Signal classification of submerged aquatic vegetation based on the hemispherical-conical reflectance factor spectrum shape in the yellow and red regions

The water column overlying the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) canopy presents difficulties when using remote sensing images for mapping such vegetation. Inherent and apparent water optical properties and its optically active components, which are commonly present in natural waters, in addition to the water column height over the canopy, and plant characteristics are some of the factors that affect the signal from SAV mainly due to its strong energy absorption in the near-infrared. By considering these interferences, a hypothesis was developed that the vegetation signal is better conserved and less absorbed by the water column in certain intervals of the visible region of the spectrum; as a consequence, it is possible to distinguish the SAV signal. To distinguish the signal from SAV, two types of classification approaches were selected. Both of these methods consider the hemispherical-conical reflectance factor (HCRF) spectrum shape, although one type was supervised and the other one was not. The first method adopts cluster analysis and uses the parameters of the band (absorption, asymmetry, height and width) obtained by continuum removal as the input of the classification. The spectral angle mapper (SAM) was adopted as the supervised classification approach. Both approaches tested different wavelength intervals in the visible and near-infrared spectra. It was demonstrated that the 585 to 685-nm interval, corresponding to the green, yellow and red wavelength bands, offered the best results in both classification approaches. However, SAM classification showed better results relative to cluster analysis and correctly separated all spectral curves with or without SAV. Based on this research, it can be concluded that it is possible to discriminate areas with and without SAV using remote sensing. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Indices of competition and bio-agroeconomic efficiency of lettuce and tomato intercrops in greenhouses

Intercropping is a cropping system for the production of greenhouse vegetables. It uses space more efficiently, thus reducing the cost of production. Intercropping tomato and lettuce has not been studied, but knowledge of the competitive and agroeconomic indices of these vegetables can help in the management of the intercropping system. The objectives of this study were to assess, through biological and agroeconomic indices, the competition between species and the profitability of intercropping tomato and lettuce at different times of transplantation over two growing seasons (autumn-winter and summer-winter) in greenhouse conditions. In autumn-winter, two experiments were conducted with a randomised complete-block design and five replicates. Tomato and lettuce were the main crops in the individual experiments. Treatments were arranged in a factorial of two cropping systems (intercropping and individual crops) with four transplants of the secondary crop (0, 10, 20 and 30 days after) plus an additional treatment (individual main crop). These two experiments were repeated in summer-winter. Tomato was the dominant crop regardless of transplant order. Intercropping systems established with transplants of both species on the same day had higher values of indices of competition and bio-agroeconomic efficiency than systems with longer periods of transplants between main and secondary crops. The intercropping of lettuce and tomato in greenhouses, regardless of transplant time or order, had bio-agroeconomic advantages over individual crops. The transplantation of tomato after lettuce is recommended for greater profitability.

The effects of different styles of musical auditory stimulation on cardiac autonomic regulation in healthy women

The literature investigated the effects of chronic baroque music auditory stimulation on the cardiovascular system. However, it lacks in the literature the acute effects of different styles of music on cardiac autonomic regulation. To evaluate the acute effects of baroque and heavy metal music on heart rate variability (HRV) in women. The study was performed in 21 healthy women between 18 and 30 years old. We excluded persons with previous experience with music instrument and those who had affinity with the song styles. All procedures were performed in the same sound-proof room. We analyzed HRV in the time (standard deviation of normal-to-normal respiratory rate (RR) intervals, root-mean square of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals in a time interval, and the percentage of adjacent RR intervals with a difference of duration greater than 50 ms) and frequency (low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF], and LF/HF ratio) domains. HRV was recorded at rest for 10 min. Subsequently they were exposed to baroque or heavy metal music for 5 min through an earphone. After the first music exposure they remained at rest for more 5 min and them they were exposed again to baroque or heavy metal music. The sequence of songs was randomized for each individual. The power analysis provided a minimal number of 18 subjects. Shapiro-Wilk to verify normality of data and analysis of variance for repeated measures followed by the Bonferroni test for parametric variables and Friedman's followed by the Dunn's post-test for non-parametric distributions. During the analysis of the time-domain indices were not changed. In the frequency-domain analysis, the LF in absolute units was reduced during the heavy metal music stimulation compared to control. Acute exposure to heavy metal music affected the sympathetic activity in healthy women.

Connectivity processes and riparian vegetation of the upper Paraná River, Brazil

In fluvial systems, the relationship between a dominant variable (e.g. flood pulse) and its dependent ones (e.g. riparian vegetation) is called connectivity. This paper analyzes the connectivity elements and processes controlling riparian vegetation for a reach of the upper Paraná River (Brazil) and estimates the future changes in channel-vegetation relationship as a consequence of the managing of a large dam. The studied reach is situated 30km downstream from the Porto Primavera Dam (construction finished in 1999). Through aerial photography (1:25,000, 1996), RGB-CBERS satellite imagery and a previous field botany survey it was possible to elaborate a map with the five major morpho-vegetation units: 1) Tree-dominated natural levee, 2) Shrubby upper floodplain, 3) Shrub-herbaceous mid floodplain, 4) Grass-herbaceous lower floodplain and 5) Shrub-herbaceous flood runoff channel units. By use of a detailed topographic survey and statistical tools each morpho-vegetation type was analyzed according to its connectivity parameters (frequency, recurrence, permanence, seasonality, potamophase, limnophase and FCQ index) in the pre- and post-dam closure periods of the historical series. Data showed that most of the morpho-vegetation units were predicted to present changes in connectivity parameters values after dam closing and the new regime could affect, in different intensity, the river ecology and particularly the riparian vegetation. The methods used in this study can be useful for dam impact studies in other South American tropical rivers. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Evaluation of e-readiness indices for Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Estrutura da icitiofauna e integridade biótica de riachos em fragmentos florestais remanescentes no noroeste Paulista

