ABSTRACT Species associations in a pasture are frequent and include the harmonious and balanced interrelation between two or more grasses and legumes. Legumes not only increase the nutritional value of the associated grass, but are also capable of increasing the dry matter production with a more uniform seasonal distribution and less inter-annual variability. That is why the objective is to evaluate the consociation Adesmia bicolor "Babosita" (Fam. Leguminosae) with Festuca arundinacea "Tall fescue" (Fam. Poaceae). Eight treatments were applied resulting from the combination of two proportions of legume vs. grass, the two pure cultures and two transplant arrangements. Throughout one year, the coverage percentage of both species, weeds and bare soil, morphological characters of A. bicolor, and carbohydrate mobilization dynamics in both species were estimated. When A. bicolor and F. arundinacea are associated, they are able to grow and remain stable during the second year since implantation. Both species together provide coverage to the soil, growing in a complementary way in space and time. Although a negative effect on the height, number of stolons and number of buds.m -2 of A. bicolor is detected when it grows associated with F. arundinacea, the sum of the contributions of each species could increase the total production of the mixture. The dynamics of carbohydrate mobilization in A. bicolor is slightly affected by the association with F. arundinacea, while that of the latter species is not affected. There are no significant differences between the two transplant ratios, as well as between the two transplant arrangements.

RESUMEN Las asociaciones de especies en una pastura son cada vez más frecuentes y comprenden la interrelación armónica y equilibrada entre dos o más gramíneas y leguminosas. Las leguminosas no sólo incrementan el valor nutritivo de la gramínea asociada, sino que además son capaces de aumentar la producción de materia seca en las praderas con una distribución estacional más uniforme y menor variabilidad interanual. Es por ello que se plantea como objetivo evaluar la consociación Adesmia bicolor "Babosita" (Fam. Leguminosas) con Festuca arundinacea "Festuca alta" (Fam. Poáceas). Se aplicaron ocho tratamientos resultantes de la combinación de dos proporciones de leguminosa vs. gramínea, los dos cultivos puros y dos arreglos de trasplantes. A lo largo de un año se estimó el porcentaje de cobertura de ambas especies, malezas y suelo desnudo; los caracteres morfológicos de A. bicolor y la dinámica de movilización de carbohidratos totales en ambas especies. La consociación A. bicolor-F. arundinacea es capaz de desarrollarse y mantenerse estable durante el segundo año desde la implantación del ensayo. Ambas especies proporcionan cobertura al suelo, creciendo en forma complementaria tanto en el espacio como en el tiempo. Se observa un efecto negativo sobre la altura, número de estolones y número de yemas.m-2 de A. bicolor cuando crece consociada con F. arundinacea, mientras que la morfología foliar no registra diferencias entre tratamientos. La dinámica de movilización de carbohidratos totales en A. bicolor es ligeramente afectada por la consociación con F. arundinacea, mientras que la de esta última especie no presenta diferencias con respecto al cultivo puro. No se observan diferencias en la mayoría de las variables al comparar las dos proporciones de trasplante, como tampoco entre los dos arreglos de trasplante.

Flame retardants are substances mixed with numerous materials to inhibit the combustion process, reducing risks and damages caused by fires. Among these substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used for decades due to their low cost and high efficiency. However, since they are mixed and not chemically bonded to the materials, PBDEs can be released over time being transported through numerous pathways until they reach soils and aquatic systems, where they can accumulate in sediments and biota. Due to their high chemical stability, an essential feature for flame retardants, they are considered persistent contaminants. Several studies report the presence of PBDEs in atmospheric and aquatic particulate matter, sediments, soils and biological matrices such as marine animals, tissues and human fluids. In Brazil, little is known about the use and commercialization of PBDEs, as well as their levels in different environmental compartments. Thus, this review provides an overview of the origin of PBDEs in the environment as well as information inherent to the understanding of the behavior and presence of this contaminants of recent interest in different environmental compartments. Finally, the manuscript also brings state-of-the-art analytical approaches used for environmental sampling, preservation, preparation and sample analysis.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fertilization with composted sewage sludge and irrigation with drinking water (DW) and fertigation with wastewater (WW) in wheat crop using fuzzy rule-based system. The experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil and Environmental Resources, of FCA, UNESP - Botucatu, with factorial 6 × 2, which were applied 6 doses of sewage sludge (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250% of nitrogen recommendation) and two types of effluents (treated water and sewage). In the developing of the system based in fuzzy rules, it was used the Mamdani inference method, where the input variables were sewage sludge doses and water types and the output variables used were the number of tillers, length and number spike per plant; number of spikelet per plant, grain mass per spike and dry mass of the aerial parts. It can be seen that the sewage sludge and the effluent contributed to the higher increase of production, and at 150% sludge dose occurred higher production.

