Discriminação entre estágios nutricionais na cultura do trigo com técnicas de visão artificial e medidor portátil de clorofila

O ajuste da adubação nitrogenada é um tema que suscita preocupações econômicas e ambientais em todo o mundo. Isso decorre da elevada resposta das culturas, especialmente gramíneas, ao nitrogênio e da falta de métodos adequados de quantificação de sua disponibilidade no solo. Com o objetivo de avaliar a discriminação de três estágios nutricionais na cultura do trigo, foram utilizadas imagens digitais e um medidor portátil de clorofila (SPAD -502). Os dados foram coletados em três épocas (8; 14 e 20 dias após a adubação nitrogenada em cobertura - DAA), em parcelas de trigo submetidas a três doses de N (0; 30 e 60 kg ha-1). As imagens foram processadas para desenvolvimento dos classificadores multivariados, utilizando-se de nove índices espectrais com as combinações dos valores médios dos "pixels". Os dados de clorofila e N foliar foram utilizados para desenvolver classificadores univariados. Verificou-se que o sistema de visão artificial foi mais eficiente que o SPAD aos 8 DAA. Aos 14 e 20 DAA, a classificação univariada com os dados SPAD foi equivalente aos classificadores com dados de imagens. Com a utilização das imagens digitais, foi possível discriminar os estágios nutricionais oito dias após a primeira adubação nitrogenada em cobertura.

Rainfall erosivity for the State of Rio de Janeiro estimated by artificial neural network

The Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are mathematical models method capable of estimating non-linear response plans. The advantage of these models is to present different responses of the statistical models. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop and to test ANNs for estimating rainfall erosivity index (EI30) as a function of the geographical location for the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and generating a thematic visualization map. The characteristics of latitude, longitude e altitude using ANNs were acceptable to estimating EI30 and allowing visualization of the space variability of EI30. Thus, ANN is a potential option for the estimate of climatic variables in substitution to the traditional methods of interpolation.

Spatial variability of noise level in agricultural machines

The knowledge of the spatial variability of noise levels and the build of kriging maps can help the evaluation of the salubrity of environments occupied by agricultural workers. Therefore, the objective of this research was to characterize the spatial variability of the noise level generated by four agricultural machines, using geostatistics, and to verify if the values are within the limits of human comfort. The evaluated machines were: harvester, chainsaw, brushcutter and tractor. The data were collected at the height of the operator's ear and at different distances. Through the results, it was possible to verify that the use of geostatistics, by kriging technique, made it possible to define areas with different levels for the data collected. With exception of the harvester, all of machines presented noise levels above than 85 dB (A) near to the operator, demanding the use of hearing protection.

Determination of the influence of the variation of reducing and non-reducing sugars on coffee quality with use of artificial neural network

The present study aimed at evaluating the use of Artificial Neural Network to correlate the values resulting from chemical analyses of samples of coffee with the values of their sensory analyses. The coffee samples used were from the Coffea arabica L., cultivars Acaiá do Cerrado, Topázio, Acaiá 474-19 and Bourbon, collected in the southern region of the state of Minas Gerais. The chemical analyses were carried out for reducing and non-reducing sugars. The quality of the beverage was evaluated by sensory analysis. The Artificial Neural Network method used values from chemical analyses as input variables and values from sensory analysis as output values. The multiple linear regression of sensory analysis values, according to the values from chemical analyses, presented a determination coefficient of 0.3106, while the Artificial Neural Network achieved a level of 80.00% of success in the classification of values from the sensory analysis.

Technical and economic analysis of replacing artificial lighting system to induction of photoperiod effect in begonia's seedlings in greenhouse

The type of artificial light used for inducing photoperiod effect in begonia's seedlings at greenhouse has fundamental importance in the growth and development of these plants and directly reflects in the electrical energy consumption used in this production process. The objective of this research was to analyze the technical and economic feasibility of replacing the current technology of artificial lighting used by the producers (incandescent lamps), by the technology of discharge lamps with the purpose of inducing photoperiod in a greenhouse. The analysis results indicate that the discharge lamp of 32 W Tubular Fluorescent discharge lamp was the one that presented the lower peak demand and lower average energy consumption of 85.01% compared to incandescent filament lamp of 100 W that is the technology of bigger consumption and currently used by the producer.