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

Taxocenose de serpentes (Squamata: Serpentes) em uma área de transição cerrado-caatinga no município de Castelo do Piauí, Piauí, Brasil

Foi realizado um inventário da fauna de serpentes da área de transição entre Cerrado e Caatinga no Município de Castelo do Piauí. Foram realizadas seis expedições entre Outubro de 2005 e Julho de 2006, em fitofisionomias de Cerrado Rupestre, Cerrado Aberto e Mata Secundária de Cerrado Típico, que totalizaram 120 dias de trabalho de campo. Foram utilizados três métodos: Armadilhas de Interceptação e Queda, Procura Limitada por Tempo e Encontros Ocasionais. Foram registradas 18 espécies. A família Colubridae apresentou a maior riqueza de espécies, assim como nas diferentes formações da América do Sul. A comunidade é composta por Xenodontinae (11 espécies), seguido por Colubrinae (Mastigodryas bifossatus e Spilotes pullatus) e apenas uma espécie de Dipsadinae (Leptodeira annulata), refletindo o padrão evolutivo das linhagens filogenéticas dos colubrídeos e a estrutura da comunidade. Thamnodynastes sp. (n= 7), Philodryas nattereri (n= 5) e Phimophis iglesiasi (n= 5) foram as espécies mais abundantes na área estudada, diferente da dominância de viperídeos observada em outras taxocenoses de serpentes no Brasil. Os estimadores de riqueza Chao 2 e Jack1 indicam que a comunidade é composta por aproximadamente 24 espécies. Procura Limitada por Tempo apresentou o melhor desempenho dentre os métodos utilizados, embora a utilização dos três métodos seja recomendada para um inventário mais completo de serpentes. Foi demonstrada a predominância de serpentes terrestres e criptozóicas, diurnas, ovíparas e que possivelmente alimentam-se na sua maioria de anfíbios e lagartos. A Análise de Coordenadas Principais, análise de agrupamento, similaridade e padrão de distribuição das espécies dentre os biomas, mostram que a área estudada é mais similar a áreas abertas (Cerrado, Caatinga e Pantanal). A comunidade de serpentes de Castelo do Piauí sofre influência direta da fauna dos biomas Cerrado e Caatinga, de acordo com os estudos florísticos da área, apontando associação preferencial a taxocenoses de caatinga. As análises do PCO e de Agrupamento sugerem que a hipótese sobre composição mista das faunas de cerrado e caatinga, como apontada em outros trabalhos, possa ser conseqüência de análises inadequadas.

The coastal restinga vegetation of Pará, Brazilian Amazon: a synthesis

Este artigo apresenta uma revisão dos estudos (alguns não publicados) da vegetação de restinga da costa do Estado do Pará, na região norte do Brasil. Ao todo foram registradas 411 espécies de plantas vasculares, sendo as famílias Fabaceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Rubiaceae e Myrtaceae as mais ricas em espécies. Dentre as espécies da restinga, 48% são ervas terrestres, 39% são palmeiras, árvores e arbustos, sendo o restante constituído por lianas e epífitas. As espécies são amplamente distribuídas ocorrendo inclusive em ambientes costeiros de outras regiões brasileiras, como a região sudeste, assim como em ambientes não costeiros da Amazônia. Apenas duas espécies parecem ser exclusivamente costeiras, já outras espécies parecem ter preferência por ambientes de solo arenoso em geral. Diferentes associações de plantas são descritas e agrupadas em diferentes tipos de "formações vegetais" associadas à certos habitats, mas os dados da literatura não permitem identificar com precisão tais associações em toda a costa. Análises estatísticas mostraram que a distribuição das espécies ao longo da costa não apresentam nenhum padrão de agrupamento. Mudanças na composição da vegetação de restinga nas estações seca e chuvosa são mais provavelmente ligadas à variação do nível do lençol freático. As florestas de restinga são, em sua maioria, abertas e de pequeno porte. Entre as espécies arbóreas dominantes estão: Humiria balsamifera Aubl., Pouteria ramiflora (Mart.) Radlk., Anacardium occidentale L., Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth e Tapirira guianensis Aubl.

