The role of Mab as a source for the mu ring of Uranus (Research Note)

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

Flutuação populacional de cigarrinhas-das-pastagens na Região Oeste do Paraná

The spittlebugs are considered the most important pests in tropical pastures. The damages caused by these insects decrease the production of pastures. The objective this work was to study the population dynamics of Notozulia entreriana, from June 2007 to June 2008, and the correlation with meteorological and environmental factors (rainfall, temperature, daily solar radiation and pasture height). Therefore, sampled were made in three areas of grassland in the municipality of Marechal Candido Rondon-PR. Sampling of adults and nymphs was made. Also we determined which species of spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) occur in the western region of Parana State. The population fluctuation of N. entreriana showed four peaks during the period of favorable development - spring / summer. The daily solar radiation had a higher correlation with the population. Rainfall, temperature and pasture height had little correlation with the population dynamics. The species that occurred with greater abundance was N. entreriana, representing 88.4% of the total insects collected in western of Parana State.

Estimativa do saldo de radiacao em Jaboticabal (SP)

This work deals with net radiation (Q*) estimates as function of solar radiation (K↓) for the Jaboticabal region in Sao Paulo State. In the same way shows a comparison between measured and Penman estimates net radiations. The data were 207 pairs of net and solar radiation obtained in a net radiometer and a Eppley Piranometer. The results show a good agreement between Q* and K↓ for two periods: spring-summer and autumn-winter. The Penman's equation for Q* underestimates the values for any station with albedo of 0.25. -English summary

Balanço de radiação em cultivos de feijão-vagem com e sem cobertura de polietileno

The radiation budget in agricultural crops is very important on the microclimate characterization, on the water losses determination and on dry matter accumulation of vegetation. This work describes the radiation budget determination in a green beans crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), in Botucatu, SP, Brazil (22° 54′S; 48° 27′W; 850 m), under two different conditions: the normal field culture and in a polyethylene greenhouse. The densities of fluxes of radiation were used to construct diurnal curves of the components of global radiation (Rg), reflected radiation (Rr), net radiation (Rn).The arithmetic's relations allowed to obtain the components net short-waves (Rc) and net long-waves (Rl). The analysis of these components related to the leaf area index (LAI) in many phenological phases of the culture showed Rg distributed in 68%, 85%, 17% and 66%, 76%, 10% to Rn, Rc and Rl in the internal and external ambients in a polyethylene greenhouse, respectively.

Respostas comportamentais de vacas holandesas, com acesso à sombra constante ou limitada

The experiment was carried out at Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, from January to February 1993, with the objective of evaluating the behavior responses of Holstein cows, with constant or limited access to shade. The experimental design used was completely randomized. Twenty four dairy cows were used, at different lactation stages and production levels, kept in two free stall barns, with or without protection against solar radiation in south-east and north-west edge. The behavior parameters studied were: alimentation, rumination, rest time and frequency and water ingestion frequency. The protection of the free stall barn didn't affect the behavior responses. The alimentation, rumination and rest time, daily, were 3.4, 7.0 e 9.0 hours, respectively. The highest alimentation frequencies were before and after milking. The rumination was mainly during nocturnal period; the rest was more frequent during the period with higher solar radiation. The animals stayed more time in the shelter (13.4 vs 2.5 h/day). The highest daily water ingestion frequencies were in the hot time and next milking, mainly.

Photodegradation of dichloroacetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenol by ferrioxalate/H2O2 system

The photo-Fenton process using potassium ferrioxalate as a mediator in the photodegradation reaction of organochloride compounds in an aqueous medium was investigated. The influence of parameters such as hydrogen peroxide and ferrioxalate concentrations and initial pH, was evaluated using dichloroacetic acid (DCA) as a model compound under black-light lamp irradiation. An upflow annular photoreactor, operating in a single pass or recirculating mode was used during photodegradation experiments with artificial light. The extent of the release of chloride ions was used to evaluate the photodegradation reaction. The optimum pH range observed was 2.5-2.8. The efficiency of DCA dechlorination increased with increasing concentrations of H2O2 and potassium ferrioxalate, reaching a plateau after the addition of 6 and 1.5 mmol/L of those reagents, respectively. The total organic carbon (TOC) content in DCA and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) solutions was compared with the chloride released after photodegradation. The influence of natural solar light intensity, measured at 365 nm, was evaluated for the dechlorination of DCA on typical summer's days showing a linear dependency. The photodegradation of DCA using black-light lamp and solar irradiation was compared.

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.

Applying GIS tools for analysing urban thermal environment

A methodology for analyzing the solar access and its influence on both air temperature and thermal comfort of the urban environment was here developed by applying the potentiality of GIS tools. Urban canyons in a specific area of a Brazilian medium sized city were studied. First, a computational algorithm was applied in order to allow the determination of sky view factors (SVF) and sun-paths in urban canyons. Then, air temperatures in 40 measurement points were collected within the study area. Solar radiation values of these canyons were determined and subsequently stored in a GIS database. The creation of thermal maps for the whole neighbourhood was possible due to a statistical treatment of the data, by promoting the interpolation of values. All data could then be spatially cross-examined. In addition, thermal comfort maps for summer and winter periods were generated. The methodology allowed the identification of thermal tendencies within the neighbourhood, what can be useful in the conception of guidelines for urban planning purposes.

