Consorciação e plantas daninhas afetando a produtividade e a qualidade de sementes de sorgo

This research aimed to study competition effects of legumes intercropping and weeds on seeds yield and quality of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. The experiment was carried out in a Rhodic Nitisol, under field condition in Botucatu region, São Paulo State, Brazil. Ten treatments were tested: sorghum (cv. A-6304) intercropped with Dolichos lablab L., Mucuna aterrima (Piper et Tracy) Holland, Canavalia ensiformis D. C. or Crotalaria juncea L., that were sown in the same time of sorghum or 20 days after the sorghum sowing, and sorghum weed-free and sorghum without weeding. The experimental design employed was the completely randomized blocks with four replications. There were evaluated sorghum seeds yield and some characteristcs of seed quality: purity, hectolitric weight, 1000 seeds weight, insect infestation, germination and vigor (by first counting of germination test and accelerated ageing test). The competition caused by legumes intercropping and weeds affected the yield and the physical and physiological characteristics of sorghum seeds, but the intensity of prejudicial effects depended on the time and the species of legume intercropping.

Efeito da época de semeadura nas relações de interferência entre uma comunidade infestante e a cultura do amendoim

A presente pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da época de semeadura sobre os períodos de interferência das plantas daninhas na cultura do amendoim-rasteiro (Arachis hypogaea cv. IAC Runner 886). Dois experimentos foram instalados em épocas diferentes - início de novembro e de dezembro de 2005 em áreas vizinhas e provenientes de reforma de canavial, no município de Jaboticabal, SP, num solo de textura média. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com os tratamentos constituídos por períodos crescentes de convivência ou de controle das plantas daninhas com as plantas de amendoim. As plantas daninhas que se destacaram em importância relativa, na primeira e segunda épocas, foram Ipomoea triloba, Digitaria nuda, Hyptis lophanta e Sida spp. A comunidade infestante e a cultura foram influenciadas pela época de semeadura, modificando suas relações de interferência. Os valores de acúmulo de massa seca da parte aérea das plantas daninhas na segunda época superaram em 23,7% os encontrados na primeira época durante todo o ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura, refletindo, principalmente, em redução de produtividade de vagens de amendoim. Admitindo 5% de tolerância na redução da produtividade de vagens, verificou-se que o período anterior à interferência (PAI) na primeira época foi de 28 dias após a emergência (DAE), e o período total de interferência (PTPI), de 78 DAE, com redução de produtividade de 53,5%. Na segunda época, os efeitos da convivência da comunidade infestante com a cultura foram mais drásticos, pois afetaram com maior intensidade a produtividade da cultura, reduzindo-a em 86%, com PAI de 33 DAE e PTPI de 93 DAE. Quando no limpo, durante todo o ciclo da cultura, o amendoim semeado mais cedo (início de novembro) apresentou produtividade de vagens maior, superando em 23,7% o semeado um mês mais tarde.

Growth and antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria from rumen fluid according to energy or nitrogen source

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da suplementação com diferentes fontes de energia e de compostos nitrogenados sobre o crescimento e produção de bacteriocinas de bactérias ácido-láticas in vitro. As incubações foram conduzidas utilizando-se fluido ruminal originado de um novilho Holandês-Zebu fistulado no rúmen. O animal foi mantido em pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens recebendo 200 g/dia de proteína bruta suplementar. Os substratos e o inóculo foram acondicionados em frascos de vidro considerando-se oito tratamentos: celulose, celulose e caseína, celulose e peptona de soja, celulose e ureia, amido, amido e caseína, amido e peptona de soja e amido e ureia. Incubações sucessivas foram conduzidas para seleção dos microrganismos em função das fontes energéticas e de compostos nitrogenados. O amido favoreceu o crescimento de bactérias ácido-láticas em comparação à celulose. A suplementação com proteína verdadeira (peptona de soja e caseína) estimulou o crescimento dessas bactérias em comparação ao controle (sem suplementação com compostos nitrogenados). A adição de ureia não estimulou o crescimento de bactérias ácido-láticas. Nenhuma atividade antimicrobiana foi detectada a partir das colônias de bactérias ácido-láticas isoladas. Fontes de proteína verdadeira incrementam a competição entre bactérias fermentadoras de carboidratos estruturais e não-estruturais.