Technical evaluation of artificial ligthing systems for broiler houses

The spatial distribution of illuminance and the electric consumption of artificial lighting system is one of the main problems related to broiler production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of luminance level and energy efficiency of different lighting systems for broiler houses. Six types of lamps were tested in two different configurations to find the minimum illuminance of 20 and 5 lux. The tested lamps were incandescent (IL) 100 W, compact fluorescent (CFL) 34 W, mixed (ML) 160 W, sodium vapor (SVL) 70 W, T8 fluorescent tube (T8 FTL) 40 W and T5 fluorescent tube (T5 FTL) 28 W. The first four were evaluated with and without reflective light fixture and the latter two without light fixture. It was observed that the tested system with light fixtures negatively affected the spatial distribution of illuminance inside the house. The systems composed by IL and ML without light fixture led to better results in meeting the minimum illuminance of 20 lux and 5 lux, respectively. T5 FTL presented the lowest energy demand.

Light emitting diode (LED) use in artificial lighting for broiler chicken production

Light emitting diode (LED) has been used in commercial poultry industry by presenting superior energy savings and providing feasibility on production process. The objective of this research was to evaluate performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens exposed to different LED colors compared with fluorescent lamps. For that, two experiments (E1 and E2) were performed and 2,646 Cobb® chickens were used. In experiment E1, male birds were exposed to 20 lux artificial lighting with red, yellow, blue, and white LED bulbs; and fluorescent bulb. In experiment E2, male and female birds were exposed to 15 lux artificial lighting with red and blue LED bulbs; and fluorescent bulb. Cumulative weight gain (kg), feed intake (kg), feed conversion, hot carcass weight (kg), carcass yield (%), and breast and thigh + drumstick yield (%) were used as response variables. Results showed no difference (p > 0.05) among treatments for performance, carcass yield, and cut yield in experiment E1. In experiment E2 there was only difference between genders (p < 0.05) and males showed higher total weight gain, feed intake, hot carcass weight and thigh + drumstick yield. Different LED color use had same effect as fluorescent lights on broiler performance and carcass yield.

Application of artificial neural networks as an alternative to volumetric water balance in drip irrigation management in watermelon crop

Precision irrigation seeks to establish strategies which achieve an efficient ratio between the volume of water used (reduction in input) and the productivity obtained (increase in production). There are several studies in the literature on strategies for achieving this efficiency, such as those dealing with the method of volumetric water balance (VWB). However, it is also of great practical and economic interest to set up versatile implementations of irrigation strategies that: (i) maintain the performance obtained with other implementations, (ii) rely on few computational resources, (iii) adapt well to field conditions, and (iv) allow easy modification of the irrigation strategy. In this study, such characteristics are achieved when using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to determine the period of irrigation for a watermelon crop in the Irrigation Perimeter of the Lower Acaraú, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The Volumetric Water Balance was taken as the standard for comparing the management carried out with the proposed implementation of ANN. The statistical analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed management, which is able to replace VWB as a strategy in automation.

Análise da diversidade da microbiota intestinal de ratos submetidos à ressecção da valva ileocecal e criação de esfíncter artificial

OBJETIVO: analisar através de biologia molecular a diversidade da microbiota da junção ileocecal antes e após a ressecção da válvula ileocecal e reconstrução do trânsito com e sem a criação de "neoesfíncter". MÉTODOS: Os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos: Grupo A (n=7) com ressecção da válvula ileocecal e anastomose ileocólica término-terminal em plano único, e Grupo B (n=7) com ressecção da válvula ileocecal e anastomose ileocólica término-terminal em plano único e confecção do esfíncter artificial. Reoperados com 20 dias coletou-se novamente conteúdo intraluminar do íleo e do cólon. Das amostras coletadas, extraiu-se DNA para reação de PCR-DGGE. Os padrões de bandas eletroforéticas , gerados na reação, foram submetidos ao programa Bionumerics para análise da similaridade e da diversidade da microbiota. RESULTADOS: a diversidade da microbiota foi maior e em mais amostras do íleo do que as do cólon. O grupo com a válvula apresentou os maiores valores e variações no cólon de 2,11 a 2,93. Em três animais de cada grupo estabeleceu-se comparação da similaridade e não se assemelharam ao controle. CONCLUSÃO: a ressecção da válvula ileocecal levou à mudanças da microbiota ileal e, com a criação de novo esfíncter, as variações foram maiores.

”AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTS”. Ympäristön merkitykset Don DeLillon romaanissa White Noise

Pro gradu -tutkielmani tavoitteena on analysoida ympäristön merkityksiä yhdysvaltalaiskirjailija Don DeLillon (1936-) romaanissa White Noise (1985). Lähestyn romaania ekokriittisen kirjallisuudentutkimuksen näkökulmasta ja kytken sen ekokriitikko Lawrence Buellin ajatukseen nk. ympäristöalitajunnasta. Analysoin DeLillon romaania myös yhteydessä filosofi Jean Baudrillardin ajatukseen postmodernin ajan länsimaisessa ja erityisesti amerikkalaisessa yhteiskunnassa vallalla olevasta simulaatioiden järjestelmästä. White Noise -romaanin todellisuus vastaa Baudrillardin ajatusta yhteiskunnasta, jossa representaatiot ja simulaatiot ovat korvanneet todellisuuden. Media, erityisesti televisio, tuottaa jatkuvasti kuvia ja simulaatioita, joiden kyllästämässä todellisuudessa aineellinen maailma ja luonto jäävät tavoittamattomiin. White Noise -romaanin henkilöiden yhteys aineelliseen ympäristöönsä ja luonnonilmiöihin on katkennut, sillä heidän arkensa pyörii pitkälti kuluttamisen ja televisionkatselun ympärillä. Romaanin todellisuudessa myös identiteetistä on tullut eräänlainen tuote, jonka jokainen voi rakentaa mieleisekseen kulutusvalinnoillaan. Identiteettiproblematiikan ohella myös kuolemalla on keskeinen asema tutkielmassani. White Noise -romaanin päähenkilö Jack Gladney kärsii paniikinomaisesta kuolemanpelosta, jota pyrkii torjumaan erilaisin keinoin siinä kuitenkaan onnistumatta. Tavoitteenani on osoittaa, että tämä piinaava pelko kuolemaa kohtaan on syntynyt simulaatioyhteiskunnan tuloksena. Vieraantuminen aineellisesta maailmasta ja luonnon prosesseista on johtanut vieraantumiseen ruumiista ja kuolemasta. Analysoin kuolemaa romaanissa eräänlaisena simulaatioiden maailman äärirajana, viimeisenä luonnollisena tapahtumana. White Noise -romaanin päähenkilö Jack Gladney ahdistuu kulutuskeskeisessä, simulaatioiden kyllästämässä elinympäristössään. Tulkitsen tämän ahdistuksen tarpeena tunnistaa tärkeä vuorovaikutussuhde yksilön ja hänen aineellisen ympäristönsä välillä. Jack ei ole vielä täysin sulautunut osaksi simulaatioiden maailmaa, vaan hän tiedostaa kytköksen itsensä ja aineellisen maailman välillä. Tämä romaanista implisiittisesti esiin nouseva tiedostamisen tunne korostaa ihmisen ja ympäristön sekä laajemmin kulttuurin ja luonnon välttämätöntä yhteyttä. DeLillon romaanista on löydettävissä ajatus ympäristöalitajunnasta, joka alleviivaa ympäristön ja luonnon merkitystä ihmiselle.

Evaluation of follicular lymphoid depletion in the Bursa of Fabricius: an alternative methodology using digital image analysis and artificial neural networks

Fifty Bursa of Fabricius (BF) were examined by conventional optical microscopy and digital images were acquired and processed using Matlab® 6.5 software. The Artificial Neuronal Network (ANN) was generated using Neuroshell® Classifier software and the optical and digital data were compared. The ANN was able to make a comparable classification of digital and optical scores. The use of ANN was able to classify correctly the majority of the follicles, reaching sensibility and specificity of 89% and 96%, respectively. When the follicles were scored and grouped in a binary fashion the sensibility increased to 90% and obtained the maximum value for the specificity of 92%. These results demonstrate that the use of digital image analysis and ANN is a useful tool for the pathological classification of the BF lymphoid depletion. In addition it provides objective results that allow measuring the dimension of the error in the diagnosis and classification therefore making comparison between databases feasible.

Classification of antimicrobial resistance using artificial neural networks and the relationship of 38 genes associated with the virulence of Escherichia coli isolates from broilers

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is responsible for various pathological processes in birds and is considered as one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality, associated with economic losses to the poultry industry. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that it is possible to predict antimicrobial resistance of 256 samples (APEC) using 38 different genes responsible for virulence factors, through a computer program of artificial neural networks (ANNs). A second target was to find the relationship between (PI) pathogenicity index and resistance to 14 antibiotics by statistical analysis. The results showed that the RNAs were able to make the correct classification of the behavior of APEC samples with a range from 74.22 to 98.44%, and make it possible to predict antimicrobial resistance. The statistical analysis to assess the relationship between the pathogenic index (PI) and resistance against 14 antibiotics showed that these variables are independent, i.e. peaks in PI can happen without changing the antimicrobial resistance, or the opposite, changing the antimicrobial resistance without a change in PI.

