ABSTRACT The contamination of aquatic environments with chemical trace elements can be evaluated by their accumulation in sediments of the water body. Studies on mercury require the use of exclusive extraction techniques that have relatively high costs when compared to the analysis of other trace elements. This study was conducted aiming at determining the mercury concentration in sediments of the Upper Parnaíba River basin, located in a region of agricultural expansion between the states of Piauí and Maranhão. The sediment was collected at 12 sites in the basin. After drying, the quantification of total mercury was performed by the Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry coupled to a pyrolysis reactor. Mercury concentrations in sediments of the Parnaíba River ranged from 4.2 to 58.5 ng g−1 and presented a low probability of adverse effects on biota. Mercury had no correlation with the variables clay, silt, sand, total organic carbon, iron, and aluminum, demonstrating its possible anthropogenic origin. Although mercury concentrations have a low probability to disturb the balance of the local ecosystem, there is a need for monitoring the region in order to quantify the risks to biota and human health.

Parasitas necrotróficos de órgãos aéreos sobrevivem saprofiticamente, na esntre-safra, nos restos culturais dos hospedeiros. Em experimento conduzido no campo quantificou-se o tempo, em meses, para a decomposição dos restos culturais do milho e da soja, posicionados na superfície do solo simulando o plantio direto. Os restos culturais das duas espécies foram coletados no dia da colheita mecânica, cortados em peças de 5,0cm de comprimento e uma massa de 200g acondicionada em recipientes de malha de náilon. Mensalmente foram removidos do campo e levados ao laboratório aonde se procedeu a pesagem. Demonstrou-se que os restos culturais do milho foram mineralizados num tempo de 37 meses e os da soja em 34,5 meses. Os principais fungos necrotróficos parasitas diagnosticados em resíduos de milho foram Colletotrichum gramicola, Diplodia spp. e Gibberella zeae, e nos restos culturais da soja Cercospora kikuchii, Colletotrichum spp, Glomerella sp e Phomopsis spp. Pode-se inferir que estes são os tempos a serem observados na rotação de culturas visando à redução dos restos culturais e conseqüentemente do inóculo na área cultivada.

Necrotrophic parasites of above-ground plant parts survive saprophytically, between growing seasons in host crop residues. In an experiment conducted under field conditions, the time required in months for corn and soybean residues to be completely decomposed was quantified. Residues were laid on the soil surface to simulate no-till farming. Crop debris of the two plant species collected on the harvesting day cut into pieces of 5.0cm-long and a 200g mass was added to nylon mesh bags. At monthly intervals, bags were taken to the laboratory for weighing. Corn residues were decomposed within 37.0 months and those of soybean, within 34.5 months. Hw main necrotrophic fungi diagnosed in the corn residues were Colletotrichum gramicola, Diplodia spp. and Gibberella zeae, and those in soybeans residues were Cercospora kikuchii, Colletotrichum spp, Glomerella sp. and Phomopsis spp. Thus, those periods shoulb be observed in crop rotation aimed at to eliminating contaminated residues and, consequently, the inoculum from the cultivated area.

A 12-hour training program was delivered to the professionals of a nephrology department. Contents of the course were about difficult communication skills in health care interactions. Counselling was the relational methodology instructed. The objective was to assess changes in attitudes in relation with bioethics principles and knowledge. Variables were measured before and after the training program. Sample was composed by 76 professionals (57% nurses, 26% auxiliary nurses y 17% nephrologists) for knowledge and 27 professionals for variable attitudes. Considering the total sample, results show changes in implication with bioethics principles (p <0.05) and knowledge (p <0.001). There are differences related to the kind of profession. Nurses benefit more from the training program attending in the variable knowledge (p <0.001).

Los profesionales sanitarios del servicio de nefrología de un hospital de tercer nivel recibieron entrenamiento en comunicación terapéutica mediante un curso de 12 horas centrado en el instrumento terapéutico conocido como Counselling. El objetivo fue evaluar cambios en actitudes en relación con los principios bioéticos y en conocimientos sobre comunicación y gestión emocional. Las variables evaluadas se midieron antes y después de la implantación del curso. La muestra estaba formada por 76 profesionales (un 57% profesionales de enfermería, un 26% auxiliares y un 17% médicos especialistas en nefrología) para la variable conocimientos y por 27 profesionales para la variable de actitudes. Considerando la muestra total, en los resultados se observan cambios en implicación con los principios bioéticos (p <0,05) y conocimientos (p <0,001). Se observan diferencias en función de la profesión y son los profesionales de enfermería quienes más se benefician del curso en el área de conocimientos (p <0,001).