Ourinhos is situated in one of the major sugar cane producing regions in the State of São Paulo, where the manual harvesting is generally preceded by burning the foliage, resulting in large quantities of aerosols being emitted into the atmosphere. A one- month pilot study was executed during August 2010, to characterize the effects of those emissions on the atmosphere, considering the local circulation and the consequences for the region. The plumes were tracked by IPMet´s two S-band Doppler radars, also deploying a large range of meteorological, physical and chemistry instrumentation: a mobile Lidar with Raman channel to observe elevated layers and the type of aerosols, a medium-sized Sodar, as well as 6 Automatic Weather Stations spread through town. Various gases and particulates were also sampled, providing the atmospheric chemistry data base and thus documenting the impact on the region. This paper highlights a case study on 26 August, when a plume was tracked by TITAN Radar Software from the start of the fire, moving southwards at 14-17 km.h-1 with the winds at about 3,5 km above ground level, until it reached Ourinhos 2h15min later, where it was observed by the Raman Lidar and also detected by the aerosol and gas samplers. The high aerosol load of the atmosphere was confirmed by hourly mean values of AOD varying between 0,265 and 0,288 until 07:00 LT, after which they increased to 0,433 by 09:00 LT, as well as hourly mean backscatter profiles. Hourly values of the Lidar Ratio identified the aerosols as biomass burning products, also confirmed through the analysis of gas and aerosol samples simultaneously collected at the Lidar site.

Studies of cooking-generated NO2 effects are rare in occupational epidemiology. In the present study, we evaluated the lung function of professional cooks exposed to NO2 in hospital kitchens. We performed spirometry in 37 cooks working in four hospital kitchens and estimated the predicted FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75, based on age, sex, race, weight, and height, according to Knudson standards. NO2 measurements were obtained for 4 consecutive days during 4 different periods at 20-day intervals in each kitchen. Measurements were performed inside and outside the kitchens, simultaneously using Palm diffusion tubes. A time/exposure indicator was defined as representative of the cumulative exposure of each cook. No statistically significant effect of NO2 exposure on FVC was found. Each year of work as a cook corresponded to a decrease in predicted FEV1 of 2.5% (P = 0.046) for the group as a whole. When smoking status and asthma were included in the analysis the effect of time/exposure decreased about 10% and lost statistical significance. On predicted FEF25-75, a decrease of 3.5% (P = 0.035) was observed for the same group and the inclusion of controllers for smoking status and asthma did not affect the effects of time/exposure on pulmonary function parameter. After a 10-year period of work as cooks the participants of the study may present decreases in both predicted FEV1 and FEF25-75 that can reach 20 and 30%, respectively. The present study showed small but statistically significant adverse effects of gas stove exposure on the lung function of professional cooks.

The interpretation of oligonucleotide array experiments depends on the quality of the target cRNA used. cRNA target quality is assessed by quantitative analysis of the representation of 5' and 3' sequences of control genes using commercially available Test arrays. The Test array provides an economically priced means of determining the quality of labeled target prior to analysis on whole genome expression arrays. This manuscript validates the use of a duplex RT-PCR assay as a faster (6 h) and less expensive (<US$10) but equally accurate alternative to the Test arrays in determining biotinylated cRNA quality. Forty-one different cRNA samples were hybridized to HG-U133A microarrays from Affymetrix. Ten cRNA samples with a ß-actin 3'/5' ratio >6 were chosen and classified as degraded cRNAs, and 31 samples with a ß-actin 3'/5' ratio <6 were selected as good quality cRNAs. Blinded samples were then used for the RT-PCR assay. After gel electrophoresis, optical densities of the amplified 3' and 5' fragments of ß-actin were measured and the 3'/5' ratio was calculated. There was a strong correlation (r² = 0.6802) between the array and the RT-PCR ß-actin 3'/5' ratios. Moreover, the RT-PCR 3'/5' ratio was significantly different (P < 0.0001) between undegraded (mean ± SD, 0.34 ± 0.09) and degraded (1.71 ± 0.83) samples. None of the other parameters analyzed, such as i) the starting amount of RNA, ii) RNA quality assessed using the Bioanalyzer Chip technology, or iii) the concentration and OD260/OD280 ratio of the purified biotinylated cRNA, correlated with cRNA quality.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar arranjos de semeadura e manejo de plantas daninhas na implantação de pastagem de B. Brizantha cv. MG5 Vitória consorciada com milho para silagem no sistema de plantio direto. Foram avaliados cinco arranjos de semeadura (milho em monocultivo; B. brizantha em monocultivo; duas linhas de B. brizantha na entrelinha do milho, em semeadura simultânea; B. brizantha a lanço no dia da semeadura do milho e 30 dias após), combinados com dois manejos de plantas daninhas (1,50 kg ha-1 de atrazine aplicado isoladamente e a mistura no tanque de 1,50 kg ha-1 de atrazine com 4,00 g ha¹ de nicosulfuron), mais quatro testemunhas (milho e B. brizantha em monocultivo, com e sem capina), no delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, sendo os arranjos de semeadura colocados nas parcelas e os sistemas de manejo nas subparcelas, totalizando 14 tratamentos, com quatro repetições. A aplicação dos herbicidas foi feita aos 18 dias após a emergência do milho. Trinta dias depois da aplicação dos herbicidas e na colheita do milho para silagem, foram avaliadas as biomassas secas das plantas daninhas e de B. brizantha. Aos 60 dias após a colheita, fez-se nova avaliação da biomassa seca de braquiária. A infestação de plantas daninhas foi baixa e a produção de milho para silagem não foi influenciada pelos arranjos de semeadura nem pelos sistemas de manejo de plantas daninhas, demonstrando que, mesmo em semeadura simultânea, B. brizantha não afeta a produtividade do milho para silagem. Maior produção de biomassa seca de forragem foi obtida com o arranjo de duas linhas de B. brizantha na entrelinha do milho, em semeadura simultânea.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the arrangements of weed sowing and management for the implantation of Brachiaria brizantha pastures in consortium with corn for silage under no-tillage system. The treatments consisted of five sowing arrangements (corn alone; B. brizantha alone; two lines of B. brizantha in between lines of corn, simultaneously planted; B. brizantha planted by throwing the day corn was sown and 30 days after), two weed managements (1.50 kg ha-1 of atrazine applied alone and the combination of 1.50 kg ha-1 atrazine with 4.00 g ha-1 nicosulfuron), besides four controls (corn alone and B. brizantha with and without weeding), arranged in a randomized complete block design, in a split plot, with four repetitions. Herbicide application was performed 18 days after corn emergence. Thirty days after herbicide application and corn harvest for silage, dry biomass of weeds and B. brizantha were estimated. Sixty days after harvest, a new estimate of dry biomass of B. brizantha was conducted. Weed infestation was low and corn production for silage was not affected by B. brizantha, either by the sowing arrangements or weed managements. Two B. brizantha lines in between lines of corn, simultaneously planted, promoted the highest forage dry biomass of B. brizantha.

