Effect of N and K doses in nutritive solution on growth, production and coffee bean size

An adequate supply of nutrients is essential for obtaining high yields of coffee. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of N, K and the N:K ratio on vegetative and reproductive growth of coffee. For this purpose, coffee plants were grown in nutrient solution containing K in the concentrations of 1.08; 2.15; 3.23 and 5.38 mmol L-1 combined with a dose of 6 mmol L-1 N, resulting in the N:K ratios (w/w): 1:0.5; 1:1; 1:1.5 and 1:2.5. The control treatment consisted of the doses 3 and 1.61 mmol L-1 of N and K respectively, resulting in the N:K ratio (w/w) 1.0:1.5. The following variables were evaluated: height, stem diameter, number of nodes of the eighth plagiotrofic branch (index branch), pairs of plagiotrofic branches and number of nodes in the orthotropic branch every three weeks from the beginning of the experiment. Additionally, it was evaluated the chemical composition of processed beans and leaves between the flowering and the rapid expansion stage of the cherry beans, production of cherry beans per plant and classification of beans according to the size. N influenced mainly the characteristics of vegetative growth and K influenced mainly the reproductive growth evaluated by the production. The lowest production resulted in the highest percentages of beans retained on sieves with holes larger than 16/64", while the highest production promoted an increase in the percentage of beans retained on sieves with holes smaller than 16/64".

Vitória da Alemanha constitucional e de direito social!

O poder judicial é hoje independente na RFA, sendo ainda o direito baseado no direito romano, com algumas referências germânicas. O Tribunal Federal Constitucional é uma instituição sagrada que prima pela reverência absoluta ao Estado de Direito social e controla a constitucionalidade. Existe ainda o Tribunal de Justiça Federal e os Tribunais Federais do Trabalho, o Social Federal, o Federal das Finanças e o Administrativo Federal. O sistema penal alemão é destinado à recuperação do criminoso. O Völkerstrafgesetzbuch/“Código Penal Internacional” dá aos tribunais alemães jurisdição universal caso a acusação por um tribunal do país onde o crime foi praticado, ou por um tribunal internacional, não for possível. Abstract: The judiciary is independent today in the Germany, still being the right based on Roman law with some Germanic references. The Federal Constitutional Court is a sacred institution that excels in absolute reverence for the rule of law and social controls constitutionality. There is also the Federal Court of Justice and the Federal Courts of Labor, the Federal Social, the Federal Finance Administration and the Federal. The German penal system is aimed at the criminal recovery. The Völkerstrafgesetzbuch / "International Criminal Code" gives German courts universal jurisdiction if prosecution by a court of the country where the crime was committed, or by an international court, is not possible.

Inadmissível pressão sobre Magistrados-Juízes e Ministério Público

Assiste-se, contudo, a uma inadmissível pressão sobre Magistrados judiciais e do M.P., querendo responsabilizá-los dum Portugal corrupto. Como se a legislação em vigor não fizesse tudo – há que dizê-lo duma vez por todas – para que ocorram prescrições em série. Abstract: We are witnessing, however, an unacceptable pressure on judicial magistrates and prosecutors, wanting to blame them of a corrupt Portugal. As if the legislation does not do everything - it should say it once and for all - to occur prescriptions/requirements in series.

Joaquim Barbosa: o Brasil que venceu o racismo?

Há milhões de pessoas que são autodidactas e isso é genial, desde que seja honesto! Barbosa venceu o racismo? Talvez ainda não, pois por ignorância muitos olham apenas para a cor da pele. E quantas pessoas de cor têm cargos políticos em Portugal e nesta Europa cada vez mais racista?! § Abstract: There are millions of people who are self-taught and that's great, if it is honest! Barbosa won racism? Perhaps not because of ignorance many look only to skin color. And how many people of color have political office in Portugal and Europe in this increasingly racist?!

Corruptos Submarinos: Portugal Envergonhado

Recordar é viver. O famoso caso de corrupção internacional ligado à compra e venda de submarinos pelo Estado português – e que ainda não está resolvido na sua totalidade, nomeadamente por cá – constitui um facto repugnante da história contemporânea da anti-corrupção, e da ética, também lusa que envergonha em profundidade Portugal a nível nacional, mas sobretudo internacional. E envergonha, quer o poder legislativo, quer o poder judicial, quer o poder executivo. Em Portugal, mas também na Alemanha, pois nem toda a informação criminal chegou às autoridades portuguesas como foi noticiado pelos próprios procuradores. § Remember is living. The famous case of international corruption linked to the purchase and sale of submarines by the Portuguese State - and that is still not resolved in its entirety, especially around here - is a disgusting fact of contemporary history of anti-corruption and ethics, also Portuguese who shames Portugal in depth at national level, but above all international. And shame either the legislature or the judiciary or the executive. In Portugal, but also in Germany, as not all criminal information came from the Portuguese authorities was as reported by their own attorneys.

