Variação da densidade aparente e resistência à compressão paralela às fibras em função da intensidade de desbaste, adubação e posição radial em Eucalyptus grandis hill ex-maiden

O Eucalyptus grandis destaca-se pela produtividade e qualidade de sua madeira. O manejo florestal ideal das árvores em que se obtém maior proporção de madeira e melhor qualidade é uma das questões a serem consideradas nas pesquisas de E. grandis. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a variação da densidade aparente e da resistência à compressão paralela às fibras em função da intensidade de desbaste, adubação e classe de diâmetro, na posição radial nas árvores de uma população de E. grandis de 21 anos de idade, manejada pelo sistema de desbastes seletivos com aplicação de fertilizantes na época do início dos desbastes, ou seja, aos 5 anos. Os fatores utilizados foram: três intensidades de desbastes seletivos (37, 50 e 75%), presença ou ausência de fertilizantes, três classes de diâmetro e cinco posições radiais. As influências dos fatores e de suas combinações foram avaliadas na densidade aparente e na resistência à compressão da madeira. A densidade aparente da madeira e a resistência à compressão foram influenciadas pelos fatores: adubo e classe de diâmetro em quase todas as posições radiais aumentaram no sentido da medula para a casca. Observou-se relação positiva entre densidade aparente, resistência à compressão e posição radial.

ESTABLISHMENT TECHNIQUES FOR TROPICAL LEGUMES IN THE UNDERSTORY OF A EUCALYPTUS PLANTATION

This study evaluated establishment methods for a mixture of herbaceous forage legumes [Centrosema acutifolium, Clitoria ternatea, Pueraria phaseoloides, Stylosanthes Campo Grande (Stylosanthes capitata + S. macrocephala), Calopogonium mucunoides, Lablab purpureus, Arachis pintoi, and Aeschynomene villosa] under the shade of an Eucalyptus grandis plantation submitted to thinning (40%) 8 years after planting in Anhembi, São Paulo (22°40'S, 48°10'W, altitude of 455 m). The experiment started in December 2008 and consisted of the comparison of the following four types of seed incorporation by light disc harrowing: (1) broadcast sowing without seed incorporation; disc harrowing before (2) or after (3) planting, and (4) disc harrowing before and after planting. Ninety days after planting, the number of legume plants/m2 and the percentage of ground cover by the plants varied between the treatments tested; however, the treatments had no effect on the dry matter accumulation of forage legumes. Disc harrowing before planting yielded superior results compared to the treatments without disc harrowing and disc harrowing after planting. At the end of the experimental period, the plots contained Arachis, Centrosema, Stylosanthes, and Pueraria. The dry matter accumulated by Centrosema corresponded to 73% of total dry matter yield of the plots. The participation of Arachis, Centrosema and Stylosanthes in final dry matter composition of the plots varied according to establishment method. The advantages of the use of species mixtures rather than monocultures in the understory of forest plantations were discussed.

Determinação do perfil radial de aspersores a partir de ensaios de distribuição de água em sistemas autopropelidos de irrigação

Este trabalho apresenta uma rotina computacional, em Visual Basic 6, para determinar o perfil radial de aspersores, mediante ensaios de equipamentos autopropelidos de irrigação. Para a avaliação do programa, foi utilizado o aplicativo computacional SIMULASOFT e dados de ensaios de campo de sistemas autopropelidos de irrigação. As lâminas aplicadas, geradas pelo programa SIMULASOFT, foram para o aspersor PLONA-RL250 (bocal = 20 x 6 mm; pressão = 490 kPa), em deslocamento linear com velocidade de 50 m h-1, e quatro ângulos de giro distintos (180; 270; 330 e 360º). As lâminas aplicadas, observadas nos ensaios de campo, em condições de vento menores que 1,5 m s-1, foram para o aspersor PLONA-RL250, operando na pressão de 392 kPa e sob as condições: i) bocal de 14 mm, ângulo de giro de 240º e velocidade de 30 m h-1; ii) bocal de 14 x 6 mm, ângulo de giro de 270º e velocidade de 55 m h-1. O perfil radial gerado pela rotina computacional com as lâminas aplicadas, geradas com SIMULASOFT, foi igual ao perfil radial obtido em ensaios de laboratório, revelando que o procedimento de cálculo está correto. Uma boa semelhança entre os perfis radiais do aspersor, determinados em ensaios de laboratório e gerados pela rotina computacional, com as lâminas obtidas nos ensaios de campo, foi observada, mostrando que ensaios de campo de sistemas autopropelidos de irrigação podem ser utilizados para a obtenção do perfil radial de aspersores.