e-Resíduos: A influência da norma européia WEEE na estratégia da indústria de celulares no Brasil e no mundo e o impacto ambiental do descarte inadequado

This present Thesis, is explorer work and presents an analysis of e-wastes of the industry of cellular mobile telephony, evaluating the evolution of the telecommunications nets and as if it holds the global and Brazilian market of cellular telephony. It approaches the elements gifts in the cellular devices that can badly cause to the environment and the health, the discarding of the devices in end of life cycle is made. It analyzes the new European regulation of electric equipment residues and electronic, the WEEE, as it influenced the strategy of the companies manufacturers of mobile phone cellular and of that she forms is possible to create a Brazilian national industry for recycling of devices of cellular, with conditions to globally competition. For this some possible models of being implanted in Brazil are presented. The project of law 203/91 on solid residues is argued and as it would be interesting if to persist some proposals presented to the project, to create a Brazilian market of recycling with capacity of global competition for use to advantage of the European regulation if to get a competitive advantage

Gestão da satisfação e fidelidade do cliente : um estudo dos fatores que influenciam na satisfação e fidelidade dos clientes corporativos de telefonia celular

The competition in the telecommunications industry has grown in Brazil since the privatization, forcing companies that are active in the market to a growing commitment to quality products and services in order to survive. In this context, this work aims to understand the main factors that influence the degree of satisfaction exists in respect of a mobile operator with its corporate customers. The research covered theoretical concepts and analytical models of quality management system and models of indices related to the measurement of customer satisfaction. For the field research was carried out in a practical application of the main approaches based on this thesis by a case study in corporate segment, through a questionnaire applied to 10 consultants and 40 corporate customers of that company. Comparing the results of research with the consultants and corporate clients there is the concern of respondents to the indicators that comprise the constructs of customer satisfaction, commitment calculated, the price index and the handling of complaints, denoting the dissatisfaction of the general assessment for corporate customers with the carrier, against its current expectations. It is concluded that the mobile operator of the telecommunications industry have a big challenge, after ten years of privatization and consequently the period of rapid expansion of customer base and with the depleted, retain corporate customers as highly strategic, thus avoiding that migrate to other companies. We emphasize the need for further research and analysis of different approaches through research and using the same models to specifically evaluate and measure customer satisfaction of mobile enterprise, to adjust the model to the national market. Finally, we suggest the creation of an effective customer loyalty program with a strategy of relationship and specific to the corporate sector of mobile telephony

Avaliação de desempenho em mercados reguladores de transporte urbano por ônibus :proposição de um modelo aplicável ao caso de Natal

Increased competition in the market of urban transport, characteristic of the Brazilian cities from years 90, has required actions of the managing agencies to ensure the universality of service, enhancing efficiency and consumer welfare. It grows in the Brazilian municipalities, the need to adopt a systematic performance evaluation in terms of management system of indicators and targets appropriate to the regulatory context, which has the purpose of evaluating the accomplishment and compliance by dealers, of the services granted during the contract period, marked by increasingly long periods. The introduction of an index operational performance in permission contracts/concession in urban buses is intended to establish a regulatory performance, giving the contract a pro-competitive feature and to allow the managing agency the systematic and continuous monitoring of the performance of the delegated service to avoid major deviations from desired performance. A performance assessment model of public transportation companies by bus, and applicable to the case of Natal is proposed. Sought to add the particularities found in the transport system in order to assess the performance of enterprises, contribute to improving the service quality to the population and enable decision-makers a detailed knowledge of the behavior of the licensees

Responsabilidade social e competitividade :um estudo sobre a influência de práticas sociais na decisão de escolha de um destino turístico