Determinar a sorção, a dessorção e o potencial de lixiviação do dimethenamid em diferentes solos foi o objetivo deste trabalho. As amostras dos solos foram agitadas por 24 horas e centrifugadas, sendo o sobrenadante filtrado e analisado por HPLC. As etapas da dessorção foram conduzidas por meio da reposição do sobrenadante removido com o mesmo volume de solução de 0,01 M de CaCl2 com agitação por 24 h e posterior centrifugação, repetindo-se o processo por três vezes consecutivas (24, 48 e 72 h) sendo o sobrenadante filtrado e analisado por HPLC. A sorção do dimethenamid, descrita pela isoterma de Freundlich, foi calculada pela diferença entre as concentrações adicionadas e aquelas quantificadas no HPLC. Foram calculadas as percentagens de dessorção a 24, 48 e 72 horas, pela diferença entre as quantidades sorvidas e aquelas quantificadas no HPLC. Correlações de Pearson foram feitas entre kf, kfoc e dessorção e as principais propriedades dos solos. O coeficiente GUS foi utilizado para estimar o potencial de lixiviação. Os baixos valores encontrados para o kf do dimethenamid indicam que este herbicida é pouco sorvido pelos solos estudados. No perfil LVd-a, a sorção se correlacionou significativa e positivamente com o teor de carbono orgânico, quando analisado isoladamente. Os valores de kfoc variaram de 37,66 a 138,24 nas amostras superficiais dos solos estudados e apresentaram correlação significativa com o teor de carbono orgânico quando analisado somente o perfil do LVd-a. A avaliação do potencial de lixiviação demonstrou que o dimethenamid pode ser classificado como herbicida lixiviador apenas no solo LVdf. O processo de dessorção foi menor que o processo de sorção, até 72 horas após a aplicação. A dessorção é maior em camadas mais profundas no perfil do solo LVd-a, onde o teor de carbono orgânico é menor.

Dimethenamid was applied on soil samples to determine the sorption, desorption, and leaching potential of this herbicide in different soils. After 24 hour shaking, the samples were centrifuged, and the supernatant filtered and analyzed by HPLC. Desorption periods were established by substituting the removed supernatant volume in each tube for a CaCl2 solution (0.01 M), shaking for 24 hours, and centrifuging it. The procedure was repeated three more times at 24, 48, and 72 h, when the supernatant was filtered and analyzed by HPLC. Dimethenamid sorption, described by Freundlich isotherm, was calculated by the differences between the applied concentrations and those measured by HPLC. Desorption percentages at 24, 48, and 72 h were calculated by the difference between the sorbed quantities and those measured in the HPLC. Pearson correlations were set up to determine the correlation between kf, kfoc, desorption, and the main soil properties, and GUS coefficient was used to estimate the leaching potential. The low dimethenamid kf values suggest that this herbicide is of low sorption in the studied soils. A significant and positive correlation between sorption and organic carbon content was established in the individual LVd-a profile analysis. The values for kfoc varied from 37.66 to 138.24, in surface samples of the studied soils. They presented a significant correlation with the organic carbon content only when the LVd-a soil profile was analyzed. Leaching potential evaluation showed that dimethenamid may be classified as a leaching agent only in the LVdf soil. Up to 72 hours after application, desorption was less intense than sorption. Dimethenamid desorption is greater in deeper LVd-a soil layers, where organic carbon contents are lower.