Qualidade de sementes de soja em função do horário de colheita e do sistema de trilha de fluxo radial e axial

O trabalho objetivou avaliar dois tipos de colhedoras, de fluxo radial e axial, em relação à qualidade física e fisiológica de sementes de duas cultivares de soja, BRS 184 e BRS 133, colhidas em dois horários, às 10 e 18 horas. A colhedora de fluxo radial trabalhou a 5,0 km h-1 , com o cilindro batedor a 750 rotações por minuto (rpm). A colhedora de fluxo axial trabalhou a 8,0 km h-1, e rotor com 650 rpm. Para a avaliação da qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes, foram realizados testes de germinação, envelhecimento acelerado, tetrazólio, dano mecânico (hipoclorito), umidade de campo e laboratório, sementes quebradas (bandinha) e pureza. A colheita realizada às 18 horas, com grau de umidade menor que 12%, ocasionou maiores danos mecânicos nas sementes da cultivar BRS 184. A colhedora de sistema de fluxo axial resultou em sementes de melhor qualidade fisiológica para a cultivar BRS 184, e em menores percentuais de sementes quebradas e maior pureza para ambas as cultivares, comparativamente à colhedora de sistema de trilha com fluxo radial.

Uniformidade de aplicação de água de equipamentos autopropelidos de irrigação com aspersores de perfil radial triangular, elíptico e retangular

Este trabalho apresenta resultados de simulações digitais da uniformidade de aplicação de água de sistemas autopropelidos de irrigação, para a condição de ausência de ventos. Nas simulações foram considerados aspersores com perfis radiais de distribuição de água tipo triangular, elíptico e retangular, operando sob diferentes combinações de ângulo de giro (de 180 até 360º) e espaçamento entre carreadores (de 0 a 100% do diâmetro molhado - DM). Os resultados das simulações foram apresentados em três grupos distintos, cada um representando a mesma forma geométrica do perfil radial de distribuição de água. Independentemente do ângulo de giro, os melhores valores de uniformidade foram obtidos com espaçamentos menores que 45% e entre 55% e 70% do DM para o perfil radial triangular e com espaçamentos menores que 50% e entre 70% e 90% do DM para os perfis radiais elíptico e retangular. Para os três perfis radiais, ângulos de giro do aspersor entre 180 e 230º geram maiores valores de coeficiente de uniformidade.

Data mining techniques for identification of spectrally homogeneous areas using NDVI temporal profiles of soybean crop

The aim of this study was to group temporal profiles of 10-day composites NDVI product by similarity, which was obtained by the SPOT Vegetation sensor, for municipalities with high soybean production in the state of Paraná, Brazil, in the 2005/2006 cropping season. Data mining is a valuable tool that allows extracting knowledge from a database, identifying valid, new, potentially useful and understandable patterns. Therefore, it was used the methods for clusters generation by means of the algorithms K-Means, MAXVER and DBSCAN, implemented in the WEKA software package. Clusters were created based on the average temporal profiles of NDVI of the 277 municipalities with high soybean production in the state and the best results were found with the K-Means algorithm, grouping the municipalities into six clusters, considering the period from the beginning of October until the end of March, which is equivalent to the crop vegetative cycle. Half of the generated clusters presented spectro-temporal pattern, a characteristic of soybeans and were mostly under the soybean belt in the state of Paraná, which shows good results that were obtained with the proposed methodology as for identification of homogeneous areas. These results will be useful for the creation of regional soybean "masks" to estimate the planted area for this crop.

