Estimativa da condutividade elétrica da solução do solo a partir do teor de água e da condutividade elétrica aparente do solo Estimative of soil solution electrical conductivity from soil water content and soil bulk electrical conductivity

O crescente uso da técnica de fertirrigação não tem sido acompanhado com pesquisas para disponibilizar informações capazes de proporcionar o correto manejo dessa técnica. A reflectometria no domínio do tempo (TDR) possibilita o monitoramento simultâneo e contínuo do teor de água (teta) e da condutividade elétrica aparente do solo (CEa). A literatura apresenta diversos modelos que relacionam teta e CEa com a condutividade elétrica da solução do solo (CEw), com vistas à predição da CEw a partir de dados de teta e CEa obtidos por meio da técnica da TDR. Porém, muitas pesquisas demonstram a necessidade de avaliação e calibração desses modelos para solos de diferentes classes texturais. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados seis modelos com o objetivo de conhecer a capacidade dos mesmos em relacionar teta, CEa e CEw. Experimentos de laboratório foram feitos, com solo de classes texturais franca e franco-arenosa, aplicando-se soluções com cinco condutividades elétricas combinadas com cinco teores de água no solo, resultando em 25 colunas de solo. Os modelos demonstraram capacidade para relacionar teta, CEa e CEw.<br>The increase of fertigation techniques has not been followed by researches that generate available information to guide a correct fertigation management. The time-domain reflectometry allows the simultaneously monitoring of soil water content (theta) and bulk electrical conductivity (CEa). Literature presents various models which relate TDR readings of theta and CEa to soil solution electrical conductivity (CEw). Nevertheless, many researches demonstrate the need for evaluation and calibration of these models under different soil conditions. In this work, six mathematical models were evaluated in order to establish the relationship among theta, CEa e CEw. Laboratory experiments were carried out using two soil materials, by means of applying five electrical conductivities combined with five soil water contents in PVC columns. The models allowed a reasonable relationship among theta, CEa e CEw with better performance of de RHOADES et al. (1976) e de VOGELER et al. (1996) models for the soils 1 and 2, respectively

Avaliação de modelos de estimativa da radiação solar incidente em Cruz das Almas, Bahia Evaluating models for estimation of incoming solar radiation in Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil

Em estudos agroambientais a radiação solar incidente (Rs) é uma das mais importantes variáveis meteorológicas. Na ausência de dados observados de Rs é possível estimá-los mediante modelos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar modelos baseados na temperatura do ar para estimativa diária de Rs nas condições do Recôncavo Sul da Bahia. Utilizaram-se dados de Rs do período de 2004 a 2006, medidos por uma estação meteorológica automática pertencente ao INMET, instalada em Cruz das Almas, Bahia. Como etapa preliminar, verificou-se a qualidade dos dados de Rs tomando-se como referência curvas de radiação esperada em dias claros. Os seguintes modelos foram avaliados: Hargreaves-Samani para regiões interiores e regiões costeiras, Thornton-Running e o de Weiss. O desempenho de cada método foi avaliado através dos seguintes indicadores: coeficiente de determinção (R²), razão média (RM), erro absoluto médio (EAM), raiz quadrada do quadrado médio do erro (RQME) e índice de concordância de Wilmott (dW). Os resultados obtidos recomendam o modelo de Hargreaves-Samani para regiões costeiras por apresentar o valor de RM mais próximo de 1 (1,01), menor EAM (2,54 MJ m-2 d-1), menor RQME (3,13 MJ m-2 d-1) e o maior dW (0,90).<br>Solar radiation at the earth's surface (Rs) is one of the essential weather variables for several agro-environmental studies. In the absence of measured Rs, it's possible to simulate them by models. Using three years of daily Rs data (2004-2006) collected by an INMET (Brazilian Meteorological Service) automatic weather station installed in the municipality of Cruz das Almas, BA, three air temperature-based Rs simulation models were evaluated. As a preliminary step, data quality was investigated and, when needed, adjustments were made based on clear sky solar radiation envelopes. The following models were evaluated: Hargreaves-Samani for both interior and coastal regions, Thornton-Running, and the Weiss model. Linear regression R², mean ratio (MR), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and the index of agreement of Willmott (dW) were used for model performance evaluation against measured Rs. The results recommended the coastal-region Hargreaves-Samani for prediction of Rs in the Reconcavo of Bahia, Brazil, since it presented the MR value closest to 1.00 (1.01), the lowest MAE (2.54 MJ m-2 d-1), the lowest RMSE (3.13 MJ m-2 d-1), and the highest dW (0.90)

Virgin Coconut Oil Supplementation Prevents Airway Hyperreactivity of Guinea Pigs with Chronic Allergic Lung Inflammation by Antioxidant Mechanism

