Evaporative cooling and cutaneous surface temperature of Holstein cows in tropical conditions

Foram estudados os efeitos da temperatura cutânea (Ts) sobre a taxa de termólise por evaporação cutânea (Es) de vacas Holandesas cronicamente expostas ao sol, considerando a pigmentação do pelame. Dezesseis vacas puras de origem foram medidas quanto à evaporação e à temperatura cutâneas às 13 h, após 6 horas de exposição ao sol, no mesmo local (flanco, pescoço e glúteo) e considerando separadamente as malhas negras e as brancas. A evaporação cutânea foi medida por meio de cápsula ventilada. Nas áreas negras a taxa de sudação (138,9 ± 8,5 g.m-2.h-1), a taxa de termólise por evaporação cutânea (93,3 ± 5,7 W.m-2) e a temperatura da superfície cutânea (33,1 ± 0,2°C) foram maiores que nas áreas brancas (109,5 ± 9,7 g.m-2.h-1, 73,6 ± 6,5 W.m-2 e 32,6 ± 0,2°C, respectivamente). Há uma relação exponencial entre evaporação e temperatura cutâneas, que pode ser representada pela equação Es = 31,5+3,67 exp{(Ts-27,9)/2,19115}, com coeficiente de determinação r²=0,68. A taxa de termólise por evaporação cutânea permanece quase constante (cerca de 48 W.m-2) até que a temperatura cutânea atinge aproximadamente 31°C.

Phase diagram for freeze-dried persimmon

Phase transitions of freeze-dried persimmon in a large range of moisture content were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In order to study this transitions at low and intermediate moisture content domains, samples were conditioned by adsorption at various water activities (a(w) = 0.11-0.90) at 25 degreesC. For the high moisture content region, samples were obtained by water addition. At a(w) less than or equal to 0.75 two glass transitions were visible, with T(g) decreasing with increasing water activity due to water plasticizing effect. The first T(g) is due to the matrix formed by sugars and water, the second one, less visible and less plasticized by water, is probably due to macromolecules of the fruit pulp. At a(w) between 0.80 and 0.90 a devitrification peak appeared after T(g) and before T(m). At this moisture content range, the Gordon-Taylor model represented satisfactorily the matrix glass transition curve. At the higher moisture content range (a(w) > 0.90), the more visible phenomenon was the ice melting. T(g) appeared less visible because the enthalpy change involved in glass transition is practically negligible in comparison with the latent heat of melting. In the high moisture content domain T(g) remained practically constant around T(g)' (-56.6 degreesC). (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Phenological aspects of Syngonanthus elegans (Bong.) Ruhl. (Eriocaulaceae) from Serra do Cipo - MG. Brazil

S. elegans (Eriocaulaceae) is known in Brazil as star flower and is used economically for ornamental purposes. The fact that there is no control over its collection, brings about great damage to its population. Thus the importance of phenologic data for the conservation of the species. This paper reports the marking of 60 individuals in three different phases of development and the collection of monthly data about their phenology. S. elegans is a perennial plant with a rhizomatous stem that characterizes its vegetative growth. The pubescent leaves present in plants can prevent heat loss and their pigments can raise the ultra-violet radiation absorption. The young leaves present in plants during the begining of the dry season use rhizome reserves. Hydric scarcity may be the main reason for the mortality of the species. Vegetative growth and sexual reproduction are very important for the population's survival.,The blooming period in S. elegans occurs from om February to July and the dispersal of seeds occurs from August to December.

Development and energy balance of sugarcane in the norte fluminense, Brazil

The growing concern for renewable and cleaner energy sources has increased the demand for biofuels, pointing out the ethanol from sugarcane. The aim of this study was quantify the partition of energy balance components and monitor the physiological development indexes of the sugarcane, relating them to water availability conditions of climate and soil in Campos dos Goytacazes, Norte Fluminense, Brazil. To this end, a micrometeorological station was settled in an area of 13 ha in commercial cultivation. The culture was regularly monitored at 85, 102, 128, 149, 174, 194, 215, 235, 255 and 280 days after cutting (DAC). The variations in water availability directly influenced the rates of crop growth and energy balance. Under the conditions studied most of the available energy (53%) was consumed by the latent heat flux.

