, sour tasting commodities were found higher in levels of chromium and zinc and are recommended as food supplement for diabeties. None of these species contain metals above the toxic level.

Development and application of spectrophotometric method for the determination of cefaclor in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple, fast and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of cefaclor in pharmaceutical raw and dosage forms based on reaction with ninhydrin is developed, optimized and validated. The purple color (Ruhemenn's purple) that resulted from the reaction was stabilized and measured at 560 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 4-80 µg mL-1 with molar absorptivity of 1.42 × 10(5) L mole-1 cm-1. All variables including the reagent concentration, heating time, reaction temperature, color stability period, and cefaclor/ninhydrin ratio were studied in order to optimize the reaction conditions. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvant. The developed method is easy to use, accurate and highly cost-effective for routine studies relative to HPLC and other techniques.

Interaction between cationic and conventional nonionic surfactants in the mixed micelle and monolayer formed in aqueous medium

Mixed micellization and surface properties of cationic and nonionic surfactants dimethyl decyl-, tetradecyl- and hexadecyl phosphineoxide mixtures are studied using conductivity and surface tension measurements. The models of Rubingh, Rosen, and Clint, are used to obtain the interaction parameter, minimum area per molecule, mixed micelle composition, free energies of mixing and activity coefficients. The micellar mole fractions were always higher than ideal values indicating high contributions of cationics in mixed micelles. Activity coefficients were less than unity indicating synergism in micelles. The negative free energies of mixing showed the stability of the surfactants in the mixed micelles.

CONSIDERAÇÕES TÉCNICAS QUANTO AO USO DA VOLTAMETRIA DE VARREDURA ESCALONADA EM PROCESSOS ADSORTIVOS

Cyclic voltammetry has become one of the most useful tools in modern electrochemistry, but the use of digital potentiostats should be treated with caution by users. Staircase Voltammetry utilizes some parameters to build up the potential ramp. However, for some electrochemical processes, the signal response can be different compared with that acquired using true linear sweep (analogic signal). In this work, the role of SCV parameters in current response during the hydrogen electrochemical adsorption/desorption reaction on a platinum surface was studied. In addition, the transient current in each step comprising the ramp was investigated. The results showed that with a step height of 2 mV, the SCV response matches that recorded by linear sweep voltammetry. From the transient current study, two kinds of capacity were identified: non-faradaic and faradaic charge.

Optimizing activity of herbicides at reduced rate on Emex spinosa campd. with adjuvants

In pot experiments, two adjuvants were evaluated for their efficacy in enhancing activity of five herbicides applied at reduced rates (75% of the recommended rates) on Emex spinosa at the cotyledon-leaf and at the two- to four- leaf stage. Herbicides (at recommended rates) including fluroxypyr+MCPA at 450 g a.i. ha-1, carfentrazone-ethyl at 20 g a.i. ha-1, bromoxynil+MCPA at 450 g a.i. ha-1, thifensulfuron-methyl at 75 g a.i. ha-1 and tribenuronmethyl at 75 g a.i. ha-1 alone and tank mixed at reduced rates with adjuvants, namely, alkyl ether sulphate sodium salt at 625 mL ha-1 or fatty alcohol ethoxylate at 375 mL ha-1. Addition of the adjuvants to reduced rates of fluroxypyr+MCPA and carfentrazone-ethyl, increased their efficacy with 100% mortality and biomass reduction of E. spinosa at the cotyledon- leaf stage and at the two- to four- leaf stage which was similar to their recommended rates without the adjuvants except for carfentrazone-ethyl at a reduced rate without adjuvants at the two- to four- leaf stage. Bromoxynil+MCPA at reduced rates with alkyl ether sulphate sodium salt also gave 100% control of E. spinosa over weedy check at the two- to four- leaf stage. Both the adjuvants generally increased the efficacy of tribenuron-methyl at reduced rates when sprayed at both leaf stages. These findings suggest that the use of adjuvants may increase the efficacy of the above mentioned herbicides against E. spinosa and it may be incorporated in an integrated weed management program.

GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays) TO INTER AND INTRA-ROW WEED COMPETITION UNDER DIFFERENT FERTILIZER APPLICATION METHODS

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years to study the effect of fertilizer application methods and inter and intra-row weed-crop competition durations on density and biomass of different weeds and growth, grain yield and yield components of maize. The experimental treatments comprised of two fertilizer application methods (side placement and below seed placement) and inter and intra-row weed-crop competition durations each for 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after emergence, as well as through the crop growing period. Fertilizer application method didn't affect weed density, biomass, and grain yield of maize. Below seed fertilizer placement generally resulted in less mean weed dry weight and more crop leaf area index, growth rate, grain weight per cob and 1000 grain weight. Minimum number of weeds and dry weight were recorded in inter-row or intra-row weed-crop competition for 15 DAE. Number of cobs per plant, grain weight per cob, 1000 grain weight and grain yield decreased with an increase in both inter-row and intra-row weed-crop competition durations. Maximum mean grain yield of 6.35 and 6.33 tha-1 were recorded in inter-row and intra-row weed competition for 15 DAE, respectively.

In vitro anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of boesenbergin A, a chalcone isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) (fingerroot)

The current in vitro study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of boesenbergin A (BA), a chalcone derivative of known structure isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29), non-small cell lung cancer (A549), prostate adenocarcinoma (PC3), and normal hepatic cells (WRL-68) were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of BA using the MTT assay. The antioxidant activity of BA was assessed by the ORAC assay and compared to quercetin as a standard reference antioxidant. ORAC results are reported as the equivalent concentration of Trolox that produces the same level of antioxidant activity as the sample tested at 20 µg/mL. The toxic effect of BA on different cell types, reported as IC50, yielded 20.22 ± 3.15, 10.69 ± 2.64, 20.31 ± 1.34, 94.10 ± 1.19, and 9.324 ± 0.24 µg/mL for A549, PC3, HepG2, HT-29, and WRL-68, respectively. BA displayed considerable antioxidant activity, when the results of ORAC assay were reported as Trolox equivalents. BA (20 µg/mL) and quercetin (5 µg/mL) were equivalent to a Trolox concentration of 11.91 ± 0.23 and 160.32 ± 2.75 µM, respectively. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of BA was significant at 12.5 to 50 µM and without any significant cytotoxicity for the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 at 50 µM. The significant biological activities observed in this study indicated that BA may be one of the agents responsible for the reported biological activities of B. rotunda crude extract.