Follicle and corpus luteum size and vascularity as predictors of fertility at the time of artificial insemination and embryo transfer in beef cattle

Abstract:Two ultrasound based fertility prediction methods were tested prior to embryo transfer (ET) and artificial insemination (AI) in cattle. Female bovines were submitted to estrous synchronization prior to ET and AI. Animals were scanned immediately before ET and AI procedure to target follicle and corpus luteum (CL) size and vascularity. In addition, inseminated animals were also scanned eleven days after insemination to target CL size and vascularity. All data was compared with fertility by using gestational diagnosis 35 days after ovulation. Prior to ET, CL vascularity showed a positive correlation with fertility, and no pregnancy occurred in animals with less than 40% of CL vascularity. Prior to AI and also eleven days after AI, no relationship with fertility was seen in all parameters analyzed (follicle and CL size and vascularity), and contrary, cows with CL vascularity greater than 70% exhibit lower fertility. In inseminated animals, follicle size and vascularity was positive related with CL size and vascularity, as shown by the presence of greater CL size and vascularity originated from follicle with also greater size and vascularity. This is the first time that ultrasound based fertility prediction methods were tested prior to ET and AI and showed an application in ET, but not in AI programs. Further studies are needed including hormone profile evaluation to improve conclusion.

Noise and vibration damping of Fe-Cr-x alloys

The aim of the present work is to study the noise and vibration damping capacity of ferromagnetic Fe-16%Cr base alloys (before and after heat treatment) with different Al and Mo contents. The noise damping was evaluated by the level of sound emission after an impact. The vibration damping was studied using a cantilever device. In addition to these tests, the magnetic structure of the materials was also investigated by Kerr effect. It was verified that the materials can decrease noise level in the frequency range of human earring. The vibration damping is influenced by heat treatment and chemical composition of the alloy. The improvement of vibration damping after heat treatment is ascribed to the decrease of internal stresses in materials and changes in magnetic domain structures.

Membrane properties of structurally modified ceramides : effects on lipid lateral distribution and sphingomyelin-interactions in artificial bilayer membranes

Ceramides comprise a class of sphingolipids that exist only in small amounts in cellular membranes, but which have been associated with important roles in cellular signaling processes. The influences that ceramides have on the physical properties of bilayer membranes reach from altered thermodynamical behavior to significant impacts on the molecular order and lateral distribution of membrane lipids. Along with the idea that the membrane physical state could influence the physiological state of a cell, the membrane properties of ceramides have gained increasing interest. Therefore, membrane phenomena related to ceramides have become a subject of intense study both in cellular as well as in artificial membranes. Artificial bilayers, the so called model membranes, are substantially simpler in terms of contents and spatio-temporal variation than actual cellular membranes, and can be used to give detailed information about the properties of individual lipid species in different environments. This thesis focuses on investigating how the different parts of the ceramide molecule, i.e., the N-linked acyl chain, the long-chain sphingoid base and the membrane-water interface region, govern the interactions and lateral distribution of these lipids in bilayer membranes. With the emphasis on ceramide/sphingomyelin(SM)-interactions, the relevance of the size of the SMhead group for the interaction was also studied. Ceramides with methylbranched N-linked acyl chains, varying length sphingoid bases, or methylated 2N (amide-nitrogen) and 3O (C3-hydroxyl) at the interface region, as well as SMs with decreased head group size, were synthesized and their bilayer properties studied by calorimetric and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. In brief, the results showed that the packing of the ceramide acyl chains was more sensitive to methyl-branching in the mid part than in the distal end of the N-linked chain, and that disrupting the interfacial structure at the amide-nitrogen, as opposed to the C3-hydroxyl, had greater effect on the interlipid interactions of ceramides. Interestingly, it appeared that the bilayer properties of ceramides could be more sensitive to small alterations in the length of the long-chain base than what was previously reported for the N-linked acyl chain. Furthermore, the data indicated that the SM-head group does not strongly influence the interactions between SMs and ceramides. The results in this thesis illustrate the pivotal role of some essential parts of the ceramide molecules in determining their bilayer properties. The thesis provides increased understanding of the molecular aspects of ceramides that possibly affect their functions in biological membranes, and could relate to distinct effects on cell physiology.