Air-sea interaction studies at the station occupied by R/V Sirius

The transfer formulas are used to compute hourly values of sensible and latent heat exchanges for the period July 29 to July 31, 1974. Also, values of eddy shearing stress at the sea surface, Bowen's ratio and dissipation of kinetic energy are computed. The data used cover part of the GATE period for station 20 occupied by the Brazilian Naval Ship R/V Sirius in the Equatorial Atlantic (0730 N 4000 W). The variations in the computed values are studied in relation to rainfall and the synoptic situation. © 1980 D. Reidel Publishing Co.

Um Modelo para a Determinação do Equilíbrio Térmico de Bovinos em Ambientes Tropicais

An equation based on heat transfer theory was presented to estimate the rate of heat loss from cattle exposed to a tropical environment, specified by the air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed. The animals' variables (sweating rate, rectal temperature, respiratory rate, surface temperature, haircoat color, and body weight) were considered together with environmental variables (air temperature and humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, and globe temperature). The equation allows the prediction of (a) the metabolic heat production level necessary to balance heat losses under specified environmental conditions; (b) the combination of environmental factors that provide a determined heat flux between a given animal and its environment.

Analysis of the Priestley-Taylor α parameter for a bean crop

This work deals with the Priestley-Taylor model for evapotranspiration in different grown stages of a bean crop. Priestley and Taylor derived a practical formulation for energy partitioning between the sensible and latent heat fluxes through the α parameter. Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) was carried out for daily sensible and latent heat flux estimations in three different crop stages. Mean daily values of Priestley-Taylor α parameter were determined for eleven days during the crop cycle. Diurnal variation patterns of α are presented for the growing, flowering and graining periods. The mean values of 1.13 ± 0.33, 1.26 ± 0.74, 1.22 ± 0.55 were obtained for a day in the growing, in the flowering and for graining periods, respectively. Eleven days values of α are shown and gave a mean value of 1.23 ± 0.10 which agree on the reported literature.

Broiler Response to Different Wind Speeds

Broiler production in Brazil has turned into a very competitive activity in the late years. Constant innovation leads to higher productivity maintaining the same cost of production, which is a desirable situation. Lately one characteristic for broiler housing in Brazil has been the increase in birds density requiring the use of controlled environment through the use of fan and fogging systems in order to achieve better birds productive performance. Most Brazilian producer already uses cooling equipment however it is still unknown the right way to control the wind speed and direction towards the birds. This present research has the objective to evaluate the effect of the wind speed on the heat transfer from the birds to the environment for broilers at 27 days old. There was used 200 birds, placed in a wind tunnel measuring 1.10 m high by 1.10m wide x 10.0 m of length, and the birds density varied from 9, 16 and 20 birds/m 2. Two wind speed were simulated 340 rpm (1.0 m/s) and 250 rpm (0.3 m/s). The increase in the wind velocity related to the smaller bird densityled to a higher heat loss and to a more uniform temperature distribution in its exposed areas.

Estudo do calo sensível e latente obtidos por intermédio da razão de Bowen em uma cultura de soja irrigada

The goal of this experiment was to study the latent and sensible heat variation determined by Bowen ratio from an irrigated soybean crop. A micrometeorological station with vertical displacement was constructed to maintain the same level of all measures over the canopy. The station was installed in the center of the crop, and it was over 130 m away from the main edge of the predominant wind direction. Fluxes were calculated by vertical temperature gradient determined at 0.15 and 1.15 m over the canopy. The latent heat flux was the mean energy consumer when the canopy covered the soil totally, and there were good soil water conditions. The sensible heat flux was greater when the soil was not totally covered by the canopy. The canopy was essential on the amount of latent heat dissipated by the crop.