Diagnostic leaf to evaluate the nutritional status of Jatropha

ABSTRACT The analytical determination of nutrient levels in recently mature leaves in order to diagnose nutritional status is based on the fact that leaves are metabolically active and more sensitive to variation in nutrients of the soil. In most of cases, there is a direct well known between foliar content and the development and yield of the plant. However, for a more accurate interpretation, it is essential to establish the index leaf. There are few published studies about Jatropha with contrasting results. In order to establish the index leaf, in adult plants, the macronutrient levels were evaluated in samples collected in experimental plots, in which doses of nitrogen and phosphorus were applied, in two parts of the floral branches (in the top and in the middle thirds); and in three positions of leaves of the floral branch (between the 1st and 3rd, 6th and 8th, and 13th and 15th leaves below the inflorescence). The location of the leaf on the plant significantly affects nutrient contents. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur tend to have higher concentration in young tissues. Calcium and magnesium showed higher levels in the basal leaves of floral branches. Samples collected in the top third of plants (between the 6th and 15th leaves of the floral branch) are more sensitive to variations of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. Therefore, we indicate the 6th to 15th leaves of the top third plants as index leaves estimate nutritional status of Jatropha.

Phenotypic correlations and path analysis for plant architecture traits and grain production in three generations of cowpea

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the phenotypic correlation and path analysis of traits related to plant architecture, earliness and grain yield in F2, BC1 and BC2 generations, from crosses between cowpea cultivars BRS Carijó and BR14 Mulato. Most phenotypic correlations of the examined traits were concordant in statistical significance, with approximate values ​​among the examined generations. For the trait seed weight, significant and positive phenotypic correlations were observed in the three generations only for the trait number of secondary branches. The values ​​of the direct effects were in agreement with the values ​​of the phenotypic correlations, which indicate true association by the phenotypic correlation among the traits of grain yield examined. Path analysis indicated that the selection of productive plants will result in early plants and an increased number of secondary branches. In F2, plants with shorter length of the main branch and shorter length of secondary branches can be obtained. The causal model explained 15 to 30% of the total variation in grain weight in relation to the traits examined. The analyses indicated the possibility of selecting plants with a higher and early grain yield, shorter length of primary branches and lower number of nodes, which are important variables for mechanical or semi-mechanical harvesting.

Chagas' disease and social security: a case-control study in an urban area, Goiás, Brazil

One hundred and twenty subjects with Chagas' cardiopathy and 120 non-infected subjects were randomly selected from first time claimants of sickness benefits in the National Institute of Social Security (INPS) in Goiás. Cases of Chagas' cardiopathy were defined based on serological test, history of residence in an endemic area and, clinical and/or electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations suggestive of Chagas' cardiomyopathy. Controls were defined as subjects with at least two negative serological tests. Case and controls were compared in the analysis for age, sex, place of birth, migration history, socio-economic level, occupation, physical exertion at work, age at affiliation and years of contribution to the social security scheme, clinical course of their disease and ECG abnormalities. Chagas' disease patients were younger than other subjects and predominantly of rural origin. Non-infected subjects presented a better socio-economic level, were performing more skilled activities and had less changes of job than cases. No important difference was observed in relation to age at affiliation to INPS. About 60% of cases have claimed for benefits within the first four years of contribution while among controls this proportion was 38.5%. Cases were involved, proportionally more than controls, in "heavy" activities. A risk of 2.3 (95%CL 1.5 - 4.6) and 1.8 (95%CL 1.2- 3.5) was obtained comparing respectively "heavy" and "moderate" physical activity against "light". A relative risk of 8.5 (95%CL 4.9 - 14.8) associated with the presence of cardiopathy was estimated comparing the initial sample of seropositive subjects and controls. A high relative risk was observed in relation to right bundle branch block (RR = 37.1 95%CL = 8.8 - 155.6) and left anterior hemiblock (RR = 4.4, 95%CL = 2.1 - 9.1).

Stability Condition Based Sliding Mode Modulators for Multilevel Power Converters

Sliding mode controllers for power converters usually employ hysteresis comparators to directly generate the power semiconductors switching states. This paper presents a new sliding mode modulator based on the direct implementation of the sliding mode stability condition, which for multilevel power converters shows advantages, as branch equalized switching frequencies and less distortion on the ac currents when operating near the rated converter power. The new sliding mode multilevel modulator is used to control a three-phase multilevel converter, operated as a reactive power compensator (STATCOM), implementing the stability condition in a digital signal processing system. The performance of this new sliding mode modulator is compared with a multilevel modulator based on hysteresis comparators. Simulation and experimental results are presented in order to highlight the system operation and control robustness.

