Abstract Among energy sources from food, corn is a cereal with significant nutritional characteristics. However, during preprocessing, corn is subject to contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are considered carcinogenic, and gas ozone can be used as an alternative for decontamination. This study aims to evaluate the effect of ozonation on the quality of corn grains at different exposure times. Evaluations were performed to assess moisture content, electrical conductivity, germination, germination speed index, colour (brightness parameter, direction red to green, direction yellow to blue, hue angle indicates the colour tone and chroma), and chemical composition, and chromatographic analysis was performed to quantify the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The ozonation times influence on the quality of the maize grains was lipids, ash and germination percentage and did not promote the degradation of all the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in the product.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of motor intervention on the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and on the caregivers' burden. DESIGN: This is a controlled trial evaluating the effects of a motor intervention program on the neuropsychiatric symptoms. SETTING: The intervention was performed on community patients from two university centers specializing in physical exercise for the elderly. SUBJECTS: Patients with Alzheimer's disease were divided into two groups: sixteen received the motor intervention and sixteen controls (five controls were excluded because of clinical intercurrences). INTERVENTIONS: Aerobic exercises (flexibility, strength, and agility) and functional balance exercises were conducted over six months for 60 minutes three times per week. MAIN MEASURES: Psychopathological features of patients were evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Caregivers were evaluated using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Distress and Burden Interview. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to observe interactions (pre- vs. post-intervention; participants vs. controls). RESULTS: Patients from the intervention presented a significant reduction in neuropsychiatric conditions when compared to controls (Neuropsychiatric Inventory: F: 11.12; p = 0.01; Cornell Depression scale: F: 11.97; p = 0.01). The burden and stress of caregivers responsible for patients who participated in the intervention significantly decreased when compared to caregivers responsible for controls (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Distress: F: 9.37; p = 0.01; Burden Interview: F: 11.28; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercise was associated with a reduction in the neuropsychiatric symptoms and contributed to attenuate the caregivers' burden. However, the researchers were not blinded to the patient's intervention status, which constitutes an important limitation of this study.

RESUMO O cobre é um metal pesado que pode exercer efeitos tóxicos para micro-organismos e plantas. Os fungos ectomicorrízicos são capazes de proteger a planta hospedeira da toxidez dos metais pesados, mas a presença de certas concentrações de metais pode inibir o crescimento destes, prejudicando a simbiose micorrízica e alterar o desenvolvimento das plantas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses de cobre na população de bactérias e fungos do solo, bem como seus efeitos na associação ectomicorrízica e no desenvolvimento de mudas de eucalipto, pinus e canafístula. O levantamento da população de micro- organismos do solo foi realizado em casa de vegetação durante 60 dias e os tratamentos foram doses de sulfato de cobre aplicadas ao solo (0,7; 0,708; 0,716; 0,724 mg kg-1 de solo) e mudas de eucalipto e pinus. No segundo experimento, mudas de eucalipto e canafístula inoculadas e não inoculadas com Pisolithus microcarpus (Cooke & Massee) Cunn (UFSC Pt 116) receberam doses de cobre de 0, 100, 200 e 300 mg kg-1 de solo. Aos 110 dias, avaliaram-se a massa fresca da parte aérea e radicular, massa seca da parte aérea, altura, diâmetro do colo e porcentagem de colonização ectomicorrízica. No primeiro experimento, a população total de bactérias e fungos do solo foi alterada pela presença do cobre, porém as mudas de eucalipto e pinus não mostraram efeitos da adição do cobre. No segundo experimento, a inoculação das mudas de eucalipto e canafístula com o isolado UFSC Pt 116 favoreceu o desenvolvimento da massa fresca da parte aérea e radicular e a altura das plantas. Conforme os resultados obtidos, a canafístula foi capaz de realizar associação ectomicorrízica com o isolado testado. O desenvolvimento das plântulas de eucalipto e canafístula foi inibido pelos níveis de cobre, mesmo inoculadas com o isolado UFSC Pt 116.

ABSTRACT Copper is a heavy metal that can have toxic effects on microorganisms and plants. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are able to protect the plant from heavy metal toxicity, but the presence of certain metal concentrations can inhibit the growth of this fungus, damage the mycorrhizal symbiosis and also altering the development of the plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of copper on soil bacteria and fungus population, as well as the effects on the ectomycorrhizal association in the development of Eucalyptus grandis, Pinus elliottii and Peltophorum dubium seedlings. The survey of the soil microorganism population was carried out in a greenhouse during 60 days and the treatments consisted of applications of copper sulphate (0.7; 0.708; 0.716; 0.724 mg Kg-1) to the soil and to eucalyptus and pinus seedlings. Eucalyptus and Peltophorum dubium seedlings inoculated and not inoculated with Pisolithus microcarpus (Cooke and Massee) Cunn (UFSC Pt 116) received copper levels of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg kg-1. The height, stem diameter, shoot and root fresh biomass, shoot and root dry biomass and ectomycorrhizal colonization were evaluated at 110 days. Soil bacteria and fungus population were altered by the presence of copper and the eucalyptus and pinus seedlings were not affected by copper addition. The inoculation of the eucalyptus and canafístula seedlings with isolate UFSC Pt 116 favored the height of the plants and the development of shoot and root fresh biomass. According to the results, canafístula was able to form an ectomycorrhizal association with the isolate tested. The eucalyptus and canafístula seedling development was inhibited by copper following inoculation with the UFSC Pt 116 isolate.

RESUMO A inoculação de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs) é viável em mudas de espécies florestais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o estabelecimento de duas espécies de FMAs na produção de mudas de Acacia mearnsii em diferentes substratos e doses de fósforo. O experimento constou de cinco tratamentos, sendo dois tratamentos de inoculação de espécies de FMAs, (Glomus clarum Nicolson & Schenck e Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann) e três tratamentos com diferentes substratos (mecplani, turfa fértil e Neossolo Quartzarênico); com cinco doses de fósforo (0, 50, 100, 500 e 1000 mg.kg-1), e dez repetições. Alto nível de P no substrato não impediu colonização micorrízica das raízes. Os isolados G. clarum e G. etunicatum apresentaram alta eficiência na colonização das raízes da A. mearnsii, e os substratos mecplani e turfa-fértil foram os mais eficientes na produção das mudas.

ABSTRACT The inoculation of mycorrhizal arbuscular fungi (FMAs) is viable in forest species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the establishment of two species of FMAs, in Acácia mearnsii production, considering different substracts and phosphour levels. The experiment was carried out with five treatments, with two species of FMAs (Glomus clarum Nicolson & Schenck and Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann), and three kinds of substracts (Mecplani, Fertil Turfa and Neossolo Quartzarênico) with four phosphour levels, with 10 repetitions. The high level of P in the substract did not influence the mycorrhizal colonization in the roots. These mycorrhizal fungi showed high efficiency in roots colonization of A. mearnsii. The Mecplani and Fertil Turfa substracts were the most efficient ones in seedling growing.