Mangrove vegetation in Amazonia: a review of studies from the coast of Pará and Maranhão States, north Brazil

O presente estudo apresenta uma compilação da literatura sobre a vegetação dos manguezais da costa norte do Brasil, apresentando uma síntese do conhecimento e listando a literatura disponível. O estudo se concentra na costa dos estados do Pará e Maranhão que formam um cinturão contínuo de manguezais. Foram contabilizadas seis espécies arbóreas exclusivas de mangue e várias outras associadas. A altura e o diâmetro das árvores de mangue variam em função de parâmetros abióticos locais. As variações sazonais do regime de chuvas e da salinidade afetam a fenologia das espécies e a produção de serapilheira. A população costeira utiliza a flora do manguezal para diferentes fins (ex: combustível, medicinal, construção rural). O aumento da ocupação costeira inicia um processo de impacto para as florestas de mangue e a disponibilidade de seus recursos.

Effects of marginal vegetation removal on Odonata communities

OBJETIVOS: Com o intuito de avaliar os efeitos de mudanças na integridade ambiental sobre os indivíduos da comunidade de Odonata da sub-bacia do rio Borecaia, testamos a hipótese de que a riqueza de Anisoptera seria afetada positivamente pela remoção da vegetação; por outro lado, a riqueza Zygoptera seria prejudicada em virtude de suas necessidades ecofisiológicas; MÉTODOS: Selecionamos 10 riachos de ordens similares, seis classificados como preservados e quatro como alterados. Riachos classificados como preservados apresentaram valores do Índice valores de Integridade Habitat (HII) acima de 0.70 e mata continua nas duas margens com uma largura mínima de 70 metros. Cada ponto foi amostrado três vezes em dias diferentes. O efeito de remoção de vegetação sobre a riqueza foi avaliada utilizando Jackknife de primeira ordem; RESULTADOS: A diminuição da integridade física (mensurada com o IIH) dos córregos não exerceu efeito significativo sobre a riqueza estimada para a Ordem Odonata. Porém, a riqueza estimada de Anisoptera apresentou uma relação inversa com a integridade (r² = 0.485; p = 0.025), mostrando que com o aumento da integridade houve uma redução na sua riqueza de espécies; DISCUSSÃO: Como um padrão geral, Anisoptera apresenta maiores valores de riqueza em locais alterados; por outro lado, Zygoptera apresenta maiores valores em preservados. Devido suas restrições ecofisiologicas Odonata apresentou uma grande variação na sua composição e riqueza de espécie entre os dois tipos de ambientes, isso reforça o potencial da ordem em estudos de monitoramento ambiental e também mostra que Zygoptera será mais afetada pelas transformações de habitat. No entanto, futuros estudos incluindo mais amostras e diferentes córregos são necessários para confirmar este padrão sendo uma linha de pesquisa interessante para trabalhos futuros.

Cardiac autonomic regulation during exposure to auditory stimulation with classical baroque or heavy metal music of different intensities

Objectives: The effects of chronic music auditory stimulation on the cardiovascular system have been investigated in the literature. However, data regarding the acute effects of different styles of music on cardiac autonomic regulation are lacking. The literature has indicated that auditory stimulation with white noise above 50 dB induces cardiac responses. We aimed to evaluate the acute effects of classical baroque and heavy metal music of different intensities on cardiac autonomic regulation. Study design: The study was performed in 16 healthy men aged 18-25 years. All procedures were performed in the same soundproof room. We analyzed heart rate variability (HRV) in time (standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals [SDNN], root-mean square of differences [RMSSD] and percentage of adjacent NN intervals with a difference of duration greater than 50 ms [pNN50]) and frequency (low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF] and LF/HF ratio) domains. HRV was recorded at rest for 10 minutes. Subsequently, the volunteers were exposed to one of the two musical styles (classical baroque or heavy metal music) for five minutes through an earphone, followed by a five-minute period of rest, and then they were exposed to the other style for another five minutes. The subjects were exposed to three equivalent sound levels (60- 70dB, 70-80dB and 80-90dB). The sequence of songs was randomized for each individual. Results: Auditory stimulation with heavy metal music did not influence HRV indices in the time and frequency domains in the three equivalent sound level ranges. The same was observed with classical baroque musical auditory stimulation with the three equivalent sound level ranges. Conclusion: Musical auditory stimulation of different intensities did not influence cardiac autonomic regulation in men.

Nematofauna edáfica em sistemas de uso do solo na microrregião de Chapadinha-MA

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Evaluation of early changes induced by diuron in the rat urinary bladder using different processing methods for scanning electron microscopy

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

Should phylogenetic and functional diversity metrics compose macroinvertebrate multimetric indices for stream biomonitoring?

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

Power quality, smart meters and additional information from different power terms

This paper shows how the detailed examination of active and nonactive power components may produce new information for modern smart meters. For this purpose, a prototype of electronic power meter has been implemented and applied to the evaluation of the Conservative Power Theory (CPT). Considering five sorts of loads, under four different operating conditions, the experimental results indicate that the CPT is able to provide a good methodology for load characterization, which could possibly benefits consumers and power utilities in several different ways. The results also show that depending on the situation, the analysis of nonactive power terms may be more important than the observation of traditional power quality indices, such as total harmonic distortion, unbalance factors or the fundamental positive sequence power factor.