Soils that had received successive applications of retorted oil shale (ROS) in an experiment under field conditions were used in this study, aiming to evaluate the availability of trace elements. In the batch tests, we observed that toxic elements present in the ROS are not desorbed from the matrix in significant amounts to contaminate soil and groundwater. The element Ca represents the greatest nutrient contribution, which has high mobility and ease release into the soil solution. Concerning the results obtained from the soil extracts analysis; we observed that the undesirable elements released into the extracts are not directly related to the presence of ROS in the soil samples. Comparing the behavior of soil samples with and without ROS it is possible to infer that many of the trace elements are derived from soil constituents, from previous fertilizer and pesticides applications. The study suggested that the ROS can be used as a soil conditioner for agricultural purposes without adding harmful elements to the environment.

ABSTRACT Several research lines are required to ensure a proper disposal of sewage sludge in Brazil; among them, we may highlight agricultural use. In this sense, this study aimed at assessing the effect of exchanging nitrogen sourcing via conventional fertilization (chemical) with growing doses of composted sewage sludge (CSS) on wheat crop performance. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and ten replications, being defined as T0 (control – without fertilization); T1 (100% mineral fertilization); T2 (50% mineral + 50% CSS); T3, T4, T5, and T6 (100, 150, 200, and 250% nitrogen fertilizing from CSS). Results showed that the use of CSS increased wheat production and development, therefore enhancing its performance. Thus, exchanging mineral fertilization with CSS application raised wheat yields.

Neste trabalho se propôs avaliar o efeito da aplicação do lodo de esgoto durante dois anos sucessivos, na cultura do girassol e seu efeito residual na produtividade do trigo e triticale. Trabalhou-se durante dois anos consecutivos com a cultura do girassol semeando-se, após a colheita do segundo ano, o trigo e o triticale sem aplicação de lodo de esgoto. Foi adotado o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados constituído por 6 tratamentos e 5 repetições: T0 - sem adubação com nitrogênio; T1 - adubação química nitrogenada de acordo com a necessidade de cultura; T2 - 50% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto e 50% na forma da adubação química, em cobertura; T3 - 100% da adubação nitrogenada do recomendado pela cultura, proveniente do lodo de esgoto; T4 - 150% da adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto e T5 - 200% da adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto. No girassol o lodo de esgoto proporcionou maior rendimento de grãos e de óleo no acumulado dos dois anos de aplicação sem, no entanto, interferir no teor de óleo, no triticale não interferiu no rendimento de grãos enquanto no trigo o melhor tratamento foi o de 150% da dose de N proveniente do lodo de esgoto.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of factors of production within two years of application of sewage sludge on sunflower and its residual effect on productivity of wheat and triticale. The study was conducted for two consecutive years with sunflower cultivation and after harvest of the second year wheat and triticale were sown without the application of sewage sludge fertilization. The experimental design of randomize blocks was adopted consisting of six treatments and five repetitions: T0 - without nitrogen fertilization; T1 - chemical nitrogen in accordance with Technical Buletin 100. (100% N chemical fertilizers), T2 - 50% Nitrogen from sewage sludge and 50% in the form of chemical fertilizer, top dressing, T3 - 100% of nitrogen recommended for the crop, from sewage sludge, T4 - 150% of nitrogen from sewage sludge; T5 - 200% of nitrogen from sewage sludge. In the sunflower the sewage sludge promoted a higher grain yield and yield of oil accumulated in the two years of application and did not affect the oil content. In triticale the combination of residual effect of two years with sludge and mineral N fertilization resulted in a greater number of plants and a higher yield. In wheat the best treatment was 150% of the dose of N from sewage sludge residual effect of two applications in sunflower.