Surgical techniques for maxillary bone grafting - literature review

For oral rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses, there are required procedures to create the bone volume needed for installation of the implants. Thus, bone grafts from intraoral or extraoral donor sites represent a very favorable opportunity. This study aimed to review the literature on the subject, seeking to discuss parameters for the indications, advantages and complications of techniques for autogenous bone grafts.

Comparison of three diagnostic techniques for the detection of leptospires in the kidneys of wild house mice (Mus musculus)

Forty-one wild house mice (Mus musculus) were trapped in an urban area, near railways, in Santa Fe city, Argentina. Both kidneys from each mouse were removed for bacteriological and histological examination. One kidney was inoculated into Fletcher semi-solid medium and isolates were serologically typed. The other kidney was microscopically examined after hematoxylin-eosin, silver impregnation and immunohistochemical stains. Leptospires, all of them belonging to the Ballum serogroup, were isolated from 16 (39%) out of 41 samples. The presence of the agent was recorded in 18 (44%) and in 19 (46%) out of 41 silver impregnated and immunohistochemically stained samples respectively. Additionally, leptospires were detected in high number on the apical surface of epithelial cells and in the lumen of medullary tubules and they were less frequently seen on the apical surface of epithelial cells or in the lumen of the cortical tubules, which represents an unusual finding in carrier animals. Microscopic lesions consisting of focal mononuclear interstitial nephritis, glomerular shrinkage and desquamation of tubular epithelial cells were observed in 13 of 19 infected and in 10 of 22 non-infected mice; differences in presence of lesions between infected and non-infected animals were not statistically significant (P=0,14). The three techniques, culture, silver impregnation and immunohistochemistry, had a high agreement (k³0.85) and no significant differences between them were detected (P>0.05). In addition, an unusual location of leptospires in kidneys of carrier animals was reported, but a relationship between lesions and presence of leptospires could not be established.

Modeling of turbulent flow through radial diffuser

The work considers the modeling of turbulent flow in radial diffuser with axial feeding. Due to its claimed capability to predict flow including features such as separation, curvature and adverse pressure gradient, the RNG k-epsilon model of Orzag et al. (1993) is applied in the present analysis. The governing equations are numerically solved using the finite volume methodology. Experiments were conducted to assess the turbulence model. Numerical results of pressure distribution on the front disk surface for different flow conditions when compared to the experimental data indicated that the RNG k-epsilon model is adequate to predict this class of flow.

Using passive techniques for vibration damping in mechanical systems

This paper examines two passive techniques for vibration reduction in mechanical systems: the first one is based on dynamic vibration absorbers (DVAs) and the second uses resonant circuit shunted (RCS) piezoceramics. Genetic algorithms are used to determine the optimal design parameters with respect to performance indexes, which are associated with the dynamical behavior of the system over selected frequency bands. The calculation of the frequency response functions (FRFs) of the composite structure (primary system + DVAs) is performed through a substructure coupling technique. A modal technique is used to determine the frequency response function of the structure containing shunted piezoceramics which are bonded to the primary structure. The use of both techniques simultaneously on the same structure is investigated. The methodology developed is illustrated by numerical applications in which the primary structure is represented by simple Euler-Bernoulli beams. However, the design aspects of vibration control devices presented in this paper can be extended to more complex structures.

Experimental validation of a 3-D vision-based measurement system applied to robot calibration

One of the problems that slows the development of off-line programming is the low static and dynamic positioning accuracy of robots. Robot calibration improves the positioning accuracy and can also be used as a diagnostic tool in robot production and maintenance. A large number of robot measurement systems are now available commercially. Yet, there is a dearth of systems that are portable, accurate and low cost. In this work a measurement system that can fill this gap in local calibration is presented. The measurement system consists of a single CCD camera mounted on the robot tool flange with a wide angle lens, and uses space resection models to measure the end-effector pose relative to a world coordinate system, considering radial distortions. Scale factors and image center are obtained with innovative techniques, making use of a multiview approach. The target plate consists of a grid of white dots impressed on a black photographic paper, and mounted on the sides of a 90-degree angle plate. Results show that the achieved average accuracy varies from 0.2mm to 0.4mm, at distances from the target from 600mm to 1000mm respectively, with different camera orientations.