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by immune cell infiltrates, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and declining lung function. Thus, the possible effects of virgin coconut oil on a chronic allergic lung inflammation model were evaluated. Morphology of lung and airway tissue exhibited peribronchial inflammatory infiltrate, epithelial hyperplasia, and smooth muscle thickening in guinea pigs submitted to ovalbumin sensitization, which were prevented by virgin coconut oil supplementation. Additionally, in animals with lung inflammation, trachea contracted in response to ovalbumin administration, showed a greater contractile response to carbachol (CCh) and histamine, and these responses were prevented by the virgin coconut oil supplementation. Apocynin, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, did not reduce the potency of CCh, whereas tempol, a superoxide dismutase mimetic, reduced potency only in nonsensitized animals. Catalase reduced the CCh potency in nonsensitized animals and animals sensitized and treated with coconut oil, indicating the participation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in the hypercontractility, which was prevented by virgin coconut oil. In the presence of L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, the CCh curve remained unchanged in nonsensitized animals but had increased efficacy and potency in sensitized animals, indicating an inhibition of endothelial NOS but ineffective in inhibiting inducible NOS. In animals sensitized and treated with coconut oil, the CCh curve was not altered, indicating a reduction in the release of NO by inducible NOS. These data were confirmed by peribronchiolar expression analysis of iNOS. The antioxidant capacity was reduced in the lungs of animals with chronic allergic lung inflammation, which was reversed by the coconut oil, and confirmed by analysis of peribronchiolar 8-iso-PGF2α content. Therefore, the virgin coconut oil supplementation reverses peribronchial inflammatory infiltrate, epithelial hyperplasia, smooth muscle thickening, and hypercontractility through oxidative stress and its interactions with the NO pathway

Relação entre potássio na solução do solo, umidade e condutividade elétrica aparente do solo Relationship between potassium in the soil solution, soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity

Através de modelos que relacionam umidade (teta), condutividade elétrica aparente do solo (CEa) e condutividade elétrica da solução do solo (CEw), objetivou-se avaliar, para condição de laboratório, a viabilidade de se estimar a concentração de potássio na solução do solo (K), para solos de classe textural franca (CTf) e franco-arenosa (CTfa). Cinco soluções de cloreto de potássio, referentes a cinco condutividades elétricas (1,0, 2,5, 4,0, 5,5 e 7,0 dS m-1), foram aplicadas sobre o solo acondicionado em colunas de PVC, de forma a se obter cinco teta do solo (17,0 &plusmn; 1,4, 19,0 &plusmn; 1,8, 21,4 &plusmn; 2,2, 23,4 &plusmn; 2,2 e 26,0 &plusmn; 3,0%, em volume). Efetuaram-se leituras de teta e CEa com um aparelho de reflectometria no domínio do tempo (TDR) e se extraiu solução do solo com extrator de cápsula de cerâmica, para determinar a CEw e o K. Três modelos foram ajustados aos dados, por meio de planilha eletrônica. É viável estimar a concentração de K na solução do solo, a partir detetae CEa, para condição de laboratório, por meio dos modelos de Rhoades et al. (1976), Vogeler et al. (1996) e Mualen & Friedman (1991), adaptados com uma relação entre CEw e K do tipo potência, nas faixas de 0 a 60 e 0 a 120 mg L-1, para solos de CTf e CTfa, respectivamente.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of estimating the potassium (K) concentration in the soil solution, under laboratory conditions, for loamy (CTf) and sandy loam (CTfa ) soils, through models that relate soil water content (theta), bulk electrical conductivity (CEa) and soil solution electrical conductivity (CEw). Five potassium chloride solutions with electrical conductivities of 1.0, 2.5, 4.0, 5.5 and 7.0 dS m-1, were applied in a soil packed in PVC columns in order to obtain five soil water contents (17.0 &plusmn; 1.4, 19.0 &plusmn; 1.8, 21.4 &plusmn; 2.2, 23.4 &plusmn; 2.2 and 26.0 &plusmn; 3.0%, on volume basis). Readings of theta and CEa were obtained by using time domain reflectometry (TDR) equipment and soil solution was extracted by a water sampler to determine CEw and K. Three models were fitted to the data by an electronic sheet. It is possible to estimate potassium concentration in the soil solution fromthetaand CEa under laboratory conditions by the models of Rhoades et al. (1976), Vogeler et al. (1996) and Mualen & Friedman (1991) using a potential relationship between CEw and K in the range of 0 to 60 and 0 to 120 mg L-1, for soils of CTf and CTfa, respectively

Th17/Treg-Related Intracellular Signaling in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Comparison between Local and Systemic Responses

Th17/Treg imbalance plays a pivotal role in COPD development and progression. We aimed to assess Th17/Treg-related intracellular signaling at different COPD stages in local and systemic responses. Lung tissue and/or peripheral blood samples were collected and divided into non-obstructed (NOS), COPD stages I and II, and COPD stages III and IV groups. Gene expression of STAT3 and -5, RORγt, Foxp3, interleukin (IL)-6, -17, -10, and TGF-β was assessed by RT-qPCR. IL-6, -17, -10, and TGF-β levels were determined by ELISA. We observed increased STAT3, RORγt, Foxp3, IL-6, and TGF-β gene expression and IL-6 levels in the lungs of COPD I and II patients compared to those of NOS patients. Regarding the systemic response, we observed increased STAT3, RORγt, IL-6, and TGF-β gene expression in the COPD III and IV group and increased IL-6 levels in the COPD I and II group. STAT5 was increased in COPD III and IV patients, although there was a decrease in Foxp3 expression and IL-10 levels in the COPD I and II and COPD III and IV groups, respectively. We demonstrated that an increase in Th17 intracellular signaling in the lungs precedes this increase in the systemic response, whereas Treg intracellular signaling varies between the compartments analyzed in different COPD stages