Objective: To quantitatively study the exposure to childhood maltreatment and urban violence in children from families with at least one child working on the streets and to investigate the relationship between these factors and street work. Methods: Families who participated in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) program to eliminate child labor were included. Data concerning sociodemographic characteristics, punishment methods used in the family environment against the children, five types of abuse and neglect perpetrated by the caregivers, urban violence exposure and family functioning were collected. Results: The sample included 126 children who were working on the streets and 65 siblings who were not working on the streets. Caregivers reported high levels of severe physical punishment. The children reported high levels of abuse and neglect, and high levels of urban violence exposure. The families showed a predominance of dysfunctional and unsatisfactory relationships. A multiple logistic regression model showed that age older than 12 years and severe physical punishment at home were associated with street work. Conclusion: Interventions to decrease the risk of child street work should be family-focused and should aim to reduce violence in the family environment.

Este artigo utiliza simulações para estudar o processo de polimerização radicalar via transferência de átomo por meio da análise do comportamento das espécies químicas (polímeros "vivos", "dormentes" e "mortos"). Para isso, um modelo matemático foi desenvolvido usando o método dos momentos, e os dados experimentais da polimerização de estireno, obtidos da literatura, foram utilizados para validá-lo. A partir disto, foram obtidos perfis de concentração destas espécies, que foram posteriormente usados para obter as propriedades médias dos polímeros (Mn e IPD). As propriedades foram avaliadas em diferentes valores da costante deequilíbrio (Keq) e verificou-se que os valores na ordem de 10-7 e 10-9 proporcionam o melhor controle na estrutura dos polímeros. Esta pesquisa é, por isto, um ponto de partida para a escolha ideal do sistema catalítico, ligantes e iniciadores. Além disso, a técnica de modelagem apresentou-se como uma ferramenta de fácil implementação e bastante eficiente na análise do processo ATRP.

This article uses simulations to study the atom transfer radical polymerization by analyzing the behavior of the chemical species ("living", "dormant" and "dead" polymers). For this, a mathematical model has been developed using the method of moments, and experimental data from styrene polymerization, obtained from literature, were used to validate the model. From this point, the concentration profiles of all species were obtained, and later on, they were used to obtain the average properties of polymers (Mn and PDI). The properties were evaluated at different values of equilibrium constant (Keq) and it was found that values around 10-7 and 10-9 provide a better control in the structure of polymers. Therefore, this study is a starting point for selecting the optimal catalytic system, binders and initiators. In addition, the modeling technique presented as a useful tool, being very effective on the analysis of ATRP processes.

Dentre as diversas alternativas de disposição final de lodo de esgoto no Brasil, o uso agrícola se destaca por sua economicidade e adequação ambiental. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do lodo de esgoto compostado e do N nos parâmetros produtivos do girassol, após a sexta aplicação de lodo de esgoto em diferentes doses. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel, SP, pertencente à Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP de Botucatu,SP. Foi adotado o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados constituídos por 6 tratamentos e 4 repetições, assim definidos: T0 - sem adubação nitrogenada; T1 - adubação química nitrogenada de acordo com a recomendação da cultura; T2 - 50% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto e 50% na forma mineral; T3 - 100% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto; T4 - 150% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto; T5 - 200% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto. O aumento da dose de lodo de esgoto e o N proporcionaram um aumento no rendimento de grãos, de óleo e de matéria seca. O N influenciou no aumento de peso de mil grãos.