Em experimento conduzido em solo de textura argilosa, localizado no município de Viçosa-MG, durante o ano agrícola 1998/1999, avaliaram-se os períodos de convivência de plantas daninhas com a cultura do algodão conduzida em sistema de plantio direto. Foram avaliados os tratamentos: períodos de 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 e 75 dias após a semeadura da cultura do algodão em convivência com as plantas daninhas; depois desse período a cultura foi mantida livre da competição com as plantas daninhas até a colheita, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas de seis fileiras com 4 m de comprimento, espaçadas de 0,9 m, com seis plantas por metro. As plantas daninhas foram avaliadas ao final de cada período de convivência, determinando-se o número e a biomassa seca da parte aérea de cada espécie. Também foram avaliadas na cultura a altura média das plantas, aos 125 dias após a emergência (DAE), o número de maçãs por planta, o número de nós até a inserção do primeiro ramo frutífero e, na colheita, a produtividade de algodão em caroço. O acúmulo médio de biomassa seca do total de plantas daninhas foi de 4,7 g m-2 dia-1. Comparando os tratamentos com e sem interferência, verificou-se que a presença das plantas daninhas durante todo o ciclo da cultura aumentou o número de nós até a inserção do primeiro ramo frutífero e reduziu o número de maçãs e a altura das plantas, além de reduzir a produtividade de algodão em caroço em 81,2%. O período que antecede a interferência das plantas daninhas (PAI), considerando uma perda tolerável de 5% na produtividade de algodão em caroço, foi de 14 DAE.

An experiment was conducted in clay soil texture, in Viçosa-MG, Brazil, during the growing season 1989/1999, to evaluate the periods of weed coexistence in a cotton crop under no-tillage. The treatments were: 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after crop seeding under weed coexistence, and maintained weed free until crop harvest. The plots consisted of six rows 4 m long, and 0.9 m spaced, with six plants per meter. At the end of each coexistence period, the weeds were evaluated, by determining the number of species and shoot dry matter weight. The average crop plant height was also evaluated; 125 days after emergence (DAE), boll numbers per plant, and node numbers until insertion of the first fruitful branch were also evaluated, while cotton productivity was evaluated at harvesting. The average accumulation of the total dry matter of weeds was 4.7 g m-2 day-1. When comparing the treatments with and without weed interference, it was observed that weed interference throughout the cycle increased the average node numbers until insertion of the first fruitful branch, but reduced the average boll numbers and height of the plants. Weed interference throughout the cotton plant cycle caused a reduction of 81.2% in cotton productivity. Considering the 5% loss in productivity as acceptable, the period previous to weed interference was14 DAE.

A lavagem de herbicidas aplicados nas folhas das plantas é influenciada por características relacionadas com a planta e por fatores ambientais. Dentre os fatores ambientais, umidade do solo e precipitação pluvial podem interferir de forma significativa no desempenho desses produtos; assim, o conhecimento dessa interferência é fundamental para racionalização da aplicação de herbicidas no manejo das plantas daninhas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar resíduos dos herbicidas glyphosate e sulfosate na água, após aplicação foliar desses herbicidas e de 53 mm h-1 de chuva simulada sobre plantas de Brachiaria brizantha cultivadas em ausência e sob estresse hídrico. Utilizou-se neste estudo o tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum) 'Santa Clara' como planta-teste. O comprimento de raiz foi a característica mais sensível e também a mais adequada para evidenciar a resposta das plantas às doses dos herbicidas, e o tomateiro se mostrou mais sensível ao glyphosate do que ao sulfosate. Os valores de I50 para o glyphosate e o sulfosate obtidos nas curvas-padrão foram de 324,1 e 407,8 mg L-1, respectivamente, para o comprimento de raiz. O I50 foi menor quando os herbicidas foram aplicados em plantas sob estresse hídrico.

Knowledge of foliar herbicide washout is essential to optimize weed management and to avoid environmental problems. Bioassays to detect small quantities of herbicides in water samples are low-cost techniques extensively used in herbicide research. These methods measure the biological response of a living organism to determine the presence and concentration of a chemical in a substrate. The purpose of this paper was to quantify glyphosate and sulfosate residues in the water, after 53 mm h-1 of rainfall simulation, applied to the Brachiaria brizantha plant, grown without and under water stress. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) was used as test-plant. According to the results, it may be concluded that: the I50 values for the glyphosate and sulfosate obtained in the standard curves were 324.12 and 407.86 mg L-1, respectively, for root length; the I50 was lower when the herbicides had been applied in plants under water stress.