Desenvolvimento e Balanço de energia da Cana-Deaçúcar no Norte Fluminense, Brasil

The growing concern for renewable and cleaner energy sources has increased the demand for biofuels, pointing out the ethanol from sugarcane. The aim of this study was quantify the partition of energy balance components and monitor the physiological development indexes of the sugarcane, relating them to water availability conditions of climate and soil in Campos dos Goytacazes, Norte Fluminense, Brazil. To this end, a micrometeorological station was settled in an area of 13 ha in commercial cultivation. The culture was regularly monitored at 85, 102, 128, 149, 174, 194, 215, 235, 255 and 280 days after cutting (DAC). The variations in water availability directly influenced the rates of crop growth and energy balance. Under the conditions studied most of the available energy (53%) was consumed by the latent heat flux.

Application of landsat images for quantifying the energy balance under conditions of land use changes in the semi-arid region of Brazil

In the Nilo Coelho irrigation scheme, Brazil, the natural vegetation has been replaced by irrigated agriculture, bringing importance for the quantification of the effects on the energy exchanges between the mixed vegetated surfaces and the lower atmosphere. Landsat satellite images and agro-meteorological stations from 1992 to 2011 were used together, for modelling these exchanges. Surface albedo (α0), NDVI and surface temperature (T0) were the basic remote sensing retrieving parameters necessary to calculate the latent heat flux (λE) and the surface resistance to evapotranspiration (rs) on a large scale. The daily net radiation (Rn) was obtained from α0, air temperature (Ta) and short-wave transmissivity (τsw) throughout the slob equation, allowing the quantification of the daily sensible heat flux (H) by residual in the energy balance equation. With a threshold value for rs, it was possible to separate the energy fluxes from crops and natural vegetation. The averaged fractions of Rn partitioned as H and λE, were in average 39 and 67%, respectively. It was observed an increase of the energy used for the evapotranspiration process inside irrigated areas from 51% in 1992 to 80% in 2011, with the ratio λE/Rn presenting an increase of 3 % per year. The tools and models applied in the current research, can subsidize the monitoring of the coupled climate and land use changes effects in irrigation perimeters, being valuable when aiming the sustainability of the irrigated agriculture in the future, avoiding conflicts among different water users. © 2012 SPIE.

Efeito da tosquia na temperatura corpórea e outros parâmetros clínicos em ovinos

The aim of this study was to determine the variation of the temperature after shearing in sheep under dry and hot environment conditions and to compare the temperature changes with variation in cardiac and respiratory frequencies, ruminal movements and hydration status. Twenty Suffolk unshorn ewes were studied. Physical examination was performed in all animals three times a day at 7:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM, during 42 days (22 days before shearing and 20 days after shearing). The skin temperature was measured by infrared thermometer over several surfaces of the body. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, for comparisons between groups (shorn versus unshorn) at each time, and the significant difference was evaluated at level of P<0.05 by Tukey test. The respiratory frequency was statistically significant at all times. When air humidity was high, the respiratory frequencies were low. The thermal stress was clear in sheep of this study, reflecting marked changes in cardiac and respiratory frequencies and rectal temperature. The respiratory frequency was the parameter more reliable to establish a framework of thermal stress in the unshorn sheep, with values on average three times higher than those reported in the literature. The heart rate monitors the thermal variation of the environment and is also an indicator of heat stress. This variation shows the Suffolk breed is well adapted to hot climates. The correlation between the body surface temperatures with environment temperature and air humidity was negative, as explained by the effect of wool insulation, i.e. even with an increase in environment temperature and humidity, the body temperature tends to maintain a compensating balance. In the shorn animals, the correlation between skin temperature with environment temperature and air humidity showed that the skin temperature increases when the environment temperature increases. The increase in the environment temperature does not affect the body temperature of unshorn animals due the insulating effect of the wool. However, when environment temperature rises, the presence of the wool starts to affect the thermal comfort as the heat absorption is larger than the capacity of heat loss. In this study, the best thermal stress indicators were the respiratory frequency and rectal and skin temperatures. The temperatures of the skin measured at the perineum, axillae and inner thigh were considered the most reliable.

Aplicação da técnica de elementos finitos na estratificação de armazenadores térmicos com barreiras de meios porosos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Análise numérica de um coletor solar de tubo evacuado

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Otimização de um ciclo Brayton irreversível com regeneração, inter-resfriamento e reaquecimento

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)