In Brazil, among the various alternatives for final disposal of sewage sludge, agricultural use is notable for its economy and environmental compatibility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of composted sewage sludge and N parameters on sunflower production after the sixth application of sewage sludge in different doses. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm São Manuel-SP, belonging to the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, UNESP, Botucatu-SP. The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks, consisting of six treatments and four replications defined as follows: T0 - without nitrogen fertilization; T1 - chemical nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with the recommendation for the crop; T2 - 50% nitrogen derived from sewage sludge and 50% in mineral form; T3 - 100% nitrogen from sewage sludge; T4 - 150% nitrogen from sewage sludge; T5 - 200% nitrogen from sewage sludge. Increasing the dose of sewage sludge and N provided an increase in grain yield, oil and dry matter. The N influenced the increase in the weight of thousand grans.

Neste trabalho foi proposto um procedimento para a extração do herbicida atrazina (AT) e dos principais metabólitos desetil-atrazina (DEA) e desisopropil-atrazina (DIA) de uma amostra de latossolo vermelho proveniente da região sudoeste do estado do Paraná no Brasil, onde a AT está entre os herbicidas mais amplamente utilizados. Foi conduzida uma comparação usando extração por agitação e por ultrassom, sendo obtido um procedimento de extração simples e rápido, seguido pela quantificação por cromatografia em fase líquida de alta eficiência. Cabe ressaltar que foi utilizado um estudo por planejamento fatorial, o qual foi decisivo para determinar as melhores condições de extração por agitação. Foram obtidos percentuais de recuperação e desvios padrão relativos adequados, para amostras de solo de três diferentes profundidades, o que sugere a possibilidade de empregar o método de extração proposto para a quantificação de AT, DEA e DIA em amostras de latossolo vermelho.

An optimization procedure for the extraction of the herbicide atrazine (AT), and the main degradation products deethylatrazine (DEA) and deisopropylatrazine (DIA) from an oxisol soil sample was carried out, for a soil from the Southwest of Paraná State in Brazil, where AT is among the most largely employed herbicide. A comparison between shaking and ultrasound extraction was performed, to define a simple and fast extraction procedure, followed by the quantification using high performance liquid chromatography. It is important to inform that a factorial planning was employed, that was very important to define the best conditions of extraction by shaking. Appropriate recovery values were observed using soil samples from three different depths, as well as the relative standard deviation, suggesting the possibility to employ the proposed extraction method for quantification of AT, DEA and DIA in oxisol samples.

Achyrocline alata (Kunth.) DC. e Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC., espécies pertencentes à família Asteraceae, são utilizadas na medicina popular de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, como plantas sucedâneas. O presente trabalho teve com objetivo comparar os extratos obtidos dessas espécies através de ensaios químicos simples destinados a testar as atividades antioxidante e captora de radicais livres, utilizando como modelo β-caroteno e DPPH, respectivamente. Tais ensaios revelaram que os extratos de A. satureioides foram mais ativos como captores de radicais livres do que os extratos obtidos de A. alata. Todos os experimentos foram feitos em triplicata, utilizando quercetina como padrão.

Achyrocline alata (Kunth.) DC. and Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. are species belonging to the family Asteraceae widely used in the folk medicine of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, being considered substitute plants. The present work aimed to compare the obtained extracts of these species to simple chemical assays, in order to test the antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging, using β-carotene and DPPH as reference, respectively. With these assays it was observed that the obtained extracts of Achyrocline satureioides were more active, as free radical scavenging, than the same obtained extracts of Achyrocline alata. These chemical assays were compared to a known patterned, quercetin, and and they were dealt under triplicate basis.