The work objective was to investigate the influence of social practices social in the choise decision of a tourist destination. For in such a way, a survey with the aid of a questionnaire, was used as being the research instrument. The study used a simple random sample without replacement, due to elements of the population had a equal probability different of zero, to be selected for forming part of the sample. The used collection method of data was personal interview. The data was collected at Augusto Severo International Airport at the moment in which tourists were embarking in return to the residence place or another tourist destination. For determination of sample size, it was considered the tourist who had visited Natal in November and December, 2004, supplied by the Secretariat of Tourism in the RN. The sample for the research was of 403 people. Results showed that the interviewed express the existence of high level of competitiveness in the tourism industry. It was observed that 42.5% of the interviewed believes to exist a very aggressive competition, and 47.5% believed that the competition is aggressive in the tourism industry. 10.4% of the interviewed expressed much interest in knowing about social practices in the tourism industry and 2.8% had not presented any interest in knowing about social practices in the tourism industry. For the interviewed, the travel agency image is a significant item in the choice for a tourist package, because of 35.6% believed that this factor is very important in the choice. 5% of the interviewed only find that little important or that sometimes the travel agency image can be seen as s decisive factor in the tourist package choice

Medição de desempenho na cadeia de suprimentos da energia eólica: proposta de um conjunto de indicadores de desempenho

Performance measurement in highly competitive markets is a necessary measure for those who aim the top positions. The business performance measurement approach have reached relevant results in the literature, however, a different approach has recently appeared that broadened the perception of competition, where companies do not seek the competition among companies only, but also among supply chains. Brazilian Wind energy supply chain is living a structuring and expanding moment, with the major global players in the industry making investments in the country. This research aims to answer which are the key performance indicators that must be considered by the Brazilian wind energy sector companies, which are part in a broad perspective of supply chain competition. The research was executed in two steps: exploratory (literature review and a field research in the companies) and later a survey was conducted with the Brazilian Wind energy companies workers with the purpose to validate the performance indicators found in the exploratory step. The survey evaluated 40 performance indicators distributed among five major activities: Project prospection, building/execution, operation and maintenance, logistics and transverse processes, which summarize the performance of the entire supply chain, pointing the sinergy and the competitive level of the supply chain. The selected performance indicators reflect the high relevance of the costs dimension in the Brazilian energy companies performance, acting as a key performance indicator, is also indicates the limited performance management integration throughout the Brazilian wind energy supply chain

Uso de técnicas de otimização baseadas em derivadas como suporte do planejamento operacional de redes de distribuição de energia elétrica

The usual programs for load flow calculation were in general developped aiming the simulation of electric energy transmission, subtransmission and distribution systems. However, the mathematical methods and algorithms used by the formulations were based, in majority, just on the characteristics of the transmittion systems, which were the main concern focus of engineers and researchers. Though, the physical characteristics of these systems are quite different from the distribution ones. In the transmission systems, the voltage levels are high and the lines are generally very long. These aspects contribute the capacitive and inductive effects that appear in the system to have a considerable influence in the values of the interest quantities, reason why they should be taken into consideration. Still in the transmission systems, the loads have a macro nature, as for example, cities, neiborhoods, or big industries. These loads are, generally, practically balanced, what reduces the necessity of utilization of three-phase methodology for the load flow calculation. Distribution systems, on the other hand, present different characteristics: the voltage levels are small in comparison to the transmission ones. This almost annul the capacitive effects of the lines. The loads are, in this case, transformers, in whose secondaries are connected small consumers, in a sort of times, mono-phase ones, so that the probability of finding an unbalanced circuit is high. This way, the utilization of three-phase methodologies assumes an important dimension. Besides, equipments like voltage regulators, that use simultaneously the concepts of phase and line voltage in their functioning, need a three-phase methodology, in order to allow the simulation of their real behavior. For the exposed reasons, initially was developped, in the scope of this work, a method for three-phase load flow calculation in order to simulate the steady-state behaviour of distribution systems. Aiming to achieve this goal, the Power Summation Algorithm was used, as a base for developping the three phase method. This algorithm was already widely tested and approved by researchers and engineers in the simulation of radial electric energy distribution systems, mainly for single-phase representation. By our formulation, lines are modeled in three-phase circuits, considering the magnetic coupling between the phases; but the earth effect is considered through the Carson reduction. Its important to point out that, in spite of the loads being normally connected to the transformers secondaries, was considered the hypothesis of existence of star or delta loads connected to the primary circuit. To perform the simulation of voltage regulators, a new model was utilized, allowing the simulation of various types of configurations, according to their real functioning. Finally, was considered the possibility of representation of switches with current measuring in various points of the feeder. The loads are adjusted during the iteractive process, in order to match the current in each switch, converging to the measured value specified by the input data. In a second stage of the work, sensibility parameters were derived taking as base the described load flow, with the objective of suporting further optimization processes. This parameters are found by calculating of the partial derivatives of a variable in respect to another, in general, voltages, losses and reactive powers. After describing the calculation of the sensibility parameters, the Gradient Method was presented, using these parameters to optimize an objective function, that will be defined for each type of study. The first one refers to the reduction of technical losses in a medium voltage feeder, through the installation of capacitor banks; the second one refers to the problem of correction of voltage profile, through the instalation of capacitor banks or voltage regulators. In case of the losses reduction will be considered, as objective function, the sum of the losses in all the parts of the system. To the correction of the voltage profile, the objective function will be the sum of the square voltage deviations in each node, in respect to the rated voltage. In the end of the work, results of application of the described methods in some feeders are presented, aiming to give insight about their performance and acuity

