Tolerância do maxixeiro, cultivado em vasos, à salinidade da água de irrigação

O maxixeiro é uma cultura de grande importância nas regiões Norte e Nordeste do Brasil e a sua produção é oriunda, predominantemente, de plantas espontâneas. Em razão disso, são poucas as pesquisas sobre a cultura, principalmente no tocante ao efeito da salinidade. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido na Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido (UFERSA), em Mossoró, RN, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação sobre o desenvolvimento e o rendimento do maxixeiro. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos (níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação: S1-0,5; S2-2,0; S3-3,5 e S4-5,0 dS m-1). Foram realizadas cinco colheitas de frutos e, ao final do experimento, as plantas foram coletadas e foram analisadas as principais variáveis de desenvolvimento e de rendimento: comprimento do ramo principal, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, área foliar, massas de matéria seca de folhas, hastes, frutos e total, número de frutos, massa média de frutos e produção. O maxixeiro apresentou-se como cultura sensível à salinidade. Houve respostas significativas para todas as variáveis avaliadas, as quais apresentaram reduções em seus valores, com o aumento da salinidade.

Leaf area and epicuticular wax content of Sida spp

Morpho-physiological characteristics and chemical composition are directly related to superior competitive ability of crops. This study intended to make a comparative analysis of dry matter production, leaf area and amount of epicuticular wax of three species of Sida spp: S. urens L., S. rhombifolia L. and S. spinosa L. Plants were collected at three growth stages: V1: stage described as up to 10 fully expanded leaves; V2: between 11 leaves and flowering; and R: after flowering. At stages V2 and R, the highest number of leaves was recorded for S. rhombifolia, followed by S. spinosa at V2 and S. urens at R. These results were relatively proportional to leaf area for all species. S. spinosa at the vegetative stage produced the highest values of specific leaf area (SLA), with no significant differences between species at the stage R. The amount of wax per unit of leaf area between species at the same developmental stage was significantly different only at the reproductive stage, where S. spinosa produced 23.18 and 6.23 fold more wax than S. urens and S. rhombifolia respectively. Between the growth stages of each species, there was decrease in the amount of wax with plant age and increase in leaf area (AFE), number of leaves and dry matter. The leaves of the Sida species exhibit different characteristics and this information can be used to optimize the use of herbicides in the control of these weeds.

Automated image analysis of lung branching morphogenesis from microscopic images of fetal rat explants

Background: Regulating mechanisms of branching morphogenesis of fetal lung rat explants have been an essential tool for molecular research. This work presents a new methodology to accurately quantify the epithelial, outer contour and peripheral airway buds of lung explants during cellular development from microscopic images. Methods: The outer contour was defined using an adaptive and multi-scale threshold algorithm whose level was automatically calculated based on an entropy maximization criterion. The inner lung epithelial was defined by a clustering procedure that groups small image regions according to the minimum description length principle and local statistical properties. Finally, the number of peripheral buds were counted as the skeleton branched ends from a skeletonized image of the lung inner epithelial. Results: The time for lung branching morphometric analysis was reduced in 98% in contrast to the manual method. Best results were obtained in the first two days of cellular development, with lesser standard deviations. Non-significant differences were found between the automatic and manual results in all culture days. Conclusions: The proposed method introduces a series of advantages related to its intuitive use and accuracy, making the technique suitable to images with different lightning characteristics and allowing a reliable comparison between different researchers.

Automatic modeling of pectus excavatum corrective prosthesis using artificial neural networks

Pectus excavatum is the most common deformity of the thorax. Pre-operative diagnosis usually includes Computed Tomography (CT) to successfully employ a thoracic prosthesis for anterior chest wall remodeling. Aiming at the elimination of radiation exposure, this paper presents a novel methodology for the replacement of CT by a 3D laser scanner (radiation-free) for prosthesis modeling. The complete elimination of CT is based on an accurate determination of ribs position and prosthesis placement region through skin surface points. The developed solution resorts to a normalized and combined outcome of an artificial neural network (ANN) set. Each ANN model was trained with data vectors from 165 male patients and using soft tissue thicknesses (STT) comprising information from the skin and rib cage (automatically determined by image processing algorithms). Tests revealed that ribs position for prosthesis placement and modeling can be estimated with an average error of 5.0 ± 3.6 mm. One also showed that the ANN performance can be improved by introducing a manually determined initial STT value in the ANN normalization procedure (average error of 2.82 ± 0.76 mm). Such error range is well below current prosthesis manual modeling (approximately 11 mm), which can provide a valuable and radiation-free procedure for prosthesis personalization.

Os fundos éticos nos mercados nas Bolsas de Valores

É possível encontrar nos mercados de valores mobiliários e/ou outros instrumentos financeiros e/ou nas chamadas bolsas de valores - éticas concretas, reais e definidas? Pensamos que sim. Os fundos éticos são apenas uma das espécies de fundos. Abstract: You can find in the securities markets and / or other financial instruments and / or in so-called exchanges - concrete ethical, real and defined? We think so. Ethical funds are only one species of funds.