Duguetia furfuracea, Annonaceae, uma invasora de pastagens, é também usada na medicina tradicional em diversos estados no Brasil. Devido à significante diferença de odor entre dois grupos de indivíduos desta planta em um remanescente de cerrado em Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, seis amostras foram selecionadas de acordo com a intensidade de odor em suas folhas: In-01, In-03 e In-05: odor pronunciado (Perfil A); In-02, In-04 e In-06: odor fraco ou ausência de odor (Perfil B). As folhas foram coletadas e submetidas a hidrodestilação para obtenção dos óleos essenciais, os quais foram analisados por CG/EM. Uma boa compatibilidade foi encontrada entre os resultados obtidos por CG/EM e a análise olfativa adotada para as amostras: espécimes odor pronunciado apresentaram uma alta porcentagem de monoterpenos e alguns sesquiterpenos: In-01 (β-felandreno, 42,2%; mirceno, 6,8%; α-felandreno, 4,6%); In-03 (terpin-4-ol, 21,6%; sabineno, 17,3%; p-cimeno, 5,6%); In-05 (sabineno, 25,1%; terpin-4-ol, 16,2%; p-cimeno, 8,3%). Apenas sesquiterpenos foram encontrados nos espécimes que apresentaram odor fraco ou ausência do mesmo (com constituinte majoritário biciclogermacreno: 21,4%, 24,0%, and 29,1%, respectivamente, para os In-02, In-04 e In-06).

Duguetia furfuracea, Annonaceae, a pasture weed, is also used in folk medicine in several Brazilian states. Because of the significant difference in odor between two groups of this plant in a remnant patch of savanna in Campo Grande county, Mato Grosso do Sul, six samples were selected according to the odor intensity in the leaves (In-01, In-03, and In-05: pronounced odor; In-02, In-04, and In-06: weak odor or its absence). The leaves were collected and subjected to steam distillation for extraction of essential oils, which were analyzed by GC-MS. A good agreement was found between CG/MS results and olfactory evaluation of the samples: specimens exhibiting leaf scent had a high percentage of monoterpenes and some sesquiterpenes, as follows: In-01 (β-phellandrene, 42.2%; myrcene, 6.8%; α-phellandrene, 4.6%); In-03 (terpin-4-ol, 21.6%; sabinene, 17.3%; p-cymene, 5.6%); In-05 (sabinene, 25.1%; terpin-4-ol, 16.2%; p-cymene, 8.3%). Only sesquiterpenes were found in the specimens having weakly scented or scentless leaves (main constituent bicyclogermacrene: 21.4%, 24.0%, and 29.1%, respectively, for In-02, In-04 and In-06).

Poliestireno de alto impacto (HIPS) é uma blenda polimérica clássica de reator produzida por polimerização in-situ de estireno em solução com borracha butadiênica. Na literatura, está bem estabelecida a importância do tamanho de partícula e da densidade da ligação cruzada da borracha na capacidade de cavitação e no controle dos mecanismos de tenacificação na matriz estirênica. No presente trabalho as técnicas de microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET) e espalhamento de luz laser de baixo ângulo (LALLS) foram empregadas para observar a distribuição do tamanho de partícula, e a análise digital de imagem foi aplicada para quantificar os parâmetros morfológicos nas micrografias. Medidas do tamanho de partícula e da fração aparente volumétrica de partícula foram feitas para diferentes espessuras na MET e comparadas com o parâmetro estatístico D[4,3] obtido na LALLS.

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) is a classical reactor polymer blend produced by in-situ polymerization of styrene in solution with polybutadiene rubber. It is well established in the literature the importance of particle size and rubber crosslink density on the particle cavitation capability and on the controlling of toughening mechanisms in the styrene matrix. In the present work transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and low-angle laser light scattering (LALLS) were employed for investigating particle size distribution, with digital imaging being applied in the quantitative analysis of the micrographs. Measurements of apparent volume fraction and average particle size were carried out for different slice thicknesses in TEM and compared with the statistical parameter D[4,3] obtained by LALLS.

Copper speciation and behavior in different rivers located in the city of Curitiba were evaluated in this work. Sampling locations were selected to cover different levels of urbanization regarding their anthropogenic occupation and land use. Results showed that in highly-developed areas, both organic matter and dissolved sulfides were able to control copper speciation. Dissolved sulfide species were the major complexing agent in areas where dissolved oxygen levels are low. Finally, it was demonstrated that in urban areas anthropogenic factors such as sewage inputs and occupation of the drainage basin are the key aspects controlling copper dynamics and speciation in river waters.