Uma implementação paralela híbrida para o problema do caixeiro viajante usando algoritmos genéticos, GRASP e aprendizagem por reforço

The metaheuristics techiniques are known to solve optimization problems classified as NP-complete and are successful in obtaining good quality solutions. They use non-deterministic approaches to generate solutions that are close to the optimal, without the guarantee of finding the global optimum. Motivated by the difficulties in the resolution of these problems, this work proposes the development of parallel hybrid methods using the reinforcement learning, the metaheuristics GRASP and Genetic Algorithms. With the use of these techniques, we aim to contribute to improved efficiency in obtaining efficient solutions. In this case, instead of using the Q-learning algorithm by reinforcement learning, just as a technique for generating the initial solutions of metaheuristics, we use it in a cooperative and competitive approach with the Genetic Algorithm and GRASP, in an parallel implementation. In this context, was possible to verify that the implementations in this study showed satisfactory results, in both strategies, that is, in cooperation and competition between them and the cooperation and competition between groups. In some instances were found the global optimum, in others theses implementations reach close to it. In this sense was an analyze of the performance for this proposed approach was done and it shows a good performance on the requeriments that prove the efficiency and speedup (gain in speed with the parallel processing) of the implementations performed

Modelagem de equações estruturais na análise de dados de serviços em comunicações móveis

In recent decades, changes have been occurring in the telecommunications industry, allied to competition driven by the policies of privatization and concessions, have fomented the world market irrefutably causing the emergence of a new reality. The reflections in Brazil have become evident due to the appearance of significant growth rates, getting in 2012 to provide a net operating income of 128 billion dollars, placing the country among the five major powers in the world in mobile communications. In this context, an issue of increasing importance to the financial health of companies is their ability to retain their customers, as well as turn them into loyal customers. The appearance of infidelity from customer operators has been generating monthly rates shutdowns about two to four percent per month accounting for business management one of its biggest challenges, since capturing a new customer has meant an expenditure greater than five times to retention. For this purpose, models have been developed by means of structural equation modeling to identify the relationships between the various determinants of customer loyalty in the context of services. The original contribution of this thesis is to develop a model for loyalty from the identification of relationships between determinants of satisfaction (latent variables) and the inclusion of attributes that determine the perceptions of service quality for the mobile communications industry, such as quality, satisfaction, value, trust, expectation and loyalty. It is a qualitative research which will be conducted with customers of operators through simple random sampling technique, using structured questionnaires. As a result, the proposed model and statistical evaluations should enable operators to conclude that customer loyalty is directly influenced by technical and operational quality of the services offered, as well as provide a satisfaction index for the mobile communication segment