Aplicação das ferramentas lean: caso de estudo

Este trabalho tem como objectivo apresentar as ferramentas do Lean Thinking e realizar um estudo de caso numa organização em que este sistema é utilizado. Numa primeira fase do trabalho será feito uma análise bibliográfica sobre o ―Lean Thinking”, que consiste num sistema de negócios, uma forma de especificar valor e delinear a melhor sequência de acções que criam valor. Em seguida, será realizado um estudo de caso numa Empresa – Divisão de Motores – no ramo da aeronáutica com uma longa e conceituada tradição com o objectivo de reduzir o TAT (turnaround time – tempo de resposta), ou seja, o tempo desde a entrada de um motor na divisão até à entrega ao cliente. Primeiramente, analisando as falhas existentes em todo o processo do motor, isto é, a análise de tempos de reparação de peças à desmontagem do motor que têm que estar disponíveis à montagem do mesmo, peças que são requisitadas a outros departamentos da Empresa e as mesmas não estão disponíveis quando são precisas passando pelo layout da divisão. Por fim, fazer uma análise dos resultados até então alcançados na divisão de Motores e aplicar as ferramentas do ―Lean Thinking‖ com o objectivo da implementação. É importante referir que a implementação bem-sucedida requer, em primeiro lugar e acima de tudo, um firme compromisso da administração com uma completa adesão à cultura da procura e eliminação de desperdício. Para concluir o trabalho, destaca-se a importância deste sistema e quais são as melhorias que se podem conseguir com a sua implantação.

Caracterização de regiões encefálicas no cérebro normal por tensor de difusão e aplicação à epilepsia pós-traumática

Mestrado em Radiações Aplicadas às Tecnologias da Saúde.

Marketing e imagem: o caso do Hospital de Santa Maria - Porto

O sector da saúde ocupa, actualmente, um espaço muito visível na nossa sociedade, quer seja em termos económicos como sociais. Os utentes têm alterado as suas atitudes, tendo vindo a preocupar-se e a exigir cada vez mais dos serviços de saúde. Estas mudanças têm conduzido as Organizações a desenvolver serviços mais orientados para o marketing. Desta forma, reconhece-se a importância dessa avaliação como forma de aumentar os níveis de satisfação dos utentes e da eficiência organizacional. A estratégia de Marketing, passa pela escolha dos mercados alvo, da sua posição competitiva face aos seus concorrentes, que permita atender os seus utentes. Neste contexto, o Marketing poderá desempenhar um papel preponderante na rentabilidade e competitividade das Organizações, pelo que se achou pertinente desenvolver as estratégias de Marketing numa Instituição Privada de Saúde. Assim, no âmbito do 2º. Ano de Mestrado de Gestão das Organizações, ramo Unidades de Saúde, foi realizado um estágio na área do Marketing e Imagem, que teve lugar no Hospital de Santa Maria – Porto. Assim, com este relatório pretende-se reflectir sobre as actividades desenvolvidas, desde a conceptualização à realização das mesmas, e o seu impacto na Organização e, simultaneamente, disponibilizar um instrumento de avaliação da Unidade Curricular.

Qualidade, higiene e segurança na gestão das empresas

Dissertação apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Auditoria. Orientada por: Mestre Alcina Dias

Re-entrant phase behaviour of network fluids: A patchy particle model with temperature-dependent valence

We study a model consisting of particles with dissimilar bonding sites ("patches"), which exhibits self-assembly into chains connected by Y-junctions, and investigate its phase behaviour by both simulations and theory. We show that, as the energy cost epsilon(j) of forming Y-junctions increases, the extent of the liquid-vapour coexistence region at lower temperatures and densities is reduced. The phase diagram thus acquires a characteristic "pinched" shape in which the liquid branch density decreases as the temperature is lowered. To our knowledge, this is the first model in which the predicted topological phase transition between a fluid composed of short chains and a fluid rich in Y-junctions is actually observed. Above a certain threshold for epsilon(j), condensation ceases to exist because the entropy gain of forming Y-junctions can no longer offset their energy cost. We also show that the properties of these phase diagrams can be understood in terms of a temperature-dependent effective valence of the patchy particles. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3605703]

Optimization techniques for power distribution planning with uncertainties: a comparative study

Important research effort has been devoted to the topic of optimal planning of distribution systems. The non linear nature of the system, the need to consider a large number of scenarios and the increasing necessity to deal with uncertainties make optimal planning in distribution systems a difficult task. Heuristic techniques approaches have been proposed to deal with these issues, overcoming some of the inherent difficulties of classic methodologies. This paper considers several methodologies used to address planning problems of electrical power distribution networks, namely mixedinteger linear programming (MILP), ant colony algorithms (AC), genetic algorithms (GA), tabu search (TS), branch exchange (BE), simulated annealing (SA) and the Bender´s decomposition deterministic non-linear optimization technique (BD). Adequacy of theses techniques to deal with uncertainties is discussed. The behaviour of each optimization technique is compared from the point of view of the obtained solution and of the methodology performance. The paper presents results of the application of these optimization techniques to a real case of a 10-kV electrical distribution system with 201 nodes that feeds an urban area.