Enraizamento in vitro e aclimatização de mudas micropropagadas de Aloe vera L.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência da acurácia de instrumentos de medidas na comparação de métodos de estimativa da evapotranspiração de referência

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate four reference methods to estimate evapotranspiration (Makkink, Hargreaves, Class A pan and Radiation), compared tb Penman-Monteith method, that is considered standard by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Errors due to variable measurements in the reference evapotranspiration estimate were taken into consideration. The research was developed in an experimental area of the Department of Rural Engieering of the School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Campus of Jaboticabal, São Paulo State University. An automated weather station was used and it was equipped with sensors to measure global and net radiation, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The aftermath showed a better adjustment to Hargreaves. Makkink, Class A pan and Radiation methods are different from Penman-Monteith, therefore, they cannot be compared. To evaluate methods to estimate evapotranspiration and avoid possible evaluation errors, ETo estimate errors must be considered.

Avaliação de duas estações meteorológicas automatizadas, para estimativa diária da evapotranspiração de referência obtida pelo método de penman-monteith

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare measurements and estimates from Davis and Campbell Scientific Instruments in two automatic weather stations. Integrity of meteorological data for estimates of evapotranspiration of reference crop (ETo) from both stations was also evaluated. The following meteorological data were evaluated: air temperature, air humidity, wind speed, precipitation, net radiation and global solar radiation. The Penman-Monteith reference method to estimate ETo was evaluated daily. The weather stations were set up in an experimental area of the Rural Engineering Department-FACV/ UNESP, in Jaboticabal, State of Sao Paulo. Data were collected daily and statistical analysis was performed using linear regression analysis. The integrity of meteorological data to estimate ETo was evaluated. The results of the study in the stations using linear regression analysis showed that daily estimates for ETo had acceptable differences. The technique which evaluates the integrity of meteorological data revealed that data of relative humidity from both stations and of precipitation using Campbell Instruments were not good.

Heterogeneous photocatalytic treatment of organic dyes in air and aqueous media

This review focuses on the heterogeneous photocatalytic treatment of organic dyes in air and water. Representative studies spanning approximately three decades are included in this review. These studies have mostly used titanium dioxide (TiO2) as the inorganic semiconductor photocatalyst of choice for decolorizing and decomposing the organic dye to mineralized products. Other semiconductors such as ZnO, CdS, WO3, and Fe2O3 have also been used, albeit to a much smaller extent. The topics covered include historical aspects, dark adsorption of the dye on the semiconductor surface and its role in the subsequent photoreaction, semiconductor preparation details, photoreactor configurations, photooxidation kinetics/mechanisms and comparison with other Advanced Oxidation Processes (e.g., UV/H2O2, ozonation, UV/O3, Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions), visible light-induced dye decomposition by sensitization mechanism, reaction intermediates and toxicity issues, and real-world process scenarios. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A study of the relative velocities of small particles that are orbiting the earth

The evolution of the velocity of the particles with respect to the circular orbits of satellites that are around the Earth that the particles will cross, suggests a range of possible velocities of impact as a function of the altitude of the satellite. A study made from those results show that the maximum relative velocities occur at the semi-latus rectum, independent of the initial semi-major axis of the particle. Considering both the solar radiation pressure and the oblateness of the Earth, it is visible that a precession in the orbit occurs and there is also a variation in the eccentricity of the particle as a function of its orbital region and its size. This is important information, because the damage caused in a spacecraft depends on the impact velocity.

Irrigação de pastagens via pivô central, na bovinocultura de corte

The aims of this work were to show the pasture irrigation system by center pivot with Brazilian cattle and to discuss the economic feasibility of this technique in different regions of the country. Important parameters to dry matter production of tropical forage plants, as temperature, solar radiation, fertilization, and water requirement were shown Also, the system advantages and disadvantages and a discussion about economic feasibility of this technique were presented. It was concluded that pasture irrigation is a feasible and economical technique to some specific Brazilian regions, depending on appropriated parameters. This work also concludes that just water supply is not enough to assure forage production avoiding reduction in dry production in the winter.

Environmental factors influencing foraging activity in the social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini)

Foraging behavior in social wasps is important in the development of the colony and reflects an important ecological interaction between the colony and the environment. Although the social traits of the colony play a role in the foraging activities, the conditions that establish the space and time limits are mainly physical. Here, we evaluate colonies of Polybia paulista throughout one year in order to verify the foraging activities and the items collected, as well as the importance of temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation on motivating foraging. Collection of liquids was always higher than that of solids; preys were collected all year long, and nests showed two annual episodic expansions. The linear mixed effects (LME) model used to analyze which weather factors influence the foraging showed temperature as the most influencing factor on the collection of materials. © 2011 Naila Cristina de Souza Canevazzi and Fernando Barbosa Noll.