Nutrição mineral do mamoeiro (Carica papaya L): VI - Influência da calagem e de níveis de calcário na cova, sobre a concentração de nutrientes nas folhas e o desenvolvimento inicial da planta

Com o objetivo de estudar o efeito da calagem e de diferentes quantidades de calcário na cova de plantio sobre o desenvolvimento inicial do mamoeiro e a concentração de nutrientes nas folhas, desenvolveu-se o presente trabalho na Estação Experimental Presidente Médici, município de Botucatu, SP. Dentre os resultados obtidos constatou-se que: (a) A calagem com calcário dolomítico favoreceu o desenvolvimento inicial do mamoeiro; (b) A adição de calcário dolomítico na cova de plantio não teve nenhum efeito sobre o desenvolvimento inicial do mamoeiro; (c) A calagem realizada durante o preparo do solo para o plantio teve maior influência nas variações das concentrações dos nutrientes nas folhas do mamoeiro do que a adição de calcário na cova por ocasião da adubação fundamental; (d) Na competição iônica dos nutrientes catiónicos Ca e Mg, o Mg foi mais efetivo.

Densidades populacionais de milho em arranjos espaciais convencional e equidistante entre plantas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crescimento inicial e absorção de nutrientes pelo algodoeiro cultivado sobre a palhada de Brachiaria ruziziensis

As gramíneas forrageiras possuem alta capacidade para produzir palha no sistema de semeadura direta em integração lavoura-pecuária. No entanto, essas plantas podem reduzir o crescimento das culturas, em função de efeitos alelopáticos ou pela competição por nutrientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de resíduos culturais de Brachiaria ruziziensis no crescimento inicial e no acúmulo de nutrientes na parte aérea do algodoeiro, quando foram deixados sobre o solo ou no solo. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, sendo o algodão cultivado com os tratamentos: raízes e parte aérea da braquiária cultivada previamente e deixadas no vaso; parte aérea da braquiária colocada sobre o solo; raízes da braquiária ficaram no solo, mas a parte aérea foi retirada; uma testemunha (sem braquiária). As raízes de braquiária remanescentes no solo causaram diminuição na produção de matéria seca da parte aérea e no crescimento inicial das raízes do algodoeiro. O teor e o acúmulo de N na parte aérea da planta foram menores na presença de raízes de braquiária, porém o teor de P na parte aérea do algodoeiro foi maior, e tanto o teor como o acúmulo de K na parte aérea do algodão foram maiores quando este foi cultivado sobre resíduos da parte aérea da braquiária.

Acúmulo de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio pelo algodoeiro sob irrigação cultivado em sistemas convencional e adensado

O adensamento da cultura do algodão aumenta a competição entre plantas por recursos, como luz, nutrientes e água; logo, o período de florescimento é reduzido e, consequentemente, a marcha de acúmulo de matéria seca é alterada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a marcha de absorção de N, P e K pelo algodoeiro, identificando a época de maior absorção e a quantidade absorvida e exportada em espaçamentos adensado (48 cm - 20,58 plantas m-2), intermediário (75 cm - 13,30 plantas m-2) e convencional (96 cm - 10,39 plantas m-2). Foram amostradas três plantas úteis por parcela aos 46, 69, 99, 139, 148 e 166 dias após a emergência (DAE), em que foram determinados o acúmulo de matéria seca, N, P e K. O acúmulo de matéria seca nas plantas cultivadas no espaçamento de 48 cm foi maior no início do desenvolvimento, igualando-se às demais ao final do ciclo, o que resultou em maior acúmulo de N entre os 69 e 99 DAE, no menor espaçamento. O adensamento antecipa o pico de absorção de nutrientes, sugerindo a antecipação das adubações de cobertura com N e K no algodoeiro cultivado nesse sistema. Para condições de fertilidade média/alta, a dose de nutrientes a ser aplicada não precisaria ser alterada em função do aumento da densidade de plantas, pois não há variação nas quantidades de N, P e K exportados por kg de algodão produzido, em fibra ou em caroço.