Características físico-químicas de cultivares de macieiras pouco exigentes em frio

O sul do Brasil é a região brasileira com mais tradição na produção de maçãs. Contudo, novos cultivares menos exigentes em frio estão viabilizando os cultivos em outras regiões do Brasil, como no Estado de Minas Gerais, onde a cultura encontra-se em franca expansão. Os atributos físico-químicos dos frutos são importantes, tanto para a industrialização, quanto para o consumo dos frutos in natura. Neste sentido, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, realizar a caracterização físico-química de maçãs de oito cultivares, pertencentes à coleção estabelecida na Serra da Mantiqueira, sul de Minas Gerais. O experimento foi conduzido em pomar experimental, na Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais EPAMIG, na cidade de Maria da Fé, sul de Minas Gerais. Foram analisados frutos de macieira de oito cultivares (Michal, Ein Shemer, Soberana, Galícia, Eva, IAC 2079, Condessa e Anna) oriundos de plantas com seis anos de idade. Foram avaliados: massa do fruto, diâmetro transversal, diâmetro longitudinal, firmeza de frutos, acidez titulável (AT), sólidos solúveis (SS), relação SS/AT, pH e produção de frutos. Os cultivares 'Anna' e 'Condessa' produziram os maiores frutos; 'Eva' apresentou maior produção e frutos mais firmes; 'Anna', os mais macios; enquanto 'Galícia' e 'IAC 2079,' os de sabor mais equilibrado.

Variação estacional da oferta e preços de couve-flor em Minas Gerais

Em virtude da variedade de cultivares atualmente disponíveis, de suas diferentes exigências climáticas e das diferenças climáticas entre as várias regiões produtoras, a couve-flor pode apresentar variações estacionais de oferta e de preços ao longo do ano. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a variação estacional da oferta e dos preços da couve-flor praticados no Estado de Minas Gerais, representados pelas unidades da CEASAMINAS, bem como as componentes dessa oferta para cada principal região abastecedora do Estado, no período de 2005 a 2009. A unidade CEASAMINAS (Grande BH) foi responsável por 68% da comercialização anual de couve-flor em Minas Gerais por meio das unidades da CEASAMINAS, que oscilou entre 9.420 e 10.937 toneladas anuais. A quase totalidade de produção proveio de municípios mineiros, localizados em quatro grandes mesorregiões: Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Campo das Vertentes, Triângulo Mineiro e Vale do Rio Doce, que representaram, respectivamente, 49%, 28%, 9% e 6% da oferta anual. As variações estacionais de oferta refletiram claramente as limitações dos cultivares atualmente disponíveis e a necessidade de novos cultivares que possam tolerar as grandes oscilações de temperatura nos meses de meia estação. Também ficou evidente que, a despeito da disponibilidade de cultivares de verão, a produção de couve-flor ainda é mais baixa nessa época do ano, um reflexo provável da alta precipitação que ocasiona maiores perdas por doenças na lavoura e em pós-colheita.

Relações entre caracteres de tubérculo de batata nas primeiras gerações de seleção

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a relação entre caracteres fenotípicos de tubérculo avaliados em progênies de batatas, nas gerações de plântula e primeira geração clonal. Os experimentos foram realizados na Embrapa Clima Temperado, em Pelotas, RS. Foram avaliadas, nas gerações de plântula, 12 progênies de batatas, cultivadas em casa de vegetação na safra de 2010/2011, e primeira geração de campo, cultivadas na safra de 2011/2012. O delineamento, em ambos os experimentos, foi o de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições de 25 plântulas para cada progênie. Após as colheitas, os tubérculos de cada planta foram avaliados para 14 caracteres fenotípicos. Foram realizadas análises de variância individuais e conjunta para as gerações e, análises de correlação entre as gerações, e de trilha, dentro das gerações. Os caracteres aparência e aspereza de tubérculo; curvatura e apontamento; massa e número de tubérculos, proeminência da sobrancelha e profundidade de olhos são fortemente e favoravelmente correlacionados nas duas primeiras gerações de seleção. O grau de correlação entre as duas primeiras gerações para profundidade de olho, proeminência de sobrancelha, massa de tubérculo, número de tubérculos, curvatura de tubérculo e apontamento de tubérculo indica que a seleção para estes caracteres pode ser aplicada na geração de plântula. Aspereza e curvatura de tubérculo são os caracteres que mais influenciam na aparência geral; portanto, sua seleção pode ser utilizada no melhoramento para aparência geral de tubérculo.

Selection of anthracnose resistant common beans using detached leaves in partially controlled environment

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the possibility of selecting anthracnose resistant common bean plants using detached primary leaves in partially controlled environment of a greenhouse and identify differences in the reaction of genotypes to anthracnose. The common bean cultivars Ouro Negro, OuroVermelho, ManteigãoFosco 11, Rudá, Rudá-R, VP8, BRSMG Madrepérola, Pérola, MeiaNoite and BRSMG Talismãwere characterizedfor resistance to the races 65, 81 and 453 of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and the method of detached primary leaves was compared to the method with the traditional inoculation of plants at the phenological stage V2. The lines Rudá, Rudá-R and Pérola were inoculated with the races 65 and 453 of C. lindemuthianum, aiming to assess the rate of coincidence of anthracnose severity by both inoculation methods. In general, the two methods presented similar results for the reaction of the cultivars. The use of detached primary leaves of common bean plants in the partially controlled environment was feasible for selection of plants resistant to anthracnose and has the advantages of low-needed infrastructure and reduction of resources, space and time.