Performance evaluation of 3D computer vision techniques

This work presents the implementation and comparison of three different techniques of three-dimensional computer vision as follows: • Stereo vision - correlation between two 2D images • Sensorial fusion - use of different sensors: camera 2D + ultrasound sensor (1D); • Structured light The computer vision techniques herein presented took into consideration the following characteristics: • Computational effort ( elapsed time for obtain the 3D information); • Influence of environmental conditions (noise due to a non uniform lighting, overlighting and shades); • The cost of the infrastructure for each technique; • Analysis of uncertainties, precision and accuracy. The option of using the Matlab software, version 5.1, for algorithm implementation of the three techniques was due to the simplicity of their commands, programming and debugging. Besides, this software is well known and used by the academic community, allowing the results of this work to be obtained and verified. Examples of three-dimensional vision applied to robotic assembling tasks ("pick-and-place") are presented.

Optimal design of 3R manipulators by using classical techniques and simulated annealin

In this paper, the optimum design of 3R manipulators is formulated and solved by using an algebraic formulation of workspace boundary. A manipulator design can be approached as a problem of optimization, in which the objective functions are the size of the manipulator and workspace volume; and the constrains can be given as a prescribed workspace volume. The numerical solution of the optimization problem is investigated by using two different numerical techniques, namely, sequential quadratic programming and simulated annealing. Numerical examples illustrate a design procedure and show the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.

Weed mapping using techniques of precision agriculture

The aim of this study was to identify and map the weed population in a no-tillage area. Geostatistical techniques were used in the mapping in order to assess this information as a tool for the localized application of herbicides. The area of study is 58.08 hectares wide and was sampled in a fixed square grid (which point spaced 50 m, 232 points) using a GPS receiver. In each point the weeds species and population were analyzed in a square with a 0.25 m2 fixed area. The species Ipomoea grandifolia, Gnaphalium spicatum, Richardia spp. and Emilia sonchifolia have presented no spatial dependence. However, the species Conyza spp., C. echinatus and E. indica have shown a spatial correlation. Among the models tested, the spherical model has shown had a better fit for Conyza spp. and Eleusine indica and the Gaussian model for Cenchrus echinatus. The three species have a clumped spatial distribution. The mapping of weeds can be a tool for localized control, making herbicide use more rational, effective and economical.

Phytotoxic Activity of Parthenium Against Wheat and Canola Differ With Plant Parts and Bioassays Techniques

Phytotoxic effects of invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus were studied by using whole plant, leaf and root aqueous extracts at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% (w/v) concentrations against germination and early seedling growth of wheat and canola. Studies were carried out both in Petri plates with filter paper as substratum placed in controlled conditions and soil-filled plastic pots placed in open environments. Pronounced variation was noted for phytotoxic activity of different plant parts of parthenium, aqueous extract concentrations, test species, and bioassay techniques. Aqueous parthenium extracts either inhibited or delayed the germination and suppressed seedling growth of test species over control. For both test species, all the germination attributes were suppressed to a greater extent in Petri plates than in plastic pots. Leaf extracts were more suppressive to germination of test species than whole plant and root extracts. Increasing extract concentration beyond 2.5% caused significant reduction in seedling dry biomass of both test species. Aqueous parthenium extract diminished chlorophyll contents of wheat and canola by 32-63% and 29 69%, respectively. Nevertheless, an increase of 9-172% and 22-60% in phenolic contents of wheat and canola was recorded. Canola appeared to be more susceptible than wheat at all extract concentrations. Present study concluded that bioassays conducted under controlled condition using filter paper as substratum may be misleading due to over estimation of allelopathic response and variation in potential of receiver and donor species. Furthermore, it implies that threshold concentrations of allelochemicals for test species in Petri plates are rarely reached under field conditions.