A narrativa aplicada ao jogo de tabuleiro

O presente estudo pretende analisar qual o papel da ilustração e do ilustrador no universo dos jogo de tabuleiro, universo este que engloba uma grande variedade de imagens, símbolos e ferramentas. Abordando, para tal, um conjunto de conceitos que têm utilidade em diversas perspetivas de análise sobre o jogo. Os jogos de tabuleiro são na sua essência objetos de comunicação visual, daí que o processo de visualização e concretização destes implique a produção de mensagens visuais compostas por diferentes instrumentos de expressão e comunicação. Como tal, tentámos interpretar os elementos de um jogo de tabuleiro, juntamente com o conteúdo de uma narrativa, e aplicámos conceitos de forma a conhecermos as possibilidades da ilustração para esta categoria de jogos. Este projeto tem ainda como intuito a criação de um jogo de tabuleiro, com viabilidade de implementação no mercado, que seja capaz de transmitir de forma apelativa e lúdica uma das lendas que originou todo o imaginário Barcelense.

Towards a model for the measurement of data quality in websites

Websites are, nowadays, the face of institutions, but they are often neglected, especially when it comes to contents. In the present paper, we put forth an investigation work whose final goal is the development of a model for the measurement of data quality in institutional websites for health units. To that end, we have carried out a bibliographic review of the available approaches for the evaluation of website content quality, in order to identify the most recurrent dimensions and the attributes, and we are currently carrying out a Delphi Method process, presently in its second stage, with the purpose of reaching an adequate set of attributes for the measurement of content quality.

A model for the evaluation of data quality in health unit website

This article presents a research work, the goal of which was to achieve a model for the evaluation of data quality in institutional websites of health units in a broad and balanced way. We have carried out a literature review of the available approaches for the evaluation of website content quality, in order to identify the most recurrent dimensions and the attributes, and we have also carried out a Delphi method process with experts in order to reach an adequate set of attributes and their respective weights for the measurement of content quality. The results obtained revealed a high level of consensus among the experts who participated in the Delphi process. On the other hand, the different statistical analysis and techniques implemented are robust and attach confidence to our results and consequent model obtained.

Direct communication versus virtual communication in virtual teams

Several studies suggest that computer-mediated communication can lead to decreases in group effectiveness and reduce satisfaction levels in terms of trust and comfort of its users. Supported by an experiment, where the emotional or affective aspects of communication were tested with the experimentation of two architectures, Direct Communication Architecture (DCA) and the Virtual Communication Architecture (VCA) this paper validates the thesis that, from the users’ perspective, there is no opposition to the acceptance of virtual environments and interfaces for communication, and that these environments are able to cope with the reconfiguration dynamics requirements of virtual teams or client-server relations in a virtual enterprise operation.

Automated image analysis of lung branching morphogenesis

Regulating mechanisms of branchingmorphogenesis of fetal lung rat explants have been an essential tool formolecular research.This work presents a new methodology to accurately quantify the epithelial, outer contour, and peripheral airway buds of lung explants during cellular development frommicroscopic images. Methods.Theouter contour was defined using an adaptive and multiscale threshold algorithm whose level was automatically calculated based on an entropy maximization criterion. The inner lung epithelium was defined by a clustering procedure that groups small image regions according to the minimum description length principle and local statistical properties. Finally, the number of peripheral buds was counted as the skeleton branched ends from a skeletonized image of the lung inner epithelia. Results. The time for lung branching morphometric analysis was reduced in 98% in contrast to themanualmethod. Best results were obtained in the first two days of cellular development, with lesser standard deviations. Nonsignificant differences were found between the automatic and manual results in all culture days. Conclusions. The proposed method introduces a series of advantages related to its intuitive use and accuracy, making the technique suitable to images with different lighting characteristics and allowing a reliable comparison between different researchers.

Application to quantify fetal lung branching on rat explant

Recently, regulating mechanisms of branching morphogenesis of fetal lung rat explants have been an essential tool for molecular research. The development of accurate and reliable segmentation techniques may be essential to improve research outcomes. This work presents an image processing method to measure the perimeter and area of lung branches on fetal rat explants. The algorithm starts by reducing the noise corrupting the image with a pre-processing stage. The outcome is input to a watershed operation that automatically segments the image into primitive regions. Then, an image pixel is selected within the lung explant epithelial, allowing a region growing between neighbouring watershed regions. This growing process is controlled by a statistical distribution of each region. When compared with manual segmentation, the results show the same tendency for lung development. High similarities were harder to obtain in the last two days of culture, due to the increased number of peripheral airway buds and complexity of lung architecture. However, using semiautomatic measurements, the standard deviation was lower and the results between independent researchers were more coherent.